Resolve 'The Error Log File is Corrupt' error

Please let us know how useful you find this tip by rating it below. Do you have a useful Windows tip, timesaver or workaround to share? Submit it to our monthly tip contest and you could win a prize!

    Requires Free Membership to View

    Login

 

In Windows 2003 Server SP1, you may get the error "The Error Log File is Corrupt" when trying to access the System Event Log in Event Viewer. Microsoft corrected this issue in Windows 2000 and 2003 Server with the latest Service Packs. However, 2003 SP1 resulted in the message showing up again in certain situations.

The original method to resolve the issue was the following:
1. Disable the Event Viewer Service
2. Restart the server
3. Delete the C:WINDOWS\system32\config\SysEvent.Evt file
4. Re enable the Event Viewer service and see that the log files are no longer corrupt.

Unfortunately, the above method may not work with 2003 SP1 because the root of the problem stems from the network card sending an improperly formatted event message to the event log. To resolve the problem, change the network card to run in full duplex mode. The corrupt system log message should then go away.

This was first published in August 2005

Join the conversationComment

Share
Comments

    Results

    Contribute to the conversation

    All fields are required. Comments will appear at the bottom of the article.

    Disclaimer: Our Tips Exchange is a forum for you to share technical advice and expertise with your peers and to learn from other enterprise IT professionals. TechTarget provides the infrastructure to facilitate this sharing of information. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or validity of the material submitted. You agree that your use of the Ask The Expert services and your reliance on any questions, answers, information or other materials received through this Web site is at your own risk.

    Back to top