Exporting Windows Event Logs and System Information

This guide is written for users of both SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard and Professional.

This is not a troubleshooting guide.  If you have any technical issues with SOLIDWORKS, please contact Hawk Ridge Systems technical support.

In some cases it may be valuable to have specific information about your workstation. Windows has created tools which enable you to export that information for our use in the troubleshooting process. This guide explains the process of exporting two of those items: System Information and Windows Event Logs.

Contents

Exporting Windows Event Logs

Creating a Copy of your System Information

Exporting Windows Event Logs

Microsoft Windows has built-in logging which records a substantial amount of information about system processes and their functioning. If Windows detects an error, the error message will be entered into the Event Logs. The Event Viewer tool and the logs that it generates are extremely valuable for troubleshooting issues relating to the way that SOLIDWORKS interacts with Windows. The following steps explain the process of exporting the Windows Event Logs.

1. Open your Start Menu. Search for "Event Viewer".
2. A new window will open up. Expand the folder titled "Windows Logs" by clicking the arrow to the left of it. 
3. 3. Right-click the item titled "Application" and select "Save All Events As". 
4. A save-prompt will open. Select a suitable location and name for the exported logs, then click "Save" to confirm.
5. Right-click the item titled "System" and then repeat step 4 to export that log file.
6. If the File is less than 20mb, yo will be able to attach it to an email when you contact support or reply to a support email. If the file is over 20mb, it can be uploaded to SendSafely: https://hawkridgesys.com/send-safely  Note: Please fill the form out manually. Do NOT use auto-fill

Creating a Copy of your System Information

Microsoft Windows System Information provides a list of installed hardware as well as the versions of the drivers associated with them. This information can be crucial when trying to isolate why an error is affecting a particular workstation. The following steps explain the process of exporting a System Information file.

1. Open your Start Menu. Search for "System Information". If this item does not appear, hit the Windows Key + R to open the "Run" window. Enter "msinfo32" and hit Enter. A new window will open.
2. Navigate to File > Save. Do NOT select "Export".
3. A save prompt will open. Select a suitable location for the copied System Information file.
4. If the File is less than 20mb, yo will be able to attach it to an email when you contact support or reply to a support email. If the file is over 20mb, it can be uploaded to SendSafely: https://hawkridgesys.com/send-safely Note: Please fill the form out manually. Do NOT use auto-fill