What does Windows error code 690 (ERROR_DBG_UNABLE_TO_PROVIDE_HANDLE) mean?

ERROR_DBG_UNABLE_TO_PROVIDE_HANDLE

What ERROR_DBG_UNABLE_TO_PROVIDE_HANDLE means

The debugger cannot provide the object handle requested for a debug event. In practical terms, this status belongs to debug-object handle transfer: Windows or the debugger cannot duplicate or expose a process, thread, file, or section handle to the requesting side.

Typical causes

• The source handle was already closed before the debugger requested it
• Access rights prevent duplication into the debugger process
• The target process terminated and invalidated the object lifetime

How to investigate

1. Log the object type, source process, desired access mask, and handle value
2. Confirm that the target is still alive and the debug event has not been continued
3. Inspect handle duplication failures and debugger privilege level

Developer guidance

Code that consumes debugger handles must tolerate absence of the optional handle and continue using identifiers or event metadata where possible.

References

• Microsoft: System error codes 500–999