Sequence of steps to follow when Memtest86 freezes

[joao]

Hi

Memtest86 is freezing at pass 0, completion 63%, test 2, after 1 second. I saw some posts and info in the memtest86.com website stating that it might be a configuration problem related to UEFI or multi-threading rather than an actual memory error, or that there might be a physical problem in RAM sticks, so they should be removed and the test re-run with only one stick at a time. Since opening the laptop is more invasive then checking configurations I would appreciate suggestions on a sequence of steps of what to check, ideally with precise instructions.

I am not sure if this is relevant but the operating system is Ubuntu, when the computer starts a menu appears with 4 options, the third of which is running memtest86 and the fourth running memtest86 with some additional specifications. Trying either the test freezes just the same. After selecting 'memtest', when the blue screen with white text appears there are F1 and F2 options, but trying either again leads to freezing. I can provide more info or post pictures if that helps.

Thank you in advance

[David (PassMark)]

We are not aware of MemTest86 being included with any Ubuntu distribution.
Maybe you are using the old MemTest86+ V4 release?

If you are using V8 (or V9) then yes, there are some motherboard with UEFI BIOS bugs that causes freezes very early in the test with multi-threading.

Steps,
1) Check version of MemTest86
2) Check motherboard model in use
3) Check firmware is up to date
4) Collect log file from MemTest86.
5) Turn of multi-threading in Memtest86 and re-try
6) Add motherboard model to MemTest86 black list file if BIOS really is buggy
7) If BIOS doesn't appear buggy, then assume hardware failure.

[joao]

Dear David, thank you for your quick reply. I got stuck at point 4, as I explain below.

1) Check version of MemTest86

typing 'apt list memtest86+' returns:

memtest86+/focal-updates,now 5.01-3.1ubuntu2.1 amd64

2) Check motherboard model in use

Typing 'dmidecode -t 2' yields:
Getting SMBIOS data from sysfs.
SMBIOS 2.7 present.

Handle 0x0002, DMI type 2, 15 bytes
Base Board Information
Manufacturer: Notebook
Product Name: W840SU Series
Version: Not Applicable
Serial Number: Not Applicable
Asset Tag: Tag 12345
Features:
Board is a hosting board
Board is replaceable
Location In Chassis: Not Applicable
Chassis Handle: 0x0003
Type: Motherboard
Contained Object Handles: 0


3) Check firmware is up to date

I followed the steps from here (https://itsfoss.com/update-firmware-ubuntu/), which revolved around fwupdmgr and got:

No updatable devices

4) Collect log file from MemTest86:

I followed the link, which talks about using a USB to collect the log file but I didn't understand what exactly I should do. Should I start the computer with a standalone USB operating system and then running memtest86 from there (if yes, I need instructions on how to do it)? Or plugging a non-OS USB stick to the computer, turning on and pressing shift until getting to the (GRUB?) menu from which memtest86(+) can be run, and it will automatically write to the USB even though it freezes?

5) Turn of multi-threading in Memtest86 and re-try

This was option F2 when the blue screen appears, right? In that case I tried it already.

I appreciate if you could let me know how to proceed.

[David (PassMark)]

MemTest86+ is both old and not our software. There is no logging and it hasn't been tested on newer hardware. There is a bit of history on this page.

Our software is the original MemTest86.

[joao]

Understood. Thank you for the information provided and apologies for confusing MemTest86 and MemTest86+.