What does BSOD 0x64 (SYMBOLIC_INITIALIZATION_FAILED) mean?

Status / error code:		Category:

Constant name:
Source:		Operating System:
Description: Symbolic-link or namespace initialization failed during early startup.

Could be also:
Constant	Type	OS
ERROR_TOO_MANY_SEMAPHORES	Win32 error	Windows
HTTP_STATUS_CONTINUE	HTTP Code	Any
ENETDOWN	errno	Linux
EPROTO	errno	Mac
EADDRINUSE	errno	Windows

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SECURITY1_INITIALIZATION_FAILED	MEMORY1_INITIALIZATION_FAILED

SYMBOLIC_INITIALIZATION_FAILED

Kernel symbolic namespace initialization failure for SYMBOLIC_INITIALIZATION_FAILED

SYMBOLIC_INITIALIZATION_FAILED is bug check code 0x00000064.

This startup bug check points at failure while building kernel namespace links such as device, object-manager, or DOS-device symbolic links needed for boot and system operation.

How to read it in a dump

The stack should show whether object manager, mount manager, device namespace, or boot-device naming is involved.
Bad registry state, missing boot devices, or early filter interference can surface here.
This is not the same as a broken user-mode shortcut or filesystem link.

What to check

Check boot-device naming, mounted-devices state, system hive integrity, and early storage/filter drivers.
Compare with NO_BOOT_DEVICE or ASSIGN_DRIVE_LETTERS_FAILED if present.
Use a boot dump to inspect object namespace creation.

References

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