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ERROR_BAD_PATHNAME
The path syntax is invalid
ERROR_BAD_PATHNAME means that Windows rejected the pathname itself rather than merely failing to find the referenced object. Invalid prefixes, malformed components, unsupported syntax, or incorrect normalization can trigger it.
What to check
- Log the final path after expansion and normalization.
- Check drive, UNC, device, and extended-length prefixes.
- Verify separator use, quoting, trailing characters, and illegal component names.
- Do not confuse malformed syntax with
ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND.
How to handle it
Correct the path construction logic before retrying. Avoid ad hoc string concatenation when a path-aware API can combine and normalize components safely.
References
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