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ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PHYSICAL_MONITOR_HANDLE
Locate the failing graphics boundary: graphics invalid physical monitor handle
The useful interpretation of ERROR_GRAPHICS_INVALID_PHYSICAL_MONITOR_HANDLE (0xC026258C) starts at the monitor boundary: the handle was never valid for MCA or became invalid after release or display reconfiguration. In practical terms, inspect physical monitor handle lifetime before changing application-wide graphics settings.
Evidence that makes the result actionable
| Capture item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Current graph state | HMONITOR-to-physical-monitor enumeration and DDC/CI transaction |
| Supporting trace | physical-monitor handle generation, monitor description, VCP feature, DDC/CI exchange and display-change timestamp |
| Object identity | physical monitor handle lifetime |
| Rejected condition | the handle was never valid for MCA or became invalid after release or display reconfiguration |
| What to capture | handle value, producing enumeration call, DestroyPhysicalMonitor order, HMONITOR and WM_DISPLAYCHANGE sequence |
A controlled comparison
- Use a freshly enumerated handle and compare with the released or stale handle.
The comparison with ERROR_GRAPHICS_MONITOR_NO_LONGER_EXISTS is especially useful: ERROR_GRAPHICS_MONITOR_NO_LONGER_EXISTS means Windows asynchronously removed the corresponding monitor.
Correction and proof
Scope handles to one enumeration generation and destroy them exactly once.
- debug-layer, ETW or driver diagnostics no longer report the rejected physical monitor handle lifetime contract during the same scenario.
Technical references
- Microsoft: Using high-level monitor configuration functions — background for the physical monitor handle lifetime.
- Microsoft: High-level monitor configuration API
- Microsoft: GetMonitorCapabilities
- Microsoft: Graphics error codes
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