Sometimes an error message tells me that one of my programs has "encountered a problem," and asks to send Microsoft a report. What's the best procedure to follow?

Shane Bovee, Ionia, Michigan

This error message, added to the XP version of Windows, tells you the operating system halted a program that, had it been allowed to continue, might have crashed Windows. Microsoft insists it doesn't use the information to track you, and the report could well help prevent such program failures in the future.

Still, there is some security risk: Tests by the U.S. Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability found that the "memory dump" sent to Microsoft sometimes contained information from the user's document. In any event, the message probably doesn't leave you in a charitable mood, and clicking the Don't Send button will get you back to work a few seconds sooner. But you don't have to make that decision with each crash. You can tell Windows ahead of time when it should, and should not, report such problems to Microsoft.

In XP, select Start, Run, type sysdm.cpl, and press <Enter>. Click the Advanced tab in the System Properties dialog box, and then choose the Error Reporting button that appears down on the lower right.

You can disable all error reporting, or have errors reported for the operating system only, for programs only, or for both. If you enable reporting, click the Choose Programs button to select the apps whose failures you wish to have reported. When you're done, click OK twice.

Vista's error message doesn't ask about sending information. Instead, the OS just sends it--unless you instruct it not to do so beforehand. Select Start, and in the Start Search box, type problem reports and solutions. Press <Enter>, and click Change settings, Advanced settings. In the 'Advanced settings for problem reporting' dialog box, you can turn reporting off, give other users permission to set this option for themselves, read Microsoft's privacy statement, and list programs whose errors should not be reported (click on the thumbnail image to see this screen). Click OK twice and close the Problem Reports and Solutions applet once you've made your changes.