# Dr. Watson Postmortem Debugger (computer problem) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2005, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-watson-postmortem-debugger-computer-problem/284182 "2005-01-11T06:04:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Universe_Lashes_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-watson-postmortem-debugger-computer-problem/284182/1 "2005-01-11T06:04:14Z")
I am having a bit of a problem with my computer. I’m not sure if it’s spyware related or not, but I’ve used the latest versions of Ad-aware, Spybot, CWShredder and Spy Sweeper and none of them have fixed the problem yet. I also use AVG Antivirus software. Whenever I click on My Computer or Recycle Bin my computer semi-freezes up. I can use other programs, but the toolbar is frozen. I get an error message saying something about Dr. Watson Postmortem Debugger. This started happening after I installed XP Service Pack 2. Spy Sweeper says I have Client Man on my computer, and after I scan it and try to remove the spyware, it still shows up when I restart my computer. I know a little bit about spyware, as I’ve had problems before that I was able to fix. Should I post a HijackThis log? I tried Googling Dr. Watson Postmortem Debugger, but most of the solutions I read about involved editing the registry. I don’t know much about that, but I can do something simple if it’s spelled out for me and I know it isn’t going to screw up everything. If there’s a better board for asking this type of question, let me know. Thanks for your help in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-watson-postmortem-debugger-computer-problem/284182/2 "2005-01-11T09:41:58Z")
Well, Dr. Watson is just - as you mentioned - the Windows debugger. It appears when most programs crash on your computer. You haven’t told us which _specific_ app is causing Dr. Watson to be triggered. It _sounds like_ EXPLORER.EXE, but other programs can do things which causes Explorer to crash, so it might not be a cut-and-dried Windows problem. Please tell us which specific app is kicking or DrW. Without this, you’re basically saying that “Norton Anti-Virus found a virus” without tell us _which_ virus Norton reported. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Universe_Lashes_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-watson-postmortem-debugger-computer-problem/284182/3 "2005-01-11T10:51:26Z")
> [@Rex Fenestrarum](#): > > Well, Dr. Watson is just - as you mentioned - the Windows debugger. It appears when most programs crash on your computer. You haven’t told us which _specific_ app is causing Dr. Watson to be triggered. It _sounds like_ EXPLORER.EXE, but other programs can do things which causes Explorer to crash, so it might not be a cut-and-dried Windows problem. > > Please tell us which specific app is kicking or DrW. Without this, you’re basically saying that “Norton Anti-Virus found a virus” without tell us _which_ virus Norton reported. I believe it is explorer.exe. All it says when the error occurs is “DrWatson Postmortem Debugger has encountered a problem and needs to close.” But this always happens when I use Windows Explorer. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-watson-postmortem-debugger-computer-problem/284182/4 "2005-01-11T11:53:37Z")
“Dr Watson” is a sympton, not the cause. It wouldn’t be attempting to appear if there wasn’t already a problem. The problem sounds like it is in Explorer, but unfortunately this could mean about a million and one things, depending on your computer setup and what you also have installed. Your spyware may be the cause of it, but maybe not. I would start by investigating what problems others have had after installing XP Service Pack 2. There are plenty of reported problems with it that have caused computers to freeze up.