ERROR_DS_BAD_HIERARCHY_FILE 0x800720E9

Error code 8425 · HRESULT 0x800720E9

WINDOWS

The hierarchy file is invalid.

Windows troubleshooting diagram: Device Manager warning and a system file scan
Windows errors: check drivers, system files and Event Viewer, in that order.

What it means

ERROR_DS_BAD_HIERARCHY_FILE is a Windows error code (system error 8425, returned as HRESULT 0x800720E9) reported by Windows. Its official message is: “The hierarchy file is invalid.”

How to fix ERROR_DS_BAD_HIERARCHY_FILE

  1. Verify the path/file actually exists and is not blocked by antivirus quarantine
  2. Reinstall the application that raised the error to restore missing files
  3. Check the full path spelling (long paths >260 chars need a registry opt-in)

Related errors

ERROR_DS_BAD_ATT_SCHEMA_SYNTAXERROR_DS_BAD_RDN_ATT_ID_SYNTAXERROR_DS_BAD_NAME_SYNTAXERROR_DS_BAD_INSTANCE_TYPEERROR_DS_CANT_REPLACE_HIDDEN_RECERROR_DS_BUILD_HIERARCHY_TABLE_FAILEDERROR_DS_SECURITY_ILLEGAL_MODIFY

Source: Microsoft WinError.h

Last updated: