TechSapphire - Dr Watson

Dr Watson

1. Specify the Dr Watson Log Directory (Windows NT/2000/XP)
This tweak is used to set the directory that stores the log files created by the Dr. Watson utility.

Create a new Expanded String value, or modify the existing value called 'LogFilePath' using the settings below.

Settings:

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DrWatson]

Name: LogFilePath

Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ (Expanded String Value)

Value: Directory Path

2. Changing the Behavior of the Dr Watson Utility (Windows NT/2000)
By default whenever an application error occurs in Windows NT, Dr Watson is launched and the debugger started automatically. The extra resources needed for the debugger can sometimes push the system over the edge. It is possible to stop the debugger from launching by changing this setting.

Change the value of 'Auto' to equal '0' to disable the automatic debugger.

Note: To disable Dr. Watson completely simply delete the AeDebug subkey and then to re-enable simple execute the command 'drwtsn32 -i'.

Settings:
System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AeDebug]
Name: Auto
Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Value: (0 = message, 1 = debugger & message)

3. Specify the Number of Instructions to Record (Windows NT/2000/XP)
This tweak specifies the number of instructions for Dr. Watson to record during an application error.

Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value called 'Instructions' using the settings below.

Settings:

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DrWatson]

Name: Instructions

Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)

Value: Number

4. Control Symbol Dumping in Dr Watson (Windows NT/2000/XP)
This tweak controls whether the Dr. Watson should dump the contents of the symbol tables during an application error.

Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value called 'DumpSymbols' using the settings below.

Settings:

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DrWatson]

Name: DumpSymbols

Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)

Value: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)

5. Control Thread Dumping in Dr Watson (Windows NT/2000/XP)
This tweak controls whether the Dr. Watson utility should dump the contents of all threads during an application error.

Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value called 'DumpAllThreads' using the settings below.

Settings:

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DrWatson]

Name: DumpAllThreads

Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)

Value: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)

6. Specify the Wave File for Sound Notification (Windows NT/2000/XP)
This tweak is used to specify the path and filename of the wave file to be played during an application error if sound notification has been enabled.

Create a new Expanded String value, or modify the existing value called 'WaveFile' using the settings below.

Settings:

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DrWatson]

Name: WaveFile

Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ (Expanded String Value)

Value: File Location

7. Control Whether Dr Watson Alerts Using Popups (Windows NT/2000/XP)
This tweak controls whether the Dr. Watson utility display a message box when it encounters an application error.

Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value called 'VisualNotification' using the settings below.

Settings:

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DrWatson]

Name: VisualNotification

Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)

Value: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)

8. Control Whether Dr Watson Alerts Using Sound (Windows NT/2000/XP)
This tweak controls whether the Dr. Watson utility uses sound notification, i.e. a WAV file, to alert during an application error.

Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value called 'SoundNotification' using the settings below.

Settings:

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DrWatson]

Name: SoundNotification

Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)

Value: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)

9. Specify the Location of the Dump File (Windows NT/2000/XP)
This tweak allows you to specify the path and filename to use when creating a crash dump file.

Create a new Expanded String value, or modify the existing value called 'CrashDumpFile' using the settings below.

Settings:

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DrWatson]

Name: CrashDumpFile

Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ (Expanded String Value)

Value: File Location

10. Control Whether Dr Watson Creates a Crash Dump (Windows NT/2000/XP)
This tweak controls whether the Dr. Watson utility creates a crash dump file after an application crash has occured.

Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value called 'CreateCrashDump' using the settings below.

Settings:

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DrWatson]

Name: CreateCrashDump

Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)

Value: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)

11. Control the Log File Creation Method of Dr Watson (Windows NT/2000/XP)
This tweak controls whether the Dr. Watson utility creates a new log file or appends data to the old log file for each application error that occurs.

Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value called 'AppendToLogFile' using the settings below.

Settings:

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DrWatson]

Name: AppendToLogFile

Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)

Value: (0 = new, 1 = append)

12. Specify an Alternate Debugging Utility (Windows NT/2000/XP)
By default Windows uses Dr Watson as the debugger when a system crash occurs. This setting allows you to specify an alternate utility such as Visual Studio or Norton CrashGuard.

Create a new String value, or modify the existing value called 'Debugger' using the settings below.

Settings:

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AeDebug]

Name: Debugger

Type: REG_SZ (String Value)

Value: Filename