| Previous | Next |
| STATUS_UNABLE_TO_FREE_VM | STATUS_INVALID_SYSTEM_SERVICE |
STATUS_UNABLE_TO_DELETE_SECTION
The section still has lifetime dependencies
A Windows section object represents shared or file-backed memory and can have handles, mapped views, image mappings, and kernel references in multiple processes. This status means the requested deletion or cleanup cannot be completed under the current object state. Closing one user-mode handle is not equivalent to removing every view and reference.
For file-backed images, the executable loader and cache manager can also participate in the lifetime. Force-deleting the underlying file or terminating an unrelated process can mask the reference without explaining which component retained the mapping.
What to inspect
- Enumerate section handles and mapped views in all participating processes, including duplicated or inherited handles.
- Unmap each view before closing the final mapping handle and record failures from UnmapViewOfFile or kernel cleanup.
- Check whether the section represents a loaded image, shared memory object, or file mapping with active I/O.
- Use handle and VM diagnostics to identify the owner instead of repeatedly attempting deletion.
References
- Microsoft Open Specifications: NTSTATUS values
- Microsoft: ZwCreateSection
- Microsoft: MapViewOfFile
- Microsoft: CreateFileMapping
Looking for a different code? Search another status or error code.