Capture RAM with FTK Imager Easily

When performing digital forensics, one of the most critical tasks is capturing volatile memory (RAM). RAM stores temporary system data that disappears once the power is off - making it a top priority for forensic investigators.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to capture RAM using FTK Imager, a powerful tool used by cybersecurity experts for forensic analysis.

What Is FTK Imager? ​

FTK Imager (Forensic Toolkit Imager) is a free and widely used forensic acquisition tool for Windows. It allows investigators to:
Acquire RAM (volatile memory)
Create disk images of storage drives
Preview and verify files before analysis

While FTK Imager can also image entire hard drives, in this article we’ll focus on capturing RAM for forensic purposes - a process known as volatile memory acquisition.

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Why Capture RAM? ​

RAM can contain:

• Chat logs and active messages
• Decryption keys
• Running processes and open network connections
• Malware traces or injected code

Since RAM is volatile (it loses data when powered off), forensic experts must capture it immediately during an investigation.

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Step-by-Step: Capturing RAM with FTK Imager ​

Let’s walk through the process of acquiring a system’s memory safely and properly.

Step 1: Download FTK Imager ​

1. Go to the official AccessData website.
2. Click “Download Now.”
3. You’ll be asked to fill in a short form with your email address.
4. The download link will be sent directly to your inbox .

Once downloaded, install FTK Imager (latest version: 4.5).

Step 2: Launch FTK Imager ​

Open FTK Imager, and the main dashboard will appear - clean and ready for forensic action.

Step 3: Capture Memory ​

1. Click on “File” in the top-left corner.
2. Select “Capture Memory” from the dropdown menu.

This opens the Memory Capture wizard where you’ll configure how and where the RAM data will be saved.

Step 4: Choose Destination Folder ​

Browse to select a destination folder for saving the memory dump file (usually with a .mem extension).
Check the following options:

• Include pagefile
• Create AD1 file

These ensure all relevant data fragments are captured.

Step 5: Start Memory Capture ​

Click “Capture Memory” and let FTK Imager begin the acquisition.
You’ll see progress bars showing the dump process, followed by the creation of pagefile and AD1 files.

Once complete, click “Close.”

Congratulations - your RAM image has been successfully captured!

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Step 6: Verify and Analyze the RAM Dump ​

Navigate to your chosen output folder. You’ll see the generated .mem file along with other supporting files.

You can now use tools like Volatility (on Kali Linux or Windows Subsystem for Linux) to analyze the captured memory.

Example command:

volatility -f memorydump.mem --profile=Win10x64 pslist

This will list all active processes at the time of acquisition .

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Importance of Volatile Memory Acquisition ​

RAM data is highly volatile, meaning it exists only while the system is powered on. Once the power is cut, the data is lost forever.

That’s why capturing memory is one of the first steps in a digital forensics investigation - it helps recover live evidence before it disappears.

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Community & Next Steps ​

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We’re passionate about helping others learn digital forensics, ethical hacking, and Linux security .

Got questions? Drop them in the comments section below - we read and reply to every one!

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Final Thoughts ​

Using FTK Imager to capture RAM is one of the easiest and most reliable ways to perform digital forensics analysis. Combined with Volatility, you can uncover powerful insights about system behavior, malware activity, and user sessions - all hidden in memory.

So next time you’re performing a forensic investigation, remember:
Capture RAM first, before the evidence disappears.