x86 Remote Debugger Service on x64

Question

Is it possible to install the x86 Remote Debugger as a Service on a 64bit machine? I need to attach a debugger to managed code in a Session 0 process. The process runs 32b

Answer 1

Worked for me without installing additional software. I just copied the C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\IDE\Remote Debugger folder on the VM and started the msvsmon.exe from the x86 folder. Both my guest and host are x64.

Answer 2

Sometimes this error occurred, I just close visual studio and open it again, everything is OK!

Very strange behavior from vs

Answer 3

This works on my machine(TM) after installing rdbgsetup_x64.exe and going through the configuration wizard:

sc stop msvsmon90
sc config msvsmon90 binPath= "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE\Remote Debugger\x86\msvsmon.exe /service msvsmon90"
sc start msvsmon90

Answer 4

We had the same problem when trying to remote debug a website that is running as 32 bit inside 64 bit IIS.

You can also do this:

• Stop the default debugging service (which will be x64 as the installer will have been clever and configured that one to run).
• Navigate to the Remote Debugger start menu folder and run the x86 debugging service. Ignore the warning about
  32bit/64bit.
• Open the Tools->Options window of the remote debugger app window and make
  note of the value in the 'Server
  Name' text box.
• Now you can attach your visual studio to it by copying the 'Server Name'
  value into the 'Qualifier' text/combo box on the Attach To Process dialog
  of Visual Studio.

On a related note, there is also a low-level bug with Kerberos authentication if you are attaching from Windows 2008/7/Vista to a 2003 machine, reported to MS (and then closed as 'external') via Connect here: https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=508455

Answer 5

1) Install the x64 version. This also installs the x86 debugger but does not create a shortcut.

2) You can find the executable for x86 process debugging here... C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\Common7\IDE\Remote Debugger\x86\msvsmon.exe

3) If you want to, pin it to the task bar.

Answer 6

I can confirm that what you want to do will indeed work. I often connect my 32 bit xp worstation to a x64 win2003 server with VS2008 remote debugger.