In this article, we will explore the fascinating world of Windows Hardware Error Architecture and all the various facets that make it so relevant in today's society. From its impact in the professional field to its influence on popular culture, Windows Hardware Error Architecture has been the subject of countless studies and analyzes that allow us to better understand its importance and scope. Through different perspectives and opinions, we will delve into the complex universe of Windows Hardware Error Architecture to discover its multiple implications and how it has evolved over time. Get ready for an exciting journey through the dimensions of Windows Hardware Error Architecture and everything it has to offer.
![]() | This article needs to be updated.(February 2025) |
Windows Hardware Error Architecture (WHEA) is an operating system hardware error handling mechanism introduced with Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 as a successor to Machine Check Architecture (MCA) on previous versions of Windows.[1] The architecture consists of several software components that interact with the hardware and firmware of a given platform to handle and notify regarding hardware error conditions.[2] Collectively, these components provide: a generic means of discovering errors, a common error report format for those errors, a way of preserving error records, and an error event model based up on Event Tracing for Windows (ETW).[3]
WHEA "builds on the PCI Express Advanced Reporting to provide more detailed information about system errors and a common reporting structure."[4]
WHEA allows third-party software to interact with the operating system and react to certain hardware events. For example, when a new CPU is added to a running system—a Windows Server feature known as Dynamic Hardware Partitioning—the hardware error component stack is notified that a new processor was installed.[5]
In contrast, Linux supports the ACPI Platform Error Interface (APEI) which is introduced in ACPI 5.0.[6]