4 Efficient Ways to View and Analyze the Windows 10 Crash Log (A Comprehensive Guide)

You’re working on an important document or playing a game when suddenly the whole PC crashes. The entire data is gone, and you have little to no clue about what happened! 

In situations like this, Windows 10 crash logs are the ideal solution for investigating system anomalies and determining the root cause of the error. They capture all the details in an easy-to-understand “.txt file” viewable with Windows utility tools like the Event Viewer, Reliability Monitor, WinDbg, etc.

However, navigating these programs can be quite complex; for this reason, we have accumulated this guide highlighting the four simple ways to help you view the Windows 10 crash log.

The Event Viewer utility is designed to keep Windows users up-to-date with all the major potential errors, warnings, or information signs to pay attention to. Whenever a crash log occurs, it’s registered immediately into this program, and it is further ready to be viewed/analyzed in depth. 

Here is how you can see these Windows crash logs using the Event Viewer program: 

1. Navigate to the Search Bar and type in Event Viewer. 

   

2. Select Open in this menu. 

   

3. In the Event Viewer program, select Windows Logs.

   

4. On here, choose Application. 

   

5. Double-click on any Information. 

   

6. Choose Details in the top left menu. 

   

7. Now, amongst these, select XML View.

   

8. Here a script will open, from where you can understand the core reason for the error. 

   

9. Under the Actions menu, on the right corner, press Filter Current Log.

   

10.  In this pop-up, fill in all the required inputs. 

    

11.  Once you are done, hit OK.

    

12.  Choose the error that took place, and then go to its XML part to find details.

    

Reliability Monitor is a tool that provides a GUI (Graphical User Interface) overview of your system’s reliability over the past few weeks. It’s designed to help novice users assess their PC and assigns a rating of 1 to 10 to show how your system is performing. 

This monitor tool is perfect for users who find the Event Viewer’s user experience a bit difficult and simply want a brief overview of their system. Keep reading to know how you can take advantage of the reliability tool for your PC management: 

1. In the taskbar, click on the Search Bar and type in Control Panel.

   

2. Hit Open in the options available under the Control Panel.

   

3. Amongst these options, choose System and Security.

   

4. Select Security and Maintenance in this menu. 

   

5. Under the Report Problems section, click View Reliability History.

   

6. Press the Maintenance option.  

   

7. Browse and hit the day the issue occurred to you. 

   

8. You’ll get a report where you can see all the errors that have occurred that day; click on any error. 

   

9. Search for Bucket ID, and select the second last code.

   

10.  Right-click on the selected code and tap on Copy. 

    

Further, go to any search engine and paste the code there, and you will be able to see the exact reason behind the Windows 10 crash log. 

PowerShell is an object-oriented programming language and automation engine designed by Microsoft. It is optimized to help IT professionals simplify their work. The platform allows the system to batch process while creating a system that can manage and perform several tasks.

You can use this PowerShell program to see data on laptop crashes by following the steps mentioned below.  

1. In the Search Bar, type in PowerShell.

   

2. Choose Run as Administrator.

   

3. In the empty field, copy-paste this code.

   

wevtutil qe System /f:text /c:10 /q:”*[System[(EventID=1001)]]”

4. Once you have copy-pasted the code, press Enter.

   

5. This is how to see data on a laptop crash; on this page you’ll find everything.

   

Another great alternative is the minidump files that are created on the Windows platform whenever your system experiences an error. These small files are further saved on your computer with valuable information, which can be used to conveniently view the exact reason behind the blue screen. 

In this section, we have mentioned a few ways to fix the Windows blue screen by accessing these important files. So read carefully.  

1. Go to Microsoft, or click here to download the platform. 

   

2. Choose Install in this pop-up, and follow the entire installation process. 

   

3. Hit on the File option in the top-left corner.

   

4. On the menu, press Settings. 

   

5. Click the Debugging Settings. 

   

6. In the field for Default Symbol Path, copy-paste this code. Once done, press OK. 

   

srv*https://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols

7. On the left of the panel, choose Open Source File. 

   

8. Select Open Dump Files from these options. 

   

9. Under Dump File, click to Browse the document. After you are done, hit Open, and the file will be displayed on the WinDbg.

   

10.  In the space, type in the underneath mentioned code, and then hit Enter.

    

!analyze -v

11. Finally, a report will be presented in the box below; see the MODULE_NAME or IMAGE_NAME to find the reason behind the error.

    

Using these easy and simplified methods, you can easily access and analyze the Windows 10 crash logs. 

Why are Windows Crash Logs Significant?

Each time Windows experiences a system or application failure, an information snapshot (Crash Logs) is collected to be analyzed. Every crash log contains all the raw error messages before and after the event. It’s like a critical blueprint for users, IT managers, and enthusiasts to follow the signal and find the key reasons for failure. 

They are a detailed record that includes critical information related to the system failure. Other than those, it also has a cause of the crash, the app, or driver that got affected, as well as the system’s current state, along with how much damage the system was facing at the time of the crash. 

Essential Things to Fix the Window Crash Logs

Many Windows 10/11 errors are linked to a bad update, software bug, or hardware failure. Your OS is designed to self-repair almost 9 out of 10 potential bugs that may occur. Even the PC specialist relies on Windows’s utility tools and performs the list of going through checkpoints before using third-party tools.

This is why knowing how to run diagnostic tools can save you hours of time, money, and resources. So here’s our official recommended checklist to go through before calling in a PC repair technician.

• Factory Reset: If your system keeps getting this issue, it’s better to do a complete factory reset; however, ensure to make a backup before you start the process, as it will delete everything. 
• Frequent Windows Updates: Keep a check on the system updates, as it might have an outdated system or its drivers. This makes your PC not experience the latest features.  
• Fix File System: Utilize the sfc /scannow in the Command Prompt by using Windows + X and selecting administrator on the terminal menu. Now copy and paste the command, and it will automatically run a check.
• Updating Drivers: Drivers are another important feature in any system. For any PC to work properly, it’s better to keep your drivers updated and check for available upgrades on them. 
• Compatibility Issues: If you are experiencing these issues, after a certain update it’s better to go back to the previous version, as it can be a significant reason behind the crashes. 
• Perform Memory Tests: Memory tests are performed by typing Windows Memory Diagnostics on the Search Bar in the taskbar and then typing Restart. 
• Checking Hard Drive: Running utilities for checking if the hardware is running seamlessly or not is also very vital. To do this, Search Bar>>CMD>>Run it as Administrator>>wmic>>Enter>>Disk Drive>>Enter>>scroll to learn the status. 

It’s always beneficial to be aware of all the ways that can assist you in avoiding any Windows crash logs. 

Wrapping Up

A Windows 10 crash log is a set of logs that are directly saved in your system whenever your PC faces an issue with a blue screen. Moreover, one can easily analyze and find the root cause of the error by making use of these files. 

For this reason, refer to the four broad methods provided by us to effortlessly view and evaluate the Win 10 crash log. Other than this, keep a regular check on the updates while performing memory tests at frequent intervals to avoid such an error from occurring in the first place.