Why does Microsoft collect information about errors and problems?

Question

Whenever a program doesn't work or a system error occurs e.g. BSOD, the error reporting dialog box will be displayed after I restart my computer. What types of information can be collected? Will my name or other personal information also be sent?

Answer 1

Microsoft uses information about errors and problems to improve Windows and the software and hardware designed for use with Windows operating systems. Not all problems have solutions, but when solutions are available, they are offered as steps to solve a problem you've reported or as updates to install. As part of setup and installation, the Microsoft Error Reporting Service sends back information about setup or installation failures in order to attempt to diagnose the problem. To help prevent problems and make software more reliable, some solutions are also included in service packs and future versions of the software.



Reports contain information that is most useful for diagnosing and solving the problem that has occurred, such as: (1) Where the problem happened in the software or hardware; (2) The type or severity of the problem, if known; (3) Files that help describe the problem; (4) Basic software and hardware information.



Yes, a report that contains a snapshot of computer memory might include your name, part of a document you were working on, or data that you recently submitted to a website. If you are concerned that a report might contain personal or confidential information, you should not send the report.

Answer 2

It can contain data but will be deleted when after they receive it any analyze the data.

Your personal information has nothing to do with the error report. It goes to programmers, design and problem solvers that will investigate the issue and put a hotfix together to attempt and repair that problem. Mainly for yourself and others people whom have almost the same configurations you do. Your Microsoft Windows Update will analyze what is available for What Hardware & software you have, that's why System Admins do not send all Security/Hotfix updates immediately because they may not be important to their systems and will just cause problems in their networks.



What is actually sent is the following....





What types of information can be collected?



The reporting service can collect Information about problems that interrupt you while you work and about errors that occur behind the scenes. It is important to diagnose errors that occur behind the scenes because these problems, if left unsolved, may cause additional problems such as performance or program failures.



Reports contain information that is most useful for diagnosing and solving the problem that has occurred, such as:



Where the problem happened in the software or hardware. Occasionally, empty files might be included as an initial indication of a problem.

Type or severity of the problem, if known

Files that help describe the problem (typically system or report-generated files about software behavior before or after the problem occurred)

Basic software and hardware information (such as operating system version and language, device models and manufacturers, or memory and hard disk size)

Your Internet Protocol (IP) address is also collected because you are connecting to an online service (web service) to send error reports. However, your IP address is used only to generate aggregate statistics. It is not used to identify you or contact you.



Reports might unintentionally contain personal information, but this information is not used to identify you or contact you. For example, a report that contains a snapshot of memory might include your name, part of a document you were working on, or data that you recently submitted to a website. If you are concerned that a report might contain personal or confidential information, you should not send the report.



For More Information goto:

http://oca.microsoft.com

The specific inquiry you made is found at:

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/dcp20.asp

Answer 3

Whenever one of your programs has a problem, your computer stops the program from causing harm to a different program. The information generated are your the type of Operating System you use, if there are any service pack, and the the problem the program caused. Your name and personal information will not be send.

They do this to improve their operating system so they can know what to fix for Vista.



You don't have to send the information.

Answer 4

They don't want to know your name or any type of personal information. What the error report sends is the type of error, your software and operating system. It helps the "bug chasers" to find and fix error-causing bugs in the programs.

Answer 5

No. Name and Other Personal Information Cannot be sent.

Microsoft only takes a genuine information only related to perticular that error or BUG.



And they are taking the information for avoiding that kind of issues in future versions.



So there might be a special team who are working only for this kind of different errors.

Answer 6

Your personal info won't be sent-they only do this so that when they make their next service pack or update they can try and include some software or firmware that will correct the problem and prevent other users from the same problem.

Answer 7

no, just the info about the program and the problem...