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ERROR_EAS_DIDNT_FIT
The EA output buffer is too small
ERROR_EAS_DIDNT_FIT is a Win32 result associated with querying extended attributes. When ERROR_EAS_DIDNT_FIT is returned, diagnosis should begin with the exact API, target object, and operation that produced it rather than with the message text alone.
What the result means
The requested extended attributes do not fit in the supplied buffer. For ERROR_EAS_DIDNT_FIT, the practical meaning depends on the caller and on whether the affected object is local, remote, removable, policy-managed, or handled asynchronously. Diagnostics for ERROR_EAS_DIDNT_FIT should retain its symbolic name, numeric value, and the operation name together.
What to check
- Use the size returned by the API when available.
- Retry with a bounded allocation and guard against size changes between calls.
- Check whether the caller confused character counts, structure counts, and byte counts.
- Set an upper limit for metadata received from untrusted filesystems or servers.
Recommended handling
This is normally a buffer-sizing condition, not corruption. Allocate the required size safely and repeat the query, while still handling races where attributes change between calls.
Developer notes
Code handling ERROR_EAS_DIDNT_FIT should capture the failing API, resolved path or device identity, requested access, process identity, and the first observed error. After a call that reports ERROR_EAS_DIDNT_FIT, read GetLastError() immediately because later cleanup or logging can overwrite the value. Retry ERROR_EAS_DIDNT_FIT only when the specific condition is documented as transient, using a bounded delay and cancellation support.
References
- Microsoft: System error codes relevant to ERROR_EAS_DIDNT_FIT
- Microsoft: File management context for ERROR_EAS_DIDNT_FIT
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