Createfile fails while reading mbr

Question

Createfile fails while reading mbr on WinXP. Returns -1 i.e INVALID_DEVICE_HANDLE

HANDLE hDisk = CreateFile((LPCWSTR)"\\\\.\\PhysicalDrive0", GENERIC_READ| GENERIC_WRITE, FILE_SHARE_READ| FILE_SHARE_WRITE, NULL, OPEN_EXISTING, 0,NULL );

Any idea why???

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited Sep 12 '12 at 17:57

1

You forgot to add 'L' to the string constant "\\.\PhysicalDrive0".

HANDLE hDisk = CreateFile(L"\\.\PhysicalDrive0", GENERIC_READ | GENERIC_WRITE,
    FILE_SHARE_READ | FILE_SHARE_WRITE, NULL, OPEN_EXISTING, 0, NULL);

This is right only when you are using the unicode version of the API, i.e. CreateFileW().

edited Sep 12 '12 at 17:57

arx

16,686
2
44
61

answered Sep 12 '12 at 17:35

gureedo

315
1
11

2

If you are going to use `L"..."` then you should call `CreateFileW()` explicitially: `CreateFileW(L"\\\\.\\PhysicalDrive0", ...)`, otherwise use the `TEXT()` macro instead: `CreateFile(TEXT("\\\\.\\PhysicalDrive0"), ...)`. – Remy Lebeau Sep 12 '12 at 22:13

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 07 '15 at 21:41

0

Use this:

HANDLE hDisk = CreateFile(L"\\\\.\\PhysicalDrive0", GENERIC_READ | GENERIC_WRITE, FILE_SHARE_READ | FILE_SHARE_WRITE, NULL, OPEN_EXISTING, 0, NULL);

It's working for me.

edited Jul 07 '15 at 21:41

Rick Smith

9,031
15
81
85

answered Jul 07 '15 at 11:12

Createfile fails while reading mbr

2 Answers2