Microsoft KB Archive/927521

= Windows Vista setup log file locations =

Article ID: 927521

Article Last Modified on 3/15/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Windows Vista Business
 * Windows Vista Enterprise
 * Windows Vista Home Premium
 * Windows Vista Home Basic
 * Windows Vista Ultimate
 * Windows Vista Business 64-bit edition
 * Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit edition
 * Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit edition
 * Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit edition
 * Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition

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INTRODUCTION
Windows Vista setup log files are in different locations on the hard disk. These locations depend on the setup phase. This article describes where to locate these log files and which log files are most useful for troubleshooting each setup phase.



Downlevel phase
The downlevel phase is the Windows Vista setup phase that is run within the previous operating system. The following table lists important log files in this setup phase.

Windows Preinstallation Environment phase
The Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE or WinPE) phase is the Windows Vista setup phase that occurs after the restart at the end of the downlevel phase, or when you start the computer by using the Windows Vista installation media. The following table lists important log files in this setup phase.

Note You may also see a log file in the X:\WINDOWS directory. The Setupact.log file in this directory contains information about the progress of the initial options that are selected on the Windows Vista installation screen. The Windows Vista installation screen appears when you start the computer by using the Windows Vista installation media. After you click Install now from the Windows Vista installation screen, the Setup.exe file starts, and this log file is no longer used.

Online configuration phase
The online configuration phase (the first boot phase) starts when you receive the following message:

Please wait a moment while Windows prepares to start for the first time.

During this phase, basic hardware support is installed. If this is an upgrade installation, data and programs are also migrated. The following table lists important log files in this setup phase.

Windows Welcome phase
The Windows Welcome phase includes the following options and events:
 * It provides the options to create user accounts.
 * It provides the option to specify a name for the computer.
 * The Windows System Assessment Tool (Winsat.exe) finishes performance testing to determine the Windows Experience Index rating.

The Windows Welcome phase is the final setup phase before a user logs in. The following table lists important log files in this setup phase.

Rollback to Windows XP phase
If a Windows Vista upgrade installation fails, and you have successfully rolled back the installation to the Windows XP desktop, there are several log files that you can use for troubleshooting. The following table lists important log files in this phase.

Keywords: kbexpertiseinter kbhowto kbinfo KB927521

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