Microsoft KB Archive/183097

= Event log may not grow to configured size =

Article ID: 183097

Article Last Modified on 1/22/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition

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This article was previously published under Q183097





SYMPTOMS
Although you have increased the "Maximum Log Size" in Event Viewer from the default of 512 KB to a very high value, the corresponding event log file does not grow beyond a certain size.



CAUSE
With Event Viewer, you can specify a maximum log size of 4 GB separately for every log (System, Security, and Application). In the current design of the event log facility, the combined size of all log files does not grow over approximately 300 MB, depending on the memory situation. If the log is configured to "Do not overwrite events," new events will not be written.



RESOLUTION
Avoid setting the event log this high. Depending on the amount of events, back up and clear the event log on a regular basis, and configure the log to "Overwrite Events as Needed."

To back up the log, you can use Windows NT Backup, or DUMPEL from the Windows NT Resource Kit.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

Keywords: kbbug KB183097

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