Mystery solved: Why is the Internet Explorer folder in Event Viewer always empty (IE7)?

This is because Application Compatibility Logging is not enabled on your machine.  This is completely normal because, by default, IE7 does not enable Application Compatibility Logging.

You can enable Application Compatibility Logging to have a look see at what happens by editing the Registry as follows:

The relevant registry key will look like this:

 

IE will warn you the first time it is started after Application Compatibility Logging is enabled by displaying the following alert:

 

In addition, there will be a new icon on your status bar as follows:



When I enabled Application Compatibility Logging the Internet Explorer folder in Event Viewer immediately started filling with data - please do not try to repair IE7 because of the 1037 errors - as far as I know they are NORMAL because ACL is not meant to be turned on via the registry without the Application Compatibility Toolkit also being installed.

Published Sun, Jan 21 2007 21:04 by sandi
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Comments

# Vista & IE7 error 1037

Sunday, January 21, 2007 11:56 AM by Jean-Marc, XP Geek !

Hi Sandi,

Thanks for this nice trick.

BTW, do you know what means the 1037 error ?

(i've got 4 of these errors every 30 seconds)

# re: Mystery solved: Why is the Internet Explorer folder in Event Viewer always empty (IE7)?

Sunday, January 21, 2007 2:55 PM by sandi

I think that, basically, the registry entry should not be enabled. It is used in conjunction with the Application Compatibility Toolkit which is no longer available:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/ietechcol/cols/dnexpie/ie7_compat_log.asp

# re: Mystery solved: Why is the Internet Explorer folder in Event Viewer always empty (IE7)?

Sunday, January 21, 2007 4:23 PM by Tony Northrup

You can also enable this by enabling the Turn On Compatibility Logging setting in Group Policy at User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\ or Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\.

I've got ACT installed and I still don't see a description for Event ID 1037. I also don't see any events other than 1037.

# re: Mystery solved: Why is the Internet Explorer folder in Event Viewer always empty (IE7)?

Sunday, January 21, 2007 4:58 PM by sandi

To be honest I don't think the feature should be enabled - the A.C.T. seems to have fallen by the wayside - this blog entry is more a "why is it so" entry rather than a "go out and do this" entry because I was getting a lot of emails asking me why it is always empty

My contacts have been less than forthcoming when I have queried the folder's existence in Event Viewer.  I'll see if I can shake something out.

# re: Mystery solved: Why is the Internet Explorer folder in Event Viewer always empty (IE7)?

Monday, January 22, 2007 12:24 PM by Vincenzo Di Russo [MVP]

Here:

http://msmvps.com/photos/spyware_sucks/images/508785/original.aspx there is an error, Sandi.

Right Key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\

Ciao ;-)

# re: Mystery solved: Why is the Internet Explorer folder in Event Viewer always empty (IE7)?

Monday, January 22, 2007 2:32 PM by sandi

If there is an error, the Technet article is incorrect, which is where the screenshot was captured.

# re: Mystery solved: Why is the Internet Explorer folder in Event Viewer always empty (IE7)?

Monday, January 22, 2007 11:25 PM by Vincenzo Di Russo [MVP]

Yes, here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/IETechCol/cols/dnexpie/ie7_compat_log.asp

# re: Mystery solved: Why is the Internet Explorer folder in Event Viewer always empty (IE7)?

Saturday, April 26, 2008 11:17 AM by bill sanderson

ACT 5 seems to be available for download here:

www.microsoft.com/.../details.aspx