I totally get it—those offline Debug Symbol MSIs were a lifesaver for skipping the agonizingly slow real-time symbol downloads during debugging. Since they were removed in Windows 10 1803 (build 17134), here are the most reliable methods to grab all symbols in one go:

Method 1: Use symchk (Symbol Checker) from the Windows SDK #

This is the official, recommended approach from Microsoft. Here's how to execute it step by step:

1. Install the Windows SDK:

   • Download the latest Windows SDK and make sure to select the Debugging Tools for Windows component during installation—this includes the symchk tool you need.
   • By default, symchk is located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Debuggers\x64 (for 64-bit systems) or the x86 subfolder for 32-bit systems.

2. Run the bulk download command:
   Open an elevated Command Prompt (right-click > Run as administrator), navigate to the symchk directory, and run this command to download symbols for your entire Windows installation:

   symchk /r C:\Windows /s srv*C:\YourLocalSymbolCache*https://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols
   

   • /r: Recursively scans all files in the target directory (C:\Windows here) to identify missing symbols.
   • /s: Defines the symbol search path—first checks your local cache folder (C:\YourLocalSymbolCache), then downloads from Microsoft's official server if the symbol isn't already cached.
   • Replace C:\YourLocalSymbolCache with a folder on a drive with plenty of free space (full symbol sets can take 30GB+ depending on your OS version).

3. Wait for completion:
   The download will take time depending on your internet speed and the size of symbols needed. symchk automatically retries failed downloads and skips symbols that are already present in your cache.

Method 2: Preconfigure Debugging Tools to Cache Symbols Automatically #

If you don't need to download everything upfront but want to ensure all symbols are cached after your first debugging session:

1. Open WinDbg (or any debugging tool from the Windows SDK).
2. Go to File > Symbol File Path and enter:

   srv*C:\YourLocalSymbolCache*https://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols
   

3. Save this path as the default. Next time you debug, the tool will download all required symbols to your local cache, and subsequent sessions will use the cached files instead of re-downloading.

Key Notes to Keep in Mind #

• Storage Space: Full symbol sets for a Windows installation can range from 30GB to 50GB or more. Double-check your target drive has enough free space before starting.
• Download Throttling: Microsoft's symbol server may throttle large bulk downloads, so be prepared for longer wait times if you're grabbing all symbols at once.
• Targeted Downloads: If you only need symbols for core system files, narrow down the directory in the symchk command (e.g., C:\Windows\System32) to save space and speed up the process.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Soleil