What does Windows error code 14050 (ERROR_SXS_XML_E_WHITESPACEORQUESTIONMARK) mean?

 
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ERROR_SXS_XML_E_INVALID_UNICODE ERROR_SXS_XML_E_UNEXPECTEDENDTAG

ERROR_SXS_XML_E_WHITESPACEORQUESTIONMARK

ERROR_SXS_XML_E_WHITESPACEORQUESTIONMARK (0x000036E2) is a Windows Side-by-Side XML parser status for application, assembly, policy, or configuration manifest processing.

This code exposes the parser’s expected-token set: after the syntax already consumed, the next legal token must begin with XML whitespace or ?. Another character means the current declaration or processing-instruction form cannot continue under that production.

Parser boundary

XML uses ? in processing-instruction and declaration terminators such as ?>, while whitespace separates declaration fields and processing-instruction data. The exact preceding token determines which branch the parser expected.

What to inspect

  • Inspect several characters before the reported position to identify the declaration or processing-instruction context already parsed.
  • Add whitespace only when a separator is required; if the construct should end, verify the complete ?> terminator instead.
  • Check manifest serializers that concatenate XML declaration fields or processing-instruction data without preserving token boundaries.

Use sxstrace to capture the precise manifest and location because the status name alone does not identify which XML production reached the whitespace-or-question-mark branch.

References


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