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ERROR_FAIL_NOACTION_REBOOT
A pending reboot prevents the operation from starting
ERROR_FAIL_NOACTION_REBOOT is a Win32 system result. Servicing, installation, driver, or configuration work can leave the system in a pending-reboot state. This result says the new operation did not begin; it should not be reported as partial success.
What the result means
No requested action was taken because the system must be restarted first. For ERROR_FAIL_NOACTION_REBOOT, keep the symbolic name, numeric value, and failing operation together in diagnostics; that combination distinguishes the exact failure path from nearby system results.
What to check
- Determine which earlier installation or servicing action requested the reboot.
- Check installer, Windows Update, component servicing, and device setup logs.
- Confirm whether a restart is acceptable now and whether unsaved user work exists.
- After reboot, verify that the prerequisite operation actually completed.
Recommended handling
Prompt for or schedule a controlled restart, then rerun the original operation. Do not repeatedly launch the same request before the reboot or claim that changes were applied.
Developer notes
Return a distinct reboot-required outcome to callers and orchestration systems. Preserve idempotency so rerunning after restart does not duplicate completed steps. When a Win32 API reports ERROR_FAIL_NOACTION_REBOOT, capture GetLastError() immediately; subsequent cleanup, formatting, or logging calls can replace the thread-local value.
References
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