Let me start with my main questions, then below I will add some specifics and history. I have done research, but can't seem to fit the pieces together. Please ask for clarification before voting me down.
My questions:
Why would my Windows Store app start and run correctly locally on my Win 8.1 64 bit AND my Win 8.1 32 bit (Atom) tablet, but not start for other users?
When I get the dump file from Windows Store certification failure, how can I get the debug symbols to work so I can see more of the issue?
When I build in 'Release' mode, does it actually put the symbols into the .pdb files? And does it index the symbols?
Here's the history:
I developed a little game as a Universal app, Win Phone and Windows Store. Win Phone version is in the store, getting downloaded, and works fine.
The Windows Store version is having issues.
It runs on my machine, Win 8.1 64bit. It runs on my tablet, Win 8.1 Atom, which I install via Remote Debug from within Visual Studio. It passes the App Certification here on my box. But when I submit the package to the Windows Store it doesn't pass, and the report says it crashes when starting up. (Somehow the first appx package was released on the store, then later they replied that it crashes, so some users say the app doesn't load.)
So, I download the debug data and open up the .dmp file. I get Exception Code 0xC000027B
Digging around online, I find this is a 'Language Exception', and is a general error saying the bug was Unhandled. Following articles like this (http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ntdebugging/archive/2014/01/13/debugging-a-windows-8-1-store-app-crash-dump.aspx)
I try to get the symbols for my app to load to see if that will help. I added a folder for my app to my local symbols cache folder (c:\symbols\myApp\1.3.0.7) thinking Visual studio would pick them up, and copied the .exe, .dll, and .pdb files from the apx package that I had submitted to the store, but still get these messages:
'WER38D7.tmp.dmp' (Minidump): Loaded '*CryptoQuoteW8cs.exe'. Module was built without symbols.
'WER38D7.tmp.dmp' (CLR v4.0.30319: ): Loaded '*CryptoQuoteW8cs.exe'. No matching binary found.
'WER38D7.tmp.dmp' (CLR v4.0.30319: ): Loaded '*CryptoLogic.DLL'. No matching binary found.
A fatal exception was caught by the runtime. See $stowedexception in the Watch window to view the original exception information.
So, I'm at a loss. How do I get my app working? What error is holding it up? Why does it work and pass Certification locally, but not on the store? How can I find out? I've been all over Bing and Microsoft, and maybe I'm just not searching for the right thing. Please help!
Edit:
From windbag, I get this call stack.
combase!RoFailFastWithErrorContextInternal2(HRESULT hrError = 0xaaaaaaaa, unsigned long cStowedExceptions = 0xaaaaaaaa, struct _STOWED_EXCEPTION_INFORMATION_V2 ** aStowedExceptionPointers = 0xaaaaaaaa)+0x10a [d:\blue_gdr\com\combase\winrt\error\error.cpp @ 1035]
combase!RoFailFastWithErrorContextInternal(HRESULT hrError = 0xaaaaaaaa, unsigned long cStowedExceptions = 0xaaaaaaaa, struct _STOWED_EXCEPTION_INFORMATION_V1 ** aStowedExceptionPointers = 0xaaaaaaaa)+0x10b [d:\blue_gdr\com\combase\winrt\error\error.cpp @ 948]
kernel32!BaseThreadInitThunk+0xe
ntdll!__RtlUserThreadStart+0x20
ntdll!_RtlUserThreadStart+0x1b