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MK_E_SYNTAX
Invalid syntax
Windows defines MK_E_SYNTAX as 2147746276 (0x800401E4; signed value -2147221020). The documented description is “Invalid syntax”. The moniker display name or class-specific name syntax is invalid. The relevant operation is parsing a human-readable name through MkParseDisplayName or IMoniker::ParseDisplayName.
Where it is raised
- Confirm that this result came from parsing a human-readable name through MkParseDisplayName or IMoniker::ParseDisplayName, rather than from cleanup or a wrapper that ran afterward.
Telemetry checklist
- Record the parser/moniker class and the character count consumed.
- Log a redacted escaped representation and encoding.
- Validate syntax before performing activation or network access.
Why it is specific
- It can result when separators, escaping, GUID text, URL syntax, or item delimiters are malformed.
- It can result when the name is valid for another moniker class but not the selected parser.
- It can result when input is truncated, incorrectly decoded, or contains an unexpected null.
Investigation order
- Identify the exact object, method, and lifecycle phase involved in parsing a human-readable name through MkParseDisplayName or IMoniker::ParseDisplayName.
Safe handling
Correction. correct or reject the display name and show the user the failing position where possible. Retry condition. Retry only with modified input; changing network state cannot repair syntax. Before repeating the operation, release partial monikers and bound interfaces, unregister only owned Running Object Table entries, and abandon a bind context whose deadline or parameters no longer match the retry.
Practical scenario
A composite name omits the delimiter between file and item components; reporting the consumed prefix lets the UI highlight the exact malformed portion.
Difference from related HRESULTs
MK_E_INVALIDEXTENSION is a file-extension-specific rejection; it is the broader parse failure.
Developer and administrator guidance
References
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