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Using a Manifest File with SymChk

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In some cases, you might need to retrieve symbols for files that are on an isolated computer; that is, a computer that is either not on any network or is on a network that has no symbol store. In that situation, you can use the following procedure to retrieve symbols.

  1. Run SymChk with the /om parameter to create a manifest file that describes the files for which you want to retrieve symbols.

  2. Move the manifest file to a network that has a symbol store.

  3. Run SymChk with the /im parameter to retrieve symbols for the files described in the manifest file.

  4. Move the symbol files back to the isolated computer.

Example

Suppose yourApp.exe is running on an isolated computer. The following command creates a manifest file that describes all the symbols needed to debug the yourApp.exe process.

C:\>SymChk /om C:\Manifest\man.txt /ie yourApp.exe

SYMCHK: FAILED files = 0
SYMCHK: PASSED + IGNORED files = 28

Now assume you have moved the manifest file to a different computer that is on a network that has access to a symbol store. The following command retrieves the symbols described in the manifest file and places them in the mySymbols folder.

C:\>SymChk /im C:\FolderOnOtherComputer\man.txt /s srv*C:\mysymbols*\\aServer\symbols

SYMCHK: myApp.exe             ERROR - Unable to download file. Error reported was 2
. . .
SYMCHK: FAILED files = 28
SYMCHK: PASSED + IGNORED files = 28

Now you can move the symbols to the isolated computer and use them for debugging.