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General discussion

3/29/04 I don't want to send Microsoft a report, thanks

Mar 25, 2004 1:24AM PST
Question:
In Windows XP, every time a program crashes, a message
appears asking me if I want to send a report to Microsoft. I
don't. Is there any way for me to keep that friendly message
from appearing?

Submitted by: Brad D. of Columbia, TN



Answer:
Yes there is:

1. Right-click My Computer on the desktop if using the
classic Windows start menu (otherwise, right-click My
Computer on the start menu).
2. Click Properties.
3. In System Properties, go to the Advanced tab.
4. Click Error Reporting.
5. Click Disable error reporting.
6. It's optional whether you want to be informed of critical
Windows errors.
7. Click Ok > "Ok out of system properties," and this should
disable the error reporting.

Hope this helps

Submitted by: Lyn G. of Victoria, Australia

Thank you Lyn for a great submission!

Here are this weeks honorable mentions, thanks everyone!:

Answer:

Hi Brad:

It is easy to disable all or part of Error Reporting in Windows XP:
- On the Windows desktop, right-click My Computer.
- In the pop-up menu, select Properties.
- In System Properties, select the Advanced tab.
- Below the setting for Startup and Recovery, click the
Error Reporting button (bottom right).

Totally disable Error Reporting:
- Select Disable error reporting (you probably don't want
to disable "But notify me when critical errors occur").
- Click the OK button to close the Error Reporting dialog.

Selectively enable Error Reporting for Windows and/or
Programs (like Word):
- Report Windows only, select Enable error reporting and select
the Windows operation system option and click the OK button.
- Report Programs only, select Enable error reporting and select
the Programs option and click the OK button.
- Report Windows and programs, select Enable error reporting
and select both options.
- Click the OK button to close the Error Reporting dialog.

Finally, click the OK button to close the System Properties dialog.

Regards,

Mike G. British Columbia, Canada

Submitted by: Mike G. of British Columbia, Canada

*************************

Answer:

Enable/Disable Error Reporting in Windows XP
In an effort to make Windows XP a better and more stable operating system, Microsoft has included Error Reporting in the latest release. Whenever an application has to close because of an error, it asks that a report be sent to Microsoft for study and evaluation. Sending the report is optional, but users can benefit from the error log that is generated if they wish to study it or print a hard copy. If you find error reporting objectionable and want it disabled:


Open Control Panel.
Click on Performance and Maintenance.
Click on System.
Then click on the Advanced tab.
Click on the error-reporting button on the bottom of the windows.
Select Disable error reporting.
Click [OK] [OK]

Or

[Start] [Run] [Regedit]
Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PCHealth\ErrorReporting
Modify/Create the Value Name according to the Value Data listed below.
Data Type: REG_DWORD [Dword Value] // Value Name: DoReport
Value Data: [0 = Don?t Send Reports / 1 = Do Send Reports]
Exit Registry and Reboot

Submitted by: Ron L.

*************************

Answer:

The error reporting feature of Microsoft Windows XP has been found by many users to be annoying. Fortunately, it's quite easy to disable.

First, open the "Control Panel", which should be on your "Start Menu".

Your Control Panel could be set up to view in one of two ways: Classic or Category
If yours is set up with the "classic" view: simply open the "System" component.
If it is set up in "category" view: first click on "Performance and Maintenance" then click "See basic information about your computer."

Next, click on the "Advanced" tab of the System Properties dialog. (first row, all the way to the right)

Near the bottom of the Advanced dialog, just above the "Cancel" button, you'll find the "Error Reporting" button. Click it.

The first item in the Error Reporting dialog is a radio button labeled "Disable error reporting"
Click it.

Now just click "OK" on this dialog, then "OK" on the System Properties dialog, and you're all done! No more pesky boxes popping up asking if you want to report every little error to Microsoft! There are several options for error reporting if you would like to adjust your reporting to your liking without disabling it. You can also set it to notify *you* if there is a critical error without prompting you to also notify Microsoft. Use the handy context help (either by clicking the ? on the title bar, or by pressing the F1 key) to get more detail about the various options available to you in the Error Reporting Dialog.

I hope this was helpful and easy to follow. Don't be afraid to browse through your Control Panel settings. You may be surprised at all the things that can be modified to suit your personal computing style that are all accessible through the Control Panel. Good Luck!

Submitted by: Ginny P. of Indianapolis, IN

Discussion is locked

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Re:March 22, 2004 Membership Q&A Newsletter
Mar 28, 2004 1:22PM PST

select Start, then Run, type in the word MSCONFIG
when the System configuration Utility screen appears,
select the services tab, you will then see a long list of services uncheck the alerter tab(you will see microsoft beside it as the manufacturer)then select apply and close you will then be prompted to reboot.
this same screen is also useful to disable programs at start up, select the start up tab and repeat prior procedures deselect which program you would like disabled at start up, then apply and close

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Re:March 22, 2004 Membership Q&A Newsletter
Mar 28, 2004 10:24PM PST

I see all the responses to Brad's question, but can we expand slightly on this? I'm experiencing the same multiple messages repeatedly, both on my Win 98 SE and Win ME. Can they also be shutdown or controlled? I've tried the above procedures but those tabs don't exist in 'MY COMPUTER' in those OS.

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Re: Disabling Error Reporting !!!
Mar 28, 2004 10:31PM PST

While MS has seen fit to enable us to disable Error Reporting, why would you want to. It seems to me there is too much apathy in the PC user community for it's own good. The purpose of the error reporting is to enable MS to determine the frequency of errors generated in their systems, and over the course of time, to rectify the more serious of them. The concept is a good one, and the time involvement is minimal. In addition, the suggestions and work-arounds although often rather technical or arcane, do highlight areas of the users PC environment which are potential problem areas. While we may not see a direct benifit arising in our current system, it is to be hoped that our time and active involvement will result in improvements 'down the road' in future systems developments.
Thanks, Arthur Gray

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Re:March 22, 2004 Membership Q&A Newsletter
Mar 29, 2004 2:57AM PST

Why be annoyed? If Microsoft is at last doing something about crashing operating system or programs we should be grateful. It only takes a few seconds to send the message; sometimes there's a workaround; and there's a chance that the software will become better as a result.

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Re:March 22, 2004 Membership Q&A Newsletter
Mar 29, 2004 3:30AM PST

For a Tech or experience guy it would be easy to disable this function. Technically this is an effective hand tool for (Microsoft and end user) to solve some known problems. It is hideous and time consumming if you had it set for a full recovery, but if you set it to (Kernel memory dump) bygoing to System Properties, hit the advance tab and the start up and recovery tab settings, change it to Kernel memory dump then click OK. This will enable you to send an error report message fast and help Microsoft to advise you of a fix due to whatever hardware or software problem you may encounter. If you did not knew how to disable this feature, you should at least keep it to the settings I advise, so you could be able to fix some problems, without going to a Tech.