Windows 7: RAM Memory Diagnostic Failure in Recovery Partition

Hi,

I got an ASUS K93SV type of notebook. When holding down F9 at boot time my computer should boot into the recovery partition, which allows me to reinstall Windows 7. (Recovery partition is something like 25 GiB, located on the outermost tracks of my 1TB internal drive, and seems to be hidden.) So, after booting with F9 down, I come in the following setup menu:

***************************
#### Windows Boot Manager ####
Choose an operating system to start, or press TAB to select a tool:
>Windows Setup [EMS Enabled]
To specify an advanced option for this choice, press F8.
>Tools: Windows Memory Diagnostic
***************************

Before installing Windows 7 for the very first time, it would be smart just to run a memory diagnostic test prior to installing Windows 7. However, that does not work, at least, not in my case. After toggling to "Tools: Windows Memory Diagnostic", I get the following screen:

***************************
#### Windows Boot Manager ####
Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1. Insert your Windows installatin disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language settings, and then click "Next."
3. Click "Repair your computer."
If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.
File: \boot\memtest.exe
Status: 0x000000f
Info: The selected entry could not be loaded because the application is missing or corrupt.
***************************

So, why is that?? It looks like the file \boot\memtest.exe is not present in the recovery partition. I had a look in the recovery partition (made it unhidden first), and indeed, memtest.exe is not present in the boot folder; in fact, memtest.exe is nowhere present on the recovery partition, but it is present on the C: partition and part of the "Windows Repair Option" (hold down F8 at boot time), where it works just fine.

Concluding:
Why does the "Tools: Windows Memory Diagnostic" under F9 not work??
Why is the memtest.exe not present on the recovery partition??
Is there anyone out there with an ASUS computer where the *Windows Memory Diagnostic* works just fine after bootup with F9 ??

Thanks

Both Windows Memory Diagnostic Test and Factory Recovery are inferior choices. Most tech enthusiasts will not use either but prefer to use the vastly superior RAM Test with Memtest86+ and to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

These may not be the answers you wanted to hear, but they are the best practices for perfect Windows 7 performance which is our specialty here.

BTW don't forget to make your Recovery Disks if you are going to rely on Factory Recovery as it can fail from partition when run to reinstall the factory crapware larded into Windows 7. So you need the backup.

Maybe the underlying question is why were you going to reinstall from the OEM partition, to correct an issue? It may be your drive or other hardware has failed.

I also second what Greg said about using memtest 86+ and a clean install.

I'll keep your suggestions in mind: memtest86+ and Clean Install Windows 7.

The reason why I posted my message is that I really want to understand the strange behavior of some features. Why does F9 offers me the possibility for a RAM memory test if memtest.exe is not in the recovery partition? Could it be that memtest.exe has been effectively present in the recovery partition but for some reason got deleted? (I cannot remember I've been fussing around with the recovery partition.) Or, has the memtest.exe file never been in the recovery partition??; that would be even weirder!

Normally Windows Memory Diagnostics at boot is accessed using the F8 Advanced Boot Options as shown in the blue link.

For Asus boards the F8 key is also the Boot menu, so after choosing HD to boot you want to quickly tap F8 again to trigger the Windows 7 Advanced Boot Options which are installed with Windows and not an Asus feature.

There is a memtest.exe file in the C:\boot\ folder on my computer. Does that look familiar? Is that file being used by the Win Mem Diag test?
By the way, System Recovery Options under Repair Your Computer after tapping F8 at bootup probably runs under WinRE. I was just wondering, where exactly in the C:\ drive is the Recovery Environment located??
Thanks

I've got that file in C boot and also in C windows winsxs.

I'd have to assume one or the other is part of Windows memory diagnostics.

Recovery is hidden and located in C:Windows\System32.

Have you considered a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7? Most tech enthusiasts do this to shrug off the corrupting bloatware.

In your case I would wipe the HD with Diskpart Clean Command to clear the boot sector first. DISKPART At PC Startup

I've found the files boot.sdi (3MB) and Winre.wim (163MB) in the folder C:\Recovery\8cb2d9b4-7c05-11de-842e-b4611d44fefa\

So I was wondering, is that the Recovery folder? If yes, then the Recovery was not in the C:\Windows\System32\ subfolder. Maybe it is again one of those OEM weird-way-of-doing-things.

johan

Not sure whether this will help you, but I have an ASUS and my memory diagnostic ran fine before I reverted back to factory settings via the hidden partition - now when I try and run windows memory diagnostic I just boot to a blank screen and nothing happens - leading me to believe the file is missing from the recovery partition.

Those saying a clean install are absolutely right - no doubt. Unfortunately ASUS don't provide us with a WIN 7 back up disc - we just get the recovery partion and have the ability to make a 6 x DVD back up containing all the bloatware it came with...lol.

Sucks is what it does