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INPUT_E_PACKET
The scope of INPUT_E_PACKET is pointer packet, frame, and history validation. One or more fields in an individual pointer packet violate the input contract. Keep 0x80400003 beside the returning method because a wrapper can replace this distinction with a generic subsystem message.
Do not hide the original condition
INPUT_E_FRAME and INPUT_E_HISTORY arise after packets are grouped; this result means at least one packet is invalid on its own. Do not log only selected fields or the formatted message. A padding, size, or flag problem can be invisible in a simplified application log.
Subsystem boundary
When it is returned, Windows validates input at several nested levels. A packet describes one pointer observation, a frame groups simultaneous observations, and history links frames over time. The diagnostic task is to locate the first level at which identity, flags, timing, device information, or lifecycle becomes inconsistent; repairing only the last packet can leave an invalid frame or history chain unchanged.
Inspect the following boundary: the defect is local to a packet or its required field combination. Common classes include invalid flags, impossible button or contact state, missing coordinates, unsupported pointer type, inconsistent device identity, or a size/version mismatch in the submitted structure.
Facts worth preserving
| Record | Why it matters here |
|---|---|
| Complete structure bytes and declared structure size | Recording complete structure bytes and declared structure size separates the pointer packet, frame, and history validation boundary from a later wrapper symptom. |
| Pointer ID, frame ID, type, flags, coordinates, and timestamp | In this result diagnostics, recording pointer ID, frame ID, type, flags, coordinates, and timestamp ties the HRESULT to the pointer packet, frame, and history validation boundary rather than to the final visible failure. |
| Device handle and any HID-derived properties | Comparing device handle and any HID-derived properties shows whether this result follows input, object state, or environment. |
| The first API validation result before wrapper conversion | Preserving the first API validation result before wrapper conversion provides the evidence needed to test this distinction: iNPUT_E_FRAME and INPUT_E_HISTORY arise after packets are grouped; this result means at least one packet is invalid on its own. |
What each result would imply
| Test | Interpretation | Hold constant |
|---|---|---|
| Same environment, reduced input | If it disappears with a smaller faithful case, complexity within pointer packet, frame, and history validation is implicated. | Keep complete structure bytes and declared structure size fixed while simplifying device handle and any HID-derived properties. |
| Same input, fresh object generation | If it changes after rebuilding state, examine ownership across the packet producer, frame collector, and interaction consumer. | Place pointer ID, frame ID, type, flags, coordinates, and timestamp on the timeline of the last successful transition. |
| Same operation on a controlled second path | If it follows one environment, the failure is not explained by source data alone. | Compare pointer type, device identity, window, DPI context, and callback phase while preserving the first API validation result before wrapper conversion. |
Isolation procedure
Capture the submitted structures before Windows modifies counts or output buffers., reduce the sequence from history to one frame and then to one packet while preserving the original pointer IDs, flags, and time base so the level that first fails remains observable.
- When it is returned, start from a known valid packet for the same pointer type.
- Change one field at a time until the error reproduces.
- validate required flag combinations for DOWN, UPDATE, and UP transitions.
- When it is returned, check zero initialization and structure version against the target SDK and OS.
Verification after repair
A correction for it should let the operation at the pointer packet, frame, and history validation boundary complete repeatedly under the original supported conditions. Repeat the control that begins with “Start from a known valid packet for the same pointer type” and confirm that the following lifecycle step also succeeds. Keep the original failing sample and one deliberate negative case so fallback cannot be mistaken for repair.
Technical references
When it is returned, these references define the public API family, object model, or error list used to interpret this status.
- Microsoft: COM error codes for Input and graphics.
- Microsoft: Pointer Input Messages and Notifications.
- Microsoft: POINTER_INFO structure and pointer lifetime.
- Microsoft: GetPointerFrameInfoHistory.
- Microsoft: Interaction Context API.
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