Follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve memory issues on your Dell desktop. Run a pre-boot hardware test on your system with the help of Dell SupportAssist. Turn on or restart your computer. At the Dell logo screen, repeatedly tap the "F12" key to enter the one-time boot menu. Select "Diagnostics" to initiate a quick test.
When the test finishes, make note of any error or validation codes you receive. If any issues are detected, contact us via one of the options on our Support website. If no errors are found, click on "Advanced Test" to run the advanced memory error test. Check the boxes next to "Memory" and "Thorough mode." Click on "Run Test" to prompt an extensive system memory test. This test may take up to 40 minutes. Contact us via one of the support options on our website if you receive any error or validation codes.
If no errors are found, continue with the next step. Test the RAM sticks by removing them and swapping the modules. Please consult your system's user manual to learn how to properly remove and install the memory. You will also need another system that uses the same type of memory. With both systems off, remove all the RAM sticks from the computer with the issue and install them in the other system. Turn the system on.
If that system fails, this means the memory sticks are failing. If the system runs normally, there might be a problem with the original system's motherboard. If this is the case, contact us via one of the options on our Support website. If there is more than one memory stick, test them one at a time to identify which of the RAM modules is failing. If you don't have another system available for testing, remove all the RAM sticks and then insert each one individually into each open RAM slot. Run the system for each slot.
If the system fails, then you know that specific memory stick is bad. If you have more than one, test them all using this same method. Please take safety precautions to avoid ESD damage. If you have any problems with the steps in this video contact us via one of the options on our Dell Support website.
