Windows log files can be used to troubleshoot and diagnose issues you may encounter while playing games and watching videos. You may be asked by technical support to provide various log files so they can further help you to solve the problem. Here's how to obtain some of the most commonly used files:
- DirectX Diagnostic files
- System Information files
- Windows System and Application Event log files
- Installation log files
DirectX Diagnostic files
DirectX is a programming interface that handles Windows tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video. The DirectX Diagnostic file contains information about this interface and its current status. Here’s how to generate a DirectX Diagnostic file:
- Hold down the Windows key and press R.
- In the Run dialog box, type DXDIAG and then click OK. This opens the DirectX diagnostic tool.
- On the bottom of the DirectX Diagnostic Tool window, click Save All Information.
- When prompted, save the file to your Desktop with the file name DXDIAG.
- Click Save.
- Attach the file when you reply to Support.
System Information files
The Microsoft System Information tool collects system information, such as devices installed on your computer and any associated device drivers. To generate a System Information file:
- Hold down the Windows key and press R.
- In the Run dialog box, type MSINFO32 and then click OK. This opens the System Information diagnostic panel.
- In the menu bar on the left, click File, and then click Save. This will prompt you to choose a location to save the file.
- When prompted, choose your Desktop as the location to save the file with the file name MSINFO32.
- Click Save.
- Attach the file when you reply to Support.
Microsoft Windows System and Application Event log files
The Microsoft Windows Event log is a centralized log service, where the operating system and applications can report events that have taken place, such as when an action successfully completed or if there was a failure. The logs can indicate where and why an issue may be occurring.
Use the steps below to generate System and Application Event log files for your specific version of Windows:
- Hold down the Windows key and press R.
- In the Run dialog box, type EVENTVWR.MSC and click OK. This will open the Event Viewer.
- In the left pane, under Event Viewer (Local), right-click on Application and select Save Log File As... from the menu.
- When prompted, type Application Event Log for the file name and save the file to your Desktop.
- Next, right-click on System and select Save Log File As... from the menu.
- When prompted, type System Event Log for the file name and save the file to your Desktop.
- Attach the file when you reply to Support.
- Hold down the Windows key and press R.
- In the Run dialog box, type EVENTVWR.MSC and click OK. This will open the Event Viewer.
- In the left pane, under Event Viewer (Local), expand the Windows Logs folder by double-clicking on it or clicking the arrow next to the folder.
- Under Windows Logs, right-click on Application and select Save Events As... from the menu.
- When prompted, type Application Event Log for the file name and save the file to your Desktop.
- Under Windows Logs, right-click on System and select Save All Events As... from the menu.
- When prompted, type System Event Log for the file name and save the file to your Desktop.
- Attach the file when you reply to Support.
Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11
- Hold down the Windows key and press R.
- In the Run dialog box, type EVENTVWR.MSC and click OK. This will open the Event Viewer.
- In the left pane, under Event Viewer (Local), expand the Windows Logs folder by double-clicking on it or clicking on the arrow next to the folder.
- Under Windows Logs, right-click on Application and select Save All Events As... from the menu.
- When prompted, type Application Event Log for the file name and then save the file to your Desktop.
- Under Windows Logs, right-click on System and select Save All Events As... from the menu.
- When prompted, type System Event Log for the file name and then save the file to your Desktop.
- Attach the file when you reply to Support.
Installation log files
When Logitech software is installed, it uses several key log files in Windows to store installation information. These log files can indicate where a potential issue may lie. Support can use that information to help provide a resolution. To locate the installation log files:
- Hold down the Windows key and press R.
- In the Run dialog box, type %WINDIR%\INF and click OK. This will open Windows Explorer in the Windows\INF folder.
- In the Windows\INF folder, scroll down until you find the following files:
- setupapi.dev.log
- setupapi.app.log
- Attach the files when you reply to Support.