The Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool is a useful program that checks your RAM for potential issues. It usually locates and fixes issues that can result in slower system performance, frequent freezes or hangs, and blue screens.

The system will typically suggest automatically that you run the Memory Diagnostic Tool when you begin experiencing any of the above problems, but you can run it manually as well. And while the tool usually performs its job without issue, there are times when you can experience problems with it, such as when it gets stuck during the scan process.

Below, we take a look at the troubleshooting methods you can try if you face issues while using the Memory Diagnostics Tool on your Windows PC.

What Are Some Potential Causes Behind the Problem?

In most cases, the Memory Diagnostic Tool gets stuck either in the middle of performing a scan or when the users are analyzing the memory diagnostic results. The Memory Diagnostic Tool is a great way to resolve Windows memory problems, so it can be a huge setback if it decides not to work.

There can be quite a few reasons why you might be facing issues with the tool, and we have listed the most common ones below:

  • An application or background process can interfere with Memory Diagnostic tool, causing it to freeze and crash.
  • The tool itself could be suffering from a nasty bug or data corruption, which is preventing it from functioning properly.
  • Alternatively, data corruption might affect a different component of your system, which then causes the Memory Diagnostic Tool to fail.

Now that we know about the potential causes, let’s have a look at the different troubleshooting methods you can try to get the Memory Diagnostic Tool up and running again.

1. Wait It Out

Before we move on to the solutions, it is important to note that the diagnostic tool can take anywhere from a few minutes to over 20 hours. This is why we recommend that you wait for some time before trying out the troubleshooting steps.

Consider leaving your computer in its current state overnight and checking back on it the next morning. If you notice any progress, then the utility just might be working slowly. If the tool has still made no progress after then, then it's safe to assume it is actually stuck.

2. Run the Tool in a Clean Boot State

As we mentioned earlier, the Memory Diagnostic Tool may fail to do its job properly because a background process or application is interfering with it.

In this case, we suggest that you launch the system in a Clean Boot state and then try performing the action that was previously causing the error. This state launches the system with only a minimal set of drivers and programs, disabling all non-Microsoft services, much like the Windows Safe Mode.

If the issue does not occur in the Clean Boot state, then it implies that a background process within the system is indeed the culprit.

In that case, you can try uninstalling any recently installed third-party programs and see if that makes a difference.

Follow these steps to boot Windows into the Clean Boot state:

  1. Type msconfig in Windows search and click on the Open button for System Configuration.
  2. In the following dialog, head over to the Services tab and checkmark the box associated with Hide all Microsoft Services.
    Hide all Microsoft services option
  3. Click Disable all.
    Disable all button
  4. Once done, launch the Task Manager and navigate to the Startup tab.
  5. Right-click on the apps here one by one and choose Disable.
    Disable process in Task Manager
  6. Now, go back to the System Configuration dialog and click on the OK button.

You can now restart your PC (or later) and upon reboot, your system will automatically launch in the Clean Boot state. Try running the Memory Diagnostic Tool again and check if there are any issues this time.

If the tool works fine in this state, then it is best to identify the culprit within the system and eliminate it to avoid such issues in the future. For this purpose, you can first try uninstalling the recently installed programs on the system. In case you are not sure about the apps, head over to the System Configuration dialog again and navigate to the Services tab.

You should now see a list of all the available apps on your computer. Start by dividing the available services into two parts. Then, enable all the services in the first part, and see if the issue occurs. If it does, then it means that one of the apps from the first section is the culprit.

Keep narrowing down the problematic app until you find it. This is a time-taking process, so we only recommend proceeding with it if the other methods mentioned in this guide are not doing the trick for you.

3. Enable the Memory Diagnostic Tool Cache

Another fix that worked for users was enabling the cache in the Memory Diagnostic Tool. While the real reason behind why this works is unclear, we suggest you give it a shot and see if it works for you.

Here is what you need to do:

  1. In the memory test screen, press the F1 key.
  2. Head over to the Cache section by pressing the Tab key, and then use the arrow key to select the On option.
  3. Press the F10 key to implement the change and check if it makes any difference.

4. If All Else Fails, Test Your Memory With Another Tool

If you still haven’t been able to get around the issue or are in a hurry, then you can try using a third-party program to test the memory of your system.

Our guide on how to test your PC for failing hardware covers a handy memory checking tool, called MemTest86. It's worth a try if the built-in Windows tool doesn't want to co-operate with you.

Test Your Computer's RAM Without Any Problems

You should have resolved the issue using the troubleshooting methods we mentioned above by now. If however, none of the suggestions work for you, then you can try reporting the issue to Microsoft's official support team. Till they launch an official fix for the problem, you can try using a similar third-party solution to fix the problem.