Windows 7: Event Viewer Logs - Size Adjustments

rap33042 · 05 Dec 2010

Hi all:

Being compulsive about the efficiency of things, from time to time I Clear the Event Viewer Logs.

1: Left alone, how big will these things get? I see 7000+ entries at times!
2: Does clearing them out make sense? No?
3: Is there a way to set an upper limit on their sizes?

TIA,

logicearth · 05 Dec 2010

If left to the default settings the logs will grow to about "20480 KB", "20 MB" before it overwrites old entries.
This is of course for the default logs, Applications that puts logs may be less kind.

Anak · 05 Dec 2010

There is a Windows utility called wevtutil that may help. Make sure you have an admin CMD prompt, and copy/paste wevtutil into it, hit enter

From:Using WEVTUTIL to Manage Event Logs

Quote:

Allows you to clear the events from the log that you specify. If you want to perform a backup of the cleared events, you can use the /bu option.

I did not see anything about upper limits.

Quote:

Does clearing them out make sense? No?

With today's HDD's storage capacity I see no harm in letting them ride.
As it says above you could make backups, then wipe the lot.

rap33042 · 05 Dec 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by Anak

There is a Windows utility called wevtutil that may help. Make sure you have an admin CMD prompt, and copy/paste wevtutil into it, hit enter

From:Using WEVTUTIL to Manage Event Logs

Quote:

Allows you to clear the events from the log that you specify. If you want to perform a backup of the cleared events, you can use the /bu option.

I did not see anything about upper limits.

Quote:

Does clearing them out make sense? No?

With today's HDD's storage capacity I see no harm in letting them ride.
As it says above you could make backups, then wipe the lot.

I wouldn't mind the space these take up so much; it's that I'm using an SSD for the System drive and I'd like to limit the Writes as much as possible.

I will try out the WEVUTIL you mention; and Thanks for the link!

Anak · 05 Dec 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by rap33042

I wouldn't mind the space these take up so much; it's that I'm using an SSD for the System drive and I'd like to limit the Writes as much as possible.

I will try out the WEVUTIL you mention; and Thanks for the link!

Your welcome!
That's how it goes... I started years ago on a 420MB HDD, then went to 8GB, With those two I was always sweepin' house.

Then 80GB, and now we have a 1TB, Just when I get used to all the room they bring in those SSD's an your right they do seem to have less capacity, for now at least. I'll have to do some reading.

rap33042 · 05 Dec 2010

Thanks Anak!
That info is just what I needed. Now, if only someone would write a GUI for that. Wouldn't that be nice?

XP used to let you set the maximum log size right in the Event Viewer. I miss that

logicearth · 05 Dec 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by rap33042

Thanks Anak!
That info is just what I needed. Now, if only someone would write a GUI for that. Wouldn't that be nice?

XP used to let you set the maximum log size right in the Event Viewer. I miss that

Uhh...you still can...right-click on the log, or select the log for the right-hand side bar, then properties.

Anak · 05 Dec 2010

Nice catch logicearth!

rap33042 · 05 Dec 2010

Nice catch is right!
Now, how'd I miss that? Hmmmmmmm...

Anak · 05 Dec 2010

It's like I told logicearth "Opening windows where no one else can see them".

You open one, there's another nearby, imagine all the "Easter Eggs" that are hidden!
And users go blindly about their business.

Windows 7: Event Viewer Logs - Size Adjustments

Event Viewer Logs - Size Adjustments problems?