diff --git a/players/join.bat b/players/join.bat
index ff9f42f..b2c3262 100644
--- a/players/join.bat
+++ b/players/join.bat
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@ if not exist "content\OPERATOR.EGG" goto badpath
 set BT_RELAY=107.202.218.169:1500
 rem one fresh log per bat run; the menu->game relaunch chain APPENDS
 rem so every generation's lines survive (0-byte logs = killed pre-start)
-if exist content\join.log del content\join.log
+REM keep the PREVIOUS session's log: a crash report died 2026-07-26
+REM because re-running this bat deleted the only evidence.
+if exist content\join.old.log del content\join.old.log
+if exist content\join.log ren content\join.log join.old.log
 set BT_LOG=join.log
 set BT_LOG_APPEND=1
 set BT_START_INSIDE=1
diff --git a/players/join_lan.bat b/players/join_lan.bat
index 185d1c3..602fca9 100644
--- a/players/join_lan.bat
+++ b/players/join_lan.bat
@@ -14,7 +14,10 @@ if not exist "content\OPERATOR.EGG" goto badpath
 set BT_RELAY=10.0.0.46:1500
 rem one fresh log per bat run; the menu->game relaunch chain APPENDS
 rem so every generation's lines survive (0-byte logs = killed pre-start)
-if exist content\join.log del content\join.log
+REM keep the PREVIOUS session's log: a crash report died 2026-07-26
+REM because re-running this bat deleted the only evidence.
+if exist content\join.old.log del content\join.old.log
+if exist content\join.log ren content\join.log join.old.log
 set BT_LOG=join.log
 set BT_LOG_APPEND=1
 set BT_START_INSIDE=1