Does anyone know how to create a start log file on Windows?

[g_bartsch]

I've been having problems with some (2 of 4 machines) installs of Vivaldi crashing on startup (sometimes multiple attempts are required before Vivaldi will start) and am desperate to track down the reason.

The issue is detailed in this topic: https://forum.vivaldi.net/topic/96967/multiple-tries-required-to-start-vivaldi-what-is-happening/5

In that discussion @mib2berlin explained how a startup log can be generated on Linux installs by using --enable-logging=stderr --v=1 > log.txt 2>&1

Does anyone know how to create a human readable start log file on Windows?

[Hadden89]

@g_bartsch I think is pretty similar. Edit the vivaldi shortcut and add the string after vivaldi.exe:

I think the log.txt will then be created into your vivaldi profile folder.

[g_bartsch]

@Hadden89 Thank you! I'll try ..

[Pathduck]

@g_bartsch Please read:
https://www.chromium.org/for-testers/enable-logging/

The kitty cat is correct, you can add it to the shortcut target field. However, don't add it like that, it will not work as expected.

Just add --enable-logging
The --v=3 is unnecessary, it will just add very verbose logging, probably too much for your case. You can add it later if needed. You can also use 1 or 2 as less verbose log levels.

This will add a file chrome_debug.log to the User Data folder.

[mib2berlin]

I feel dumb now, using desktop shortcut switches al the time.

Cheers, mib

[g_bartsch]

@Pathduck Thank you! I'm glad I came back just before doing it. I'll use your method and report back.

[g_bartsch]

@mib2berlin Don't feel that way; at least you were offering a suggestion. I'm asking questions so I'm the dumb one.

[Ayespy]

@g_bartsch Nah - dumb is not knowing, and then not asking the question.

[g_bartsch]

@Ayespy said in Does anyone know how to create a start log file on Windows?:

@g_bartsch Nah - dumb is not knowing, and then not asking the question.

[Pathduck]

@g_bartsch When pasting code please use code blocks:
This button: </>

```
code goes here
```

If pasting a LOT of code - over 10k - try to use a free paste service instead.

And please take your further investigation to your original topic.

[g_bartsch]

@Pathduck Thanks .. will do.

[DoctorG]

On Windows 11 i can run cmd.exe command line and use this command to create a debug log file in Vivaldi\Application\ folder:
start vivaldi --enable-logging --v=1

[Pathduck]

To get technical here, and I'm sure @DoctorG already knows this but just for completeness:

Adding this to the Target of a shortcut won't work:
--enable-logging=stderr --v=1 > log.txt 2>&1
Vivaldi will just try to open "log.txt" and won't know what to do about the stdout/stderr redirects. Basically, a Windows shortcut is not a Terminal ‍

Running the same in a terminal (CMD) works - even st00pid Windoze knows how to redirect stderr to stdout:
https://ss64.com/nt/syntax-redirection.html