Windows Error Reporting (WER) is a feature in Microsoft Windows that collects and sends error reports to Microsoft when software crashes or fails. This helps Microsoft improve the quality and reliability of its products. Understanding how to manage and configure Windows Error Reporting can be crucial for system administrators and users who want to control the flow of error data from their systems.

What is Windows Error Reporting?

Windows Error Reporting is a service that runs in the background and is responsible for capturing application and system errors. When an error occurs, WER generates a report and, if configured, sends it to Microsoft for analysis. This data helps Microsoft identify and fix issues in Windows and other Microsoft software.

How to Configure Windows Error Reporting

You can configure Windows Error Reporting using Group Policy, the Control Panel, or the Windows Registry. Below are methods to manage WER settings.

Method 1: Using Group Policy

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Error Reporting.
3. Here, you can enable or disable error reporting, configure the types of errors to report, and set up advanced options like server reporting.

Method 2: Using the Control Panel

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Navigate to System and Security -> Security and Maintenance.
3. Click on Change Security and Maintenance settings.
4. Under Problem reporting settings, you can choose how Windows should report problems.

Method 3: Using the Windows Registry

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting.
3. You can create or modify DWORD values to configure error reporting settings. For example, setting Disabled to 1 will disable error reporting.

How to View Error Reports

You can view error reports using the Event Viewer:

1. Press Win + R, type eventvwr.msc, and press Enter to open the Event Viewer.
2. Navigate to Windows Logs -> Application or Windows Logs -> System.
3. Look for entries with the source Windows Error Reporting.

Examples

Example 1: Disable Windows Error Reporting via CMD

To disable Windows Error Reporting using the Command Prompt, execute the following command:

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting" /v Disabled /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Example 2: Enable Windows Error Reporting via PowerShell

To enable Windows Error Reporting using PowerShell, use the following command:

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting" -Name "Disabled" -Value 0

Troubleshooting Windows Error Reporting

If you encounter issues with Windows Error Reporting, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

• Ensure the Windows Error Reporting service is running by checking in services.msc.
• Verify that your network connection is active if reports are not being sent.
• Check for any Group Policy settings that might be overriding local configurations.