Error logs - Where do I find them and are they helpful?

bloodline76 · 17 Jan 2008 at 12:11

Hi there

Just a noobie question but when a computer crashes or comes up with an error, is this stored somewhere within the computer. If so where?

And is it in plain english as to what the error is?

Thanks

bledd · 17 Jan 2008 at 12:15

start, run

eventvwr

the application & system logs are the ones you want to look at, sometimes they actually tell you what to do, other times certain errors aren't logged at all..

bloodline76 · 17 Jan 2008 at 12:45

Thanks, thats great!

Fr0dders · 17 Jan 2008 at 13:38

event viewer isnt very good at explaining in plain english what the error is

I work in IT support, and usually finding the reason for a crash involves a bit of googling, a bit of event viewer browsing, and if necessary using a mini dump viewer.

Fr0dders · 17 Jan 2008 at 13:41

minidump viewer

http://www.debuginfo.com/tools/minidumpview.html

this is only if your PC dumps physical memory, ie that horrible blue screen of death message.