Windows Vista setup log files are in different locations on the hard disk. These locations depend on the setup phase. This article describes where to locate these log files and which log files are most useful for troubleshooting each setup phase.
Downlevel phase
The downlevel phase is the Windows Vista setup phase that is run within the previous operating system. The following table lists important log files in this setup phase.
Collapse this tableExpand this table
| Log file | Description |
|---|
| C:\WINDOWS\setupapi.log | Contains information about device changes, driver changes, and major system changes, such as service pack installations and hotfix installations.
Note This log file is used only by Microsoft Windows XP and earlier versions. |
| C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setupact.log
| Contains information about setup actions during the installation. |
| C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setuperr.log
| Contains information about setup errors during the installation. |
| C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\miglog.xml
| Contains information about the user directory structure. This information includes security identifiers (SIDs). |
| C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\PreGatherPnPList.log | Contains information about the initial capture of devices that are on the system during the downlevel phase. |
Windows Preinstallation Environment phase
The Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE or WinPE) phase is the Windows Vista setup phase that occurs after the restart at the end of the downlevel phase, or when you start the computer by using the Windows Vista installation media. The following table lists important log files in this setup phase.
Collapse this tableExpand this table
| Log file | Description |
|---|
| X:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setupact.log
| Contains information about setup actions during the installation. |
| X:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setuperr.log
| Contains information about setup errors during the installation. |
| X:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\miglog.xml
| Contains information about the user directory structure. This information includes security identifiers (SIDs). |
| X:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\PreGatherPnPList.log | Contains information about the initial capture of devices that are on the system during the downlevel phase. |
| or |
| C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setupact.log
| Contains information about setup actions during the installation. |
| C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setuperr.log
| Contains information about setup errors during the installation. |
| C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\miglog.xml
| Contains information about the user directory structure. This information includes security identifiers (SIDs). |
| C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\PreGatherPnPList.log | Contains information about the initial capture of devices that are on the system during the downlevel phase. |
You may also see a log file in the X:\WINDOWS directory. The Setupact.log file in this directory contains information about the progress of the initial options that are selected on the Windows Vista installation screen. The Windows Vista installation screen appears when you start the computer by using the Windows Vista installation media. After you click
Install now from the Windows Vista installation screen, the Setup.exe file starts, and this log file is no longer used.
Online configuration phase
The online configuration phase (the first boot phase) starts when you receive the following message:
Please wait a moment while Windows prepares to start for the first time.
During this phase, basic hardware support is installed. If this is an upgrade installation, data and programs are also migrated. The following table lists important log files in this setup phase.
Collapse this tableExpand this table
| Log file | Description |
|---|
| C:\WINDOWS\PANTHER\setupact.log | Contains information about setup actions during the installation. |
| C:\WINDOWS\PANTHER\setuperr.log | Contains information about setup errors during the installation. |
| C:\WINDOWS\PANTHER\miglog.xml | Contains information about the user directory structure. This information includes security identifiers (SIDs). |
| C:\WINDOWS\INF\setupapi.dev.log | Contains information about Plug and Play devices and driver installation. |
| C:\WINDOWS\INF\setupapi.app.log | Contains information about application installation. |
| C:\WINDOWS\Panther\PostGatherPnPList.log | Contains information about the capture of devices that are on the system after the online configuration phase. |
| C:\WINDOWS\Panther\PreGatherPnPList.log | Contains information about the initial capture of devices that are on the system during the downlevel phase. |
Windows Welcome phase
The Windows Welcome phase includes the following options and events:
- It provides the options to create user accounts.
- It provides the option to specify a name for the computer.
- The Windows System Assessment Tool (Winsat.exe) finishes performance testing to determine the Windows Experience Index rating.
The Windows Welcome phase is the final setup phase before a user logs in. The following table lists important log files in this setup phase.
Collapse this tableExpand this table
| Log file | Description |
|---|
| C:\WINDOWS\PANTHER\setupact.log | Contains information about setup actions during the installation. |
| C:\WINDOWS\PANTHER\setuperr.log | Contains information about setup errors during the installation. |
| C:\WINDOWS\PANTHER\miglog.xml | Contains information about the user directory structure. This information includes security identifiers (SIDs). |
| C:\WINDOWS\INF\setupapi.dev.log | Contains information about Plug and Play devices and driver installation. |
| C:\WINDOWS\INF\setupapi.app.log | Contains information about application installation. |
| C:\WINDOWS\Panther\PostGatherPnPList.log | Contains information about the capture of devices that are on the system after the online configuration phase. |
| C:\WINDOWS\Panther\PreGatherPnPList.log | Contains information about the initial capture of devices that are on the system during the downlevel phase. |
| C:\WINDOWS\Performance\Winsat\winsat.log | Contains information about the Windows System Assessment Tool performance testing results. |
Rollback to Windows XP phase
If a Windows Vista upgrade installation fails, and you have successfully rolled back the installation to the Windows XP desktop, there are several log files that you can use for troubleshooting. The following table lists important log files in this phase.
Collapse this tableExpand this table
| Log file | Description |
|---|
| C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setupact.log
| Contains information about setup actions during the installation. |
| C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\miglog.xml
| Contains information about the user directory structure. This information includes security identifiers (SIDs). |
| C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setupapi\setupapi.dev.log | Contains information about Plug and Play devices and driver installation. |
| C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setupapi\setupapi.app.log | Contains information about application installation. |
| C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\PreGatherPnPList.log | Contains information about the initial capture of devices that are on the system during the downlevel phase. |
| C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\PostGatherPnPList.log | Contains information about the capture of devices that are on the system after the online configuration phase. |
Back to the top
