What does HRESULT 0x8028004A (TPM_E_RESOURCEMISSING) mean?

TPM_E_RESOURCEMISSING

Which layer owns this HRESULT

TPM_E_RESOURCEMISSING (0x8028004A) belongs to TPM 1.2 resources, delegation and contexts. This result means a saved context points to a TPM 1.2 resource that is no longer loaded or recoverable in the expected resource set.

Diagnostic record

How to verify the distinction

The one-variable check is to create, save and reload a fresh resource without crossing a context or power boundary. Record the before/after state that the command is allowed to change. If the operation can have side effects, use a disposable key, session, counter or NV index rather than production material.

1. Capture this result and 0x8028004A at the first code-specific return boundary.
2. Decode the relevant state: handle namespace, owning context, save/load history, family state and resource lifetime.
3. Run the controlled comparison once and preserve both binary transcripts.
4. Verify the expected output or state transition instead of relying on absence of a UI message.

Common false equivalences

It specifically answers whether a saved context points to a TPM 1.2 resource that is no longer loaded or recoverable in the expected resource set. In contrast, TPM_E_INVALID_RESOURCE reports a resource-type mismatch; this code reports that the referenced resource is absent.

What a real fix looks like

To remediate it, recreate the resource after it is flushed or expired and avoid sharing context blobs across process or boot lifetimes. Do not persist volatile TPM or TBS handles as durable identifiers. A numeric handle can be valid only inside the creating context and lifecycle, even when its value looks unchanged after restart.

Authoritative references

• Microsoft: Resource Virtualization in TBS.
• Microsoft: Command Scheduling in TBS.
• Microsoft: Using TPM Base Services.
• TCG: TPM 1.2 Part 3 — Context commands.