Visual Studio 2012 Performance Analysis failing to load symbol file

Question

I have used the Visual Studio 2012 Performance Analysis to profile my C++ code for a long time, but recently when I try to use it seems to be failing to load the symbols as I get this error when I try to view the details

Matching symbols could not be found. Choose the 'Symbol Settings..' link to add the symbol file location and then reload the report.

I have visited Options -> Debugging -> Symbols but I don't know what I need to add so that the symbols load correctly.

Currently in that menu Symbol file (.pdf) locations: has one option available in it and it called Microsoft Symbol Servers and it is selected. In the Cashe symbols in this directory: I can see it is being set in a temp folder but when I go that folder I see it is empty.

What do I need to add so that the symbols load correctly?

Answer 1

I asked this question on MSDN and I was told that this is a known issue with Visual Studio 2012 and Windows 8.1. Microsoft has either by now fixed it or will fix it in a future update. Here is a link to the MSDN question.

Answer 2

make sure you build your project with .pdb files and add these to the list of symbol locations (possible library pdb's as well). I know this should be a comment, but i don't have the reputation for it yet :(