[coLinux-devel] BSOD, DDK dependency

[Dan A. <da...@gm...>]

Hello,

Currently, there are two issues that stand between us and a more 
stable and easier to develop version of coLinux.


BSOD
----

The BSODs that many people are getting are caused by a bug that
manifests itself only on some machines. Unfortunately, I can't 
reproduce it here. Because of that, you should send me results 
of crash dumps, using tools freely available from Microsoft.

Thanks ePAc for enlightening us about kernel dumps. Me and 
Okajima think it is important for the road ahead.

I'd like you to know something aboue me, which should encourge 
everybody on this developers list to participate in development 
and debugging. When I started coLinux on November, I had almost 
no knowledge in Windows Kernel programming. A few years ago, I 
had no knowledge in Linux kernel programming at all. Don't be 
afraid to try something that you don't know, especially in the
kernel field.

I ask for anyone who experiences a BSOD with coLinux, please 
extract useful information out from the tools Microsoft has 
provided us:

Debug tools at:

    http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/ddk/debugging/installx86.mspx

Debugging symbols at:

    http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/ddk/debugging/symbolpkg.mspx

To enable dumps (as ePAc noted):
    Right click on "My Computer"
    Select "Properties"
    Select "Advanced" tab
    Under "Startup And Recovery" there is some option to setup 
    different type of memory dump (minidump, kernel dump, full 
    memory dump).

Plus, I am planning to add automatic traces to coLinux's build
so it would be even more easier to make something out of these 
dumps.


DDK dependency
--------------

Making it possible to compile valid .sys files on Linux is 
something that can be developed quite separately from coLinux 
devleopment. ReactOS would also benefit from it (binary 
compatibility with Windows), although they don't depend on it 
at the moment.

I know there must be some very talented developers on this list,
so I seek volunteers fir this mini-development. coLinux's source
has a CREDITS file, needless to remind ;)

-- 
Dan Aloni
da...@gm...