What are .event files?

[Bluehippo]

Can I delete them?

 

[richc46]

The .event files are the files that are used in conjunction with the event viewer. They should not be deleted. If you have a problem you will need them to solve it.

For Vista and Seven
http://www.petri.co.il/vista-event-viewer.htm

 

[jcgriff2]

Hi -

Thread title = What are .event files?

Are you asking about file that have file ext = .event ?

Or are you asking about file ext = .evtx ?

.evtx files are located in C:\Windows\system32\winevt\Logs\ and are the Event Logs for Windows 7 and should not be deleted. There are > 125 of them.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

.

 

[karlsnooks]

Griff,

What dire things happen if I do delete them all?

 

[Petey7]

Griff,

What dire things happen if I do delete them all?

If you delete the .evtx files are deleted, event viewer won't work for one thing. There is no telling what else might happen, and I'm not fool enough to try.

If you delete the .event files, then you can't see them in event viewer. I delete them along with other files that can be removed with disk cleanup if I haven't experienced any already dealt with problems. It's always a good idea to look through event viewer to make sure you aren't experiencing any previously unknown problems before deleting them. Or as rich says, just don't delete them in the first place.

 

[karlsnooks]

By "won't work" what do you mean? Have you ever tried it?

I realize that I would lose all of the past events, but I would expect Event Viewer to come thru unscathed.

 

[Petey7]

They look like system files to me, so my first assumption is that event viewer wouldn't be able to use the system files to run properly.

 

[karlsnooks]

MS won't let me delete the .evtx files.

I tried and I tried, but to no avail.

 

[Petey7]

Because you're not supposed to.

Try it with the built in Admin account and see what happens.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/507-built-administrator-account-enable-disable.html?

 

[karlsnooks]

No go.

 

[Petey7]

Oh, I know. Create a live linux CD (I recommend Ubuntu or knoppix) and boot into that. Then delete the files from there.


Disclaimer: I am not responsible for anything bad that happens as a result of my advice.

 

[Lasy B]

MS won't let me delete the .evtx files.

I tried and I tried, but to no avail.

I've been clearing out my Event Viewer for ages. First I copy a filtered "error" report (hi-light, copy n paste to txt) then I run a batch file I found a good 18 months ago. Gives you a clean slate to look at. I can't remember where I found the batch file but this one is (nearly) the same. Not saying that they delete the files, just clear your event viewer.

 

[karlsnooks]

Oh, I know. Create a live linux CD (I recommend Ubuntu or knoppix) and boot into that. Then delete the files from there.


Disclaimer: I am not responsible for anything bad that happens as a result of my advice.

I considered that route, but if I go that route then I'll use the CD version of PuppyLinux.

 

[karlsnooks]

MS won't let me delete the .evtx files.

I tried and I tried, but to no avail.

I've been clearing out my Event Viewer for ages. First I copy a filtered "error" report (hi-light, copy n paste to txt) then I run a batch file I found a good 18 months ago. Gives you a clean slate to look at. I can't remember where I found the batch file but this one is (nearly) the same. Not saying that they delete the files, just clear your event viewer.

thanks. I didn't know we had this tutorial. Makes my life simpler when doing testing and wanting to clear out all of the old garbage.

Still waiting for MS to add a "clear all" capability to Event Viewer.

 

[Lasy B]

Still waiting for MS to add a "clear all" capability to Event Viewer.

What?
Like in XP? (I think it was under the "Action" menu)
That would be backward "progress"!!

Makes my life simpler when doing testing and wanting to clear out all of the old garbage.

That's why I use it!!

 

[jcgriff2]

The actual Event Viewer .evtx files cannot be deleted because they are "in use".

They all are capped in size, so old entries will fall off end as new ones created; similar to GDG's years ago.

 

[Bluehippo]

The .event files are the files that are used in conjunction with the event viewer. They should not be deleted. If you have a problem you will need them to solve it.

For Vista and Seven
Working with Vista’s new Event Viewer

Thanks for your explaination. Recently I copied and pasted all my music files from an old hard drive to my current computer. Probably the computer created these files automatically when I did that.

 

[richc46]

TY for your kind words and rep. All the members appreciate being told that their efforts are successful. Wish you the best of luck