When Windows develops problems one of the best ways to troubleshoot the issue is looking at the system event logs using Event Viewer. There are alternative viewers of the event logs available that are a bit easier to read, here we have 5 to look at.

1. Security Logs Are Full
2. Windows Security Event Log
3. Default Event Log Size Windows 2016

Although you may think of Windows as having one Event Log file, in fact, there are many — Administrative, Operational, Analytic, and Debug, plus application log files.Every program that starts on your PC posts a notification in an Event Log, and every well-behaved program posts a notification before it stops. Every system access, security change, operating system twitch, hardware failure, and driver hiccup all end up in one or another Event Log.

Security Logs Are Full

Windows Security Event Log

The Event Viewer scans those text log files, aggregates them, and puts a pretty interface on a deathly dull, voluminous set of machine-generated data. Think of Event Viewer as a database reporting program, where the underlying database is just a handful of simple flat text files.In theory, the Event Logs track “significant events” on your PC.

Default Event Log Size Windows 2016

In practice, the term “significant” is in the eyes of the beholder. Or programmer.

In the normal course of, uh, events, few people ever need to look at any of the Event Logs. But if your PC starts to turn sour, the Event Viewer may give you important insight to the source of the problem.Here’s how to use the Event Viewer:.Right-click or tap and hold the Start icon. Choose Event Viewer.