PRB: Visual C++ Debugger Cannot Read System Symbols on Windows XP (304989)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 6.0, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows XP
This article was previously published under Q304989

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Visual C++ 6.0 debugger on a Windows XP-based computer, the debugger is not able to load symbols for Windows system .dll files even though you have Windows XP system symbols correctly installed. As a result, you will not be able to see the function names of Windows APIs in the callstack.

CAUSE

Windows XP system symbols are distributed only as .pdb files, whereas system symbols for Windows NT and Windows 2000 are distributed as both .dbg and .pdb files. When the Visual C++ 6.0 debugger was written, this change was not anticipated. Therefore, the debugger does not search for .pdb files in the <Windows directory>\Symbols\dll folder, it looks only for the .dbg files.

RESOLUTION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

There are two ways to work around this problem:
  • Move each .pdb file to the directory where the corresponding system .dll file is located. Typically, Windows system .dll files are in the <Windows directory>\System32 folder.
  • The other method involves adding a registry key by using Regedit.exe:
    1. Create a new string value, Pdb Dirs, if you do not see it under the following registry key:

      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\DevStudio\6.0\Build System\Components\Platforms\Win32 (x86)\Directories

    2. Double click Pdb Dirs. The Edit String dialog box will appear.
    3. In the Value data edit box, add the path (or paths) to the folders where the .pdb files are located. For example:

      C:\Windows\Symbols\dll

      Multiple paths are separated by the semicolon (";") character. For example:

      C:\Windows\Symbols\dll;C:\Windows\Symbols\ocx

    4. Click OK to close the Edit String dialog box.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/20/2003
Keywords:kbBug kbDebug kbide kbprb KB304989
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.