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STATUS_ATTRIBUTE_NOT_PRESENT
Query the object and attribute class that the caller actually requested
STATUS_ATTRIBUTE_NOT_PRESENT indicates that a requested attribute is not present on the specified file or directory. It should not be diagnosed as a permissions failure by default. The operation reached an object but could not obtain the particular attribute expected by the caller.
Windows exposes standard file attributes through structures such as FILE_BASIC_INFO and GetFileInformationByHandleEx, while file systems may also support metadata through FSCTLs and named streams. The word “attribute” in an internal native path is therefore not enough to identify a specific FILE_ATTRIBUTE_* bit. Preserve the information class, FSCTL, or subsystem request that selected the attribute.
Log stable file identity, file-system type, requested information class, and current standard attributes. If the failure follows a copy to another file system, compare metadata capabilities and stream support. Creating a named stream or toggling a random FILE_ATTRIBUTE_* flag is not a valid generic repair because the missing attribute may belong to a different metadata facility.
What to inspect
- Capture the information class, FSCTL, or API requesting the attribute.
- Query FILE_BASIC_INFO and file-system type for comparison.
- Compare source and destination metadata support after copy or migration.
References
- Microsoft Open Specifications: NTSTATUS values
- Microsoft: FILE_BASIC_INFO
- Microsoft: GetFileInformationByHandleEx
- Microsoft: File Attribute Constants
- Microsoft Open Specifications: file streams and FSCTL terminology
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