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STATUS_SXS_PROCESS_DEFAULT_ALREADY_SET
The process default activation context cannot be set a second time
STATUS_SXS_PROCESS_DEFAULT_ALREADY_SET means that the process default activation context has already been chosen. Windows defines the default context as the first one active before other contexts are activated; it remains the baseline context when no nested context is on top.
This is not a signal to overwrite a manifest on disk. It is a process-lifetime and initialization-order issue. Determine which module or startup path established the default context first, then decide whether the application should use that default or explicitly activate a separate context around the narrow operation that needs it.
What to inspect
- Trace process startup and DLL initialization to identify the first manifest/context selected by the loader.
- Check whether an embedded manifest takes precedence over an external manifest for the executable.
- Avoid attempting to reset the process default after initialization; use a scoped activation context where the API supports it.
References
- Microsoft: activation contexts
- Microsoft: ActivateActCtx
- Microsoft: DeactivateActCtx
- Wine: activation-context implementation
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