ELKA EventLens

Before you try it

ELKA EventLens is pre-launch software for optional testing, made for Windows 10 and 11 on x64 PCs. It brings Windows Event Log errors and warnings into expandable cards, with live monitoring and tools to help you investigate.

Explanations suggest possible causes. They are not confirmed diagnoses, and a suggested fix may not apply to your computer.

Download and install

Choose Try pre-launch above for the current Windows installer. A portable ZIP and SHA-256 checksums are also available on the GitHub release page.

Check the version and signing status shown beside the download. Unsigned previews may trigger an unknown-publisher warning in Windows. Only install a preview if you intend to test unfinished software.

Both packages include .NET. The integrated browser needs Microsoft Edge WebView2: the installer installs it if missing, which requires an internet connection. For the portable version, install the WebView2 Runtime on the computer separately if needed.

For portable use, extract the complete ElkaEventLensPort folder to a writable location and run ELKA.EventLens.App.exe. Keep its supporting files together.

Read and monitor events

On startup, EventLens loads recent Critical, Error, and Warning events from the Application and System logs. It can watch selected logs for new events and show corner notifications for new Error or Critical events.

Expand a card to read the message, explanation, technical details, or raw XML. Security log access may require administrator permissions; other logs continue working if that access is denied.

Search and AI assistance

Open Web, Reddit, Stack Overflow, or Microsoft-focused searches from an event card. Results stay in integrated browser tabs. In Settings, choose your preferred search engine or sign in to a supported AI provider such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Microsoft Copilot.

Review the event text before sending it to an external service. It can contain computer names, file paths, or other private information. AI assistance is optional; provider websites and sign-in requirements can change. If automatic sending is unavailable, copy the prepared prompt and send it manually.

Appearance and the system tray

The app starts with a dark theme. Settings → Appearance lets you adjust background, outline, accent, and severity colours with a live preview. Cancel restores the previous palette.

Minimizing or closing the window hides EventLens to the system tray. Use the tray menu's Exit command to quit.

Your saved data

Normal installations keep settings and event history in %AppData%\ELKA.EventLens, with logs and browser data under %LocalAppData%\ELKA\EventLens. Uninstalling preserves those folders.

Portable mode stores settings, history, logs, and browser data beside the app. Keep that folder private, and avoid sharing its contents with a bug report. Browser sign-in sessions may not transfer to another Windows account or computer.

Use the Discord or GitHub links on this page. Include the EventLens version, Windows version, what you expected, and what happened. Remove private details from event messages and screenshots before sharing them.

For source code, build instructions, and development documentation, visit the project on GitHub.

Release notes

Windows Pre-launch v0.1.0-dev.42026-10-20

Development preview for testing, not a stable release.

Upgrade and Storage Fixes

Setup now replaces the registered old Elka Software\ELKA EventLens installation under C:\Program Files\ElkaSoft\ELKA EventLens, even when Setup remembered the old folder or an older updater supplies it. Custom installation folders are preserved.
The old uninstaller removes its own program files. Other applications and unknown files are not recursively deleted. Exit EventLens from the tray before a manual upgrade; running old copies block removal.
Existing saves, history, logs, and the browser profile move into the ElkaSoft data layout. After successful startup, leftover legacy data moves intact into timestamped LegacyRecovery folders, without overwriting current data. Empty old folders are removed.
Cleanup failures retain the source and retry on a later launch. Portable storage remains beside the executable and never migrates installed data.

Downloads

Use ELKA_EventLens_Setup_0.1.0-dev.4.exe for installed copies or ELKA_EventLens_Portable_0.1.0-dev.4.zip for portable copies. SHA-256 checksums are in SHA256SUMS-0.1.0-dev.4.txt. Preview executables remain unsigned; Windows may show a warning.

The normal installer location is C:\Program Files\ElkaSoft\ELKA EventLens. Saves are in %AppData%\ElkaSoft\ELKA EventLens\Saves; browser data and logs use the corresponding %LocalAppData% app folder. Website sessions may still expire or require login.

Verification

All 125 app checks passed, including migration, recovery, retry, junction protection, updater behavior, layout, and embedded browsing. Four isolated installer scenarios passed: remembered old path, older updater path plus restart, running-old-app protection, and custom-directory preservation. The portable archive was checked for runtime files and exclusion of private data; both package checksums were verified.

Tests use synthetic saved data and a separate installer identity, not the real installed app. Production UAC approval and real third-party login sessions remain user acceptance checks.

All downloads and release notes on GitHub ↗