COMPUTER APPARATUS THAT EXECUTES A MEMORY DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM IN A FAULT-FREE AREA OF A MAIN MEMORY, A MEMORY DIAGNOSIS METHOD, AND A COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM HAVING A MEMORY DIAGNOSIS CONTROL PROGRAM

摘要

PURPOSE: A computer apparatus, a memory diagnosis method, and a computer-readable recording medium having a memory diagnosis control program are provided to detect a faulty area of a main memory before an OS starts up, thereby properly running the computer apparatus in spite of the presence of faulty areas in the main memory.;CONSTITUTION: A CPU controls the overall operation of a computer apparatus. Specifically, when the computer apparatus starts up, the CPU reads a BIOS(Basic Input Output System) program(31) from the ROM and executes the BIOS program to check if there is an error in devices such as DRAM. The CPU also executes the startup of an OS(Operating System) and controls various devices by executing the BIOS program. The DRAM is the main memory for the computer apparatus. A ROM, functioning as a storage unit, stores data and various programs the CPU executes. The programs the ROM stores include the BIOS program and a plurality of memory diagnostic programs. The BIOS program is a basic input and output program. The plurality of memory diagnostic programs(32) is executed when the BIOS program conducts a memory diagnosis process of the DRAM and is a collection of programs to check if various memory functions of the DRAM properly work. The memory diagnostic programs include three memory diagnostic programs(32a,32b,32c). Each of the memory diagnostic programs is designed for diagnosing a distinct memory function and has a different program size depending on the diagnostic level of the memory functions. A display controller is connected to a display and supplies an output, such as the result of memory diagnosis of the DRAM. The display is an image display device that visibly shows the output from the display controller.;COPYRIGHT KIPO 2010