◆Error Codes Wiki

Windows Event Viewer Error Codes — Reading & Interpreting System Logs

Warningsystem

Overview

Guide to understanding Windows Event Viewer error codes, critical events, warning levels, and how to use event logs to diagnose system problems.

Key Details

  • Event Viewer (eventvwr.msc) is the central Windows logging system
  • Event levels: Information, Warning, Error, Critical — filter by level to find problems
  • Key logs: Windows Logs > System (OS), Application (apps), Security (logon/access)
  • Each event has an ID number, source, and detailed description
  • Common critical events: 41 (Kernel-Power), 1001 (BugCheck/BSOD), 6008 (unexpected shutdown)

Common Causes

  • System errors: driver failures, service crashes, hardware faults
  • Application errors: program crashes, unhandled exceptions, missing dependencies
  • Security events: failed logon attempts, policy changes, audit failures
  • Service failures: timeout starting, dependency chain broken
  • Hardware: disk errors (Event 7, 11, 51, 153), memory errors (WHEA events)

Steps

  1. 1Open Event Viewer: Win+R > eventvwr.msc
  2. 2Navigate to Windows Logs > System for OS-level errors
  3. 3Filter by level: right-click log > Filter Current Log > check Error and Critical
  4. 4Double-click an event to see the full description and any error codes
  5. 5Create Custom View: Action > Create Custom View to combine and filter across multiple logs

Tags

windowsevent-viewerloggingdiagnosticstroubleshooting

More in System

windows-C000021A-status-system-process-terminatedWindows Error 0xC000021A — STATUS SYSTEM PROCESS TERMINATED
Critical
windows-C0000225-boot-configuration-errorWindows Error 0xC0000225 — Boot Configuration Error
Critical
windows-C000000F-boot-selection-failedWindows Error 0xC000000F — Boot Selection Failed
Critical
windows-80004005-unspecified-errorWindows Error 0x80004005 — Unspecified Error
Warning
windows-80070570-file-or-directory-corruptedWindows Error 0x80070570 — File or Directory Corrupted
Error
windows-system-0xc0000185Windows Error 0xC0000185 — Boot Device Inaccessible
Critical

Frequently Asked Questions

Warnings alone are usually informational. Focus on Error and Critical events, especially clusters of errors around the same time.