This tip was submitted to the SearchWin2000.com Tip Exchange by member Kenneth Bryant. Let other users know how useful it is by rating the tip below.

---

Performance Monitor can be a valuable tool in determining system bottlenecks, but it must running at the time the slowdowns are occurring. This tip allows you to configure Performance Monitor so that it will start at each boot and write to a circular log file.

• At a command prompt, enter "diskperf -YV" and reboot (make sure -YV is uppercase.) The -YV switch enables logical disk counters.
  
• Start "Computer Management" (For Win2k: Right-click "My Computer" and select "Manage")
  
• Expand performance monitor logs and alerts-- right-click "counter logs," select "New Log Settings" and choose a name, i.e. DailyMon.
  
• Select the "General" tab and click the "Use Local Computer Counters" button. Click "Add Counters" and click the "All Counters" button.
  
• Select "Memory" from the dropdown list and then click the "Add" button.
  
• Select "Processor" from the dropdown list. Click the "All Instances" button and then the "Add" button.
  
• Select "Logical Disk" from the dropdown, click the "All Instances" button and then the "Add" button.
  
• Set the interval to 300 seconds.
  
• Select the "Log Files" Tab. Set the log file location to the desired path, (i.e. d:PerfData,) and then uncheck the "End Filenames with" box.
  
• Set the log file type to "Binary Circular File."
  
• Enter "DailyMon Counters" in the Comment box.
  
• Set the log file size limit as desired, (i.e. 10000kb.)
  
• Select the "Schedule" tab. Set the current date/time for the start log and then set the stop log to 01/01/2999 (An automatic restart will not occur after reboot if "Manual Stop" has been set.)

The configuration settings such as counters, interval, and log file size can be set as you feel appropriate. To monitor CPU uasge in detail, for example, you may want to select "All Instances" of the "Process" or "Thread" counters.