How can I get a full call stack for a c++ application developed with Visual Studio 2005? I would like to have a full call stack including the code in the system libraries.
Do I have to change some settings in Visual Studio, or do I have to install additional software?
Get debug information for all project dependencies. This is specified under the "Configuration Properties -> C/C++ -> General" section of the project properties.
On the menu, go to "Tools -> Options" then select "Debugging -> Symbols".
Add a new symbol location (the folder icon) that points to Microsoft's free symbol server “symsrv*symsrv.dll*c:\symbols*http://msdl.microsoft.com/downloads/symbols“
Fill out the "cache symbols" field with some place locally so you don't go to the internet all the time.
Agree with Clay, but for Symbols Server you should get the latest symsrv.DLL from "Debugging Tools For Windows", a free Microsoft download.
(Since you explicitly asked what you need to download, I presume you don't have it yet)
Or, optionally (assuming that Visual Studio is not installed), grab a copy of Windows Debugging Tools, install and either run your app from within the debugger (windbg.exe) or have it attach to an already running app:
windbg[.exe] -pn program.exe
or
windbg[.exe] -p process_id
Break in the debugger at the point you want to observe for stack trace (Ctrl+Break). Switch to the thread of interest (most probably the main thread of execution):
~0s
Fix up symbols for system modules (and probably for the app as well if available):
* fix up symbols for app
.sympath path_to_app_symbols
* configure where debugger will download and store system symbols
.symfix+ path_where_system_symbols_will_be_stored
* force debugger to reload symbols
.reload
Issue a call stack command:
kb