Where are memory dumps stored and how to manage them?

When a computer faces serious problems like a blue screen of death (BSOD), Windows generates a memory dump file. This file contains information essential about the state of the system at the time of the error, making it a key tool to diagnose and fix problems. Now, where exactly are these memory dumps stored? How can we access and analyze them? This article provides you with all the answers and more.

It should be noted that memory dumps are not only useful for troubleshooting technical problems, but can also take up quite a bit of space. space on your hard drive. Therefore, knowing their locations and how to manage them can make your life much easier. easy.

What are memory dumps and what are they used for?

Memory dumps are records generated by the operating system when a critical error occurs, such as an unexpected system crash. These files collect information about the system's performance and the system's performance. the memory of the system at the time of the error, allowing you to analyze what happened and what the possible causes were. Common problems that generate dumps include incompatibilities hardware, driver conflicts and software errors.

There are different types of memory dumps, each with a Level of detail distinct:

• Full memory dump: This type captures all information in system memory, including running processes and data.
• Kernel memory dump: Smaller than full, it records only the kernel memory, which speeds up the recording process.
• Small memory dump: Contains the smallest amount of data. It is generally sized 64 KB and is useful for quick analysis when the space storage is limited.

Where are memory dumps stored?

The location of the dumps depends on the operating system and configuration. By default, on Windows systems, dumps are usually stored in:

• Full or kernel: %SystemRoot%\memory.dmp, which generally corresponds to C:\Windows\memory.dmp.
• Small: %SystemRoot%\MinidumpFor example, in C:\Windows\Minidump.

If you are using software like ArcGIS, crash dumps might be saved in application-specific paths, such as C:\Users\[usuario]\AppData\Local\ESRI\ErrorReports. Some applications create their own dump folders after an error.

How to access and analyze dump files

To locate and analyze memory dumps, follow these steps:

• Access to dumps: Manually navigate to the routes mentioned using File Explorer. Make sure the options for displaying files are set to hidden are enabled in the settings.
• Analysis tools: Use programs like WinDbg, BlueScreenView or WhoCrashed to open and analyze the dumps. These tools will provide you with information detailed about the error.

Personalization and configuration in Windows

In Windows, you can configure how files are generated and stored. dump files. For it:

1. Open the Control panel and go to Security system.
2. Click on Advanced System Settings and select Start and recovery.
3. In the “Write debugging information” section, choose the type of memory dump you want to generate.
4. Also define the storage location, if you want to change it from the value default.

Managing and deleting dumps to free up space

Memory dumps, especially full ones, can take up a lot of space. space from your hard drive. If you no longer need them, you can delete them using the built-in Windows tool called Disk Cleanup. To do this:

1. Type “Disk Cleanup” in the search bar and open it.
2. Check the “Memory Dumps” box and select delete.

If you want to make sure that deleted files are not recoverable, you can use recovery tools. data erasure, such as Stellar BitRaser for File, which guarantees the removal permanent bases.

How to manually generate a process dump

If you are interested in analyzing the behavior of a specific process, you can manually generate a dump file using the Task Manager:

1. Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2. Go to the “Processes” tab and locate the process in question.
3. Right click on it and select “Create dump file”.
4. A pop-up window will show you the location of the generated file.

Memory dumps are a powerful tool for diagnosing critical problems in computer systems. From locating driver conflicts From solving software problems to analyzing them, they can make all the difference. Even though they take up space on your disk, knowing how to manage them correctly ensures that you have a safe and secure system. optimized and prepared to fix future bugs.