Troubleshoot BSOD errors with a Windows Vista Dump file

Step 1. Open Task Manager

Here is a nice feature that I found when poking around Windows Vista. In Windows Vista, you can create dump files that are stored in the Temp directory.

Dump files are really useful when you need to troubleshoot BSOD, application crashes, freezing, and any problem a Windows box maybe exhibiting.

Here are the steps to create a dump file in Windows Vista.

Submitted by Steven Warrren

Step 2. Right-click on applicable process and select Create Dump

Select Create Dump from the drop down menu.

Step 4. Wait while the Dump file is created

The file is created in a few moments.

Step 5. Click OK

By default, the Dump file is placed in C:\\Users\\AppData\\Local\\Temp and given the name of the associated process. For example, the file created here is called explorer.DMP.

Step 6. Open the Dump file

You can now open the Dump file in an applicable debugger tool.