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Error 0x000002E5 is Windows ERROR_REPARSE: the object manager found a path that requires reparse processing, usually because it contains a symbolic link, junction, mount point, or another NTFS reparse point. Start by recording the exact path and trigger, then inspect it with fsutil reparsepoint query. Remove a reparse point only after you confirm it is stale and back up important data; deletion removes the metadata, not the file or folder. If the message appears during an upgrade, crash, or restart, use the broader Windows update, disk, image-repair, hardware, and recovery checks described below.
What does error 0x000002E5 mean?
Microsoft defines 0x000002E5 as ERROR_REPARSE: “A reparse should be performed by the object manager because the name of the file resulted in a symbolic link.” Windows uses reparse points in NTFS for directory junctions, volume mount points, symbolic links, and file-system filter behavior. When the target cannot be resolved, or the software that owns the reparse data is missing or unavailable, opening the path can fail.
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The code identifies path-resolution behavior, not a single broken component. A game installation, save folder, backup destination, mod directory, cloud-synchronization location, or installer can all encounter it if an intermediate link points to a moved volume or a filter driver no longer handles its tag.
Do not confuse 0x000002E5 with bug check 0x0000002E, DATA_BUS_ERROR. The latter is a blue-screen stop code associated with a different class of hardware or memory problem. The extra zeros and the different hexadecimal value matter.
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What should I record before changing anything?
Capture the evidence while the error is visible. This prevents you from repairing the wrong path, especially when a launcher reports a short filename but the failing item is inside a longer installation or save directory.
- Copy the complete file or folder path, including the drive letter and any spaces.
- Note the application involved: for example, a game launcher, backup utility, synchronizer, installer, or Windows Setup.
- Record the action that triggers the failure: opening a file, starting a game, saving progress, restoring a backup, installing an update, or upgrading Windows.
- Write down whether the path is on an internal drive, removable disk, network location, or virtual volume.
- Do not rename, move, or delete the item while you are still determining who created it.
If only one game or folder fails while the rest of Windows works, treat it as a path or ownership problem first. A system-wide failure, repeated restart, or blue screen requires the separate system checks later in this guide.
How do I inspect a reparse point with fsutil?
The safest first repair is read-only inspection. The fsutil reparsepoint query command is documented for Windows 10 and Windows 11 and retrieves the reparse data associated with one file or directory.
- Back up important saves, documents, and configuration files to a separate location. If the item belongs to a cloud, backup, deduplication, or security product, pause changes only according to that product’s instructions.
- Open Start, type Command Prompt, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator. Approve the User Account Control prompt.
- Run the command below, replacing the example with the exact path you recorded:
fsutil reparsepoint query "C:fullpathtoitem" - Read the returned tag and data. A successful response confirms that the exact item carries reparse metadata; the data can identify a symbolic-link target or a provider-specific tag.
- If Windows reports that the item is not a reparse point, query the parent folders one at a time. An application can fail on a reparse point in an intermediate directory even when the final filename itself is ordinary.
Run the command against the path that actually fails, not merely the shortcut shown in a desktop or Start-menu icon. If the command returns an access error, keep the elevated window open, verify the spelling and quotation marks, and check that the drive is mounted. Do not work around an access error by taking ownership of a folder managed by a security, backup, or synchronization product until you know what its filter requires.
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How do I fix a broken symbolic link or junction?
Check whether the target still exists
Use the target information returned by the query and check whether the destination volume and directory are present. A link becomes stale when its target was deleted, renamed, assigned a different drive letter, or moved to offline storage. If the target exists but the owning application is not running, repair or reinstall that application according to its documentation instead of deleting the point.
Third-party reparse tags can belong to cloud-sync, backup, deduplication, encryption, or security software. Their metadata may be valid even if the target is not visible in ordinary Explorer navigation. Contact the product’s documentation or support before changing such a point; removing it can interrupt synchronization or make managed data inaccessible.
Delete only confirmed-stale metadata
After backing up the affected data and confirming that the point is stale, open an elevated Command Prompt and run:
fsutil reparsepoint delete "C:fullpathtoitem"
Microsoft specifies that this operation deletes the reparse point itself but does not delete the file or directory. It does not restore a missing target, repair a filter driver, or recreate an application’s intended link. If the command fails, stop rather than forcing a deletion: the item may be in use, protected by its owner, or not a removable reparse type.
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Recreate a link only when the application needs one
Some programs expect a particular directory layout. Once you have verified the correct destination, use the application’s repair function if it provides one. Otherwise, an administrator can create a directory symbolic link or junction with mklink, using the exact paths required by the program:
mklink /D "C:pathlink" "D:pathtarget"creates a directory symbolic link.mklink /J "C:pathjunction" "D:pathtarget"creates a directory junction on a local NTFS volume.
Check the destination before creating either link, and avoid making a link inside a folder that is simultaneously managed by multiple synchronization or backup tools. Test the original application immediately afterward and keep a note of the target so a future drive-letter change does not leave you guessing.
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Choose the smallest change that matches the symptom and the owner of the metadata. Inspection is reversible and should precede every destructive action.
| Choice | Impact | Use it when | Stop and get owner guidance when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Query the path | Read-only; changes nothing | A single file, folder, or game launch reports 0x000002E5 | The tag belongs to a managed filter and you do not know its purpose |
| Repair the target or owning software | Preserves the reparse design | The destination exists, or a cloud, backup, deduplication, or security program created the point | The provider is uninstalled, damaged, or unable to explain its tag |
| Delete the reparse metadata | Removes link behavior but leaves the file or directory | You have confirmed a stale Windows link or junction and have a backup | The point is active, shared, provider-owned, or required by an application |
| System repair and recovery checks | Broader changes and longer troubleshooting | The error occurs during setup, upgrade, repeated restart, or a blue screen | The machine cannot boot or storage and memory tests report hardware faults |
What if 0x000002E5 appears during a Windows 11 or 10 upgrade?
An upgrade failure can involve more than one path, so do not delete an unexplained reparse point just because Setup mentioned it. Work through these checks in order and retry the upgrade only after each change is complete.
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- Disconnect nonessential USB devices, external drives, docks, printers, and other hardware. Leave the keyboard, mouse, display, and the storage required to boot.
- Open Device Manager and look for warning icons. Update, disable, or remove a device only when you can identify it and have a recovery path; pay particular attention to storage and chipset devices.
- Review third-party security software and file-system filters. Use the vendor’s documented compatibility or temporary-removal procedure rather than deleting filter files manually.
- Check the system volume for file-system problems. In an elevated Command Prompt, an online scan can be started with
chkdsk C: /scan. If Windows reports repairs that require a restart, schedule them and allow the check to finish. - Perform a clean start to isolate background software. Run
msconfig, hide Microsoft services before disabling non-Microsoft services, then use Task Manager’s Startup apps page to disable third-party startup entries. Restart and test Setup; restore the original startup configuration afterward. - Repair the Windows component store from an elevated Command Prompt with:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Wait for completion, restart, and run Windows Update again before retrying the upgrade.
Keep the original Setup error, path, and time in your notes. If the same path fails after filters, disk checks, and image repair have been addressed, the path’s owner may need to recreate its reparse data rather than Windows Setup being repaired globally.
What if the error is followed by a crash, restart, or blue screen?
A restart changes the diagnosis. First record the displayed stop code and its exact spelling. 0x000002E5 is ERROR_REPARSE; 0x0000002E is DATA_BUS_ERROR and should be investigated as a separate hardware or memory condition.
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- Install current Windows updates and firmware updates supplied for your specific computer or motherboard.
- Run the hardware and memory tests provided by the computer manufacturer or component maker. Record any diagnostic code rather than repeatedly deleting paths.
- Check free space on the Windows volume and on the drive containing the affected application. Low space can prevent updates, temporary files, and recovery operations from completing.
- If Windows starts only intermittently, use Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup to enter the Windows recovery environment. Use Startup Repair, Safe Mode, System Restore, or an uninstall-update option according to the event that preceded the failure.
- If the machine cannot boot normally, disconnect nonessential hardware and use recovery media or another working computer to preserve important files before attempting more invasive repairs.
Do not treat a blue-screen stop code as proof that a symbolic link caused the hardware event. The two hexadecimal codes look similar but describe different Windows error families.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How many reparse points can a path contain?
Microsoft documented a maximum of 63 reparse points on a single path and a maximum reparse-point data size of 16 KB in 2021. These are limits on path and metadata structure, not a recommendation to create long chains. A path that approaches the limit, contains loops, or carries oversized provider data can fail even when each individual target appears to exist.
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For ordinary troubleshooting, do not try to “use up” or remove points until the path works. Identify the provider for each point, simplify nested links only when the owning application supports that change, and keep a backup before restructuring a directory tree.
What is the complete repair checklist?
- Record the complete path, triggering application, operation, drive type, and whether the event is a file-open failure, upgrade failure, crash, or restart.
- Back up important files and saves.
- Run
fsutil reparsepoint queryfrom an elevated Command Prompt on the exact item and, if necessary, its parent directories. - Confirm the target and identify whether Windows or another product owns the reparse tag.
- Repair the target or owner first. Delete metadata only for a confirmed stale point.
- If needed, recreate the correct symbolic link or junction and test the application that originally failed.
- For setup or upgrade failures, disconnect nonessential hardware, review drivers and security filters, check the disk, use a clean start, and run DISM.
- For crashes or restarts, separate 0x000002E5 from 0x0000002E and complete update, firmware, hardware, free-space, and recovery checks.
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Why does fsutil say the final file is not a reparse point when the application still fails?
The failing metadata may belong to a parent directory or another intermediate segment of the path. Query each parent from the drive root toward the file, then inspect the first point whose tag or target is unexpected.
Can a game legitimately use a junction or symbolic link for saves?
Yes. Games and launchers may use links to place large libraries or saves on another volume while preserving the path they expect. The link is normally harmless when its destination is online and its owning software is functioning.
Should I run a disk check before removing a stale link?
Only when there are broader storage symptoms, such as read errors, repeated file corruption, or an upgrade failure. A disk check does not decide whether a link is obsolete, so preserve a backup and identify the link’s owner first.
Will Windows recreate a deleted reparse point automatically?
Windows does not generally recreate an application-specific link simply because its metadata was removed. An installer, launcher repair feature, or the software that created the link may rebuild it, so record the original target and keep the application’s installation or configuration files available.
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