What Are Windows Log Files

Active3 years, 10 months ago

What are the common places to find log files of an application in Windows 7?

I know a common place is 'C:UsersMY_USER_NAMEAppDataLocal', but there are many folders with encrypted names like {73830A3D-00DD-4EC9-8905-7EACC7074E15}. I have no idea how to decrypt those.

The particular application I am interested in Keil Microvision. I googled and can't find a log location (not surprised, since it's not a software that everybody uses), so I am looking for a general way to locate the log locations.

  • Are there any log file about Windows Services Status? Ask Question Asked 10 years, 3 months ago. Are there any kind log file about it? Windows-services logging. Share improve this question. Edited Jul 1 '09 at 7:04. 8,675 5 5 gold badges 26 26 silver badges 38 38 bronze badges. Asked Jul 1 '09 at 6:15.
  • The logs are simple text files, written in XML format. Although you may think of Windows as having one Event Log file, in fact, there are many — Administrative, Operational, Analytic, and Debug, plus application log files.

An LOG file is a Log Data file used by all kinds of software and operating systems to keep track of something that has occurred, usually with an event detail, date, and time.

Thanks.

Hennes
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CodeNoobCodeNoob
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4 Answers

What Are Windows Log Files

The important place to view the Windows logs is in Event Viewer.

Windows logs are categorized in to multiple logs, Following are Windows Event logs:

  • Application Log – Contains applications or program logs.
  • Security Log - Contains valid and invalid login attempts.
  • Setup Log – Contains events related to application setup.
  • System Log – Contains events logged by Windows system components.
  • Forward Events Log – Contains events collected from remote computers.

To find the exact location of these files, Please check this out:

WikiWiki

Log files are application dependent. There is no guarantee an application will log to the event log's application log, to a particular folder, or even do any logging at all. You need to consult your applications manual or contact support to find where it does its logging and/or how to enable it.

Most commonly, you will find an application will place its logs in its top level of its application folder. Such as 'c:program filesmyapplog.txt' or in a log folder, such as 'c:program filesmyapplogslog.txt.' Again, you need to consult the manual or contact their support for the application in question.

KeltariKeltari
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Files/folders with GUID names (the numbers in curly brackets) are not, in general,encrypted and you can look in them as well as any others. Applications sometimes writea log file under a folder named after themselves. Your user TEMP folder is another likelyspot to look. As far as I can tell, the vast majority of applications do not keep a logfile at all.

kreemoweetkreemoweet

Not sure exactly what kind of logs you are looking for, but the Windows logs related to applications can be found in the Event Viewer. Ctrl+x -> Event Viewer. Check the left hand side tree for Windows Logs/Application. These usually aren't super specific, but they may help if you can't find anything else. Ultimately it is up to the application to keep logs and some don't.

System Log Files

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Location Of Windows Log Files

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