Event Viewer utility, has undergone extensive Windows Vista. In its new incarnation, is much easier to use and has some great features that the search and filtering the events dream.

Besides the three traditional events (application, security systems), Windows Vista also introduces sometimes Crimson logs. This is a new type of record used in various applications for diagnostic information. In Windows PowerShell Shell 2.0 is a new cmdlet, which provides access to the logs, but we will not talk cmdlet in Windows PowerShell 2.0 has been sent.

For Windows Xp Use following steps

Click Start,
>> click Control Panel.
Click Performance and Maintenance,
Choose Administrative Tools, and then double-click Computer Management.

Or, open the MMC containing the Event Viewer snap-in.
In the console tree, click Event Viewer.

Now how to use it

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427