How to fix The security log on this system is full. Only administrators can log on to fix the problem

Question

Whenevr i try to login into Windows XP, i experience “The security log on this system is full. Only administrators can log on to fix the problem” error. This erorr problem prevents me from logging into Windows desktop for some reasons.

Is there any solutions to fix this error problem right now?

However, there is some workaround solutions to fix the issue as i read about this on the web and 'How to fix The security log on this system is full.... page cliaming there is some effective solutions to fix. Here, is some workaround solution

Method 1: Clear the log even

Follow the below mention steps to clear the log even:

Step 1: First of all click Start then tap to All Programs then tap to Administrative tools and then click Event Viewer

Step 2: Then right-click Security and then click Properties > Now in the left pane, right-click on Security and then select Clear All Events

Method 2: increase the Size of the Security Log or Configure the log to overwrite as needed

Step 1: Click Start, tap on All Programs then on Administrative Tools and the click Event Viewer

Step 2: Right-click Security and then click Properties

Step 3: Under Security Log file Properties, the default setting are show below Maximum log Size-512KB

Overwrite events older than 7 days.

Step 4: In order to increase the amount of space for log size just change the maximum log size value to the higher log size value

Step 5: To configure the log to overwrite as needed, then just click the Overwrite events as needed option under when maximum log size is reached.

Step 6: Click OK > then close Event Viewer.

If you know better solutions to fix this issue, then please guide me. Thanks

Answer 1

the steps you detail are the only available to prevent that error. Either allocate more space or overwrite older events when log reaches maximum size.

An administrator will need to log in to the computer and make this changes first to allow any regular user to log in.

Answer 2

My Windows 11 users have been experiencing this as well. Ive been able to resolve it using the steps in Event Viewer, but every time an Update gets applied to their machine, the setting reverts back to not overwrite the security logs. How can we fix this PERMANENTLY?

This is a huge time suck for my users and IT support. Microsoft needs to get on it.

Answer 3

Hi. Thank you for your question and reaching out. I’d be more than happy to help you with your query.

If the security log is not routinely emptied, a system's security log may fill up. You must log into the system as an administrator before you can clear the security log and resolve this problem. To accomplish this, open the Event Viewer and remove the Security log entries. Additionally, it is a good idea to configure the log's maximum size and set up a routine for deleting out-of-date items in order to keep the log from filling up in the future.

If the reply was helpful, please don’t forget to upvote or accept as answer, thank you.

Answer 4

Double post

Answer 5

Found another way to a somewhat permanent solution for security logs full situation via GPO settings ; one of the policies Back up log automatically when full is to be enabled with another policy "retain old events" as explained in the screenshot below , it says enabling these two policies causes the old event log file to automatically close and renamed and a new file is created.

I googled Retain old events and it led me to this link https://admx.help/?Category=Windows_7_2008R2&Policy=Microsoft.Policies.EventLogs::Channel_Log_Retention_4

To implement this on your PC , use the key combination win+R to open the run console and enter gpedit.msc to open Group policy settings console.

Expand computer configuration , click and expand administrative templates , click and expand windows components

search for event log service and expand

you will find the same files as the one in the event viewer console (Application , Security , Setup and System).

Each of this folders have the same settings so you will have to do the same thing on each folder.