| Previous | Next |
| ERROR_EA_TABLE_FULL | ERROR_EAS_NOT_SUPPORTED |
ERROR_INVALID_EA_HANDLE
The EA handle is not valid for this request
ERROR_INVALID_EA_HANDLE is a Win32 result associated with extended-attribute enumeration or update APIs. When ERROR_INVALID_EA_HANDLE 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 extended-attribute handle supplied to the operation is invalid or stale. For ERROR_INVALID_EA_HANDLE, 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_INVALID_EA_HANDLE should retain its symbolic name, numeric value, and the operation name together.
What to check
- Trace where the handle was opened and closed.
- Check for reuse after close and cross-thread lifetime races.
- Verify that the handle belongs to the same file, volume, and API family.
- Reopen the object after media changes or reconnects.
Recommended handling
Retry only after obtaining a new valid handle. Reusing the same stale value can hide a lifetime bug and may target the wrong object if handle values are recycled.
Developer notes
Code handling ERROR_INVALID_EA_HANDLE 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_INVALID_EA_HANDLE, read GetLastError() immediately because later cleanup or logging can overwrite the value. Retry ERROR_INVALID_EA_HANDLE only when the specific condition is documented as transient, using a bounded delay and cancellation support.
References
- Microsoft: System error codes relevant to ERROR_INVALID_EA_HANDLE
- Microsoft: File management context for ERROR_INVALID_EA_HANDLE
Looking for a different code? Search another status or error code.