‘Side-by-side’ configuration errors on your Windows 10 or 11 PC can be a headache, but the built-in Sxstrace.exe command line tool can be a life-saver in such situations.
This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to use this handy tool, how to download it, and how to employ it for detailed diagnosis, including fixing issues with applications like Google Chrome.
Understanding the Sxstrace.exe Command Line Tool
The Sxstrace.exe tool is a part of the Windows operating system designed to help diagnose ‘side-by-side’ configuration issues in applications.
Such issues often occur when an application requires a specific version of a shared component (like a DLL file), but the correct version is not available.
Sxstrace.exe can trace these issues and provide detailed diagnostic information to help resolve them.
How to Use Sxstrace.exe Command Line Tool
To use the Sxstrace.exe tool on Windows 10 or 11, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows key + X and select ‘Command Prompt (Admin)’ to open the Command Prompt with administrative rights. Alternatively, you can search for ‘cmd’ in the search bar, right-click on ‘Command Prompt,’ and select ‘Run as administrator.’
- In the Command Prompt, type
sxstrace Trace -logfile:Trace.sxsand press Enter. This command starts the tracing process, and ‘Trace.sxs’ is the file where the trace log will be saved. - Now, reproduce the issue that you are experiencing. For example, if you’re having trouble with an application, try to launch it.
- Once you have reproduced the issue, return to the Command Prompt and press Ctrl + C to stop the tracing process.
- Next, you need to parse the trace log into a readable text format. In the Command Prompt, type
sxstrace Parse -logfile:Trace.sxs -outfile:ParsedTrace.txtand press Enter. ‘ParsedTrace.txt’ is the file where the parsed log will be saved. - You can now open ‘ParsedTrace.txt’ in any text editor, like Notepad, to view the detailed diagnostic information.
How to Download Sxstrace.exe
Sxstrace.exe is included in Windows by default, so you don’t need to download it separately. If the tool is missing or corrupted, you might need to perform a system repair or reinstall the operating system.
How to Use Sxstrace.exe for Detailed Diagnosis
For detailed diagnosis of ‘side-by-side’ configuration issues, you need to analyze the parsed trace log.
The log contains detailed information about the DLL files that an application tried to load, the versions of those files that were required, and the versions that were available.
This information can help identify the missing components and provide clues about how to resolve the issue.
How to Use Sxstrace.exe with Google Chrome
If you’re experiencing ‘side-by-side’ configuration issues with Google Chrome, you can use Sxstrace.exe to diagnose the issue.
The process is the same as described above: start the trace, attempt to launch Chrome, stop the trace, parse the log, and then analyze the parsed log to identify the problem.
Conclusion
The Sxstrace.exe command line tool is a powerful feature of Windows 10 and 11 for diagnosing ‘side-by-side’ configuration issues.
By tracing the application activity and parsing the log, you can gain insights into the problems that an application is experiencing and find ways to resolve them.
Whether you’re trying to fix issues with Google Chrome or another application, Sxstrace.exe can be an invaluable tool in your troubleshooting arsenal.
