The "Attach to process" list is empty in Visual C++ debugger (235434)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 6.0, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition 6.0, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Learning Edition 6.0, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
This article was previously published under Q235434

SYMPTOMS

In the debugger, the "Attach to process" list is empty.

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CAUSE

The "Attach to process" list is populated using a performance counter API. Depending on the environment and the installed performance counter DLLs, the code to populate the list may fail.

This bug only affects the "Attach to process" list when running on Windows NT and Windows 2000.

RESOLUTION

Resolution 1

You should be able to attach to the process using Task Manager:
  1. Enable just-in-time debugging (JIT):
    1. In Visual C++, on the Tools menu, click Options.
    2. On the Debug tab, make sure that Just-in-time debugging is selected.
  2. Run Task Manager and select the process to attach to. Right-click and select Debug.

Resolution 2

  1. Run Task Manager and get the process ID for the process you want to debug.
  2. At a command prompt enter the following: msdev -p <processid>
This will start Visual C++ and will attach to the process specified.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This bug was corrected in the latest service pack for Visual Studio 6.0.

For additional information about Visual Studio service packs, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

194022 INFO: Visual Studio 6.0 Service Packs, What, Where, Why

194295 HOWTO: Tell That a Visual Studio Service Pack Is Installed

To download the latest Visual Studio service pack, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/downloads/updates/

MORE INFORMATION

If the steps for Resolution 2 do not help, and if Resolution 1 is unsatisfactory, check the version of the operating system. Even though this bug is known to occur on Windows NT 4.0 as well Windows 2000, Resolution 2 may not work on Windows 2000. You may need to go back to a released version of Windows NT.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/12/2005
Keywords:kbtshoot kbBug kbDebug kbfix kbide kbVS600sp4fix kbVS600sp5fix KB235434 kbAudDeveloper
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