Where do Microsoft error reports go?

Ever wonder about those error reports? Where they go? Who gets them? Today I have a partial answer.

 

A statistical program I’m using generated one of these. When I clicked to allow the report to be sent, to my surprise it opened up an e-mail for me to send, with attached diagnostic reports.  I sent it.

 

This morning I heard back from the person who receives these. At least I think it’s a person; the responses are a bit bot-like. Here’s the dialogue:

 

#1:

Dear Mr. Mike Kruger,

 

Thanks for contacting the XXX Software technical support!  We do not support this XXX program from this office.  The XXX affiliated office in Chicago area will contact you with help.  At this office, we support the YYYPlot, YYYStat and all other products except the XXX program.  If you have not been supported, please let me know so I can remind the support folks in Chicago area to help you.  Thanks for your understanding!

 

Regards,

Douglas

Technical Support

San Jose

 

#2: I respond:

 

To: Douglas

Subject: RE: XXX Crash Information

 

Thanks.  This e-mail was automatically generated by XXX when it crashed; I was only asked whether I wanted to send it and did not control either the address or the content.

 

What I'm saying is: you may be getting more of these until the crash forwarding is changed!

 

p.s. I don't need any reply.

 

#3: A continued response, despite my clear statement I didn’t need one:

 

Dear Mr. Mike Kruger,

 

Thanks for the message!  Please be patient as you will get a contact from the XXX program support office in Chicago area.  Thanks!

 

Regards,

Douglas

Technical Support

San Jose

 

Note: it’s several hours now and I haven’t heard from the Chicago program support people. Somehow, I don’t think I will.