If you have been having trouble with your computer, then examining the computer logs can tell you a great deal about what is going on. A number of things can cause common computer problems such as freezing, crashing and slow performance, so it is important to check the logs on a regular basis. These logs can help you isolate the problem and begin to resolve them.

Check Event Viewer

Some of the most useful computer logs are presented in graphical format by your Windows operating system. Event Viewer keeps a log of computer problems and provides detailed information about the software or hardware that caused those issues. Event viewer also details routine items like programs starting and computer startups. To access Event Viewer, click on the "Start" button, choose "Control Panel" from the menu and choose "Administrative Tools" from the box. From there, choose "Event Viewer" and examine the logs you find there.

Check Your Antivirus Software

It is critical that you install anti-virus software on your computer before connecting it to the Internet, but it is just as important to examine the logs the program creates. You should have your computer set up to run a virus scan at least once a day, and it is important to examine those logs at least once a week. To examine these logs, click on "Start", choose "All Programs" from the menu and find your anti-virus software. Open the software package and look for the log files. The location of these log files varies by application, so you will have to look around for them. Check the program's documentation if you don't find the logs.

Search for Log and Debug Files

If you are unable to find the logs you need, then you can search your computer for them. Click on the "Start" button and choose "Search" from the menu. Double-click on "All Files and Folders" and type ".log" in the box. Click "search" to start the process, then click on the "Date Modified" column to see the newest logs first. After you have examined the log files, repeat the process using ".dbg." This will find the debug files that some programs create.

Source:

Microsoft: Using Event Viewer