Unable to Load Certain Alpha Symbol Files in the Debugger

ID: Q230178

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When Windbg.exe attempts to load certain symbols in a user-mode debugger, certain symbol files do not load. The symbol files that do not load contain the following section in the header for the file:

Debug Directories (4)

Type Size RVA Pointer

coff 2BC68 00000000 1590

misc 110 00000000 2D1F8 Image Name: obj\alpha\winlogon.exe

cv 1D 00000000 2D308 Format: NB10, 358eaf6c, 5, winlogon.pdb

pdata 1404 00000000 168

Type	Size	Pointer
coff	2BC68	1590
misc	110	2D1F8	Image Name: obj\alpha\winlogon.exe
cv	1D	2D308	Format: NB10, 358eaf6c, 5, winlogon.pdb
pdata	1404	168

You can obtain this information by typing the following command using Link.exe:

link /dump /headers filename.dbg

This problem prevents debugging certain user-mode crashes on Alpha-based computers. This problem has no effect on the normal operation of Windows NT 4.0.

This problem only affects Alpha-based computers running Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4; x86-based computers are unaffected.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because of the inadvertent inclusion of additional debugging information that Windbg.exe is not currently able to interpret.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT Server 4.0. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5.

Additional query words:


Keywords          : nt4sp5fix 
Version           : winnt:4.0
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: June 22, 1999