Tech Support > Microsoft Windows > Where is the error log?
Where is the error log?
Posted by Michael Hesse on September 29th, 2005


Hi,

Sometimes I get a message like "Windows has had to shut down XYZ.Exe. An
error log is being generated." Where is the error log?

I am running XP Pro.

Thanks,

Michael


Posted by Daniel Martín on September 29th, 2005


If you are referring to application crashes, an event is recorded into Event Viewer, Application log, with the 'Application Error' source.

To open Event Viewer, click Start, Run, type (without quotes) 'eventvrw.msc' and hit Enter.

--
Greetings,
Daniel Martín


"Michael Hesse" <mhesse@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message news:HfX_e.720$sL3.218@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com. ..
> Hi,
>
> Sometimes I get a message like "Windows has had to shut down XYZ.Exe. An
> error log is being generated." Where is the error log?
>
> I am running XP Pro.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Michael
>
>

Posted by wyocowboy on September 30th, 2005


If you are referring to a small grey box with a Cancel button that pops up
announcing that an error log is being generated, it is being generated by
DrWatson, and the log can be found here...

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Dr Watson

It is true that the even is also recorded in the event log, but there is
more detail in the Dr Watson log, although it is of more use to the
programmer than to the typical user.

"Daniel MartÃ*n" wrote:

> If you are referring to application crashes, an event is recorded into Event Viewer, Application log, with the 'Application Error' source.
>
> To open Event Viewer, click Start, Run, type (without quotes) 'eventvrw.msc' and hit Enter.
>
> --
> Greetings,
> Daniel MartÃ*n
>
>
> "Michael Hesse" <mhesse@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message news:HfX_e.720$sL3.218@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com. ..
> > Hi,
> >
> > Sometimes I get a message like "Windows has had to shut down XYZ.Exe. An
> > error log is being generated." Where is the error log?
> >
> > I am running XP Pro.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Michael
> >
> >

>

Posted by Wesley Vogel on September 30th, 2005


Log is first generated here...
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Dr
Watson\drwtsn32.log
or
%allusersprofile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Dr Watson\drwtsn32.log

[[When Dr. Watson detects a program error, extensive diagnostic
information is logged in the Drwtsn32.log file. Dr. Watson also records an
entry in the Event Viewer Application Log containing the program name, date,
time, exception number, exception name, program counter, and function name
at the current program counter, as well as the complete diagnostic
information that was logged for that error.]]

To open the Event Viewer...
Start | Run | Type: eventvwr | Click OK

For any Events that seem related to the problem...

Double click the event in Event Viewer | Click: the button below the second
arrow (looks like two pages) [[Copies the details of the event to the
Clipboard.]] | Paste into Notepad | Also click on:
For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Read all info | Copy and paste to Notepad | Click the [+] Related Knowledge
Base articles | Follow any links that might be useful

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;308427

Event Viewer overview
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...erview_01.mspx

This can also be very useful.
You need to have the Event ID & the Event Source.

To view Windows XP Events and Errors, type the Source (for example, Print)
and/or the Event code (for example, 20) into the ID field, then click the Go
button. Source and Event codes may be found in the Event Viewer logs.

Windows XP Home/Professional Events and Errors
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sup...=5.1&LCID=1033
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:HfX_e.720$sL3.218@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com,
Michael Hesse <mhesse@sbcglobal.net> hunted and pecked:
> Hi,
>
> Sometimes I get a message like "Windows has had to shut down XYZ.Exe. An
> error log is being generated." Where is the error log?
>
> I am running XP Pro.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Michael


Posted by Michael Hesse on September 30th, 2005


That was VERY helpful.

Thanks to all of you who responded

Michael
"Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel955@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:eXLzFMexFHA.3236@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> Log is first generated here...
> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Dr
> Watson\drwtsn32.log
> or
> %allusersprofile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Dr Watson\drwtsn32.log
>
> [[When Dr. Watson detects a program error, extensive diagnostic
> information is logged in the Drwtsn32.log file. Dr. Watson also records an
> entry in the Event Viewer Application Log containing the program name,
> date,
> time, exception number, exception name, program counter, and function name
> at the current program counter, as well as the complete diagnostic
> information that was logged for that error.]]
>
> To open the Event Viewer...
> Start | Run | Type: eventvwr | Click OK
>
> For any Events that seem related to the problem...
>
> Double click the event in Event Viewer | Click: the button below the
> second
> arrow (looks like two pages) [[Copies the details of the event to the
> Clipboard.]] | Paste into Notepad | Also click on:
> For more information, see Help and Support Center at
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
>
> Read all info | Copy and paste to Notepad | Click the [+] Related
> Knowledge
> Base articles | Follow any links that might be useful
>
> HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;308427
>
> Event Viewer overview
> http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...erview_01.mspx
>
> This can also be very useful.
> You need to have the Event ID & the Event Source.
>
> To view Windows XP Events and Errors, type the Source (for example, Print)
> and/or the Event code (for example, 20) into the ID field, then click the
> Go
> button. Source and Event codes may be found in the Event Viewer logs.
>
> Windows XP Home/Professional Events and Errors
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sup...=5.1&LCID=1033
> --
> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>
> Wes
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>
> In news:HfX_e.720$sL3.218@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com,
> Michael Hesse <mhesse@sbcglobal.net> hunted and pecked:
>> Hi,
>>
>> Sometimes I get a message like "Windows has had to shut down XYZ.Exe. An
>> error log is being generated." Where is the error log?
>>
>> I am running XP Pro.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Michael

>