Security event viewer (Computer management console)

[Enquiring Mind]

Hello,

I have 2 computers running Windows xp. On one, when I view Computer
Management>System Tools>Event Viewer>Security, I get an empty window except
for the message "There are no items to show in this view". In the other I
get a fully populated list of security events. What has disabled this on the
first computer, and how can I reinstate the security event log?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Nepatsfan]

Hello,

I have 2 computers running Windows xp. On one, when I view
Computer Management>System Tools>Event Viewer>Security, I
get an empty window except for the message "There are no
items to show in this view". In the other I get a fully
populated list of security events. What has disabled this on
the first computer, and how can I reinstate the security
event log?
Any help would be appreciated.

Which version of Windows XP are the two computers running?
Windows XP Home Edition audits logon and logoff events by
default. Windows XP Pro needs to have auditing enabled in the
Local Security Policy. Go to Control Panel -> Administrative
tools and open Local Security Policy. Click on the + sign next
to Local Policies. Click on Audit Policies. Right click Logon
Events in the right hand pane. Check both boxes and Click OK.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Enquiring Mind]

Which version of Windows XP are the two computers running? Windows XP Home
Edition audits logon and logoff events by default. Windows XP Pro needs to
have auditing enabled in the Local Security Policy. Go to Control Panel ->
Administrative tools and open Local Security Policy. Click on the + sign
next to Local Policies. Click on Audit Policies. Right click Logon Events
in the right hand pane. Check both boxes and Click OK.

Thanks for that. The difference between the 2 computers is that the computer
that does not show the event log had a clean installation of Windows XP Pro,
whilst the one that did display an event log had Windows Xp Pro installed as
an upgrade to Windows Xp home. That tallies with the default settings that
you describe.

Enquiring Mind