BadImageFormatException Class

Definition

The exception that is thrown when the file image of a dynamic link library (DLL) or an executable program is invalid.

public ref class BadImageFormatException : Exception
public ref class BadImageFormatException : SystemException
public class BadImageFormatException : Exception
public class BadImageFormatException : SystemException
[System.Serializable]
public class BadImageFormatException : SystemException
[System.Serializable]
[System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComVisible(true)]
public class BadImageFormatException : SystemException
type BadImageFormatException = class
    inherit Exception
type BadImageFormatException = class
    inherit SystemException
[<System.Serializable>]
type BadImageFormatException = class
    inherit SystemException
[<System.Serializable>]
[<System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComVisible(true)>]
type BadImageFormatException = class
    inherit SystemException
Public Class BadImageFormatException
Inherits Exception
Public Class BadImageFormatException
Inherits SystemException
Inheritance
BadImageFormatException
Inheritance
BadImageFormatException
Attributes

Remarks

This exception is thrown when the file format of a dynamic link library (.dll file) or an executable (.exe file) doesn't conform to the format that the common language runtime expects. In particular, the exception is thrown under the following conditions:

  • An earlier version of a .NET utility, such as ILDasm.exe or installutil.exe, is used with an assembly that was developed with a later version of .NET.

    To address this exception, use the version of the tool that corresponds to the version of .NET that was used to develop the assembly. This may require modifying the Path environment variable or providing a fully qualified path to the correct executable.

  • You are trying to load an unmanaged dynamic link library or executable (such as a Windows system DLL) as if it were a .NET assembly. The following example illustrates this by using the Assembly.LoadFile method to load Kernel32.dll.

    // Windows DLL (non-.NET assembly)
    string filePath = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables("%windir%");
    if (! filePath.Trim().EndsWith(@"\"))
       filePath += @"\";
    filePath += @"System32\Kernel32.dll";
    
    try {
       Assembly assem = Assembly.LoadFile(filePath);
    }
    catch (BadImageFormatException e) {
       Console.WriteLine("Unable to load {0}.", filePath);
       Console.WriteLine(e.Message.Substring(0,
                         e.Message.IndexOf(".") + 1));
    }
    // The example displays an error message like the following:
    //       Unable to load C:\WINDOWS\System32\Kernel32.dll.
    //       The module was expected to contain an assembly manifest.
    
    open System
    open System.Reflection
    
    // Windows DLL (non-.NET assembly)
    let filePath = 
        let filePath = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables "%windir%"
        let filePath =
            if not (filePath.Trim().EndsWith @"\") then
                filePath + @"\"
            else filePath
        filePath + @"System32\Kernel32.dll"
    
    try
        Assembly.LoadFile filePath |> ignore
    with :? BadImageFormatException as e ->
       printfn $"Unable to load {filePath}."
       printfn $"{e.Message[0 .. e.Message.IndexOf '.']}"
    
    // The example displays an error message like the following:
    //       Unable to load C:\WINDOWS\System32\Kernel32.dll.
    //       Bad IL format.
    
    ' Windows DLL (non-.NET assembly)
    Dim filePath As String = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables("%windir%")
    If Not filePath.Trim().EndsWith("\") Then filepath += "\"
    filePath += "System32\Kernel32.dll"
    Try
       Dim assem As Assembly = Assembly.LoadFile(filePath)
    Catch e As BadImageFormatException
       Console.WriteLine("Unable to load {0}.", filePath)
       Console.WriteLine(e.Message.Substring(0, _
                         e.Message.IndexOf(".") + 1))   
    End Try
    ' The example displays an error message like the following:
    '       Unable to load C:\WINDOWS\System32\Kernel32.dll.
    '       The module was expected to contain an assembly manifest.
    

    To address this exception, access the methods defined in the DLL by using the features provided by your development language, such as the Declare statement in Visual Basic or the DllImportAttribute attribute with the extern keyword in C# and F#.

  • You are trying to load a reference assembly in a context other than the reflection-only context. You can address this issue in either of two ways:

    • You can load the implementation assembly rather than the reference assembly.
    • You can load the reference assembly in the reflection-only context by calling the Assembly.ReflectionOnlyLoad method.
  • A DLL or executable is loaded as a 64-bit assembly, but it contains 32-bit features or resources. For example, it relies on COM interop or calls methods in a 32-bit dynamic link library.

    To address this exception, set the project's Platform target property to x86 (instead of x64 or AnyCPU) and recompile.

  • Your application's components were created using different versions of .NET. Typically, this exception occurs when an application or component that was developed using the .NET Framework 1.0 or the .NET Framework 1.1 tries to load an assembly that was developed using the .NET Framework 2.0 SP1 or later, or when an application that was developed using the .NET Framework 2.0 SP1 or .NET Framework 3.5 tries to load an assembly that was developed using the .NET Framework 4 or later. The BadImageFormatException may be reported as a compile-time error, or the exception may be thrown at run time. The following example defines a StringLib class that has a single member, ToProperCase, and that resides in an assembly named StringLib.dll.

    using System;
    
    public class StringLib
    {
       private string[] exceptionList = { "a", "an", "the", "in", "on", "of" };
       private char[] separators = { ' ' };
    
       public string ToProperCase(string title)
       {
          bool isException = false;	
    
          string[] words = title.Split( separators, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
          string[] newWords = new string[words.Length];
            
          for (int ctr = 0; ctr <= words.Length - 1; ctr++)
          {
             isException = false;
    
             foreach (string exception in exceptionList)
             {
                if (words[ctr].Equals(exception) && ctr > 0)
                {
                   isException = true;
                   break;
                }
             }
    
             if (! isException)
                newWords[ctr] = words[ctr].Substring(0, 1).ToUpper() + words[ctr].Substring(1);
             else
                newWords[ctr] = words[ctr];	
          }	
          return string.Join(" ", newWords); 			
       }
    }
    // Attempting to load the StringLib.dll assembly produces the following output:
    //    Unhandled Exception: System.BadImageFormatException:
    //                         The format of the file 'StringLib.dll' is invalid.
    
    open System
    
    module StringLib =
        let private exceptionList = [ "a"; "an"; "the"; "in"; "on"; "of" ]
        let private separators = [| ' ' |]
    
        [<CompiledName "ToProperCase">]
        let toProperCase (title: string) =
            title.Split(separators, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)
            |> Array.mapi (fun i word ->
                if i <> 0 && List.contains word exceptionList then
                    word
                else 
                    word[0..0].ToUpper() + word[1..])
            |> String.concat " "
    
    // Attempting to load the StringLib.dll assembly produces the following output:
    //    Unhandled Exception: System.BadImageFormatException:
    //                         The format of the file 'StringLib.dll' is invalid.
    
    Public Module StringLib
       Private exceptionList() As String = { "a", "an", "the", "in", "on", "of" }
       Private separators() As Char = { " "c }
       
       Public Function ToProperCase(title As String) As String
          Dim isException As Boolean = False	
          
          Dim words() As String = title.Split( separators, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)
          Dim newWords(words.Length) As String
            
          For ctr As Integer = 0 To words.Length - 1
             isException = False
    
             For Each exception As String In exceptionList
                If words(ctr).Equals(exception) And ctr > 0 Then
                   isException = True
                   Exit For
                End If
             Next
             If Not isException Then
                newWords(ctr) = words(ctr).Substring(0, 1).ToUpper() + words(ctr).Substring(1)
             Else
                newWords(ctr) = words(ctr)	 
             End If	 
          Next	
          Return String.Join(" ", newWords) 			
       End Function
    End Module
    

    The following example uses reflection to load an assembly named StringLib.dll. If the source code is compiled with a .NET Framework 1.1 compiler, a BadImageFormatException is thrown by the Assembly.LoadFrom method.

    using System;
    using System.Reflection;
    
    public class Example
    {
       public static void Main()
       {
          string title = "a tale of two cities";
    //      object[] args = { title}
          // Load assembly containing StateInfo type.
          Assembly assem = Assembly.LoadFrom(@".\StringLib.dll");
          // Get type representing StateInfo class.
          Type stateInfoType = assem.GetType("StringLib");
          // Get Display method.
          MethodInfo mi = stateInfoType.GetMethod("ToProperCase");
          // Call the Display method.
          string properTitle = (string) mi.Invoke(null, new object[] { title } );
          Console.WriteLine(properTitle);
       }
    }
    
    open System.Reflection
    
    let title = "a tale of two cities"
          
    // Load assembly containing StateInfo type.
    let assem = Assembly.LoadFrom @".\StringLib.dll"
    
    // Get type representing StateInfo class.
    let stateInfoType = assem.GetType "StringLib"
    
    // Get Display method.
    let mi = stateInfoType.GetMethod "ToProperCase"
    
    // Call the Display method.
    let properTitle = 
       mi.Invoke(null, [| box title |]) :?> string
    
    printfn $"{properTitle}"
    
    Imports System.Reflection
    
    Module Example
       Public Sub Main()
          Dim title As String = "a tale of two cities"
          ' Load assembly containing StateInfo type.
          Dim assem As Assembly = Assembly.LoadFrom(".\StringLib.dll")
          ' Get type representing StateInfo class.
          Dim stateInfoType As Type = assem.GetType("StringLib")
          ' Get Display method.
          Dim mi As MethodInfo = stateInfoType.GetMethod("ToProperCase")
          ' Call the Display method. 
          Dim properTitle As String = CStr(mi.Invoke(Nothing, New Object() { title } ))
          Console.WriteLine(properTitle)
       End Sub
    End Module
    ' Attempting to load the StringLib.dll assembly produces the following output:
    '    Unhandled Exception: System.BadImageFormatException: 
    '                         The format of the file 'StringLib.dll' is invalid.
    

    To address this exception, make sure that the assembly whose code is executing and that throws the exception, and the assembly to be loaded, both target compatible versions of .NET.

  • The components of your application target different platforms. For example, you are trying to load ARM assemblies in an x86 application. You can use the following command-line utility to determine the target platforms of individual .NET assemblies. The list of files should be provided as a space-delimited list at the command line.

    using System;
    using System.IO;
    using System.Reflection;
    
    public class Example
    {
       public static void Main()
       {
          String[] args = Environment.GetCommandLineArgs();
          if (args.Length == 1) {
             Console.WriteLine("\nSyntax:   PlatformInfo <filename>\n");
             return;
          }
          Console.WriteLine();
    
          // Loop through files and display information about their platform.
          for (int ctr = 1; ctr < args.Length; ctr++) {
             string fn = args[ctr];
             if (! File.Exists(fn)) {
                Console.WriteLine("File: {0}", fn);
                Console.WriteLine("The file does not exist.\n");
             }
             else {
                try {
                   AssemblyName an = AssemblyName.GetAssemblyName(fn);
                   Console.WriteLine("Assembly: {0}", an.Name);
                   if (an.ProcessorArchitecture == ProcessorArchitecture.MSIL)
                      Console.WriteLine("Architecture: AnyCPU");
                   else
                      Console.WriteLine("Architecture: {0}", an.ProcessorArchitecture);
    
                   Console.WriteLine();
                }
                catch (BadImageFormatException) {
                   Console.WriteLine("File: {0}", fn);
                   Console.WriteLine("Not a valid assembly.\n");
                }
             }
          }
       }
    }
    
    open System
    open System.IO
    open System.Reflection
    
    let args = Environment.GetCommandLineArgs()
    
    if args.Length = 1 then
        printfn "\nSyntax:   PlatformInfo <filename>\n"
    else
        printfn ""
        // Loop through files and display information about their platform.
        for i = 1 to args.Length - 1 do
            let fn = args[i]
            if not (File.Exists fn) then
                printfn $"File: {fn}"
                printfn "The file does not exist.\n"
            else
                try
                    let an = AssemblyName.GetAssemblyName fn
                    printfn $"Assembly: {an.Name}"
                    if an.ProcessorArchitecture = ProcessorArchitecture.MSIL then
                        printfn "Architecture: AnyCPU"
                    else
                        printfn $"Architecture: {an.ProcessorArchitecture}"
                    printfn ""
    
                with :? BadImageFormatException ->
                    printfn $"File: {fn}"
                    printfn "Not a valid assembly.\n"
    
    Imports System.IO
    Imports System.Reflection
    
    Module Example
       Public Sub Main()
          Dim args() As String = Environment.GetCommandLineArgs()
          If args.Length = 1 Then
             Console.WriteLine()
             Console.WriteLine("Syntax:   PlatformInfo <filename> ")
             Console.WriteLine()
             Exit Sub
          End If
          Console.WriteLine()
          
          ' Loop through files and display information about their platform.
          For ctr As Integer = 1 To args.Length - 1
             Dim fn As String = args(ctr)
             If Not File.Exists(fn) Then
                Console.WriteLine("File: {0}", fn)
                Console.WriteLine("The file does not exist.")
                Console.WriteLine()
             Else
                Try
                   Dim an As AssemblyName = AssemblyName.GetAssemblyName(fn)
                   Console.WriteLine("Assembly: {0}", an.Name)
                   If an.ProcessorArchitecture = ProcessorArchitecture.MSIL Then
                      Console.WriteLine("Architecture: AnyCPU")
                   Else
                      Console.WriteLine("Architecture: {0}", an.ProcessorArchitecture)
                   End If
                Catch e As BadImageFormatException
                   Console.WriteLine("File: {0}", fn)
                   Console.WriteLine("Not a valid assembly.\n")
                End Try
                Console.WriteLine()
             End If
          Next
       End Sub
    End Module
    
  • Reflecting on C++ executable files may throw this exception. This is most likely caused by the C++ compiler stripping the relocation addresses or the .Reloc section from the executable file. To preserve the .relocation address in a C++ executable file, specify /fixed:no when linking.

BadImageFormatException uses the HRESULT COR_E_BADIMAGEFORMAT, which has the value 0x8007000B.

For a list of initial property values for an instance of BadImageFormatException, see the BadImageFormatException constructors.

Constructors

BadImageFormatException()

Initializes a new instance of the BadImageFormatException class.

BadImageFormatException(SerializationInfo, StreamingContext)
Obsolete.

Initializes a new instance of the BadImageFormatException class with serialized data.

BadImageFormatException(String)

Initializes a new instance of the BadImageFormatException class with a specified error message.

BadImageFormatException(String, Exception)

Initializes a new instance of the BadImageFormatException class with a specified error message and a reference to the inner exception that is the cause of this exception.

BadImageFormatException(String, String)

Initializes a new instance of the BadImageFormatException class with a specified error message and file name.

BadImageFormatException(String, String, Exception)

Initializes a new instance of the BadImageFormatException class with a specified error message and a reference to the inner exception that is the cause of this exception.

Properties

Data

Gets a collection of key/value pairs that provide additional user-defined information about the exception.

(Inherited from Exception)
FileName

Gets the name of the file that causes this exception.

FusionLog

Gets the log file that describes why an assembly load failed.

HelpLink

Gets or sets a link to the help file associated with this exception.

(Inherited from Exception)
HResult

Gets or sets HRESULT, a coded numerical value that is assigned to a specific exception.

(Inherited from Exception)
InnerException

Gets the Exception instance that caused the current exception.

(Inherited from Exception)
Message

Gets the error message and the name of the file that caused this exception.

Source

Gets or sets the name of the application or the object that causes the error.

(Inherited from Exception)
StackTrace

Gets a string representation of the immediate frames on the call stack.

(Inherited from Exception)
TargetSite

Gets the method that throws the current exception.

(Inherited from Exception)

Methods

Equals(Object)

Determines whether the specified object is equal to the current object.

(Inherited from Object)
GetBaseException()

When overridden in a derived class, returns the Exception that is the root cause of one or more subsequent exceptions.

(Inherited from Exception)
GetHashCode()

Serves as the default hash function.

(Inherited from Object)
GetObjectData(SerializationInfo, StreamingContext)
Obsolete.

Sets the SerializationInfo object with the file name, assembly cache log, and additional exception information.

GetObjectData(SerializationInfo, StreamingContext)
Obsolete.

When overridden in a derived class, sets the SerializationInfo with information about the exception.

(Inherited from Exception)
GetType()

Gets the runtime type of the current instance.

(Inherited from Exception)
MemberwiseClone()

Creates a shallow copy of the current Object.

(Inherited from Object)
ToString()

Returns the fully qualified name of this exception and possibly the error message, the name of the inner exception, and the stack trace.

Events

SerializeObjectState
Obsolete.

Occurs when an exception is serialized to create an exception state object that contains serialized data about the exception.

(Inherited from Exception)

Applies to

See also