24. Disable Windows Error Reporting

Windows Error Reporting is extremely useful in that it records errors and then sends the details to Microsoft for analysis. Our only concern is that, so far, regardless of how many application crashes, particularly Internet Explorer 8.0, and regardless of how much information is gathered and sent to Microsoft we have yet to be presented with an actual solution to even one of our problems. In theory Windows Error reporting should be a God sent, however, in practice it seems more like a joke than anything.

If you get fed up with looking at the regular notices that Windows has detected an error and needs to upload further information or perhaps the Check for Solutions nag screen is driving you potty here is the way to disable it.

Note

To disable this function you will be using the Group Policy Editor which, unfortunately, is not available in Windows 7 Home and Windows 7 Home Premium.

Click the Start button.
In the start search dialogue box type: gpedit.msc and Press Enter.
The Group Policy window will now open.
In the Left hand Pane of the Group Policy window, Click on the chevron (>) next to Computer Configuration.
This will expand the directory. Look down the list and Click on the chevron (>) next to Administrative Templates.
Again look down the Administrative Templates list and Click on the chevron (>)next to Windows Components.
Finally Click on the Windows Error reporting option.
Take a look in the Right Hand Pane for the Disable Windows Error Reporting option and highlight it by clicking on it with your mouse.
A description of what this policy does now appears.
At the top of this description you will see a link marked Edit Policy Setting, Click on this link to view the Disable Error reporting options.
Click the radio button next to the Disable option and the Press OK.
Windows Error Reporting has now been disabled.
To re-enable Error Reporting follow above steps but instead of Clicking the disabled radio button Click the Enabled option.