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ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE
Why this is not a generic GPU failure: graphics invalid pixelvalueaccessmode
Windows reports ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE (0xC026233F) at the vidpn checkpoint. Here, the source mode requests a pixel-value access mode outside the accepted enum or path capability. That narrows the first investigation to source pixel access semantics instead of the entire GPU stack.
ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE: VidPN handles and subobjects are generation-bound. For ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE, A monitor hot-plug, docking action, session switch or mode commit can invalidate an otherwise well-formed cached object. For ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE, the built-in one-line message identifies the immediate result; diagnosis also needs the producing API, object ownership and the display generation current at the time.
The smallest evidence set
| Capture item | Why it matters for ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE |
|---|---|
| Rejected boundary | the source mode requests a pixel-value access mode outside the accepted enum or path capability |
| Decisive capture | access-mode enum, source mode type, format, driver-model version and private-format attributes |
| Current graph state | VidPN, topology, source and target mode sets, and the present path connecting them |
| Supporting trace | source and target IDs, topology generation, path descriptors, pinned modes, mode-set handles and monitor timing data |
| Object identity | source pixel access semantics |
For ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE, preserve the unsigned HRESULT, symbolic name, first failing API and timestamp in one record. If cleanup later fails too, keep that secondary result separately from ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE.
A/B test for the exact condition
- Freeze the
ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODEgeneration. Record access-mode enum, source mode type, format, driver-model version and private-format attributes. Before diagnosingERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE, do not resize, hot-plug, recreate or release the object under examination. - Run the narrow
ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODEcomparison. use the access mode from a mode enumerated by the same driver and compare. During theERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODEcomparison, keep every driver, monitor, resource format and unrelated policy unchanged. - Observe the layer after
ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE. ForERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE, if the exact check passes, record the next HRESULT or visible outcome. A different downstream result shows that theERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODEboundary was crossed. - Repeat
ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODEthrough a lifecycle transition. ForERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE, exercise one relevant resize, mode switch, device recreation, hot-plug or session change and confirm that this result does not reuse stale handles.
The comparison with ERROR_GRAPHICS_INCOMPATIBLE_PRIVATE_FORMAT is especially useful: ERROR_GRAPHICS_INCOMPATIBLE_PRIVATE_FORMAT reports a mismatch with the current primary private format. For ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE, recording both names prevents a broad “graphics error” label from merging distinct ownership, capability and lifetime problems.
Safe remediation
Preserve the complete enumerated source-mode structure instead of synthesizing one field. Repair of ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE is complete only when the original call succeeds or returns its documented nonfatal status and the same lifetime test remains correct after a second display transition.
- The
ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODEtrace identifies one producing API and one current graphics object, rather than only the final UI symptom. - The passing run changes exactly the condition described for
ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE; unrelated adapter, monitor and application state remains unchanged. - For
ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE, debug-layer, ETW or driver diagnostics no longer report the rejected source pixel access semantics contract during the same scenario. - The application handles recurrence of
ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODEwithout an unbounded retry loop, leaked resource, duplicate composition target or stale topology handle.
Implementation notes for ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE
For ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE, log source and target IDs, topology generation, path descriptors, pinned modes, mode-set handles and monitor timing data. When the ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE path returns a count, size, status flag or replacement object, retain it even on a nonfatal result because it can direct the next call.
A production fallback for ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE should be explicit: pause rendering, re-enumerate, rebuild one cache entry, recreate a device, or decline a protected path only when this layer calls for that action. Reinstalling every display component, deleting all caches or forcing a resolution change is not an evidence-based fix for ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE.
Technical references
- Microsoft: Introduction to Video Present Networks — background for the source pixel access semantics boundary involved in
ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE. - Microsoft: VidPN objects and interfaces — background for the source pixel access semantics boundary involved in
ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE. - Microsoft: Enumerating cofunctional VidPN modes — background for the source pixel access semantics boundary involved in
ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE. - Microsoft: Determining VidPN support — background for the source pixel access semantics boundary involved in
ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PIXELVALUEACCESSMODE.
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