Windows error 11 (ERROR_BAD_FORMAT): meaning and diagnosis

Status / error code:		Category:

Constant name:
Source:		Operating System:
Description: Windows cannot load or interpret the file because its executable or binary format is invalid.

Could be also:
Constant	Type	OS
KERN_ALREADY_IN_SET	Kern return	Mac
ippStsResFloor	Intel Ipp Status	Any
EAGAIN	errno	Linux
EDEADLK	errno	Mac
EAGAIN	errno	Solaris
EAGAIN	errno	Windows
NO_EXCEPTION_HANDLING_SUPPORT	BugCheck Code	Windows

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ERROR_BAD_ENVIRONMENT	ERROR_INVALID_ACCESS

ERROR_BAD_FORMAT

The binary image has an unsupported or damaged format

ERROR_BAD_FORMAT commonly appears when loading an executable or DLL with the wrong architecture, a damaged image, or content that is not actually a Portable Executable file. It may also be reported as “not a valid Win32 application.”

Checks

Confirm the file is the expected executable and has not been replaced by text or HTML.
Match x86, x64, and ARM architecture requirements.
Verify the image signature, checksum, and deployment package.
Inspect dependencies when a loader reports the error for a child module.

Resolution

Deploy the correct build for the target process and operating system. Repeated loading will not repair a malformed image.

References

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