ERROR_FILE_INVALID 0x800703EE

Error code 1006 · HRESULT 0x800703EE

WINDOWS

The volume for a file has been externally altered so that the opened file is no longer valid.

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_FILE_INVALID is a Windows error code (system error 1006, returned as HRESULT 0x800703EE) reported by Windows. Its official message is: “The volume for a file has been externally altered so that the opened file is no longer valid.”

How to fix ERROR_FILE_INVALID

  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_FILE_CORRUPTERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUNDERROR_FILE_METADATA_OPTIMIZATION_IN_PROGRESSERROR_FILE_HANDLE_REVOKEDERROR_UNRECOGNIZED_VOLUMEERROR_FULLSCREEN_MODEERROR_INVALID_FLAGS

Source: Microsoft WinError.h

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