Generate a minidump when IE 8 crash

 

To generate a minidump:

1) Download and install the "Debugging Tools" package: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtoo...tallx86.mspx#a

2) From the folder where you installed it, run WinDBG.exe as admin (right-click, "run as admin...").

3) Press F6, sort "by executable", find IEXPLORE.EXE, select, OK. (It's easier if you have only one instance of IEXPLORE running at this time.)

 

If you have been using IE7, you are probably used to all your tabs opening under the same iexplore.exe process. The only exception is if you are on a Windows Vista machine and you are moving from Protected to Unprotected mode.

 

Internet Explorer 8 had a big makeover in this area. You will now notice that new tabs typically open in a new process.  By default,  IE8 will start with two instances of iexplore.exe (one for the Frame, one for the tab) and grows the number of tab processes as needed based on the amount of available RAM, the number of tabs, the integrity levels for tabs, and the number of distinct IE sessions .

You do have control over this new design through a registry key:

HKCU/Software/Microsoft/Internet Explorer/Main - TabProcGrowth (string or dword)

TabProcGrowth=0 : tabs and frames run within the same process; frames are not unified across MIC levels.

TabProcGrowth =1: all tabs for a given frame process run in a single tab process for a given MIC level.

4) It'll spew out a whole bunch of numbers and eventually dump you on a prompt at the bottom of the page. Just type G and press enter. This attaches the debugger to the IEXPLORE process but then lets it "Go" and continue to do its thang.

5) Do whatever you need to do to repro the crash.

6) This time, a crash condition will cause the debugger to "break into" the IEXPLORE process and suspend all its actions. In other words, instead of seeing the same crash message you'll see the debugger take over and IEXPLORE will look like it's frozen.

7) Ignore all the spew again and wait for the prompt at the bottom of the WinDBG window, then type this:

.dump /m IE1.dmp

If you don't give it a full path, the IE1.dmp file will be created in the same folder where you installed the debugger package. If you zip up that minidump and upload it here, I or someone else may be able to dig more info out of it.