How do I install the Windbg Doctor skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add svnscha/windbg-doctor in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Windbg Doctor safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: makes network calls. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Windbg Doctor?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Windbg Doctor free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Windbg Doctor?

svnscha (@svnscha) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Windbg Doctor by svnscha — Agent Skill

Name: Windbg Doctor
Rating: 4.5 (4 reviews)
Author: svnscha

Windbg Doctor

Check that this machine can actually debug - MCP connection reachable, debugger present, symbols configured - and explain how to fix whatever is missing. Use when mcp-windbg tools fail, when a session will not open, or before a first debugging session.

svnscha Updated Sep 22, 2026

File contents

Check the debugging setup

MCP connection

Use the existing mcp-windbg MCP connection, whether it is launched by a plugin, a native executable, Python, or an HTTP service. Tool names below are base names; resolve them against the tools exposed by that connection rather than assuming a plugin-specific prefix. Keep each session on the server that opened it. If multiple servers match, use the user's selected server or ask which one. If the required tools are unavailable, report the missing connection or tool and help check its configuration; do not register a second server.

Diagnose why mcp-windbg is not working, or confirm it will before someone relies on it. Report findings together at the end, not one command at a time.

Checks

Inspect the configured MCP transport and launch command first. Run host checks on the machine running the server, using its available shell. For an HTTP service, local client checks do not describe the server; use server diagnostics or ask its operator for evidence and mark unavailable checks as unverified.

1. Tools reachable. Call list_dumps through the configured connection. A successful response, including an empty list, proves the MCP round trip works; it does not prove that CDB or KD can start. If connection fails, inspect the client's MCP status and server logs.

2. Platform and debugger. The server host must be Windows. Check configured --cdb-path / --kd-path overrides and the debugger locations the server searches:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Debuggers\x64\cdb.exe
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps\cdbX64.exe

Check KD as well for kernel debugging. If the debugger is missing, point at aka.ms/windbg or the Windows SDK's Debugging Tools for Windows. Do not infer that the debugger is missing from a client-side path check.

3. Launcher. Check only the runtime used by the configured server command:

uvx: check uv --version and run the configured package spec with --help, preserving its version pin. Resolution failures can indicate network or proxy problems. uv is required only for this launch method.
Python or a console entry point: use the configured interpreter or executable with --help (for example python -m mcp_windbg --help).
Native executable: check that exact executable with --help; do not require Python or uv.
HTTP: check the configured endpoint and server logs; do not launch a local replacement server.

4. Symbols. Inspect --symbols-path, the server's _NT_SYMBOL_PATH, and, if a debugger session is already open, .sympath. The uvx plugin supplies a default symbol path; independently configured servers may not. An empty client shell variable does not establish the server's effective value. Report unknown values as unverified. Missing symbols limit what stack offsets can tell you.

Reporting

A short table: check, result, and what to do about it. Lead with the first thing that is actually broken, since later checks often fail only as a consequence of it. If everything passes, say so in one line and name the CDB path and effective symbol path you found, so the user knows what they are running against.

---name: windbg-doctordescription: Check that this machine can actually debug - MCP connection reachable, debugger present, symbols configured - and explain how to fix whatever is missing. Use when mcp-windbg tools fail, when a session will not open, or before a first debugging session.---# Check the debugging setup## MCP connectionUse the existing mcp-windbg MCP connection, whether it is launched by a plugin,a native executable, Python, or an HTTP service. Tool names below are basenames; resolve them against the tools exposed by that connection rather thanassuming a plugin-specific prefix. Keep each session on the server that openedit. If multiple servers match, use the user's selected server or ask which one.If the required tools are unavailable, report the missing connection or tooland help check its configuration; do not register a second server.Diagnose why mcp-windbg is not working, or confirm it will before someonerelies on it. Report findings together at the end, not one command at a time.## ChecksInspect the configured MCP transport and launch command first. Run host checkson the machine running the server, using its available shell. For an HTTPservice, local client checks do not describe the server; use server diagnosticsor ask its operator for evidence and mark unavailable checks as unverified.**1. Tools reachable.** Call `list_dumps` through the configured connection.A successful response, including an empty list, proves the MCP round trip works;it does not prove that CDB or KD can start. If connection fails, inspect theclient's MCP status and server logs.**2. Platform and debugger.** The server host must be Windows. Check configured`--cdb-path` / `--kd-path` overrides and the debugger locations the server searches:```textC:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Debuggers\x64\cdb.exe%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps\cdbX64.exe```Check KD as well for kernel debugging. If the debugger is missing, point at[aka.ms/windbg](https://aka.ms/windbg) or the Windows SDK's Debugging Tools forWindows. Do not infer that the debugger is missing from a client-side path check.**3. Launcher.** Check only the runtime used by the configured server command:- `uvx`: check `uv --version` and run the configured package spec with `--help`, preserving its version pin. Resolution failures can indicate network or proxy problems. uv is required only for this launch method.- Python or a console entry point: use the configured interpreter or executable with `--help` (for example `python -m mcp_windbg --help`).- Native executable: check that exact executable with `--help`; do not require Python or uv.- HTTP: check the configured endpoint and server logs; do not launch a local replacement server.**4. Symbols.** Inspect `--symbols-path`, the server's `_NT_SYMBOL_PATH`, and,if a debugger session is already open, `.sympath`. The uvx plugin supplies adefault symbol path; independently configured servers may not. An empty clientshell variable does not establish the server's effective value. Report unknownvalues as unverified. Missing symbols limit what stack offsets can tell you.## ReportingA short table: check, result, and what to do about it. Lead with the first thingthat is actually broken, since later checks often fail only as a consequence ofit. If everything passes, say so in one line and name the CDB path and effectivesymbol path you found, so the user knows what they are running against.

Frequently asked questions