What does Windows error code 15150 (ERROR_PRI_MERGE_LOAD_FILE_FAILED) mean?

ERROR_PRI_MERGE_LOAD_FILE_FAILED

Unable to load one of the PRI files to be merged.

ERROR_PRI_MERGE_LOAD_FILE_FAILED is a domain-specific Windows result.

Likely impact: No output should be trusted if required input files cannot be opened and validated.

Typical causes

• the file path is wrong or inaccessible.
• the PRI is corrupt or incomplete.
• a file is locked or replaced during the build.
• the input is not actually a PRI file.

Troubleshooting steps

1. Verify that every listed PRI exists, is readable, and has a valid index structure.
2. Collect failing input path and file hash, size, and ACL.
3. Correlate MakePri diagnostic with MakePri command line, input PRI inventory, package identities, schemas, file hashes, output path, tool version, and the first detailed merge diagnostic.

Useful evidence

• Collect PRI dump or validation result.
• Collect build artifact provenance.

Recovery and retry

Restore or regenerate the exact failing input and freeze the input set before retrying merge.

Related errors

ERROR_PRI_MERGE_ADD_FILE_FAILED occurs after a file is loaded and then cannot be incorporated; this code fails while loading it

Example

A stale manifest points to a deleted resource PRI. Regenerating the artifact list and validating every path prevents the load failure.

References

• Microsoft: exact Win32 system error range
• Microsoft: MakePri.exe command options
• Microsoft: Package Resource Index files