Dr Watson makes huge log files (over 8GB) why?

[Stryker]

Suddenly drwtsn32.log file are appearing and filling up my C:\ drive. It
seems to happen when running the resident defrag program but that may be
coincidence.

Is it safe to remove the drwtsn32 and drwatson exe files in order to stop
the log files being generated?

XP Pro waiting to upgrade to SP2 but can't do it with no space on the C:\
drive.

I am out of my depth here and don't really know how to fix the problem let
alone understand why it is happening.

TIA

Stryker

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Suddenly drwtsn32.log file are appearing and filling up my C:\ drive.
It seems to happen when running the resident defrag program but that
may be coincidence.

Is it safe to remove the drwtsn32 and drwatson exe files in order to
stop the log files being generated?

XP Pro waiting to upgrade to SP2 but can't do it with no space on the
C:\ drive.

I am out of my depth here and don't really know how to fix the
problem let alone understand why it is happening.

TIA

Stryker

You can delete the files (not the exe files - the actual dump files created
by drwatson), but it might behoove you to see which app/service/whatnot is
causing them. Check your event logs.

 

[Gerry Cornell]

You can open the drwtsn32.log using Notepad. You can delete all or part
of the contents without creating any problems thereby reducing the file
size. The contents of the files may be helpful to an expert to
troubleshoot problems. Why not delete the older entries.


~~~~~~


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please tell the newsgroup how any
suggested solution worked for you.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Wesley Vogel]

If a program error occurs, Dr. Watson will start automatically.

Dr. Watson is a program error debugger that detects and diagnoses program
errors and creates User.dmp and DrWtsn32.log files to contain the diagnostic
data.

If you have a lot of program errors, drwtsn32.log will get huge.

Append To Existing Log File
[[Specifies whether Dr. Watson appends diagnostic information to the end of
the Drwtsn32.log file or creates a new log file for each program error.
Selecting this option can cause your log file to become very large.]]

Either delete the drwtsn32.log or open it and delete the contents.

Open Dr. Watson and adjust some settings...
Start | Run | Type: drwtsn32 | OK |

Log File Path:
[[The default location is the Documents and Settings\All users\Application
Data\Microsoft\Dr Watson folder, which is created when you first run Dr.
Watson. Dr. Watson will create the Drwtsn32.log file containing the
diagnostic information about program errors in this folder.]]

Crash Dump:
[[The crash dump file must be specified if you select the Create Crash Dump
File check box. The default is Documents and Settings\All users\Application
Data\Microsoft\Dr Watson\user.dmp. The crash dump file is a binary file that
can be loaded into a debugger. Click Browse to select a different crash dump
file or location.
Be sure that the path specified is one to which all users have Write
permission. If Dr. Watson cannot use the path specified when a crash dump
file is created, the File Open dialog box appears for you to specify a new
path.]]

Set to 10:
Number of Instructions:
[[Specifies the maximum number of instructions that Dr. Watson will
disassemble before and after the current program counter for each thread
state dump. The program counter is a computer register that contains the
memory location for a thread's current point of execution.]]

Set to 10 or less:
Number of Errors To Save
[[Specifies the maximum number of errors Dr. Watson will record in the log
file. When Dr. Watson detects a program error, extensive diagnostic
information is logged in the Drwtsn32.log file. Dr. Watson also records an
entry in the Event Viewer Application Log containing the program name, date,
time, exception number, exception name, program counter, and function name
at the current program counter, as well as the complete diagnostic
information that was logged for that error.]]

Under Options, UNCheck everything.

 

[Stryker]

Thanks Wes, Gerry and Lanwench

It all seems to be very complicated and I obviously have problems that I am
unable to deal with due to my age and capabilities. I guess I give it up
when it breaks I pay someone else to fix or reinstall.

Stryker

If a program error occurs, Dr. Watson will start automatically.

Dr. Watson is a program error debugger that detects and diagnoses program
errors and creates User.dmp and DrWtsn32.log files to contain the
diagnostic
data.

If you have a lot of program errors, drwtsn32.log will get huge.

Append To Existing Log File
[[Specifies whether Dr. Watson appends diagnostic information to the end
of
the Drwtsn32.log file or creates a new log file for each program error.
Selecting this option can cause your log file to become very large.]]

Either delete the drwtsn32.log or open it and delete the contents.

Open Dr. Watson and adjust some settings...
Start | Run | Type: drwtsn32 | OK |

Log File Path:
[[The default location is the Documents and Settings\All users\Application
Data\Microsoft\Dr Watson folder, which is created when you first run Dr.
Watson. Dr. Watson will create the Drwtsn32.log file containing the
diagnostic information about program errors in this folder.]]

Crash Dump:
[[The crash dump file must be specified if you select the Create Crash
Dump
File check box. The default is Documents and Settings\All
users\Application
Data\Microsoft\Dr Watson\user.dmp. The crash dump file is a binary file
that
can be loaded into a debugger. Click Browse to select a different crash
dump
file or location.
Be sure that the path specified is one to which all users have Write
permission. If Dr. Watson cannot use the path specified when a crash dump
file is created, the File Open dialog box appears for you to specify a new
path.]]

Set to 10:
Number of Instructions:
[[Specifies the maximum number of instructions that Dr. Watson will
disassemble before and after the current program counter for each thread
state dump. The program counter is a computer register that contains the
memory location for a thread's current point of execution.]]

Set to 10 or less:
Number of Errors To Save
[[Specifies the maximum number of errors Dr. Watson will record in the log
file. When Dr. Watson detects a program error, extensive diagnostic
information is logged in the Drwtsn32.log file. Dr. Watson also records an
entry in the Event Viewer Application Log containing the program name,
date,
time, exception number, exception name, program counter, and function name
at the current program counter, as well as the complete diagnostic
information that was logged for that error.]]

Under Options, UNCheck everything.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

Suddenly drwtsn32.log file are appearing and filling up my C:\ drive.
It seems to happen when running the resident defrag program but that
may be coincidence.

Is it safe to remove the drwtsn32 and drwatson exe files in order to
stop the log files being generated?

XP Pro waiting to upgrade to SP2 but can't do it with no space on the
C:\ drive.

I am out of my depth here and don't really know how to fix the
problem let alone understand why it is happening.

TIA

Stryker