What does HRESULT 0x8004000A (OLE_E_CANT_BINDTOSOURCE) mean?

OLE_E_CANT_BINDTOSOURCE

OLE link cannot bind to its source

OLE_E_CANT_BINDTOSOURCE is HRESULT 2147745802 (0x8004000A) from winerror.h. The documented description is “Not able to bind to the source” The result belongs to IOleLink binding or moniker activation of linked content. This HRESULT is most useful when tied to the method and lifecycle phase where the stored moniker cannot resolve and bind to a usable source object.

This result means that the stored moniker cannot resolve and bind to a usable source object. Preserve the original HRESULT and the state that made this condition true; the severity bit alone does not determine how the caller should handle it.

Where the result appears

An incident record must distinguish caller, runtime, provider, and backing resource while testing whether the stored moniker cannot resolve and bind to a usable source object.

Typical causes and interpretation

The immediate contract boundary is specific: the stored moniker cannot resolve and bind to a usable source object. Common cause branches include the following:

• The source moved or is offline.
• Credentials or network access block binding.
• The source application or class is unavailable.

Confirm the cause branch that explains why the stored moniker cannot resolve and bind to a usable source object by using call arguments, object state, metadata, device information, or provider traces.

Correct handling and recovery

The primary recovery is to validate the moniker, network and class registration, then offer source repair or relinking rather than repeated background activation. The failure report should capture the relevant state during IOleLink binding or moniker activation of linked content so it is clear why the stored moniker cannot resolve and bind to a usable source object.

The owner of it must define idempotency, cancellation, attempt limits, and reconciliation for the failed IOleLink binding or moniker activation of linked content.

Practical scenario

A linked chart refers to a retired server share; the application prompts for a replacement source and stores a new moniker after validation.

Difference from related HRESULTs

MK_E_* codes can identify a lower-level moniker failure; it is the OLE link-level outcome.

Developer and administrator guidance

Broad permission or compatibility changes are inappropriate unless evidence for the stored moniker cannot resolve and bind to a usable source object points to that layer.

References

• Microsoft: generic COM and OLE error codes
• Microsoft: IOleObject
• Microsoft: OLE and data-transfer interfaces
• Microsoft: OLE view caching