SCCM SMSTS.log and CMTrace Tool

Often times when experiencing difficulties with OS deployment using SCCM, it is helpful to know where to find the SMSTS.log file, and use the cmtrace.exe tool to view it.  This can greatly aid your troubleshooting process to find the reason for failure or error codes seen.

According to Prajwal Desai (www.prajwaldesai.com) the smsts.log file changes its location depending on the point in the process of the operating system's installation.

First, open cmtrace.exe to enable log file viewing during the Windows PE phase, open a command prompt.window by pressing the F8 key during the OSD (cmtrace.exe is included in Windows PE).

Navigate to X:\sms\bin\x64 file location and launch cmtrace.exe

Example commands:

              Step 1 - type & press enter:     cd X:\sms\bin\x64

              Step 2 - type & press enter:    cmtrace.exe

Next, in cmtrace.exe tool window, choose File --> Open.

Then navigate to the appropriate location based on where your operating system deployment is at in the install process and open the smsts.log file - below are some locations to look:

These two file locations are for the smsts.log file while during OSD

                  Before the hard drive is formatted and partitioned, look here:

• X:\Windows\Temp\SMSTSLog\smsts.log

                  After hard drive formatting, look here:

• X:\SMSTSLOG\smsts.log

                                           

                  Or if copied to C:\

                        

• C:\_SMSTaskSequence\Logs\SMSTSLog\smsts.log

After OSD and OS is installed, you will want to look in these locations:

       

                 Before SCCM agent is installed, look here:

     

• C:\_SMSTaskSequence\Logs\SMSTSLog\smsts.log

                 If the Windows OS that was installed is 32-bit, after SCCM agent is installed, look here:

  

• C:\Windows\System32\CCM\Logs\SMSTSLog\smsts.log

                 If the Windows OS that was installed is 32-bit, after SCCM agent is installed, look here:

• C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ccm\Logs\SMTSLog\smsts.log

Look in these locations after the task sequence has finished running:

              If Windows OS is 32-bit:

                     

• C:\Windows\System32\ccm\Logs\smsts.log

               If Windows OS is 64-bit:

• C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ccm\Logs\smsts.log

Note - your file/folder locations may vary slightly, this is just a general guide of possible locations where the log is frequently found.

SOURCES:

Location of SMSTS Log During SCCM OSD

https://prajwaldesai.com/location-of-smsts-log-during-sccm-osd/

Trace32/CMTrace.exe Hidden Features

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/configmgrdogs/2012/06/06/trace32-execmtrace-exe-hidden-features/

Location of CMTrace.exe during installation of Configuration Manager 2012

http://www.danielclasson.com/2012/05/26/location-of-cmtrace-exe-during-installation-of-configuration-manager-2012/

How to Open CMTrace During OSD:

https://forums.prajwaldesai.com/threads/how-to-open-cmtrace-tool-during-osd.283/

How to Open CMTrace in WinPE Like a Boss

https://miketerrill.net/2017/05/13/how-to-open-cmtrace-in-winpe-like-a-boss/

Add "CMTrace" During OSD

http://www.rolig.dk/2016/05/07/add-cmtrace-during-osd/

Copy CMTrace.exe into the Full Windows OS in a task sequence

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/jchalfant/copy-cmtrace-exe-into-the-full-windows-os-in-a-task-sequence/