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| ERROR_UNRECOGNIZED_VOLUME | ERROR_FULLSCREEN_MODE |
ERROR_FILE_INVALID
the volume for a file has been externally altered so that the opened file is no longer valid.
ERROR_FILE_INVALID means that an open file handle no longer refers to a valid object because the underlying volume changed outside the handle’s assumptions.
Where the result appears
- removable media replaced while a file remains open.
- volume dismount, remount, restore, rollback, or snapshot transition.
- cluster, virtual disk, or storage failover that changes the presented volume.
- administrative repair or imaging operations performed during application access.
Typical causes
- media was swapped or the volume identity changed.
- the filesystem was repaired, restored, or replaced under an existing handle.
- a storage provider invalidated cached file state.
- the device was reset or re-enumerated and old handles became stale.
What to collect
- file path, volume serial/identity, handle open time, and failure time.
- device arrival/removal, mount-manager, storage, and filesystem events.
- whether the application watches for media or volume changes.
- operations by backup, snapshot, failover, repair, or virtualization software.
Handling and recovery
Close the stale handle, rediscover the intended volume, verify its identity, and reopen the file. Do not assume that the same drive letter or path now names the same media. For writes, revalidate file version and transaction state before resuming.
Common misinterpretation
The code does not necessarily mean that the file contents are corrupt. It means the existing open-handle context can no longer be trusted.
References
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