How to use ADPlus (AutoDump+) to create a memory dump file for troubleshooting issues with Symantec Products and other third party applications

Article:TECH38846  |  Created: 2005-01-12  |  Updated: 2012-06-01  |  Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH38846
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Problem



How to use ADPlus (AutoDump+) to create a memory dump file for troubleshooting issues with Symantec Products and other third party applications


Solution



ADPlus (also referred to as AutoDump+) is a Microsoft tool that can be used to create a dump file if the operating system does not create user.dmp.  It includes modes to troubleshoot a hanging or crashing process.  To use ADPlus, perform the following steps:
 
1.  Download and install the Debugging Tools from Microsoft's Site: 
 
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg463009/ 

2.  Click on " Install Debugging Tools for Windows as a Standalone Component (from Windows SDK)" and install the tools.

3.  By default, the install location is C:\Program Files(x86)\Windows Kits\8.0\Debuggers.  Within the Debuggers folder there would be two folders for x86 and x64 respectively.

4. Open the Command Prompt and change the directory to the required version of the debugger.

e.g. : C:\Program Files(x86)\Windows Kits\8.0\Debugger\x64

5. Type the following command at the command prompt: (It might be possible that the name of the adplus.vbs has been changed after the install on the machine.)
 

cscript adplus_old.vbs -crash -pn <Image Name> -o c:\adplus  
or 
cscript adplus.vbs -crash -pn <Image Name> -o c:\adplus  

 
Substitute "Image Name" with the name of the process that is crashing, for example:
 
cscript adplus_old.vbs -crash -pn bengine.exe -o c:\adplus (Figure 1) 
or 

cscript adplus.vbs -crash -pn bengine.exe -o c:\adplus (Figure 1)  
Figure 1:
  
 
If there is a need to monitor more than one process during the hang or crash, add multiple -pn entries, for example:
 
cscript adplus_old.vbs -crash -pn bengine.exe -pn beremote.exe -pn beserver.exe -o c:\adplus 
or 
cscript adplus.vbs -crash -pn bengine.exe -pn beremote.exe -pn beserver.exe -o c:\adplus 

 
After running the command, users will be prompted with the following two windows. Click 'OK' to both (Figure 2 and 3)
 
Figure 2:
  

 
Figure 3:
  
 
Note: If the process is hanging, substitute "hang" for "crash" in the command. 
 
5.  Run the backup, restore, start services, etc... to replicate the problem.

6. Zip the contents of the c:\adplus folder and forward it to the Technical Support Engineer for further analysis. 

 

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276910


Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH38846


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