How to use Process Monitor to troubleshoot system errors that are caused by file access problems in Microsoft Dynamics SL

Process Monitor monitors and displays file system activity on a system in real time. The capabilities of Process Monitor make it a powerful tool for identifying the source of problems in Microsoft Dynamics SL. The time stamping feature in Process Monitor shows you when the following actions occur:

• Open a file
• Read a file
• Write a file
• Delete a file

The status column in Process Monitor tells you the outcome of the actions. Process Monitor starts monitoring when you start Process Monitor. The output window in Process Monitor can be saved to a file and sent to technical support for review.

Process Monitor works on Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, on Windows XP, and on Microsoft Windows 2000.

To download, to install, and to run Process Monitor, follow these steps:

1. To download Process Monitor, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
   http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx
2. Extract the ProcessMonitor.zip file on the computer that you want to monitor.
3. Click the Processmon.exe file. The event capture process starts.
   
   Note You must have local administrator's credentials to run Process Monitor.
4. To pause the event capture, either click Capture or press CTRL+E.
5. To clear the capture, either click Clear or press CTRL+X.
6. Start Microsoft Dynamics SL, and then run Microsoft Dynamics SL to the point before the error occurs.
7. To start the event capture, either click Capture or press CTRL+E.
8. Run Microsoft Dynamics SL until you generate the error.
9. After you receive the error, switch to Process Monitor.
10. To pause the event capture, either click Capture or press CTRL+E.
    
    Note The event capture results can be viewed on screen or saved to a file. The file can then be sent to technical support for review.