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Using the Event Viewer

The Event Viewer is the central diagnostic tool for Windows. If services fail to start or applications crash, you will find the detailed error messages recorded here.

Step 1

Open Event Viewer

The most direct way to open the console is via the "Run" command (Shortcut: Win + R).

Launch Console
eventvwr.msc
Step 2

Understand Log Categories

Under "Windows Logs" in the left pane, you will find the three most relevant categories for troubleshooting:

Application
Errors from installed software like web servers or databases.
Security
Logs for login attempts, permissions, and security audits.
System
Critical messages from Windows components (drivers, services).
Step 3

Filter for Errors

Since logs can contain thousands of entries, you should filter the view to find problems quickly:

1Right-click a category (e.g., System) > "Filter Current Log...".
2Under "Event level", select only Critical and Error.
3Click OK to display only severe issues within the chosen timeframe.
Analysis

Interpret an Event

Click on an event to see the details below. These three values are essential for your diagnosis:

Event IDUnique error number
SourceThe responsible component
LevelSeverity of the issue

Troubleshooting Tip: Always search for the combination of Source and Event ID (e.g., "Kernel-Power ID 41") to quickly find solutions in technical forums.

Microsoft Documentation

Learn more about managing system logs on the official Microsoft Learn portal.

Microsoft Learn