How To Find Minidump Files Windows 10

Windows crash dump location (retention.dmp file)

When Windows Os crashes (Bluish Screen of Death or BSOD) it dumps all the memory information into a file on disk. This dump file can aid the developers to debug the cause for the crash. The default location of the dump file is %SystemRoot%retention.dmp i.e C:\Windows\memory.dmp if C: is the system drive. Windows tin can also capture small retention dumps which occupy less space. These dumps are created at %SystemRoot%Minidump.dmp (C:\Window\Minidump.dump if C: is the system drive). Beneath you can find details on crash dump settings. This article is applicable for XP, Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 10.

How to enable or disable kernel memory dump? If dump is enabled, how to choose mini dump or full kernel dump?

We can configure the dump settings through system properties. Detailed steps are given beneath.

Open up Organisation properties(Execute sysdm.cpl from Run window)
Click on Advanced tab
Click on the Settings push nether Startup and Recovery
In this window, click on the drib down list under 'Write Debugging information'

This list would show 6 options – None, Small memory dump(64 KB), Kernel memory dump, Complete memory dump, Automatic retentiveness dump and Active memory dump. If you lot desire to disable retention dump then select none from these options. Otherwise select your required selection from the other three. Subsequently this click on OK and shut the windows.

How to alter crash dump file location?

You lot tin set the dump file location in the same Startup and recovery window mentioned higher up. In the 'Dump File' text field y'all can enter the location of the file.

You tin can also change mini dump file location – Select 'minor retention dump' from the driblet down box and so give the location of the file in the bottom text box.

How to enable or disable crash dump file overwrite?

In the Startup and recovery window(which tin be opened from System properties window) unselect the check button 'Overwrite whatsoever existing file' to disable crash dump overwrite.

Modifying Windows dump settings using registry keys

Registry values related to Windows crash dump settings are stored under the registry primal HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Arrangement\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl.
We tin configure crash dump by modifying these registry values also(listed below).

- AutoReboot
- CrashDumpEnabled
- DumpFile
- LogEvent
- MinidumpDir
- Overwrite
- SendAlert
How to disable crash dump?

Open registry editor and navigate to the path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl. Ready the registry value CrashDumpEnabled to 0. Or you lot can but run the below control which does the same.
```
Reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl" /v CrashDumpEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
```
Disable crash dump overwrite

Set the value of the registry cardinal 'Overwrite' to 0. This key can be found in the registry path mentioned above. If yous want to overwrite existing crash dump file, then fix its value to one. Below command would disable crash dump overwrite.
```
Reg add together "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl" /5 Overwrite /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
```