Microsoft KB Archive/223300

= How to enable Windows Installer logging =

Article ID: 223300

Article Last Modified on 10/16/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition for Itanium-Based Systems
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP for Itanium-based Systems Version 2003
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional 64-Bit Edition (Itanium)
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 95

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This article was previously published under Q223300





For a Microsoft Windows XP version of this article, see 314852.

Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure that you back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322756 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista



SUMMARY
Windows includes a registry-activated logging service to help diagnose Windows Installer issues. This article describes how to enable this logging service.

Note The registry entry in this article is valid for all Windows operating systems.



MORE INFORMATION
Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

Windows Installer can use logging to help assist in troubleshooting issues with installing software packages. This logging is enabled by adding keys and values to the registry. After the entries have been added and enabled, you can retry the problem installation and Windows Installer will track the progress and post it to the Temp folder. The new log's file name is random, but begins with the letters "Msi" and end with a .log extension. To locate the Temp folder location, type the following line at a command prompt:

cd %temp%

To enable Windows Installer logging
Open the registry with Regedit.exe and create the following path and keys:

Reg_SZ: Logging

Value: voicewarmupx

The letters in the value field can be in any order. Each letter turns on a different logging mode. Each letter's actual function is as follows for MSI version 1.1:

v - Verbose output

o - Out-of-disk-space messages

i - Status messages

c - Initial UI parameters

e - All error messages

w - Non-fatal warnings

a - Start up of actions

r - Action-specific records

m - Out-of-memory or fatal exit information

u - User requests

p - Terminal properties

+ - Append to existing file

! - Flush each line to the log

x - Extra debugging information. The "x" flag is available only on Windows Server 2003 and later operating systems, and on the MSI redistributable version 3.0, and on later versions of the MSI redistributable.

"*" - Wildcard, log all information except for the v and the x option. To include the v and the x option, specify "/l*vx".

Note This should be used only for troubleshooting purposes and should not be left on because it will have adverse effects on system performance and disk space. Each time you use the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel, a new Msi*.log file is created.

Enable Windows Installer logging with Group Policies
You can enable logging with Group Policies by editing the appropriate OU or Directory Group Policy. Under Group Policy, expand Computer Configuration, expand Administrative Templates, expand Windows Components, and then select Windows Installer.

Double-click Logging, and then click Enabled. In the Logging box, enter the options you want to log. The log file, Msi.log, appears in the Temp folder of the system volume.

For more information about MSI logging, please see Windows Help. To do so, search using the phrase "msi logging" and select "Managing options for computers through Group Policy".

Note The addition of the "x" flag is available natively on Windows Server 2003 and later operating systems, and on the MSI redistributable version 3.0, and on later versions of the MSI redistributable.

Additional query words: voicewarmup

Keywords: kbhowto kbenv KB223300

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