Windows error 15 (ERROR_INVALID_DRIVE): meaning and diagnosis

Status / error code:		Category:

Constant name:
Source:		Operating System:
Description: The specified drive does not exist or is not currently available.

Could be also:
Constant	Type	OS
KERN_INVALID_NAME	Kern return	Mac
ippStsLSFLowAndHigh	Intel Ipp Status	Any
ENOTBLK	errno	Linux
ENOTBLK	errno	Mac
ENOTBLK	errno	Solaris
SPIN_LOCK_ALREADY_OWNED	BugCheck Code	Windows

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ERROR_OUTOFMEMORY	ERROR_CURRENT_DIRECTORY

ERROR_INVALID_DRIVE

The drive designator cannot be resolved

ERROR_INVALID_DRIVE indicates that a path refers to a drive letter or volume that Windows cannot use. The drive may never have existed in the session, may be disconnected, or may be visible only to another user context.

Checks

Verify the drive letter in the same service or user session.
Prefer UNC paths for services instead of interactive mapped drives.
Check removable-media presence and volume mount points.
Resolve configuration values that were copied from another computer.

Recovery

Prompt for a valid location in interactive software or fail clearly in unattended software. Do not silently redirect writes to another drive.

References

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