Unraveling the INVALID_CANCEL_OF_FILE_OPEN Error (0x000000E8): What It Means and How to Fix It

Overview of the 0x000000E8 BSOD

The 0x000000E8 Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), also referred to as INVALID_CANCEL_OF_FILE_OPEN, signals a critical issue within the Windows I/O subsystem. This error indicates that a file object passed to the IoCancelFileOpenroutine was invalid. Essentially, Windows tried to cancel the opening of a file but encountered a corrupted or improperly initialized file object instead.

This problem often stems from poorly written drivers, outdated system components, or corruption within system files or the registry. As with all BSODs, this results in an immediate system crash to protect the integrity of the operating system.

What the INVALID_CANCEL_OF_FILE_OPEN Error Really Means

When Windows interacts with files and devices at a low level, it creates internal data structures known as file objects. These objects contain metadata about the file operation and are used by drivers to manage open files. The function IoCancelFileOpen is designed to safely cancel such operations.

If a driver or kernel-mode process passes a file object that is:

• Already closed,
• Corrupted,
• Or never properly initialized,

the system panics and triggers the 0x000000E8 error to avoid memory corruption or further instability.

Common Causes of the 0x000000E8 BSOD

Here are the most frequent culprits behind this error:

1. Faulty or Incompatible Drivers
   
   • Third-party drivers, especially for file systems or hardware controllers, may improperly handle file objects.
   • Misbehaving drivers may attempt to cancel a file open operation without validating the file object.
2. Corrupt System Files
   
   • Damaged system DLLs or kernel components involved in file management may trigger this BSOD.
3. Malware or Rootkits
   
   • Malicious software can interfere with the kernel’s file operations and pass invalid objects to system routines.
4. Faulty Hardware
   
   • Memory corruption due to bad RAM or failing hard drives can corrupt internal file structures.
5. Software Conflicts
   
   • Low-level applications like antivirus tools or disk encryption software can cause improper file access behavior.
6. Buggy Windows Updates
   
   • In rare cases, system updates might introduce regressions in file system drivers or the I/O subsystem.

How to Fix the 0x000000E8 Error: Step-by-Step

1. Boot Into Safe Mode

If your system is stuck in a crash loop:

• Power off the system and turn it back on.
• Interrupt the boot process 3 times to trigger Windows Recovery.
• Navigate to Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart, then choose Safe Mode with Networking.

2. Roll Back or Update Problematic Drivers

• Go to Device Manager (Win + X > Device Manager).
• Look for recently updated drivers (especially storage controllers, antivirus drivers, or file system filters).
• Roll back drivers by right-clicking > Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver.
• Alternatively, visit the manufacturer’s website for updated versions.

3. Run System File Checker and DISM

Corrupt system files can directly cause invalid file objects.

Run these from Command Prompt (as Administrator):

bash

CopyEdit

sfc /scannow

‍

Then:

swift

CopyEdit

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

‍

4. Check for Malware

Run a full system scan using Windows Defender or a reputable third-party anti-malware program to rule out malicious interference in system operations.

5. Use Driver Verifier (Advanced Users)

This built-in tool helps identify faulty drivers:

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Type:
nginx
CopyEdit
verifier

• Select Create standard settings > Next > Automatically select all drivers installed on this computer > Finish.
• Restart and observe the system. It may BSOD again, but this time with detailed driver information you can use to track the faulty one.

To disable Driver Verifier:

bash

CopyEdit

verifier /reset

‍

6. Perform a Memory Check

Faulty RAM can corrupt kernel data structures:

• Type mdsched.exe in the Start menu and press Enter.
• Choose to restart and check for problems.

7. Perform a Clean Boot

This helps determine if a third-party startup service is the trigger:

• Type msconfig in the Start menu.
• Under Services, check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.
• Under Startup, open Task Manager and disable all non-essential startup apps.
• Reboot and monitor for BSOD recurrence.

8. Check Event Viewer Logs

Look for crash data under Windows Logs > System. Pay attention to:

• BugCheck codes,
• Faulting drivers,
• Warnings right before the crash.

Preventing Future 0x000000E8 BSODs

To minimize the chances of this BSOD returning:

• Always use WHQL-certified drivers and update them regularly.
• Avoid using multiple antivirus programs at the same time.
• Back up your system regularly using built-in Windows Backup or third-party tools.
• Use quality RAM and SSDs, and monitor them with tools like MemTest86 or CrystalDiskInfo.
• Avoid force-shutting down the system during file transfers or updates.
• Keep Windows Updated via Settings > Windows Update.

Final Thoughts

The 0x000000E8 INVALID_CANCEL_OF_FILE_OPEN BSOD may seem obscure, but it typically points to deeper issues in the way your system or its drivers handle file objects at the kernel level. By diagnosing driver behavior, scanning for file integrity issues, and performing controlled testing through Safe Mode or Driver Verifier, you can resolve this error and ensure a more stable computing environment.

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