Apparatus and method for distinguishing temporary and permanent errors in memory modules

An apparatus and method for distinguishing correctable bit errors in memory. A bit error detection module detects a correctable bit error in a memory in response to a READ operation. The correctable bit error is correctable using error-correcting code. The READ operation is generated during normal operation. A comparison module compares an error location indicator with a stored error location indicator. The error location indicator includes a memory location of the correctable bit error. The stored error location indicator corresponds to a previously stored error location indicator of a previous correctable bit error. A storage module stores the error location indicator if the comparison module determines that the error location indicator differs from a stored error location indicator. An error counter module increases an error counter corresponding to the error location indicator if the comparison module determines that the error location indicator matches a stored error location indicator.