Windows 7 - problem reading mini dump file

I am trying to debug a minidump on Windows 7 x64 7229 but I am having a problem with the Symbols.

I have downloaded and installed:

Debugging Tools for Windows - Native x64 (version 6.11.1.404)
[dbg_amd64_6.11.1.404.msi]

Windows 7 x64 symbols
[Windows_Winmain.7100.0.090421-1700.AMD64FRE.Symbols.msi]
[Windows_Winmain.7100.0.090421-1700.AMD64CHK.Symbols.msi]

I have also added the Symbols path H:\Symbols, where all the installed symbols reside



Unfortunately the Windows Debugger complains that I am using the wrong
Symbols.

have you tried the dumpchk.exe tool? because from what I read at Microsoft, it doesn't require access to debugging symbols.

How to read the small memory dump files that Windows creates for debugging

Thanks for the reply but I cant seem to find the dumpchk.exe tool anywhere on the site, I follow links and i end up the page where i downloaded 'dbg_amd64_6.11.1.404.msi' from

The files you downloaded have amd64 in the filename but your system specs shows Intel processor. Are there debugging tools for Intel processors perhaps?

The only other option is 'dbg_ia64_6.11.1.404' which wont even install as it's not supported.

Oh sorry, I was confused by the links for Intel.

Could it be an issue of version numbers? The debuggin tools are made for 7100 but you are using 7229.

I had the same problem. I got the correct debugging tools and symbol pack by installing WhoCrashed, and the first time you run it, it goes and gets the proper tools and symbols for you. It also analyzes the dump for you too.

cool, i think I'll try that one next

Let me know how it goes. Sometimes you have to do a few tricks to get the debugger to install thru WhoCrashed... other times it goes smooth as silk on its own.

The symbols for Windows 7 aren't fully integrated into the Symbol server (or the symbols that you can download). The different builds that are released make this an impossibility for developers.

So, what you do is you run with the incorrect symbols and deduce as much as you can from what's available.

The most updated symbols are available online at You can either use the symbols with the C:\symbols left in place (that way it'll scan for the symbols there and then go straight to the Symbol server), or you can change the path to

Code:

SRV*h:\symbols*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols