How to View Windows Crash Logs and Error Logs?

Summary: Learn how to view Windows crash logs and error logs. These logs are crucial for diagnosing issues like BSOD and application failures. In case you cannot access the hard drive after a crash, Data Recovery Software will help retrieve images and documents swiftly.

Windows 10 is a very stable operating system. However, no software is completely crashproof.

The blue screen of death (BSOD) can suddenly shut down the computer or an error could prevent an update.

How to view Windows 10/11 crash logs and error logs? The details are important because they would help you narrow down what has happened to your computer and if you need expert help.

In this article, we teach you how to check crash logs in Windows 10/11.

Table of Content:

• What Are Windows Crash Log and Error Logs?
• Why Are These Windows Crash Log Important?
• How to Access Windows Crash Log and Error Logs?
• Understanding Windows Crash Log and Error Logs
• Understanding Windows 10 Reliability Monitor
• Your Best Choice for Windows Data Recovery

What Are Windows Crash Logs and Error Logs?

Windows 10/11 crash logs and error logs are essential tools for troubleshooting system issues. These logs provide detailed information about software and hardware failures. You also get information about application crashes and other critical events that occur on your Windows 10 system.

There are two kinds of logs:

• Windows 10/11 crash logs are crash dump files or minidump files. They contain information about system crashes. We commonly call these blue screen of death (BSOD) errors.
• Windows 10/11 error logs contain records of various system events, errors, warnings, and informational messages.

Also Read: The Computer Won’t Wake Up From Sleep on Windows 11: How to Fix the Issue?

Why Are These Windows Crash Logs Important?

There is a sudden system crash or unusual behavior on your Windows 10/11 laptop. Perhaps it has slowed down considerably or is taking a long while to read and write from the hard drive.

It is because some components – motherboard, RAM, hard drive, network components – are not in good health and close to breaking. Otherwise, a driver might have become corrupted and need reinstallation.

How do you know without a system log that tracks every aspect of function from startup to log off?

That is why knowing how to open Windows 10/11 crash logs is important for every user.

Also Read: How to Fix Blank White Screen of Death on Windows 11/10?

How to Access Windows Crash Logs and Error Logs?

We can use Event Viewer and Reliability Monitor to access Windows 10/11 crash logs and error logs.

1. Using Event Viewer to Access Crash Log in Windows 10/11

The primary tool for accessing these logs in Windows 10 is the Event Viewer. Here’s how to use it:

1. Press Win + R

2. Type eventvwr.msc

3. Press Enter

4. The Event Viewer would open. It takes a few seconds to populate.

5. In the Event Viewer, look for the ‘Windows Logs’ section in the left-hand pane.

6. Select ‘System’ to view system-related events, including crashes.

7. Choose ‘Application’ to see application-related errors and crashes.

Also Read: Windows Update Error 0x80240017

2. Using Reliability Monitor

Reliability Monitor is a built-in tool in Windows 10/11. It provides a visual overview of the system’s reliability and tracks system stability.

You can access Reliability Monitor in Windows 10/11 in the following way:

1. Type Control Panel into the search bar

2. Press Enter

3. Locate the System and Security category

4. Click and open

5. Look for the Security and Maintenance option and click on it

6. Under the Maintenance section, there is an option labeled View reliability history

7. Clicking on View reliability history will launch Reliability Monitor

8. It provides a visual representation of your system’s reliability over time.

Also Read: How to Fix the Windows Update Error 0x80070002?

Understanding Windows Crash Logs and Error Logs

Analyzing Event Viewer Crash Log in Windows 10/11

Within Event Viewer, you’ll encounter various log categories like Application, Security, Setup, System, and Forwarded Events.

Select the “System” log to access system-related events.

1. Filtering the Log

To streamline the search and pinpoint crash logs, you can apply a filter. Follow these steps:

1. Click on Filter Current Log (located in the Actions pane on the right side of the Event Viewer window)

2. In the Filter Current Log dialog box, set the Event level to “Critical” and “Error.” This adjustment ensures only critical and error events are displayed.

3. Click OK to activate the filter.

2. Identifying Critical Events

1. Navigate through the System log’s event list to locate critical events linked to system crashes.

2. Look out for entries bearing event IDs such as 1001 (for Windows Error Reporting) or 41 (for unexpected shutdowns or system crashes).

3. Double-click on a specific event to find particulars within the Event Viewer’s main window.

4. Pay attention to the information detailed in the General tab

5. These include the event description, date and time of occurrence, event ID, and any accompanying error code.

Also Read: How to Fix Error 0xC1900101 on Windows 11?

Understanding Windows 10 Reliability Monitor

The Reliability Monitor is a key feature in Windows. It offers an effortless way to evaluate system stability.

It uses data from the Windows Event Manager, focusing on events that affect system reliability.

The tool monitors five main categories:

• Application Failures: Records errors encountered in applications.
• Windows Failures: Logs errors occurring within the operating system.
• Miscellaneous Failures: Captures errors related to peripheral devices.
• Warnings: Notes issues that may not directly affect system behavior.
• Information: Documents changes and updates made to the system.

Also Read: Windows Update Error 0x80240017 [Solved]

The Reliability Monitor’s findings accumulate over time, influencing the stability index. A perfect score of 10 indicates maximum stability, while a score of 1 suggests significant issues.

Typically, stable systems maintain a score around 10, while systems experiencing heavy use or stress may exhibit scores as low as 2.

The index increases by 0.03 for each hour of trouble-free operation. Deductions for errors vary, typically ranging from -0.2 to -1.0 based on the severity of the issue.

Note: Windows 10/11 crashes and data loss often occur together. Even with the best preventive measures, data loss can still occur due to unexpected system crashes or errors. This is where being proactive about data recovery comes into play. Stellar Data Recovery for Windows is designed to provide peace of mind by offering an efficient way to recover lost files and folders. You can recover up to 1 GB data free with the software. unforeseen events.

Your Best Choice for Windows Data Recovery

What to do if your hard drive fails though the system showed it as perfect? The first advice from us is do not panic. Loss of a hard drive does not equate to loss of data.

You will need software for Windows data recovery. Simply put, Stellar Data Recovery software is the most sophisticated tool in the market.

Also Read: How to Evaluate Free Data Recovery Software for Windows?

FAQs

1. What is a clean Windows 10 install? Why is it needed?

It is the process of reinstalling the Windows 10 operating system on a computer from scratch. To perform a clean install, you have to first backup all documents, images, PDFs, and media files from the C partition.

Now reboot, enter BIOS, and perform an entirely new install. A clean install makes a computer faster, takes away broken registry entries and essentially gives you a brand-new computer.  If crash reports do not solve your issue, a clean install is often the only way out. 

2. What is Windows Update Assistant?

This is a tool to make updates easier after a clean install.  After a clean install when you run the Windows Update Assistant, it checks Microsoft’s servers for any available updates.

You don’t have to wait for updates at an odd hour when you are working. Download and install using Windows Update Assistant and your clean install is ready to go another couple of years.

Also Read: How to Fix Windows Update Error 0xc1900223?

3. How do I fix a Windows 10/11 crash?

• Try to restart your computer. Most times that is all it takes.
• After restarting check if all the applications you use daily are working e.g. Office Suite, Adobe Reader, etc.
• Usually crashes happen due to malware and overheating.
• Perform a thorough scan using Windows Defender.
• Next check for overheating which can cause system instability and crashes. Ensure that your computer’s cooling system, including fans and vents, is clean and functioning properly.

Also Read: Windows 11 PC Keeps Crashing

4. Is Stellar Data Recovery software capable of retrieving data from a hard drive that has been formatted?

Yes, Stellar Data Recovery software can recover data from a formatted hard drive. The software is designed to retrieve lost or inaccessible files from various data loss scenarios, including drives that have been accidentally formatted.

It can effectively scan the formatted drive and restore files, folders, documents, photos, and other important data that may have been lost.

5. What is the chance Stellar Data Recovery Software for Windows will work for my situation?

The likelihood of Data Recovery Software for Windows working for your situation depends on various factors. These include the specific nature of your data loss scenario, the type of storage device affected, and the extent of damage to the data.

If you deleted data or formatted the drive the chances are quite high. If you dropped the hard drive it would depend on if the platter is bent out of shape.

In case of logical issues, you will almost always get back the data. In case of physical damage, it depends on the severity.

Also Read: How To Recover Files Deleted From Recycle Bin?