On some occasion, you have surely found yourself searching through your Windows computer and you have found some mysterious files with the extension .etlIf you're not sure what they are or what they're for, you're not alone: These logs play a key role in the health and performance of the operating system.After a crash, performance drop, or temporary problem, these files contain information that helps curious technicians and users identify the root cause of the problem.
In this article, I'm going to tell you How you can open and analyze ETL files with the tool recommended by Microsoft, Windows Performance Analyzer (WPA), as well as some additional tips for understanding these logs and harnessing their potential for diagnostics and maintenance tasks. I'll explain in detail, so you can explore all the options regardless of your experience level.
What exactly are ETL files in Windows?
On ETL files o Event Trace Log They are records generated by the Windows kernel and some system services and applications. These files collect information about system events, warnings, errors, access to the hardware and fairerIf you've ever requested technical support and been asked for an ETL file, you already know why. Its main function is to serve as a black box to analyze incidents on your team.
Among the data they store are details about errors affecting stability, hardware or driver warnings, disk and memory usage, and any other events relevant to the operation of the system and applications.
This type of files is primarily aimed at administrators, support engineers or developers who need to analyze in depth what is happening in Windows, although any advanced user can also take advantage of it if they have the right tools.
Where are ETL files saved and in what format?
When Windows generates an ETL file, it does so in a compressed binary format, to reduce its size and save disk space: They cannot be opened directly with conventional text editors. This allows large volumes of tracking data to be stored without filling up the hard drive. logs useless.
By default, Windows usually saves these files (especially those generated by tools like WPR – Windows Performance Recorder) in the folder Documents\WPR FilesHowever, the location may vary depending on the tool or process that creates them, and some may be in protected or temporary directories.
Why are ETL files important? Use cases
These files are essential for analyze and solve complex system problemsFor example, if your computer suddenly slows down, freezes, or becomes unresponsive, an ETL file can contain the exact record of what happened before the failure, making diagnosis easier for both professionals and advanced users. Some common scenarios include:
- Diagnostic tests with Windows Performance Recorder.
- Automatic logging after serious errors or crashes, as part of Windows internal monitoring.
- Analysis of failures related to hardware, drivers or networks.
- Advanced auditing to detect anomalous behavior or security issues.
Applications for opening and analyzing ETL files: which ones are worth knowing
Since it is a binary format, to read an ETL file you need a specialized tool. The most prominent are:
- Windows Performance Analyzer (WPA): The most complete option, it allows you to view data in graphs and tables, making it ideal for analyzing performance and detecting critical errors.
- Tracerpt: line utility commands that converts ETL files into human-readable formats such as TXT or CSV, making it easier to analyze in spreadsheets or with other tools.
- Microsoft Network Monitor: Focused on ETL files related to network traffic, useful for diagnosing packets or network errors that are difficult to reproduce.
- Windows Event Viewer: displays basic event information, although with lower power compared to WPA.
For visual and detailed analysis, WPA is definitely the best option.
How to open and analyze ETL files in Windows Performance Analyzer (WPA)
Let's see a Step-by-step process to open and analyze ETL files using WPAIf you have never used it, you will notice that it is simple, although offers advanced features that allow you to delve deeper into logs.
1. Opening ETL files in WPA
- Open WPA from the Windows Start menu or search.
- On the menu Archive, Select Open.
- Find your ETL file, usually in Documents\WPR Files, unless you have saved it in another path.
- Select the file and click Open.
If you have tested with the Windows Evaluation Platform, you can also open WPA from there using the link Detailed WPA analysis.
2. Selecting and displaying graphics
When you open the file, WPA will display the graphics available from the recording. You can expand each section (by clicking on the triangle) and drag the graphics into the Analysis tab to view them in detail along with their data tables. You can also double-click the graphs to enlarge them.
Using the icons in the chart's top bar, you can toggle between viewing just the chart, just the table, or both versions.
3. Selection and expansion of time intervals
From the Analytics tab, you can select a time range by dragging on the chart. The time scale at the bottom will update on all displayed charts.
For a more detailed analysis, right-click on the selection and choose Zoom to selected time rangeYou can repeat this process to achieve the level of detail you need.
4. Highlight and lock important intervals
After selecting a range, you can also highlight it in all graphics. Right click on the selection and select Highlight selectionThe area will remain highlighted and visible in all charts. To remove the highlighting, right-click and select Delete selection.
5. Customizing data tables
Tables in WPA can be customize to show only relevant informationDrag columns to rearrange them, click headers to sort, and click again to reverse the sort order. Changes are reflected in the chart legend, making it easier to identify your data.
Accesses Column Selector in the header menu to choose which columns to show or hide, create combinations, or apply predefined templates.
The tables are dynamic: the gold and blue bars indicate different data types and keys. Column freezing is achieved with gray bars, which makes analysis easier in records with many columns.
6. Create new analysis tabs
To compare graphs under different scales or approaches, you can open new analysis views from the Window menu and drag the graphs of interest. This allows you to analyze different aspects of the same record.
7. Window and profile management
You can open or close additional windows and save view profiles configured with your preferences. This is useful for working with different, similar ETL files, as you can export and import profiles or define one as the default.
8. Search, filtering and preferences
The functionality of search and filtering in WPA allows you to quickly refine information. You can filter items in the legend, in tables, or search for specific keywords using the corresponding options. Additionally, you can configure the Symbols and routes in the options improve in-depth analysis.
9. Working with compressed ETL files
WPA can also open ETL files stored in ZIP or CAB compressed archives. When you try to open them, a dialog box will appear allowing you to browse the contents, select the ETL files to extract, merge them, or extract them separately, making it easier to work with compressed archives.
10. Combined analysis of multiple files
By extracting multiple ETL files from compressed archives, you can merge them into a single trace or analyze them together without merging. Merging is recommended if the logs correspond to the same machine and time period, making it easier to detect patterns and correlations between events.
Alternatives for analyzing ETL files and converting them to other formats
If you need to work with ETL data outside of WPA, Tracerpt allows you to convert them to TXT o CSV. To do this, open the symbol of the system and runs:
- tracerpt file.etl -o output.csv
This way, you get a readable file for analysis in Excel, BI tools, or for sending to other departments. Plus, Microsoft network monitor It will allow you to explore traces related to network traffic, applying specific filters to detect errors or connection problems.
Complementary tools for advanced analysis and diagnosis
In professional environments, technicians often combine WPA with other utilities such as Event Viewer to detect critical events, PerfView to analyze memory usage and leaks, or dotnet-trace for analyzing .NET applications. This set of tools helps uncover hidden exceptions, bottlenecks, memory leaks, and other complex problems, facilitating in-depth diagnostics.
Can ETL files be deleted? Precautions to take
These files often accumulate after long periods of use or multiple diagnostics. Although they typically take up little space due to compression, in some cases they can become filled with unnecessary data. It is recommended not to delete ETL files manually unless you know exactly what you are doing., as some future processes or investigations may require them. To safely free up space, use system tools to clean up registry files.
ETL files are vital resources for understanding and debugging complex problems in WindowsAlthough they may seem cryptic at first, with the right tools and techniques, they become a valuable source of information. From opening and visually analyzing them to converting them for professional analysis, knowing how to manage them is key to keeping your system in optimal condition and solving any problems Windows may encounter.
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