How to configure Windows to create MiniDump files on BSOD
BlueScreenView utility allows you to watch the blue screen crashes occurred in your system by reading and analyzing the MiniDump files created on every crash by the operating system. The MiniDump files are usually created under C:\WINDOWS\Minidump, unless the path was modified in the system failure settings of Windows.
In most systems, Windows is already configured to create these MiniDump files as the default system failure configuration.
However, if from some reason MiniDump files are not created in your system during a blue screen crash, you should follow the instructions below in order to configure Windows to create them.
For Windows XP:
- Right-click on the 'My Computer' icon and choose 'Properties'. Alternatively, you can also go to Control Panel and open the 'System' applet.
- In the opened window, click the 'Advanced' tab and then inside the 'Startup And Recovery' frame, click the 'Settings' button.
System Properties Window
- In the opened 'Startup And Recovery' window, there is 'Write Debugging Information' section. You should set the combo-box in this section to 'Small memory dump', and then click 'ok' to confirm the change.
Startup And Recovery
For Windows 7:
- Go to the Control Panel, choose 'System And Security', and then click 'System', and then click the 'Advanced System Settings' link.
- In the opened window, click the 'Advanced' tab and then inside the 'Startup And Recovery' frame, click the 'Settings' button.
- In the opened 'Startup And Recovery' window, there is 'Write Debugging Information' section. You should set the combo-box in this section to 'Small memory dump', and then click 'ok' to confirm the change.
You can also make this MiniDump change in the Registry, by setting the following value:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl]
"CrashDumpEnabled"=dword:00000003
However, be aware that this Registry change affects the system only after reboot.
August 6th, 2010 at 6:37 am
I am sorry to say this in this place, but your tools simply rock! Thanks a lot! Very much appreciated!
September 9th, 2010 at 9:47 am
I am encountering a STOP error c0000021a on both restarts and shutdowns, both related to the Winlogon process terminating. The system is not generating any Minidumps. Will the registry edit approach fix this? I have the system configured to generate Userdump files and have a set of .dmp files. Unfortunately, WinDbg isn't telling me much.
October 31st, 2010 at 5:27 pm
OMG!!! Finally my usual bi-hourly BSOD is solved!!! I'm so happy now
)
January 31st, 2011 at 4:01 am
You are a computer god!
February 12th, 2011 at 8:40 am
Brand new HP Pavilion dv7 with Windows 7
Random BSOD
See below for most recent one - can anyone help?
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional information about the problem:
BCCode: 50
BCP1: FFFFF28006340D50
BCP2: 0000000000000000
BCP3: FFFFF80002CF07ED
BCP4: 0000000000000007
OS Version: 6_1_7600
Service Pack: 0_0
Product: 768_1
Files that help describe the problem:
C:\Windows\Minidump21111-31465-01.dmp
C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\WER-30978912-0.sysdata.xml
February 18th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
I'm having the same problem - random BSOD on a 60 day old HP Pavilion dv7 with Windows 7 64bit. I thought it was a software problem so did a full system restore from the RECOVERY D: partition. Still crashing. Any ideas?
May 10th, 2011 at 9:45 pm
I don't know how to thank you. Though not plagued with BSOD's often at all, it is very frustrating to try to read the screen and then boop... the reboot comes when I'm about halfway. And we all know reading the system file is coded for MS-only decryption.
Rockimus-Onimus-Nirimus!!
May 15th, 2011 at 11:15 am
Can this app open Kernel memory dumps or Complete Memory Dumps as well?
June 7th, 2011 at 5:15 am
Use Windbg to analyze the Minidump file
June 15th, 2011 at 5:50 am
Hi,
I went to the location using regedit but how to create new value plz help me i m facing the Blue screen error
October 16th, 2011 at 5:30 am
I get vertical strips with horizontal lines in it while system crashes and auto restarts. I don't get bsod even after automatically restart is disabled. I could not figure it out whether it is hardware problem or software.
My system is 8 months old consist of Asus Mother, Intel i3 processor and 4gb ram.
November 6th, 2011 at 6:14 am
Hi... my laptop got problems.. sometimes, when i do the start, there's a power but no display in the screen. il do try restarting and it turn to BSOD.. im confuse what is all about this error cause sometimes it works great...even i use the recovery disk, nothing happens... same problem i got. ASUS PT3400
December 28th, 2011 at 2:21 am
@Lotez. Sounds like your problem is more related to a hardware issue due to a corrupted BIOS. Try removing the battery and power adapter then press and hold the power button for at least 30 sec to clear the BIOS. Reinsert the battery, connect the power adapter, and try to reboot. If that does not solve your issue and you are adventurous, dismantle your laptop and remove the CMOS coin cell battery for at least 30 sec to clear the BIOS. Reinsert the CMOS battery and re-assemble the laptop. Again, insert the battery and power adapter and reboot. If the coin cell battery is soldered, short it by touching a conductive metal (screwdriver) across its terminals. You can find specific instructions on how to dismantle your laptop by either googling or searching Youtube. HTH
January 10th, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Tried that. Still no minidump recorded. No folder C:\WINDOWS\Minidump exists, despite getting a BSOD every hour or so. The system event log has no events except those for the computer starting up.
January 10th, 2012 at 8:18 pm
Aha. I noticed other people who complain of not having a minidump file, like me, have their OS installed on an SSD. When you install an OS on an SSD, you don't use a pagefile, because the page file would ruin your SSD. When you have no pagefile, you get no minidump. You will get a popup warning you that you will get no minidump in case of STOP if you try to change the "Small dump directory" location.
January 10th, 2012 at 8:21 pm
That's not right, either. I have a pagefile, but I moved it to another drive, instead of having it on my SSD. The error popup specifically says, "If the pagefile on volume C: has an initial size of less than 0 megabytes, then the system may not be able to create a debugging information file if a STOP error occurs." Windows is on C, and the pagefile is on Z.
January 24th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
What are the settings for Vista. XP & Win7 are posted. Where is Vista info.
Why Small memory dump vs Kernel memory dump which is default on my Vista box.
Can this app open Kernel memory dumps or Complete Memory Dumps as well?
February 1st, 2012 at 11:41 pm
OK, I did that, and the C:/windows/minidump folder is there, yet there isn't a log since mid-November. I've been getting BSODs, but no log whatsoever.