Excelent question! :)

Not so much a tool as a way to convert them into more meaningful info:

- open up the windows calculator and put it in scientific mode
- paste in the (negative) error code
- convert the number to hex base
- the last 4 digits of the result give you the 'standard' error code

so for example your -2147287038 becomes exit code 2 after this operation

rgds,
PJ

...then all you need is an encyclopaedic knowledge of DOS error codes LOL

The most common are:
2 - File not found
3 - Path not found
5 - Access denied

...and to get the description of the rest of the (standard) error(s)
net helpmsg <error code>

Or use the System Error Code list on MSDN

...then all you need is an encyclopaedic knowledge of DOS error codes LOL

I consider that to be standard knowledge for any packager... [:D]
*cough* google *cough*