Microsoft’s WinDBG tool is required to download and parse .dmp files that are generated when a BSoD blue screen (critical system error message) occurs. The latest version of WinDBG works on Windows 10, Windows 8.x, Windows 7 and Windows Vista.

In this article, take a look at where to download, how to install and configure WinDBG.

Downloading and Installing WinDBG

1.Open the download page and left-click on “Download Separate SDK”;

2.Open the downloaded file sdksetup.exe;

3.Here you can choose a location to install or leave it as default, click Next;

4.Accept the license agreement by clicking on Accept;

5.Check the boxes Debugging Tools for Windows и .Net.Framework 4.6 .. …, then press Install;

6.After the installation is complete, you need to click on Close.

Associating .dmp files with WinDBG

1.Open a command prompt as administrator: one way, right-click on the Start menu and select Command Prompt (administrator).

2.If during the installation of WinDBG you did not change the installation path, then copy one of the below listed commands and paste it into the command line. If you changed the installation path, change it in the command. On a 32-bit system, you need to write the command cdProgram FilesWindows Kits10Debuggersx86 and press Enter. On a 64-bit system, you need to write the command cdProgram Files (x86) Windows Kits10Debuggersx64 and press Enter. If you do not know the bitness of your system, read the article 32-bit or 64-bit Windows ?.

3.Now on the command line you need to write the command windbg.exe -IA and press Enter.

If you wrote the command without errors, then a confirmation window will appear (see figure), click “OK”. You can close the command line window.

Configure the path to symbols.

WinDBG looks for symbols every time it reads a binary in a BSOD .dmp file, and we need to tell it where to look for them.

1.Open WinDBG: go to Start Menu => All Applications => Windows Kits => WinDBG (x86).

2.In the window that opens, go to File => Symbol File Path.

3. Insert the following line SRV * C: SymCache * http: //msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols and click “OK”.

What this line means: A folder named C: SymCache is created and new symbols are loaded into it from the MSDL site.

4. Open File => Save Workspace. Close WinDBG.

  That’s all for today, if you have any additions – write comments! Good luck ?