______________________________________________________________________
procmon.exe Instructions

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Acquire

https://download.sysinternals.com/files/SysinternalsSuite.zip

• Expand the archive to a temporary folder.

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Configure

• Start procmon.exe.
    · If a UAC prompt is displayed click: 'Yes'
    · If the EULA dialog is displayed click: 'OK'
    · If the Filter dialog is displayed click: 'Reset | OK'
    · If data starts automatically capturing:
        · Select: 'Filter | Capture Events'
        · Select: 'Edit | Clear Display'

• Select: 'Filter | Enable Advanced Output'
• Select: 'Filter | Drop Filtered Events'

• Select: 'Filter | Filter':
    · In the dialog box 'Process Monitor Filter':
        · In the section 'Display entries matching these conditions':
            · Click: 'Reset'
                · Ensure all filters are removed except: 'Event Class' 'is' 'Profiling' 'Exclude'
            · In the first droplist, select: 'Process Name'
            · In the second droplist, select: 'is'
            · In the third droplist/dialog box, enter: 'procmon.exe'
            · In the fourth droplist, select: 'Exclude'
            · Click: 'Add'
            · In the third droplist/dialog box, enter: 'procmon64.exe'
            · Click: 'Add'
            · Optional:
                · In the third droplist/dialog box, enter any additional process that may generate unnecessary 'noise' in the data.
                    · e.g. log-tailing tools such as 'baretail.exe' or 'notepad++.exe' to be used during reproduction
                · Click: 'Add'
            · Click: 'OK'

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Procedures

Choose the appropriate data generation scenario.

    ____________________
    Short Duration Run, Log Growth Without Bound
    
        · Start procmon.exe.
        
        · Start event collection: 'Filter | Capture Events'
            · Reproduce the issue completely.
    
        · Stop event collection:
            · Select: 'Filter | Capture Events'
    
        · Save the procmon.exe trace:
            · Select: 'File | Save':
                · Select: 'Events to Save: | All Events'
                · Select: 'Format: | Native Process Monitor Format (PML)'
                · In 'Path', type:
                · Click: 'OK'
    
        · Exit procmon.exe:
            · Select: 'File | Exit'
            
    ____________________
    Long Duration Run, Circular Log Purging Older Events
    
        · Start procmon.exe.
        
        · Set the circular log event count.
            · Select: 'Options | History Depth'
            · In the 'Number of events (millions)', type:
        
        · Start event collection: 'Filter | Capture Events'
            · Reproduce the issue completely.
    
        · Stop event collection:
            · Select: 'Filter | Capture Events'
    
        · Save the procmon.exe trace:
            · Select: 'File | Save':
                · Select: 'Events to Save: | All Events'
                · Select: 'Format: | Native Process Monitor Format (PML)'
                · In 'Path', type:
                · Click: 'OK'
    
        · Exit procmon.exe:
            · Select: 'File | Exit'
    
    ____________________
    Short Duration Run from Boot, Log Growth Without Bound
    
        · Start procmon.exe.
        
        · Set boot log:
            · Select: 'Options | Enable Boot Logging'
            · Check: 'Generate thread profiling events'
            · Select: 'Every second'
            · Click: 'OK'
        
        · Reboot.
        
        · Reproduce the issue completely.
    
        · Start procmon.exe.
        
        · Save the procmon.exe trace:
            · The dialog box 'Process Monitor' will be displayed: A log of boot-time activity was created...
                · Click: 'Yes'
    
            · The dialog box 'Save As' will be displayed.
                · Navigate to the appropriate folder.
                · In 'File name', type:
                · In 'Save as type', select: 'Procmon Log (*.PML)'
                · Click: 'Save'
    
        · Exit procmon.exe:
            · Select: 'File | Exit'

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Credits

Any external referenced material in this document is hyperlinked. Authors responsible for referenced work should be sought through the reference(s) listed.



I am Christopher Etter, a Professional Services consultant.

Because you are using this, I welcome you as my customer. These documents are free for you to use. I work diligently to serve you with material such as this. I would appreciate it if PSPRO (professionalservices.pro), my name, and this 'Credits' section remain attached to this work so that I accrue name recognition via your success and peer recommendation. Thank you very much, and I hope this document helps you solve your current information technology issue!