WinCrashReport, Windows Crash Reporting Alternative

Martin Brinkmann
Aug 25, 2011
Software, Windows
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Error reporting has been modified by Microsoft with nearly every operating system they have released. Windows 2000 users for instance saw a cryptic error message with no options whatsoever to access the error report. This changed under Windows XP, and was further modified under Windows Vista and Windows 7.

While it is easier to work with crash reports under Windows Vista / 7 thanks to improved handling, it is still lacking fundamental features that one would expect from a first party tool. The ability to look up errors in a "crash" database on the Internet looks good on paper, but falls short thanks to lack of entries in that database.

Nirsoft is not reinventing the wheel with its latest Windows application WinCrashReport. The biggest accomplishment of the portable program is that it unifies the error reporting on all supported versions of the Windows operating system. It is compatible with all 32-bit and 64-bit editions of the Microosft Windows operating system from Windows 2000 to the very latest Windows 7 (at the time of writing).

The program needs to be run when an application crashes on the system. Windows 7 and Vista users may need to run WinCrashReport with elevated privileges if the crashed application was run with administrative rights as well.

The program then displays the file name, exception code and address in its interface, as well as the complete error report in the lower half of it.

windows error report

The information presented here are valuable to programmers and admins who need to resolve program crashes. Regular users on the other hand won't necessarily be able to use the available crash information to fix the issue themselves. Regardless, they can use some of the information to research the crash on the Internet.

The program can be used to create a text or html report of the crash. That's handy for keeping records of application crashes for instance, or for sending the report to an admin or coder. The interface displays plain text error reports by default, which can be switched to html reports with the F9 key (and back to text with F8).

Reports are saved with the Ctrl-S shortcut, or the File > Save this crash report menu.

WinCrashReport does not support 64-bit application crashes at this point in time. Future versions of the software will support 64-bit crashes as well.

Windows users can download WinCrashReport directly from the Nirsoft website.

Some users may want to know how this program differs from AppCrashView by the same developer. AppCrashView is only compatible with Vista and Windows 7. It furthermore pulls the information from system crash logs (wer files) that are created by Windows Error Reporting. This means that you may see multiple error listings in AppCrashView that may data back some time ago.

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Comments

  1. Anonymous said on March 9, 2023 at 1:52 pm
    Reply

    Does it come back after every “moment” update?

  2. Baloney said on March 9, 2023 at 2:23 pm
    Reply

    Yeah right.. Like this is going to stop defender from running =) This is comedy gold right here.

  3. Anonymous said on March 9, 2023 at 3:25 pm
    Reply

    no ‘about the author’ paragraph?

  4. Gregory said on March 9, 2023 at 4:19 pm
    Reply

    For permanent disable defender is if removed complete from system no just change permission folder.

    Just this is joke.

  5. moi said on March 9, 2023 at 5:57 pm
    Reply

    simpler, load Autoruns (SysInternals)
    – filter “Defender”
    – untag all entries
    – reboot
    nothing has changed since my 1st modification years ago

  6. John G. said on March 9, 2023 at 6:32 pm
    Reply

    I wouldn’t disable Defender imho, it has too many hidden roots inside Windows itself. One time I tried to uninstall it using brute force scripts and then the Onedrive feature stopped working definitely. A reinstallation was needed and since those times I prefer to maintain Defender untouched. It’s a better method to install another antivirus and it will disable Defender in a safer and easier mode (e.g., Avast is the best in this way, and also Panda Cloud Free is good too).

    1. Tweakmaster said on September 29, 2023 at 9:57 am
      Reply

      U are just * [Editor: removed] thats the problem ;p first of all u shall always debloat windows u shall have max 65 services with your drivers for pc and windows own servs. You didnt know what that script did

  7. boris said on March 10, 2023 at 12:19 am
    Reply

    You can not stop defender from running in background or remove it without some penalty. All you can do is to limit telemetry.

    1. TelV said on March 10, 2023 at 4:52 pm
      Reply

      @borts,

      It’s probably Smartscreen which is preventing WD from being disabled. Get rid of that and the problem should be solved: https://thegeekpage.com/disable-windows-defender-smartscreen/#How_to_disable_the_Windows_Defender_SmartScreen_via_Local_Group_Policy_Editor

  8. hoho said on March 10, 2023 at 1:47 pm
    Reply

    Remove Windows and go for Linux.

    1. basingstoke said on March 10, 2023 at 2:51 pm
      Reply

      Linux sucks dude. Besides it’s not comparable to Windows, these OSes are in different classes entirely.

      1. Derp said on March 10, 2023 at 4:36 pm
        Reply

        I use Linux as my daily driver. It’s far more stable than Windows. When’s the last time you used Linux, 2010?

      2. Bromosexual said on March 11, 2023 at 2:04 am
        Reply

        @basingstoke

        You’re right, dude. Bro, linux is just a bunch of code that starts before the OS, dude. Brobrodude, that shit ain’t even got emojis, dudebrodudeman! Dudebro, it’s no way near as cool as Windows with its hardcoded abilities to make money off the user, bro. Yo brodude man, you’re the coolest dude ever man, bro. Dude.

      3. basingstoke said on August 16, 2023 at 7:20 pm
        Reply

        Lol what? Windows 7 doesn’t come with any Emojis

  9. TelV said on March 10, 2023 at 4:46 pm
    Reply

    Download Autoruns and remove the checkmark from Windows Defender. It doesn’t remove it, but it will never run. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns

  10. Simon said on March 10, 2023 at 8:37 pm
    Reply

    Just use “Defender Control”:
    https://www.sordum.org/9480/defender-control-v2-1/comment-page-1/#comments

    Per this video,
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLIjr7FyxZ8
    it also works on Windows 11 too…

  11. Someone said on March 10, 2023 at 9:26 pm
    Reply

    Win Defender, is completly the most succesful free-built in antivirus of Microsoft. Really nice product. Saved my ass a lot of times. Has updated malware database, completly strong defence
    from whatever smart screen disables. Or if you want better and more upgrated (paid) program,
    you can go further. But defender is always on your side.

  12. CalixtoWVR1 said on March 10, 2023 at 10:03 pm
    Reply

    Why would one disable Windows (or Microsoft) Defender in the first place?. I consider this to be playing with fire big time. Everybody knows that if one is using another A-V, Defender will be disabled on its own and won’t be in one’s way.

  13. Ed D said on March 10, 2023 at 11:09 pm
    Reply

    Why would I want to disable Windows Defender in the first place? It’s a great anti virus in my opinion. Been using it since Windows 8 and and never had a problem or a virus. Why mess with a good thing, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

  14. owl said on August 17, 2023 at 1:57 am
    Reply

    How a ridiculous article!
    I am thoroughly stunned.

    Why Should You Disable First-Party Windows Defender?
    I can only think that it is “malice or perversely intention (want you to buy a third-party AV where you can expect a back margin)” to guide invalidation without showing the premise.
    No sane company will use third-party closed source programs (such as AV).

    As I thought, “Ghacks Technology News” seems to be coming to downfall.

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