Random Exceptions: System.IO.IOException: The handle is invalid

2011-12-27

Question

_{Tuesday, December 27, 2011 10:00 PM}

Hello everyone,

I have a relatively simple VB.NET app. It targets framework 2.0 from Visual Studio 2010. The app works fine most of the time, except that the users sometimes receive the following exceptions. The error is completely random and somewhat rare. I haven't been able to trap it while in a development environment. It also doesn't appear to be pointing at my code. My app continues to run if the users ignore the error.

How would I trap and handle this error? Any suggestions on trying to figure what's causing it?

System.IO.IOException: The handle is invalid.

   at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)
   at System.Threading.EventWaitHandle.Set()
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ThreadMethodEntry.Complete()
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.InvokeMarshaledCallbacks()
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

Thanks in advance!

All replies (29)

_{Thursday, December 29, 2011 2:32 AM ✅Answered}

You should look above at the post I gave you earlier... as it will give you a stacktrace of the linenumber the error is occuring on..

Public Class Form1
    Public LinNum As Integer
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        SomeSub()
    End Sub
    Public Sub SomeSub()
        Try
            'This example just shows how you can
            'possibly get the line number of where the
            'code failed
            'if the debugger is failing too...
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : Throw New IO.IOException: LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
        Catch ex As IO.IOException
            MsgBox("Error In Line " & LinNum & ": " & ex.Message)
        End Try
    End Sub
    Public Sub somecode()
    End Sub
End Class

If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done. If you believe something to be true, then one day you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.

_{Tuesday, December 27, 2011 10:20 PM}

show us the code that causes the problemIf you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done. If you believe something to be true, then one day you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.

_{Tuesday, December 27, 2011 10:25 PM}

That's the problem, I can never catch it in development mode. I don't know what code causes the problem. The exception doesn't seem to reference any of my classes.

_{Tuesday, December 27, 2011 10:29 PM}

That's the problem, I can never catch it in development mode. I don't know what code causes the problem. The exception doesn't seem to reference any of my classes.

what I mean is post your code here, so we can look for the error....

another option is doing something like

Try

'Your code here

Catch Ex as exception

msgbox ex.message

End Try

If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done. If you believe something to be true, then one day you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.

_{Tuesday, December 27, 2011 10:35 PM}

Paul, thanks. I can't post my code in its entirety. There are too many lines and classes. Furthermore, the powers that be would be upset if I did that. I can't post a snippet because I have no idea where the issue is.

I am familiar with exception handling. The problem is that this exception doesn't seem to reference any of my code. It appears to be triggered by something in the .NET code itself. There is something in the Forms.NativeWindow.Callback function that triggers the "handle is invalid" exception. Where would I put the Try/Catch statement to trap something like this? It's likely the hWnd that's invalid.

_{Tuesday, December 27, 2011 11:16 PM}

You are saying that the app works fine if the user chooses to continue after the exception,

If so, I would just encapsulate the code in a try>catch block and not msgbox the error message to the user...

Looks like you're not the only one out there who gets this error... see if this thread helps you...

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/asmxandxml/thread/e99580e4-e9fd-49bb-b5d8-f28ab204c66c

If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done. If you believe something to be true, then one day you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.

_{Wednesday, December 28, 2011 12:39 AM}

You will find that the exception has little importance unless it's hear the allocation of the hadle.

Renee

"MODERN PROGRAMMING is deficient in elementary ways BECAUSE of problems INTRODUCED by MODERN PROGRAMMING." Me

_{Wednesday, December 28, 2011 12:41 AM}

paul,

That doesn't really address the issue.

Renee

"MODERN PROGRAMMING is deficient in elementary ways BECAUSE of problems INTRODUCED by MODERN PROGRAMMING." Me

_{Wednesday, December 28, 2011 2:19 AM}

You are saying that the app works fine if the user chooses to continue after the exception,

If so, I would just encapsulate the code in a try>catch block and not msgbox the error message to the user...

Paul, That's really what I am try to do. I just want to trap this error and safely ignore it. The problem is that I have no idea where to stick the Try / Catch block. I don't know what code triggers the exception. I can't really come up with a solution other than to keep running my code through Visual Studio with a variety of test data until it happens.

_{Wednesday, December 28, 2011 2:20 AM}

Renee,

I am seeing that. The exception is nothing more than a nuisance as far as I can tell. The problem is that users don't know any better and choose to close the program, thinking that it crashed. I just want to trap this thing and ignore it.

_{Wednesday, December 28, 2011 2:30 AM | 1 vote}

I would suggest that ignoring an error should be the very last resort. The exception is saying that an invalid handle is being passed to some IO method. The best solution is obviously to find the problem and fix it. Just because nobody has so far observed any ill effect from ignoring the error doesn't guarantee that there will never be any ill effect.

_{Wednesday, December 28, 2011 4:32 AM | 1 vote}

Since you can't provide more details to your specific problem... you're gonna get a generic answer...

maybe you can craft some way to detect the problem...

here is possible way you can do that

Public Class Form1
    Public LinNum As Integer
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        SomeSub()
    End Sub
    Public Sub SomeSub()
        Try
            'This example just shows how you can
            'possibly get the line number of where the
            'code failed
            'if the debugger is failing too...
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : Throw New IO.IOException: LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
            somecode() : LinNum = New StackTrace(New StackFrame(True)).GetFrame(0).GetFileLineNumber + 1
        Catch ex As IO.IOException
            MsgBox("Error In Line " & LinNum & ": " & ex.Message)
        End Try
    End Sub
    Public Sub somecode()
    End Sub
End Class

If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done. If you believe something to be true, then one day you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.

_{Wednesday, December 28, 2011 4:38 AM}

I have no idea where to stick the Try / Catch block.

You stick the try/catch block around any code pertaining to whatever object you are using from the System.IO namespace, or just narrow it down...

You should have a general idea of what your app 'was supposed to do' when the error was triggered...

If you're not sure... Just look here to see what control it could be:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.io.aspx

If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done. If you believe something to be true, then one day you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.

_{Wednesday, December 28, 2011 5:22 AM}

It looks like some code that used System.IO namespace classes such as File.Open, FileInfo, DirectoryInfo....etc. might cause your app to trigger the exception. Since classes under System.IO namespace are not too many, maybe you should first narrow down your problem scope in your app. And then narrow the problem scope again and again until you pinpoint the problem.My blog: http://soho-hsh.blogspot.com

_{Wednesday, December 28, 2011 6:37 AM}

"I agree with the others here at the MSDN that you should use the try/catch method. If you do not use a try/catch statement around all your code until you pinpoint and isolate the problem, you won't get a detailed answer."

A try-catch will not help you with debugging, however it will hide the problem.

Renee

"MODERN PROGRAMMING is deficient in elementary ways BECAUSE of problems INTRODUCED by MODERN PROGRAMMING." Me

_{Wednesday, December 28, 2011 6:40 AM}

Oddly enough, I had exceptions in tight loops that it took as muck as four days to occur, This bug was fixed when I changed my hardware,

Renee

"MODERN PROGRAMMING is deficient in elementary ways BECAUSE of problems INTRODUCED by MODERN PROGRAMMING." Me

_{Wednesday, December 28, 2011 6:41 AM}

I totally agree.

Renee

"MODERN PROGRAMMING is deficient in elementary ways BECAUSE of problems INTRODUCED by MODERN PROGRAMMING." Me

_{Wednesday, December 28, 2011 6:43 AM}

Good Paul!

Renee

"MODERN PROGRAMMING is deficient in elementary ways BECAUSE of problems INTRODUCED by MODERN PROGRAMMING." Me

_{Wednesday, December 28, 2011 2:22 PM}

Thanks everyone! A generic answer is exactly what I need. I have been staring at this problem for a while. I was just looking for some generic advice on how to troubleshoot this problem. I will post back once I figure out where the problem lies.

_{Wednesday, December 28, 2011 10:44 PM}

How is this coming? Did you find your problem?If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done. If you believe something to be true, then one day you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.

_{Thursday, December 29, 2011 2:30 AM}

I was finally able to get my program to crash and throw the exception in a debug session. I throws the below error in debug mode. Stepping out of it, brings me to the Disposing function of my main form. No source code is available and no disassembly.

My next idea was to configure the debugger to allow native code debugging, but unfortunately I must target framework 2.0. Visual Studio tells me that mixed mode debugging is only available in framework 4.0 and later for 64 bit CPUs.

I basically wrapped every piece of code that is executed during the continuous running of my application in Try / Catch statements and I am trying to crash it again. I will update once I have some more info.

System.IO.IOException was unhandled
Message=The handle is invalid.

Source=mscorlib
StackTrace:
       at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)
       at System.Threading.EventWaitHandle.Set()
       at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ThreadMethodEntry.Complete()
       at System.Windows.Forms.Control.InvokeMarshaledCallbacks()
       at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
       at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
       at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.DebuggableCallback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)
       at System.Windows.Forms.UnsafeNativeMethods.DispatchMessageW(MSG& msg)
       at System.Windows.Forms.Application.ComponentManager.System.Windows.Forms.UnsafeNativeMethods.IMsoComponentManager.FPushMessageLoop(Int32 dwComponentID, Int32 reason, Int32 pvLoopData)
       at System.Windows.Forms.Application.ThreadContext.RunMessageLoopInner(Int32 reason, ApplicationContext context)
       at System.Windows.Forms.Application.ThreadContext.RunMessageLoop(Int32 reason, ApplicationContext context)
       at Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.WindowsFormsApplicationBase.OnRun()
       at Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.WindowsFormsApplicationBase.DoApplicationModel()
       at Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.WindowsFormsApplicationBase.Run(String[] commandLine)
       at SecureCopy.My.MyApplication.Main(String[] Args) in 17d14f5c-a337-4978-8281-53493378c1071.vb:line 81
       at System.AppDomain._nExecuteAssembly(Assembly assembly, String[] args)
       at Microsoft.VisualStudio.HostingProcess.HostProc.RunUsersAssembly()
       at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state)
       at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart()
InnerException:

_{Thursday, December 29, 2011 2:37 AM}

Thanks. I was hoping to narrow the problem down to a specific class, module, or even a section before I try your suggestion. I have a fair amount of code. It would take some time to insert the StackTrace statements for every routine.

_{Thursday, December 29, 2011 2:54 AM}

If the class, module, or sub does not contain an item listed on this page:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.io.aspx

then you can narrow them "out of the equation"... because your error type pertains to

an object listed on that page.

If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done. If you believe something to be true, then one day you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.

_{Thursday, December 29, 2011 2:56 AM}

Paul, with everything I am doing to attempt to trap this exception, and your suggestion of Stack Traces, we are assuming that the exception occurs in my code and not in the framework itself. The exception doesn't reference my code and when the error occurred in debug mode, it doesn't breakpoint into my code. Since all my code is managed, this leads me to believe that the exception is happening in the framework itself. It's probably something in the way I am using the System.IO namespace that leads it to crash.

If this is the case, I am not going to be able to trap this error and the Stack Traces aren't going to help.

_{Thursday, December 29, 2011 3:38 AM | 2 votes}

That's not necessarily true, because even if it was a defect in the .net framework, you could get the linenumber of YOUR code where the exception is thrown, where you do something with the IO object, and at that point, whether you have coded something wrong, or a bug was found in the .net framework itself, you will know at which exact line of code that something has gone wrong, and you can re-build from there.

This is why when I write software, I program my tasks into separate functions and sub-routines, all the while testing each as I go, and not moving on until the current section I am working on is error free. Because now you have this problem and you have no idea where you went wrong.

I am quite sure if you were to upload your project to your skydrive, with all the people here in these forums, it would be a matter of hours before someone pinpointed your exact problem.

I have encountered numerous errors when the debugger has failed to pinpoint the cause of a problem for me, at which point I was forced to trace the problem myself. The debugger is only a form of AI, its never going to work perfectly.

If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done. If you believe something to be true, then one day you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.

_{Thursday, December 29, 2011 3:51 AM}

Thanks, I will try the stack traces.

I usually structure my code in separate sub-routines as well. Unfortunately, this problem didn't manifest itself during testing. It wasn't until people starting using the tool for something it wasn't quite intended to do, did we discover this issue.

I really wish I could upload the code. The problem is that I don't own it.

Thanks again for all your help. I will keep plugging away and will update as I have more information.

_{Thursday, December 29, 2011 4:01 AM | 2 votes}

You say - It wasn't until people starting using the tool for something it wasn't quite intended to do, did we discover this issue.

is there any way you can use that knowledge to bring you closer to the bug? I.E...

example:

They were using functionX to do something it wasn't intended to do... therefore the problem is somewhere in functionX...

therefore, somewhere inside functionX, you are using an object from the IO namespace...

Heres the 'ol 6 step troubleshooting for electronics applied to coding

1.   Symptom recognition. This is the action of recognizing some disorder or malfunction
2.   Symptom elaboration. Obtaining a more detailed description of the trouble symptom is the purpose of this step.
3.   Listing probable faulty subs/functions
4.   Localizing the faulty sub/function - which sub is it?
5.   Localizing trouble to a line of code - which line of code is it?
6.   Failure analysis. Fix the problem - why did it happen? how can I get around this?

If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done. If you believe something to be true, then one day you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.

_{Friday, January 6, 2012 2:28 PM | 1 vote}

I found what triggers the "Handle is invalid," exception:

System.IO.FileStream.Flush()

I have now trapped the error. Now I just have to figure out why this fails. Thanks for your help everyone!

_{Wednesday, January 29, 2014 10:06 AM}

For me, "The handle is invalid" and "WinIOError" tells me, that you want to do something with the window, before the handle has been created.

Cheers

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Random Exceptions: System.IO.IOException: The handle is invalid

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