The Windows Event Viewer, known as "Visualizador de Eventos" in Spanish, is a powerful tool for monitoring and troubleshooting events on Windows systems. It allows users to view and analyze event logs that record information about system, security, and application activities. This article will guide you through using the Event Viewer effectively, including practical examples and commands to access it via the Command Prompt (CMD) and PowerShell.

Understanding Event Viewer

The Event Viewer is an essential utility for system administrators and advanced users who need to diagnose issues, audit security, and monitor system performance. It categorizes events into different logs, such as Application, Security, System, and more, each providing specific insights into the system's operations.

Accessing Event Viewer

1. Via GUI:

   • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
   • Type eventvwr.msc and press Enter.
   • The Event Viewer window will open, displaying the available logs.

2. Via CMD:

   • Open Command Prompt by typing cmd in the Start menu and pressing Enter.
   • Execute the following command to open Event Viewer:

     eventvwr

3. Via PowerShell:

   • Open PowerShell by typing powershell in the Start menu and pressing Enter.
   • Use the following command to launch Event Viewer:

     Start-Process eventvwr.msc

Navigating Event Viewer

Once inside the Event Viewer, you can explore various logs:

• Application Log: Contains events logged by applications or programs.
• Security Log: Records events like login attempts and resource access.
• System Log: Logs events related to Windows system components.

Examples of Using Event Viewer

1. Filtering Events:

   • In the Event Viewer, select a log (e.g., System).
   • Click on "Filter Current Log" in the Actions pane.
   • Specify criteria such as Event ID, date range, or keywords to filter events.

2. Creating Custom Views:

   • In the Event Viewer, right-click on "Custom Views" and select "Create Custom View."
   • Define the criteria for your custom view, such as specific event levels or sources.
   • Save the view with a descriptive name for easy access.

3. Exporting Event Logs:

   • Select a log (e.g., Application) in the Event Viewer.
   • Click on "Save All Events As" in the Actions pane.
   • Choose a file format (e.g., .evtx) and save the log for further analysis or sharing.

Automating Event Log Management via CMD and PowerShell

1. Exporting Logs via CMD:

   • Use the wevtutil command to export logs. For example, to export the System log:

     wevtutil epl System C:\Logs\SystemLog.evtx

2. Clearing Logs via PowerShell:

   • To clear a specific log, use the following command:

     Clear-EventLog -LogName System

3. Listing Logs via PowerShell:

   • To list all available event logs:

     Get-EventLog -List

By mastering the Event Viewer, you can effectively monitor and troubleshoot your Windows system, ensuring optimal performance and security.