File | Open Executable

Click Open Executable on the File menu to start a new user-mode process and debug it.

This command is equivalent to pressing CTRL+E. You can use this command only when WinDbg is in dormant mode.

Dialog Box

When you click Open Executable, the Open Executable dialog box appears, and you can do the following:

• Enter the full path of the executable file in the File name box. Alternatively, you can use the dialog box to locate and select the proper file. You must specify the exact path to the executable file. Unlike the Microsoft Windows Run dialog box and a Command Prompt window, the Open Executable dialog box does not search the current path for an executable name.
• If you want to use command-line arguments with the executable file, enter them in the Arguments box.
• If you want to change the starting directory from the default directory enter the directory path in the Start directory box.
• If you want WinDbg to attach to any child processes (additional processes that the original target process started), select Debug child processes also.

After you make your selections, click Open.

Note  When you use this command to open a source file, the path to that file is automatically appended to the source path.

If WinDbg is connected to a process server, you cannot use the Open Executable command.

Additional Information

For more information and other methods of starting new processes for debugging, see Spawning a New Process (User Mode).