diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/Debugger.pluginspec b/src/plugins/debugger/Debugger.pluginspec
index 5e98b531319..5f111813254 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/Debugger.pluginspec
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/Debugger.pluginspec
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@ will be met: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/lgpl-2.1.html.</license>
         <argument name="-disable-sdb">Disable Qt Script debugger engine</argument>
         <argument name="-disable-tcf">Disable Tcf debugger engine</argument>
         <argument name="-debug" parameter="process-id">Attach to Process-Id</argument>
-        <argument name="-winexception" parameter="exception-code">Exception code</argument>
+        <argument name="-wincrashevent" parameter="event-handle">Event handle used for attaching to crashed processes</argument>
     </argumentList>
 </plugin>
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.cpp
index 7b606a9e0ea..c6ae43bacff 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.cpp
@@ -526,15 +526,16 @@ void CdbDebugEnginePrivate::clearDisplay()
     m_debuggerManagerAccess->registerHandler()->removeAll();
 }
 
-bool CdbDebugEngine::startDebugger()
+bool CdbDebugEngine::startDebugger(const QSharedPointer<DebuggerStartParameters> &sp)
 {
     m_d->clearDisplay();
 
     const DebuggerStartMode mode = m_d->m_debuggerManager->startMode();
-    const QSharedPointer<DebuggerStartParameters> sp = m_d->m_debuggerManager->startParameters();
     // Figure out dumper. @TODO: same in gdb...
     const QString dumperLibName = QDir::toNativeSeparators(m_d->m_debuggerManagerAccess->qtDumperLibraryName());
-    bool dumperEnabled = mode != AttachCore && !dumperLibName.isEmpty()
+    bool dumperEnabled = mode != AttachCore
+                         && mode != AttachCrashedExternal
+                         && !dumperLibName.isEmpty()
                          && m_d->m_debuggerManagerAccess->qtDumperLibraryEnabled();
     if (dumperEnabled) {
         const QFileInfo fi(dumperLibName);
@@ -552,8 +553,9 @@ bool CdbDebugEngine::startDebugger()
     m_d->clearForRun();
     switch (mode) {
     case AttachExternal:
-        rc = startAttachDebugger(sp->attachPID, &errorMessage);
-        needWatchTimer = true;
+    case AttachCrashedExternal:
+        rc = startAttachDebugger(sp->attachPID, mode, &errorMessage);
+        needWatchTimer = true; // Fetch away module load, etc. even if crashed
         break;
     case StartInternal:
     case StartExternal:
@@ -585,7 +587,7 @@ bool CdbDebugEngine::startDebugger()
     return rc;
 }
 
-bool CdbDebugEngine::startAttachDebugger(qint64 pid, QString *errorMessage)
+bool CdbDebugEngine::startAttachDebugger(qint64 pid, DebuggerStartMode sm, QString *errorMessage)
 {
     // Need to attrach invasively, otherwise, no notification signals
     // for for CreateProcess/ExitProcess occur.
@@ -597,7 +599,7 @@ bool CdbDebugEngine::startAttachDebugger(qint64 pid, QString *errorMessage)
         *errorMessage = tr("Attaching to a process failed for process id %1: %2").arg(pid).arg(msgDebugEngineComResult(hr));
         return false;
     } else {
-        m_d->m_mode = AttachExternal;
+        m_d->m_mode = sm;
     }
     return true;
 }
@@ -679,6 +681,17 @@ void CdbDebugEnginePrivate::processCreatedAttached(ULONG64 processHandle, ULONG6
     m_engine->executeDebuggerCommand(QLatin1String("bc"));
     if (m_debuggerManagerAccess->breakHandler()->hasPendingBreakpoints())
         m_engine->attemptBreakpointSynchronization();
+    // Attaching to crashed: This handshake (signalling an event) is required for
+    // the exception to be delivered to the debugger
+    if (m_mode == AttachCrashedExternal) {
+        const QString crashParameter = m_debuggerManager->startParameters()->crashParameter;
+        if (!crashParameter.isEmpty()) {
+            ULONG64 evtNr = crashParameter.toULongLong();
+            const HRESULT hr = m_cif.debugControl->SetNotifyEventHandle(evtNr);
+            if (FAILED(hr))
+                m_engine->warning(QString::fromLatin1("Handshake failed on event #%1: %2").arg(evtNr).arg(msgComFailed("SetNotifyEventHandle", hr)));
+        }
+    }
     if (debugCDB)
         qDebug() << Q_FUNC_INFO << '\n' << executionStatusString(m_cif.debugControl);
 }
@@ -707,7 +720,8 @@ void CdbDebugEnginePrivate::endDebugging(EndDebuggingMode em)
     Action action;
     switch (em) {
     case EndDebuggingAuto:
-        action = m_mode == AttachExternal ? Detach : Terminate;
+        action = (m_mode == AttachExternal || m_mode == AttachCrashedExternal) ?
+                 Detach : Terminate;
         break;
     case EndDebuggingDetach:
         action = Detach;
@@ -1417,7 +1431,7 @@ void CdbDebugEngine::slotConsoleStubStarted()
         qDebug() << Q_FUNC_INFO << appPid;
     // Attach to console process
     QString errorMessage;
-    if (startAttachDebugger(appPid, &errorMessage)) {
+    if (startAttachDebugger(appPid, AttachExternal, &errorMessage)) {
         startWatchTimer();
         m_d->m_debuggerManagerAccess->notifyInferiorPidChanged(appPid);
         m_d->m_debuggerManagerAccess->notifyInferiorRunning();
@@ -1436,6 +1450,12 @@ void CdbDebugEngine::slotConsoleStubTerminated()
     exitDebugger();
 }
 
+void CdbDebugEngine::slotAttachedCrashed()
+{
+ m_d->m_debuggerManagerAccess->showDebuggerOutput("A","A");
+    m_d->handleDebugEvent();
+}
+
 void CdbDebugEngine::warning(const QString &w)
 {
     static const QString prefix = QLatin1String("warning:");
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.h
index 7c0caff2c20..ade64c7d9fc 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.h
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public:
 
     virtual void shutdown();
     virtual void setToolTipExpression(const QPoint &mousePos, TextEditor::ITextEditor *editor, int cursorPos);
-    virtual bool startDebugger();
+    virtual bool startDebugger(const QSharedPointer<DebuggerStartParameters> &startParameters);
     virtual void exitDebugger();
     virtual void detachDebugger();
     virtual void updateWatchModel();
@@ -107,10 +107,11 @@ private slots:
     void slotConsoleStubStarted();
     void slotConsoleStubError(const QString &msg);
     void slotConsoleStubTerminated();    
+    void slotAttachedCrashed();
     void warning(const QString &w);
 
 private:
-    bool startAttachDebugger(qint64 pid, QString *errorMessage);
+    bool startAttachDebugger(qint64 pid, DebuggerStartMode sm, QString *errorMessage);
     bool startDebuggerWithExecutable(DebuggerStartMode sm, QString *errorMessage);
     void startWatchTimer();
     void killWatchTimer();
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermanager.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermanager.cpp
index b2a19fe8b1e..90af18e6855 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermanager.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermanager.cpp
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ void DebuggerStartParameters::clear()
     buildDir.clear();
     attachPID = -1;
     useTerminal = false;
+    crashParameter.clear();
     remoteChannel.clear();
     remoteArchitecture.clear();
     serverStartScript.clear();
@@ -892,6 +893,7 @@ void DebuggerManager::startNewDebugger(DebuggerRunControl *runControl, const QSh
     QString settingsIdHint;
     switch (startMode()) {
     case AttachExternal:
+    case AttachCrashedExternal:
         m_engine = determineDebuggerEngine(m_startParameters->attachPID, &errorMessage);
         break;
     case AttachTcf:
@@ -919,7 +921,7 @@ void DebuggerManager::startNewDebugger(DebuggerRunControl *runControl, const QSh
 
     setBusyCursor(false);
     setStatus(DebuggerProcessStartingUp);
-    if (!m_engine->startDebugger()) {
+    if (!m_engine->startDebugger(m_startParameters)) {
         setStatus(DebuggerProcessNotReady);
         debuggingFinished();
         return;
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermanager.h b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermanager.h
index 884bfeb708b..bc022d9a40b 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermanager.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermanager.h
@@ -118,12 +118,13 @@ enum DebuggerStatus
 
 enum DebuggerStartMode
 {
-    StartInternal,   // Start current start project's binary
-    StartExternal,   // Start binary found in file system
-    AttachExternal,  // Attach to running process
-    AttachTcf,       // Attach to a running Target Communication Framework agent
-    AttachCore,      // Attach to a core file
-    StartRemote      // Start and attach to a remote process
+    StartInternal,         // Start current start project's binary
+    StartExternal,         // Start binary found in file system
+    AttachExternal,        // Attach to running process by process id
+    AttachCrashedExternal, // Attach to crashed process by process id
+    AttachTcf,             // Attach to a running Target Communication Framework agent
+    AttachCore,            // Attach to a core file
+    StartRemote            // Start and attach to a remote process
 };
 
 struct DebuggerStartParameters {
@@ -138,6 +139,7 @@ struct DebuggerStartParameters {
     QString buildDir;
     qint64 attachPID;
     bool useTerminal;
+    QString crashParameter; // for AttachCrashedExternal
     // for remote debugging
     QString remoteChannel;
     QString remoteArchitecture;
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerplugin.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerplugin.cpp
index 6ca88c951fa..4c09fe9d1d0 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerplugin.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerplugin.cpp
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ DebuggerPlugin::DebuggerPlugin()
     m_gdbRunningContext(0),
     m_cmdLineEnabledEngines(AllEngineTypes),
     m_cmdLineAttachPid(0),
-    m_cmdLineWinException(0),
+    m_cmdLineWinCrashEvent(0),
     m_toggleLockedAction(0)
 {}
 
@@ -465,15 +465,16 @@ bool DebuggerPlugin::parseArgument(QStringList::const_iterator &it,
         }
         return true;
     }
-    // -winexception <exception code>, passed in by Windows System
-    if (*it == QLatin1String("-winexception")) {
+    // -wincrashevent <event-handle>. A handle used for
+    // a handshake when attaching to a crashed Windows process.
+    if (*it == QLatin1String("-wincrashevent")) {
         ++it;
         if (it == cend) {
             *errorMessage = msgParameterMissing(*it);
             return false;
         }
         bool ok;
-        m_cmdLineWinException = it->toULong(&ok);
+        m_cmdLineWinCrashEvent = it->toULongLong(&ok);
         if (!ok) {
             *errorMessage = msgInvalidNumericParameter(option, *it);
             return false;
@@ -515,8 +516,12 @@ bool DebuggerPlugin::parseArguments(const QStringList &args, QString *errorMessa
 
 bool DebuggerPlugin::initialize(const QStringList &arguments, QString *errorMessage)
 {
-    if (!parseArguments(arguments, errorMessage))
-        return false;
+    // Do not fail the whole plugin if something goes wrong here
+    if (!parseArguments(arguments, errorMessage)) {
+        *errorMessage = tr("Error evaluating command line arguments: %1").arg(*errorMessage);
+        qWarning("%s\n", qPrintable(*errorMessage));
+        errorMessage->clear();
+    }
 
     m_manager = new DebuggerManager;
     const QList<Core::IOptionsPage *> engineOptionPages = m_manager->initializeEngines(m_cmdLineEnabledEngines);
@@ -915,11 +920,9 @@ void DebuggerPlugin::extensionsInitialized()
 
 void DebuggerPlugin::attachCmdLinePid()
 {
-    const QString msg = m_cmdLineWinException ?
-        tr("Attaching to PID %1 (exception code %2).").arg(m_cmdLineAttachPid).arg(m_cmdLineWinException) :
-        tr("Attaching to PID %1.").arg(m_cmdLineAttachPid);
-    m_manager->showStatusMessage(msg);
-    attachExternalApplication(m_cmdLineAttachPid);
+    m_manager->showStatusMessage(tr("Attaching to PID %1.").arg(m_cmdLineAttachPid));
+    const QString crashParameter = m_cmdLineWinCrashEvent ? QString::number(m_cmdLineWinCrashEvent) : QString();
+    attachExternalApplication(m_cmdLineAttachPid, crashParameter);
 }
 
 /*! Activates the previous mode when the current mode is the debug mode. */
@@ -1215,7 +1218,7 @@ void DebuggerPlugin::attachExternalApplication()
         attachExternalApplication(dlg.attachPID());
 }
 
-void DebuggerPlugin::attachExternalApplication(qint64 pid)
+void DebuggerPlugin::attachExternalApplication(qint64 pid, const QString &crashParameter)
 {
     if (pid == 0) {
         QMessageBox::warning(m_manager->mainWindow(), tr("Warning"), tr("Cannot attach to PID 0"));
@@ -1223,9 +1226,11 @@ void DebuggerPlugin::attachExternalApplication(qint64 pid)
     }
     const QSharedPointer<DebuggerStartParameters> sp(new DebuggerStartParameters);
     sp->attachPID = pid;
+    sp->crashParameter = crashParameter;
+    const DebuggerStartMode dsm = crashParameter.isEmpty() ?  AttachExternal : AttachCrashedExternal;
     QSharedPointer<RunConfiguration> rc = activeRunConfiguration();
     if (RunControl *runControl = m_debuggerRunner
-            ->run(rc, ProjectExplorer::Constants::DEBUGMODE, sp, AttachExternal))
+            ->run(rc, ProjectExplorer::Constants::DEBUGMODE, sp, dsm))
         runControl->start();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerplugin.h b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerplugin.h
index 082a01e0160..7fdf3b08996 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerplugin.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerplugin.h
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ private:
     inline bool parseArgument(QStringList::const_iterator &it,
                               const QStringList::const_iterator& end,
                               QString *errorMessage);
-    void attachExternalApplication(qint64 pid);
+    void attachExternalApplication(qint64 pid, const QString &crashParameter = QString());
 
     friend class DebuggerManager;
     friend class GdbOptionPage;
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@ private:
     int m_gdbRunningContext;
     unsigned m_cmdLineEnabledEngines;
     quint64 m_cmdLineAttachPid;
-    // Exception that crashed an app passed on by Windows
-    unsigned long m_cmdLineWinException;
+    // Event handle for attaching to crashed Windows processes.
+    quint64 m_cmdLineWinCrashEvent;
     QAction *m_toggleLockedAction;
 
     QAction *m_startExternalAction;
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.cpp
index 8f578bfead8..c890742dd1b 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.cpp
@@ -1327,7 +1327,7 @@ void GdbEngine::exitDebugger()
                 qDebug() << "STATUS ON EXITDEBUGGER:" << q->status());
             interruptInferior();
         }
-        if (q->startMode() == AttachExternal)
+        if (q->startMode() == AttachExternal || q->startMode() == AttachCrashedExternal)
             postCommand(_("detach"));
         else
             postCommand(_("kill"));
@@ -1355,7 +1355,7 @@ int GdbEngine::currentFrame() const
     return qq->stackHandler()->currentIndex();
 }
 
-bool GdbEngine::startDebugger()
+bool GdbEngine::startDebugger(const QSharedPointer<DebuggerStartParameters> &sp)
 {
     debugMessage(DebuggerSettings::instance()->dump());
     QStringList gdbArgs;
@@ -1369,9 +1369,7 @@ bool GdbEngine::startDebugger()
     gdbArgs.prepend(_("mi"));
     gdbArgs.prepend(_("-i"));
 
-    const QSharedPointer<DebuggerStartParameters> sp = q->startParameters();
-
-    if (q->startMode() == AttachCore || q->startMode() == AttachExternal) {
+    if (q->startMode() == AttachCore || q->startMode() == AttachExternal || q->startMode() == AttachCrashedExternal) {
         // nothing to do
     } else if (q->startMode() == StartRemote) {
         // Start the remote server
@@ -1510,7 +1508,7 @@ bool GdbEngine::startDebugger()
         }
     }
 
-    if (q->startMode() == AttachExternal) {
+    if (q->startMode() == AttachExternal || q->startMode() == AttachCrashedExternal) {
         postCommand(_("attach %1").arg(sp->attachPID), CB(handleAttach));
         qq->breakHandler()->removeAllBreakpoints();
     } else if (q->startMode() == AttachCore) {
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.h
index 35c5b45350b..40d6708ae75 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.h
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ private:
 
     void shutdown();
     void setToolTipExpression(const QPoint &mousePos, TextEditor::ITextEditor *editor, int cursorPos);
-    bool startDebugger();
+    bool startDebugger(const QSharedPointer<DebuggerStartParameters> &sp);
     void exitDebugger();
     void detachDebugger();
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/idebuggerengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/idebuggerengine.h
index 6c0fdda97e4..b8bcff5cd84 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/idebuggerengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/idebuggerengine.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 
 #include <QtCore/QObject>
 #include <QtCore/QList>
+#include <QtCore/QSharedPointer>
 
 QT_BEGIN_NAMESPACE
 class QPoint;
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ namespace Debugger {
 namespace Internal {
 
 class Symbol;
+struct DebuggerStartParameters;
 
 class IDebuggerEngine : public QObject
 {
@@ -54,7 +56,7 @@ public:
 
     virtual void shutdown() = 0;
     virtual void setToolTipExpression(const QPoint &mousePos, TextEditor::ITextEditor *editor, int cursorPos) = 0;
-    virtual bool startDebugger() = 0;
+    virtual bool startDebugger(const QSharedPointer<DebuggerStartParameters> &startParameters) = 0;
     virtual void exitDebugger() = 0;
     virtual void detachDebugger() {}
     virtual void updateWatchModel() = 0;
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.cpp
index 652e3e8d7b5..874b1867434 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.cpp
@@ -219,12 +219,12 @@ void ScriptEngine::exitDebugger()
     qq->notifyInferiorExited();
 }
 
-bool ScriptEngine::startDebugger()
+bool ScriptEngine::startDebugger(const QSharedPointer<DebuggerStartParameters> &sp)
 {
     m_stopped = false;
     m_stopOnNextLine = false;
     m_scriptEngine->abortEvaluation();
-    const QSharedPointer<DebuggerStartParameters> sp = q->startParameters();
+
     QFileInfo fi(sp->executable);
     m_scriptFileName = fi.absoluteFilePath();
     QFile scriptFile(m_scriptFileName);
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.h
index ce4f6cb588a..a6b1e8bf957 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.h
@@ -76,7 +76,8 @@ private:
 
     void shutdown();
     void setToolTipExpression(const QPoint &mousePos, TextEditor::ITextEditor *editor, int cursorPos);
-    bool startDebugger();
+    bool startDebugger(const QSharedPointer<DebuggerStartParameters> &sp);
+
     void exitDebugger();
 
     void continueInferior();
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.cpp
index c6bbf7426fe..38e36b7c676 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.cpp
@@ -221,10 +221,9 @@ void TcfEngine::exitDebugger()
     qq->notifyInferiorExited();
 }
 
-bool TcfEngine::startDebugger()
+bool TcfEngine::startDebugger(const QSharedPointer<DebuggerStartParameters> &sp)
 {
     qq->notifyInferiorRunningRequested();
-    const QSharedPointer<DebuggerStartParameters> sp = qq->startParameters();
     const int pos = sp->remoteChannel.indexOf(QLatin1Char(':'));
     const QString host = sp->remoteChannel.left(pos);
     const quint16 port = sp->remoteChannel.mid(pos + 1).toInt();
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.h
index f9cfc00ec5b..027c2e48e02 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.h
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ private:
 
     void shutdown();
     void setToolTipExpression(const QPoint &mousePos, TextEditor::ITextEditor *editor, int cursorPos);
-    bool startDebugger();
+    bool startDebugger(const QSharedPointer<DebuggerStartParameters> &sp);
     void exitDebugger();
 
     void continueInferior();