Welcome to WinDbg
WinDbg is a powerful debugger for the Windows operating system. It allows you to debug user-mode and kernel-mode code, analyze crash dumps, and investigate complex software issues.
Key Information: WinDbg is an essential tool for developers and system administrators working with the Windows platform. It's part of the Debugging Tools for Windows, which are available as part of the Windows SDK.
Core Features
- Comprehensive debugging capabilities for both user-mode and kernel-mode applications.
- Support for remote debugging scenarios.
- Advanced memory and register inspection tools.
- Breakpoints, watchpoints, and tracing functionality.
- Scripting capabilities for automating debugging tasks.
- Analysis of crash dump files for post-mortem debugging.
- Extensive command-line interface for fine-grained control.
Getting WinDbg
WinDbg is included as part of the Debugging Tools for Windows, which can be downloaded as a standalone component or as part of the full Windows SDK. We recommend downloading the latest version from the official Microsoft developer resources.
Download Debugging Tools for WindowsGetting Started with WinDbg
To begin debugging, you typically launch WinDbg and specify the process to attach to or a crash dump file to analyze.
User-Mode Debugging
Attach to a running process by selecting "File" > "Attach to a Process..." from the menu. You can also start a new process under the debugger by selecting "File" > "Open Executable...".
Example command-line invocation to start debugging a process:
windbg.exe -p PID
Example command-line invocation to open a crash dump:
windbg.exe -z C:\path\to\crashdump.dmp
Kernel-Mode Debugging
Kernel debugging requires setting up a connection between two machines (a host and a target) using protocols like serial, network (TCP/IP), or USB. This typically involves configuring the target machine's boot settings.
Refer to the official documentation for detailed instructions on setting up kernel debugging.
Common Debugging Commands
WinDbg offers a rich set of commands to control and inspect the debugging session. Here are a few essential ones:
g: Go (continue execution until a breakpoint).k: Display the call stack.p: Step Over (execute the current line and stop at the next).t: Step Into (execute the current line, stepping into functions if called).bp Address: Set a breakpoint at a specific memory address.lm m ModuleName: List loaded modules matching a pattern.!analyze -v: Analyze a crash dump file with verbose output.
Further Resources
For in-depth information, command references, and advanced techniques, please consult the official Microsoft Learn documentation: