With the memory diagnostic scan, users will be able to know if the crash was due to memory-related issues, helping in troubleshooting the root cause of sudden crashes.
Microsoft Introduces Memory Diagnostics at Windows 11 Reboot to Detect and Mitigate Memory Bugs Causing BSOD and Sudden Restarts
Windows crashes can be unexpected and sudden at times, and it isn't always possible to understand the exact cause of these issues. Memory-related crashes and BSODs (Blue Screen of Death) are pretty common, but they can be due to various factors, such as memory instability, faulty RAM, mismatched memory modules, incorrect XMP/EXPO overclocking, and even driver-related memory corruption.
To make users understand and fix the issues better, Microsoft has introduced "Proactive Memory Diagnostics" at the startup of Windows 11 after the system crashes unexpectedly. It's not entirely a new feature, as the Windows Memory Diagnostics tool has been present for ages. However, one has to do it manually, provided they are aware of the tool. The feature will be activated in the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.6982 (Dev Channel), but won't be present on Arm64 systems as stated explicitly in the latest press release.
Microsoft says that the Memory Diagnostics scan will run during the next reboot, which can take approximately five minutes before it loads Windows. The scan will try to find if the issue is related to the system RAM. By collecting data during the early rollout it will help understand which Windows crash codes are truly linked to memory corruption. Windows will treat all BSODs as potentially memory-related to offer the scan option.
Later on, it should become more mature and should help in understanding if the crash is related to memory or not. That said, you can still utilize the Windows Memory Diagnostics, which is available in older Windows versions as well, including Windows 10, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 7, and even Windows Vista. The process shows you two options: Restart now and check for problems, and Check for problems the next time I start my computer.
The first one immediately starts the PC and runs the memory test before loading Windows to identify memory-related issues. The second one does the same, but schedules the memory test for the next reboot.
News Source: Windows
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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