PDB file crashdump user.dmp

Question

Hi, I have an application crash, and as a result it is generating a crash dump in Windows platform. I send the exe and dll file to the customer. The customer has sent the user.dmp and drwtsn32.log file me. But, the customer do not have the corresponding pdb file. The customer just has dll and exe file. So, when I attach this user.dmp file to Windbg, I do not get the symbols. So, what do I need to do to get the symbols. Do, I need to send the pdb files to the customer? If yes, what he needs to do with these pdb file when a crash happens? I use three different machines: a) the build machine, c) the customer's test machine and c) my own debugging machine (not same as the build machine). The windbg is installed in the debugging machine. I can copy all the pdb files into my debugging machine from the build machine. Please let me know, how the customer can make use of the pdb files and how I do the debugging later.

Thanks Kongkon

Answer 1

If you have the correct PDB files for the executables, you just need to point WinDbg to the correct path when debugging the dump. Use the symbol path feature for this.

Additional info in this question: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/665003/debug-symbol-issue

Answer 2

The great thing about gathering DMP files is that the customer doesn't need PDB files at the time of creating the DMP file. You only need pdbs when you debug into the DMP file!