Windows Error Reporting (WER) is a set of Windows technologies that capture software crash data and support end-user reporting of crash information. Through Winqual services, software and hardware vendors can access reports in order to analyze and respond to these problems. WER technologies are implemented in Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 operating systems.
Vendors can use WER to view error reports at no charge. This service is available for all products, even those that do not qualify for the "Designed for Windows" logo—although we strongly recommend that you submit your products to the Windows Logo Program.
How to View Error Reports
Microsoft sorts error reports received through Windows Error Reporting into virtual "buckets." A bucket is a categorization of all instances of a specific error associated with a particular version of a driver, application, Windows feature, or other component.
You can use the Winqual website to view driver-specific, application-specific, or operating system-specific errors associated with your organization. Each error report provides details related to that bucket, and you can then request a file of the associated data.
To view error reports:
1. | Establish a Winqual account.
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4. | Click Windows Error Reports. |
If you do not see your company's error reports, users of your products might not have submitted error reports to Microsoft. However, it might also be because Microsoft does not have sufficient information to match your company with error reports related to your products.
How to Map Files: Matching Error Reports with Your Company's Products
For you to be able to view error reports for your company's software, Microsoft needs to know which software associated with a specific bucket belongs to your organization. Making this connection in Windows Quality Online Services is referred to as "mapping files."
To associate particular error report buckets as belonging to your company:
1. | Complete the Request file mapping or Request file unmapping forms on the Winqual Web site. (Use the resources listed at the bottom of this page to find up-to-date directions.) |
2. | When you are viewing the files associated with your organization, click a file name to add or remove a file from the list. |
How System Manufacturers Can Obtain and Analyze System Data
System manufacturers can choose to include a special file, called a "marker file," on their systems. This file is used to help associate WER data with specific computer models, so that the manufacturer can view and analyze crash dumps from those systems.
To help system manufacturers identify and resolve issues related to kernel-mode error data, Microsoft can provide the following assistance:
| • | Driver vendor and other developer support contacts. |
| • | Help facilitating discussions between vendors and manufacturers. |
| • | Data mining and trend analysis, upon request. |
Minidump files can be made available on a case-by-case basis, based on the signed terms of use agreement. Driver vendors may also choose to share their minidumps directly with specific OEMs.
