How to Create and Use XP Critical Error DUMP files

First step, you need to enable XP to create DUMP files when a system error or BSOD error occurs. Microsoft explains the settings required here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314103

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Second step is to download and install, to their default locations, the XP Symbol package and the XP Debugging tools:

Symbols: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/DevTools/Debugging/symbolpkg.mspx

Debugging Tools - Current Release:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/installx86.mspx

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Third step (highly recommended): Download MS-MVP and creator of WindowsBBS site Arie Slob's little debug wrapper application DebugWiz: http://windowsbbs.com/debugwiz.zip

Unzip and move to \Windows\System32

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Now the next time a critical error or BSOD occurs, a DUMP file will be created.

[color red]A critical program error occurs:[/color] The DUMP file will be found in \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Dr Watson\user.dmp
[color red]For BSOD errors[/color] the DUMP file will be found at C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\MEMORY.DMP (mini-model setting) or be found for large model settings at C:\MEMORY.DMP

[color blue]What to do when a DUMP file is created:

Start, Run, CMD
dumpwiz

Browse using the tool to your dump file.
Click 'Generate Log'
Exit
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Your debugging log can be found and opened in Notepad at the location C:\debuglog.txt

Resources:

Help and training resources:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/resources.mspx

Debugging Tool Documentation:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/DevTest_g/hh/DevTest_g/dbgblurb_f1cd9633-734a-49e5-8eac-bd37897fd80a.xml.asp

My thanks to Arie and the other good folks at WindowsBBS: http://www.windowsbbs.com/