WinDBG: connect from XP to Vista over serial cable (PCI serial card as well)

WINDBG
1

Hello,

I am new to the list, but I could not find a way to search the
archives, so I thought I would post my question (nor have I found any
forums on the web or at OSR that are applicable for my issue).

I currently have two computers set up side by side, a Windows XP SP2
machine (the debugger), and a Vista machine (debugee). I have been
trying to set up WinDBG so I can debug the Vista box, but have not been
able to get the two connected properly. What I have done: I have set
up debugging on the Vista machine using bcdedit.exe, so that the
“debug” setting indicates “Yes”. I have set up serial debugging (using
Com port 4, and speed of 115200 (I also tried 19200, but that did not
work either)). The command I used (from an Administration command
window) is “bcdedit.exe /dbgsettings SERIAL DEBUGPORT:4
BAUDRATE:115200”.

I have a null-modem serial cable connected between the 2 machines. I
have tested the serial cable between the 2 machines using HyperTerminal
on the XP machine, and I downloaded a HyperTerminal application for
Vista. I am able to see what I type on other machine, for both
directions. So, I feel the serial cable is working. One note: the
Vista machine did not have a serial port on it, I installed a PCI based
serial card, hence why I am using COM4.

I set up WinDBG on the XP machine, and I start it using the following
command: " windbg.exe -y
C:\WebSymbols;srv*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols -b -k
com:port=COM1,baud=115200"
I have also tried to start it without the symbols being set on the
command line. I have also tried 19200.

I see the “Opened \.\com1 Waiting to reconnect…”, but never see
anything more. I have tried sending the Break (ctrl-break), but that
does not help. I have rebooted the Vista box, but again it never
connects. If I do ctrl-alt-d on the XP box, it shows “SYNCTARGET:
Timeout. Throttle 0x10 write to 0x1” repeatedly over and over,
approximately once avery 5 seconds or so.

Any thoughts? Is there something else special I have to do on the
Vista machine? Will it never work because of the PCI based serial
card?

I was going to try to use USB (I bought an A-A cable), but then found
out that there is a very special USB adapter that is needed … so I
have not pursued it further. I also do not have firewire installed on
either machine, so have not gone that route yet…

Oh, and I did turn off the Windows firewall on the Vista machine, and
do not have ZoneAlarm running (or anything like that).

Thanks for any ideas (even if is is indicating a better place I should
post this).

Regards,

Todd Crowley

2

IIRC, on the Debuggee, it has to be a “native” com port interface, as the kernel does not use device drivers.
On the debugger, you can use anything you have a driver for.
This could have changed for Vista, but that’s how it used to be…
“Crowley, Todd” wrote in message news:xxxxx@windbg…
Hello,

I am new to the list, but I could not find a way to search the archives, so I thought I would post my question (nor have I found any forums on the web or at OSR that are applicable for my issue).

I currently have two computers set up side by side, a Windows XP SP2 machine (the debugger), and a Vista machine (debugee). I have been trying to set up WinDBG so I can debug the Vista box, but have not been able to get the two connected properly. What I have done: I have set up debugging on the Vista machine using bcdedit.exe, so that the “debug” setting indicates “Yes”. I have set up serial debugging (using Com port 4, and speed of 115200 (I also tried 19200, but that did not work either)). The command I used (from an Administration command window) is “bcdedit.exe /dbgsettings SERIAL DEBUGPORT:4 BAUDRATE:115200”.

I have a null-modem serial cable connected between the 2 machines. I have tested the serial cable between the 2 machines using HyperTerminal on the XP machine, and I downloaded a HyperTerminal application for Vista. I am able to see what I type on other machine, for both directions. So, I feel the serial cable is working. One note: the Vista machine did not have a serial port on it, I installed a PCI based serial card, hence why I am using COM4.

I set up WinDBG on the XP machine, and I start it using the following command: " windbg.exe -y C:\WebSymbols;srv*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols -b -k com:port=COM1,baud=115200"
I have also tried to start it without the symbols being set on the command line. I have also tried 19200.

I see the “Opened \.\com1 Waiting to reconnect…”, but never see anything more. I have tried sending the Break (ctrl-break), but that does not help. I have rebooted the Vista box, but again it never connects. If I do ctrl-alt-d on the XP box, it shows “SYNCTARGET: Timeout. Throttle 0x10 write to 0x1” repeatedly over and over, approximately once avery 5 seconds or so.

Any thoughts? Is there something else special I have to do on the Vista machine? Will it never work because of the PCI based serial card?

I was going to try to use USB (I bought an A-A cable), but then found out that there is a very special USB adapter that is needed … so I have not pursued it further. I also do not have firewire installed on either machine, so have not gone that route yet…

Oh, and I did turn off the Windows firewall on the Vista machine, and do not have ZoneAlarm running (or anything like that).

Thanks for any ideas (even if is is indicating a better place I should post this).

Regards,

Todd Crowley

3

Hi Todd,
my guess here would be that the add in serial board driver is not supported for debugging (I think the driver get’s switched for a debug supporting one).

I would advise you to use firewire (1394), it works well and is much faster than serial for the debug output.
I personally have used an add-in firewire card (a Sony card IIRC) but have had success with built in ports too.

Hope this helps,
Kev

From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com [mailto:xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of Crowley, Todd
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 1:18 PM
To: Kernel Debugging Interest List
Subject: [windbg] WinDBG: connect from XP to Vista over serial cable (PCI serial card as well)

Hello,

I am new to the list, but I could not find a way to search the archives, so I thought I would post my question (nor have I found any forums on the web or at OSR that are applicable for my issue).

I currently have two computers set up side by side, a Windows XP SP2 machine (the debugger), and a Vista machine (debugee). I have been trying to set up WinDBG so I can debug the Vista box, but have not been able to get the two connected properly. What I have done: I have set up debugging on the Vista machine using bcdedit.exe, so that the “debug” setting indicates “Yes”. I have set up serial debugging (using Com port 4, and speed of 115200 (I also tried 19200, but that did not work either)). The command I used (from an Administration command window) is “bcdedit.exe /dbgsettings SERIAL DEBUGPORT:4 BAUDRATE:115200”.

I have a null-modem serial cable connected between the 2 machines. I have tested the serial cable between the 2 machines using HyperTerminal on the XP machine, and I downloaded a HyperTerminal application for Vista. I am able to see what I type on other machine, for both directions. So, I feel the serial cable is working. One note: the Vista machine did not have a serial port on it, I installed a PCI based serial card, hence why I am using COM4.

I set up WinDBG on the XP machine, and I start it using the following command: " windbg.exe -y C:\WebSymbols;srv*http://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols -b -k com:port=COM1,baud=115200"
I have also tried to start it without the symbols being set on the command line. I have also tried 19200.

I see the “Opened \.\com1<file:> Waiting to reconnect…”, but never see anything more. I have tried sending the Break (ctrl-break), but that does not help. I have rebooted the Vista box, but again it never connects. If I do ctrl-alt-d on the XP box, it shows “SYNCTARGET: Timeout. Throttle 0x10 write to 0x1” repeatedly over and over, approximately once avery 5 seconds or so.

Any thoughts? Is there something else special I have to do on the Vista machine? Will it never work because of the PCI based serial card?

I was going to try to use USB (I bought an A-A cable), but then found out that there is a very special USB adapter that is needed … so I have not pursued it further. I also do not have firewire installed on either machine, so have not gone that route yet…

Oh, and I did turn off the Windows firewall on the Vista machine, and do not have ZoneAlarm running (or anything like that).

Thanks for any ideas (even if is is indicating a better place I should post this).

Regards,

Todd Crowley

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4

“Crowley, Todd” wrote in message news:xxxxx@windbg…

>> Any thoughts? Is there something else special I have to do on the
>> Vista machine? Will it never work because of the PCI based serial
>> card?

Todd,

It has to be a legacy serial port. So your best bet is 1394, get a
couple of cards from OSR they are solid and reliable.

–
Don Burn (MVP, Windows DDK)
Windows 2k/XP/2k3 Filesystem and Driver Consulting
Website: http://www.windrvr.com
Blog: http://msmvps.com/blogs/WinDrvr
Remove StopSpam to reply

5

Thank you everyone for your prompt replies, I really appreciate it!
Won’t be trying to debug over serial anymore … (why the computer
didn’t come with serial ports is beyond me …)

Ok, I will try the firewire route. I will need two 1394 cards … I
have searched OSR and OSROnline, but could not find any cards
listed/mentioned. Any tips of which cards you guys have had success
with? I’d like to buy “good” cards the first time. Also, I have heard
there are two different types of cables, so a recommendation (link?)
for cable type would be helpful as well.

Thanks!

Todd Crowley

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com
[mailto:xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of Don Burn
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 5:14 PM
To: Kernel Debugging Interest List
Subject: Re:[windbg] WinDBG: connect from XP to Vista over serial cable
(PCI serial card as well)

“Crowley, Todd” wrote in message
news:xxxxx@windbg…

>> Any thoughts? Is there something else special I have to do on the
>> Vista machine? Will it never work because of the PCI based serial
>> card?

Todd,

It has to be a legacy serial port. So your best bet is 1394, get
a
couple of cards from OSR they are solid and reliable.

–
Don Burn (MVP, Windows DDK)
Windows 2k/XP/2k3 Filesystem and Driver Consulting
Website: http://www.windrvr.com
Blog: http://msmvps.com/blogs/WinDrvr
Remove StopSpam to reply

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6

When you log in to osronline look on the left side of the page for ‘Store’.
Follow the links down to debugging hardware. I have both cards and they
work well. Get a couple of 6-pin to 6-pin and 4-pin to 6-pin cables. I
would consider using 10’ cables, but 6’ may be OK in your environment. The
APC cables are very good, but you may have some from external hard drives
that you can use. These are 1394a cards as 1304b is not supported by
Windows for kernel debugging. Most notebooks only have 4-pin connections.
The cards from OSR only have 6-pin connections.

“Crowley, Todd” wrote in message news:xxxxx@windbg…
Thank you everyone for your prompt replies, I really appreciate it!
Won’t be trying to debug over serial anymore … (why the computer
didn’t come with serial ports is beyond me …)

Ok, I will try the firewire route. I will need two 1394 cards … I
have searched OSR and OSROnline, but could not find any cards
listed/mentioned. Any tips of which cards you guys have had success
with? I’d like to buy “good” cards the first time. Also, I have heard
there are two different types of cables, so a recommendation (link?)
for cable type would be helpful as well.

Thanks!

Todd Crowley

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com
[mailto:xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of Don Burn
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 5:14 PM
To: Kernel Debugging Interest List
Subject: Re:[windbg] WinDBG: connect from XP to Vista over serial cable
(PCI serial card as well)

“Crowley, Todd” wrote in message
news:xxxxx@windbg…

>> Any thoughts? Is there something else special I have to do on the
>> Vista machine? Will it never work because of the PCI based serial
>> card?

Todd,

It has to be a legacy serial port. So your best bet is 1394, get
a
couple of cards from OSR they are solid and reliable.

–
Don Burn (MVP, Windows DDK)
Windows 2k/XP/2k3 Filesystem and Driver Consulting
Website: http://www.windrvr.com
Blog: http://msmvps.com/blogs/WinDrvr
Remove StopSpam to reply

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7

Hi,

On Nov 14, 2007 6:26 AM, Crowley, Todd wrote:

> Thank you everyone for your prompt replies, I really appreciate it!
> Won’t be trying to debug over serial anymore … (why the computer
> didn’t come with serial ports is beyond me …)
>
> Ok, I will try the firewire route. I will need two 1394 cards … I
> have searched OSR and OSROnline, but could not find any cards
> listed/mentioned.

https://www.osronline.com/custom.cfm?name=index_fullframeset.cfm&amp;pageURL=https://www.osronline.com/store/index.cfm

Check this link. These cards go well with WinDbg…

Yogi

> Any tips of which cards you guys have had success
> with? I’d like to buy “good” cards the first time. Also, I have heard
> there are two different types of cables, so a recommendation (link?)
> for cable type would be helpful as well.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Todd Crowley
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com
> [mailto:xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of Don Burn
> Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 5:14 PM
> To: Kernel Debugging Interest List
> Subject: Re:[windbg] WinDBG: connect from XP to Vista over serial cable
> (PCI serial card as well)
>
>
> “Crowley, Todd” wrote in message
> news:xxxxx@windbg…
>
> >> Any thoughts? Is there something else special I have to do on the
> >> Vista machine? Will it never work because of the PCI based serial
> >> card?
>
> Todd,
>
> It has to be a legacy serial port. So your best bet is 1394, get
> a
> couple of cards from OSR they are solid and reliable.
>
>
> –
> Don Burn (MVP, Windows DDK)
> Windows 2k/XP/2k3 Filesystem and Driver Consulting
> Website: http://www.windrvr.com
> Blog: http://msmvps.com/blogs/WinDrvr
> Remove StopSpam to reply
>
>
>
>
>
> —
> You are currently subscribed to windbg as: xxxxx@mitre.org
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com
>
> —
> You are currently subscribed to windbg as: unknown lmsubst tag argument:
> ‘’
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com
>

8

Sorry for the late input here - but I just installed a motherboard with no
serial port on the back - but there is an internal header for a serial port.
If you have one also and can make up a lead for it it may save you the
hassle of the 1394 route. (Of course 1394 works quicker BTW, but it is a
hassle for me as I develop 1394 drivers and often the serial path is the
only one that does not interfere with my 1394 timings, I suppose I will get
a USB2 interface box when I get a moment now we are all going Vista, as this
may be the best way forward)

M

----- Original Message -----
From: Crowley, Todd
To: Kernel Debugging Interest List
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 9:26 PM
Subject: RE: [windbg] WinDBG: connect from XP to Vista over serial cable
(PCI serial card as well)

Thank you everyone for your prompt replies, I really appreciate it!
Won’t be trying to debug over serial anymore … (why the computer
didn’t come with serial ports is beyond me …)

Ok, I will try the firewire route. I will need two 1394 cards … I
have searched OSR and OSROnline, but could not find any cards
listed/mentioned. Any tips of which cards you guys have had success
with? I’d like to buy “good” cards the first time. Also, I have heard
there are two different types of cables, so a recommendation (link?)
for cable type would be helpful as well.

Thanks!

Todd Crowley

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com
[mailto:xxxxx@lists.osr.com] On Behalf Of Don Burn
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 5:14 PM
To: Kernel Debugging Interest List
Subject: Re:[windbg] WinDBG: connect from XP to Vista over serial cable
(PCI serial card as well)

“Crowley, Todd” wrote in message
news:xxxxx@windbg…

>> Any thoughts? Is there something else special I have to do on the
>> Vista machine? Will it never work because of the PCI based serial
>> card?

Todd,

It has to be a legacy serial port. So your best bet is 1394, get
a
couple of cards from OSR they are solid and reliable.

–
Don Burn (MVP, Windows DDK)
Windows 2k/XP/2k3 Filesystem and Driver Consulting
Website: http://www.windrvr.com
Blog: http://msmvps.com/blogs/WinDrvr
Remove StopSpam to reply

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