debugging slows down other actions

[tshad]

I am using VS 2005 and find that if I am debugging my program and am still
in debug mode, certain functions slow down.

For example, if I tracing through some of my code and haven't stopped
debugging and try to open a Windows Explorer window, it will take close to a
minute for the window to open up (using the windows/e combination keys).
After the window opens, I can open up another window and it will open right
away. Until I step to another line - then it is slow again the next time I
try to open a window.

Also, if in debug mode and I try to open the window and it doesn't open, I
can stop debugging and it will open immediatly.

Why does this happen?

It doesn't happen with everything. IE seems to be unaffected.

Thanks,

Tom

 

[tshad]

VS.NET takes up a lot of memory. Debugging an app takes even more. I
suspect the delay is caused by page faults. You can verify this by opening
task manager, click on View/Select Columns... and check the Page Faults
Delta item.

Then sort on PF Delta in the list and then perform the steps. I suspect
you'll see big numbers popping up here.

Most likely you just need more ram.

Could be right.

I do see page faults happening when I do it.

But I have a Pentium 4 3.00 GHz with 2GB of RAM.

Thanks,

Tom

 

[tshad]

Keep in mind that page faults are not in and of themselves bad. They
happen all the time even under normal memory situations.

What you want to watch out for are a very large number of page faults over
a short period of time, with a high correlation to disk i/o (with many
disks, you can even hear the side-effect of the i/o...they make noise when
the head's seeking back and forth as the i/o happens).


2GB of RAM is sometimes a very large amount of memory and sometimes is not
nearly enough. It depends a lot on what OS you're using, what other
software is running, and what that other software is actually doing.

I agree.

I do have a bunch of other windows open which may be taking up RAM, but I
would assume that they would have been paged out to disk and not affect it
much.

I am running XP Pro SP2.

I do see the Page Faults flicker periodically when I am doing this. Mainly
with a copy of 1's and periodically with a higher number but not at any
sustained rate.

Thanks,

Tom

 

[Willy Denoyette [MVP]]

I am using VS 2005 and find that if I am debugging my program and am still
in debug mode, certain functions slow down.

For example, if I tracing through some of my code and haven't stopped
debugging and try to open a Windows Explorer window, it will take close to
a minute for the window to open up (using the windows/e combination keys).
After the window opens, I can open up another window and it will open
right away. Until I step to another line - then it is slow again the next
time I try to open a window.

Also, if in debug mode and I try to open the window and it doesn't open, I
can stop debugging and it will open immediatly.

Why does this happen?

It doesn't happen with everything. IE seems to be unaffected.

Thanks,

Tom

Have you install SP1 for VS2005, this one did solve a number of debugger
slowdown issues.

Willy.

 

[tshad]

Have you install SP1 for VS2005, this one did solve a number of debugger
slowdown issues.

Doesn't appear so.

I have version 8.0.50727.762 (SP.050727-7600) so that may be my problem.

I will try that.

Thanks,

Tom