| Previous | Next |
| QUERY_E_FAILED | QUERY_E_INVALIDRESTRICTION |
QUERY_E_INVALIDQUERY
A top-level query parameter is invalid
QUERY_E_INVALIDQUERY is HRESULT 0x80041601. Windows documents it as “Invalid parameter.”
Where the failure belongs
This result belongs to legacy Windows query execution and is returned while validating the query method, command object, dialect and argument combinations before clause-specific processing. The exact condition is: a broad API-contract failure rather than proof of malformed WHERE text.
Likely causes
A failed command or empty rowset is only the visible symptom; it does not identify which restriction, projection, sort, scope, timeout or catalog state violated the query contract.
Telemetry that matters
- Associate method and interface with the exact UTC timestamp and correlation identifier.
- Compare failing and known-good values for all scalar arguments under the same provider or handler version.
- Record the source and normalization path of structure sizes, not only its display form.
- Record session and command ownership before releasing the relevant objects.
- Associate provider command text and dialect with the exact UTC timestamp and correlation identifier.
Redact private literals if necessary, but keep clause boundaries, canonical properties, parameter types, dialect and parser or provider offsets.
Verification workflow
- Capture method and interface and all scalar arguments at the call boundary that returns this result.
- Confirm the operation reached validating the query method, command object, dialect and argument combinations before clause-specific processing with the intended structure sizes.
- identify the invalid pointer, count, flag, dialect, session relationship or stale command state.
Begin with a known-good minimal command against the same catalog and restore projection, restriction, sorting, grouping and scope one component at a time.
Safe remediation
Recreate a clean command object and correct the call contract before retrying. Backoff helps only with measured transient load or timeout; it cannot repair invalid clauses, projection metadata, scopes or command state.
Avoid the wrong conclusion
It does not by itself prove catalog corruption, service outage, access denial or absence of matches; the query stage and provider records must identify the failing clause or state.
How nearby codes differ
QUERY_E_INVALIDRESTRICTION, QUERY_E_INVALIDSORT and QUERY_E_INVALID_OUTPUT_COLUMN are narrower stage results.
Developer and administrator guidance
Retain final command text, dialect, catalog generation, parameter values, timeout, cancellation state and chained OLE DB error records. Before rebuilding the catalog or restarting the provider, reproduce the minimal command and preserve its chained errors.
Worked example
A wrapper supplies a nonzero sort count with a null array. The provider rejects the call before parsing, and correcting the count-pointer pair resolves it.
Official Microsoft references
Looking for a different code? Search another status or error code.