File | Kernel Debug

Click Kernel Debug on the File menu to debug a target computer in kernel mode.

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

Dialog Box

When you click Kernel Debug, the Kernel Debugging dialog box appears with three tabs:

• The COM tab indicates that the connection will use a COM port. In the Baud Rate box, enter the baud rate. In the Port box, enter the name of the COM port.
• The 1394 tab indicates that the connection will use 1394. In the Channel box, enter the 1394 channel number. 1394 debugging is supported only if both the host computer and target computer are running Windows XP or later versions of the Windows operating system.
• The USB 2.0 tab indicates that the connection will use USB 2.0. In the Target Name box, enter the connection string. This must match the string specified with the targetname boot option. For information on this boot option prior to Windows Vista, see /debug. For information on this boot option in Windows Vista and later versions of Windows, see BCDEdit / dbgsettings. USB 2.0 debugging is supported only if the host computer is running Windows 2000 or a later version of Windows, and the target computer is running Windows Vista or a later version.
• The Local tab indicates that WinDbg will perform local kernel debugging. Local kernel debugging is supported only on Windows XP and later.

Additional Information

For more information about settings for kernel debugging, see Choosing Kernel Debugging Settings.

For more information and for other methods of beginning a kernel debugging session, see Attaching to a Target Computer (Kernel Mode).