Troubleshooting > Generating Dump Files

If a more serious problem occurs, such as a crash or hang, then it is possible to generate a DUMP file that can be sent to SpecView for analysis to help investigate the problem.

Using PROCDUMP

There is a utility available from Microsoft called PROCDUMP.EXE

This is included the SpecView Version 3 and will be in the C:\SV3\ folder.

It can be run automatically each time SpecView is run from Preferences Debug.

Note: In some versions of Windows Procdump will generate a dump file each time the File->Open box is displayed, this is a known Windows problem and can be ignored.

Ensure the PROCDUMP.EXE file is in your main SpecView folder, this is usually C:\SV32 for Version 2.5, or C:\SV3 for Version 3.

Here is the recommended way of using it:

Either before SpecView is running, or after you have started SpecView:

Start a Command Prompt, then type one of these commands:

For Version 3 of SpecView:

CD \SV3 (or wherever you have installed SV3)

PROCDUMP -E 1 -H -MP -N 10 -W SV3

For Version 2.5 of SpecView:

CD \SV32 (or wherever you have installed SV32)

PROCDUMP -E 1 -H -MP -N 10 -W SV32

You can put this into a Batch (.BAT) file to save typing this every time.

The resulting dump file is typically named: SV3_Date_Time_.DMP

Please then ZIP the DMP file to make it much smaller and eMail it us, or use a file exchange service such as DropBox to allow us to collect it.

Please also email these details.

Creating DUMP (.dmp) files using TaskManager

This is not recommended - please use Procdump as described above.

If an error message appears saying that a crash has occurred, immediately open the TaskManager and click the Processes tab, find either SV3_32.exe or SV_64.exe in the list and right-click on it and choose Create DMP File from the popup menu.

However, it is difficult for us to debug a 64-bit DMP file from a 32-bit SpecView running on a 64-bit system.

Therefore, if you are running SpecView 32bit on a 64bit system (because of ActiveX), then it is necessary to run a 32bit version of the TaskManager to create a DMP file.

The 32bit TaskManager is located in C:\Windows\SysWOW64 folder and the name of the file is taskmgr.exe

Note: Be careful, because if the normal 64bit TaskManager is running, then starting the 32bit one from the \WINDOWS\WOW64 folder will appear to work, but it will just bring the 64bit TaskManager to the front. It is possible to check which one is running from the TaskManager Processes list because 'taskmgr.exe' will have *32 after it for the 32bit version, or nothing after it for the 64bit version.