I'm experiencing freezing issues with my second-hand Surface Laptop 3 when I run the RAM stress test using 'mdsched.exe.' The test gets stuck at 0% and becomes unresponsive, even to options like 'F1' and 'Esc.' However, it boots up to Windows without any issues, and everything seems to function properly otherwise.
Here are the specs: 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, i5 processor. I purchased this laptop second-hand for £141 without any refurbishing, and while it's in great physical condition, I'm concerned about the freezing problem. The SSD health is good based on CrystalDiskInfo, and all features (like the touch screen and mouse) tested fine in Surface Diagnostics. I'm currently waiting for updates to complete.
I'm unsure if I should return the laptop or troubleshoot further. I've read that the issue might relate to software conflicts, particularly with UEFI. I'm looking for insights on whether this might be a hardware fault, what diagnostic steps I should take today, and any advice on how to proceed since I'm relatively tech-savvy but not an expert.
2 Answers
You should definitely run a standard memory test like Memtest86. If there are any significant issues there, that's a solid reason to consider returning it. If Memtest86 passes, the issue is likely software-related. Did you do a clean installation of Windows, or are you using the original install that came with the laptop?
I just started running Memtest86 myself, and it booted without freezing, which is promising. It's still running its passes, so I'll update once I have results. As for Windows, it’s the version that came with the laptop.
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