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How to Configure Small Memory Dump Settings on Windows 11: Step-by-Step Guide

Configuring small memory dump settings on Windows 11 can help you diagnose system crashes effectively. These dumps provide essential information for troubleshooting Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors. Setting this up correctly ensures that your PC saves the necessary data when it encounters a problem.

This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step in the simplest way possible. Even if you are new to Windows settings, you will find each instruction easy to understand and follow.

By the end of this article, you will know how to change the memory dump settings to create small memory dumps automatically. This can be very useful if you want to analyze crash data or share it with support professionals.

Let’s begin by reviewing what you need to check before making any changes to your system.

Quick Note Before You Start

  • Ensure you have administrative privileges on your Windows 11 PC. You need these to change system settings.
  • Make sure your system has enough free disk space on the drive where dump files will be saved (usually the C: drive).
  • Check that your system is set to create memory dumps on crash by default; this guide will help you confirm and adjust that.
  • It’s a good idea to back up important files before making system changes, just in case.

Step 1: Open System Properties

To begin configuring memory dump settings, you first need to access the System Properties window:

  1. Click on the Start button or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
  2. Type View advanced system settings in the search bar.
  3. Select the matching result that says View advanced system settings. This opens the System Properties dialog box.

This window contains important options for system performance and startup and recovery settings.

Step 2: Access Startup and Recovery Settings

Next, find the settings related to system failures and memory dumps:

  1. In the System Properties window, click the Advanced tab at the top.
  2. Under the Startup and Recovery section, click the Settings button.

This opens a new window where you can configure how Windows responds to system errors, including how it creates memory dump files.

Step 3: Configure Small Memory Dump Settings

Now, set Windows 11 to create small memory dumps when your PC crashes:

  1. In the Startup and Recovery window, look for the section labeled Write debugging information.
  2. Click the dropdown menu under this label.
  3. Select Small memory dump (256 KB) from the list. This option saves a smaller file that contains essential information about the crash.
  4. Note the folder path listed under Small dump directory. By default, it is usually %SystemRoot%Minidump, which means the dump files will be saved in the Minidump folder inside your Windows installation drive.
  5. Make sure the checkbox Automatically restart is checked if you want Windows to reboot automatically after a crash.
  6. Click OK to save these changes.

Small memory dumps are useful because they take less disk space and can be analyzed with debugging tools to identify the cause of system crashes.

Step 4: Verify Dump File Creation

After configuring the settings, it is important to verify that Windows saves the dump files correctly:

  1. In File Explorer, navigate to the folder where dumps are saved. Usually, this is C:WindowsMinidump.
  2. If the folder doesn’t exist, don’t worry; Windows will create it automatically after the next crash.
  3. You can test the setup by causing a system crash (only recommended for advanced users) or wait until the next unexpected crash occurs.
  4. Once a crash happens, look for files with a .dmp extension inside the Minidump folder.

These dump files can be opened with tools like WinDbg or BlueScreenView to help diagnose the problem.

Alternative Methods and Advanced Options

If you prefer to use the Command Prompt or PowerShell to configure dump settings, you can do so using the built-in wmic commands or registry edits, but these methods are recommended only for advanced users.

For example, to set small memory dumps via PowerShell, you can use:

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:SYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlCrashControl" -Name "CrashDumpEnabled" -Value 3

The value 3 specifies small memory dumps. However, always backup your registry before making changes.

FAQs

What is a small memory dump?

A small memory dump is a file that contains a minimal amount of data about a system crash. It’s about 256 KB in size and includes important information such as the stop code and loaded drivers.

Where are small memory dumps saved?

By default, they are saved in the C:WindowsMinidump folder.

Can I change the dump file size or type?

Yes, Windows allows you to select different dump types like Complete memory dump, Kernel memory dump, or Small memory dump depending on your needs and disk space availability.

Why should I configure small memory dumps?

Because small dumps take less space and are easier to share and analyze for troubleshooting crashes.

What if my system is not creating dump files?

Check if the dump settings are configured correctly and ensure there is enough free disk space on your system drive.

When Nothing Works

If you have followed all the steps and your system still doesn’t create memory dump files when crashes occur, you can try the following:

  • Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to check for hardware issues.
  • Use System File Checker by running sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt to repair corrupted system files.
  • Visit the official Microsoft support page for troubleshooting Blue Screen errors: Microsoft BSOD Troubleshooting.
  • Consider contacting Microsoft support or a professional technician if the problem persists.

Conclusion

Configuring small memory dump settings on Windows 11 is a straightforward process that helps capture crucial crash data for troubleshooting. By following the simple steps in this guide, you can ensure that your system saves small memory dumps automatically after a crash.

This setup is especially useful for diagnosing BSOD errors and can save you time when seeking technical support. Remember to verify the dump file creation and use advanced options only if you are comfortable with system configurations.

With these settings properly configured, you’ll be better equipped to handle system crashes and understand their causes.

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