SetFileTime returns invalid handle

The following code is intended to restore windows file attributes (including file times). The file names and WIN32_FIND_DATA structures are stored in a file using fwrite (separate program). This program is intended to restore attributes and times for all files that match the input path. I have simplified as much as I can and still let you see what is going on.

The FindFirstFile appears to succeed (doesn't report an error to GetLastError), but the SetFileTime fails (return 0) and GetLastError shows 6 (invalid handle). What could cause the SetFileTime to fail if the FindFirstFile succeeded?

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Leon

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <windows.h>

int result;

FILE *attrFilePtr;
FILETIME ft;

WIN32_FIND_DATA FindFileData;


struct file_attrs {
  char filename[500];
  WIN32_FIND_DATA attr_struct;
}  file_data;

HANDLE hFile = INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE;


main(int argc, char *argv[])
{

  if (argc != 3)
  {
    printf("usage is: %s <attrsfilename> <path>\n", argv[0]);
    exit(1);
  }
  attrFilePtr = fopen(argv[1], "r");
  if (attrFilePtr == NULL)
  {
    printf("can't open file: %s\n", argv[1]);
    exit(2);
  }

  while ( (fread(&file_data, sizeof(struct file_attrs), 1, attrFilePtr)) != NULL)
  {
    if(strncmp(file_data.filename, argv[2], strlen(argv[2]) ) == 0)
    {
      
      printf("match on: %s\n", file_data.filename);
      SetFileAttributes(file_data.filename, file_data.attr_struct.dwFileAttributes);
      hFile = FindFirstFile(file_data.filename, &FindFileData);

      DWORD dw = GetLastError();
      printf("GetLastError on findFirstFile returned: %d\n", dw);
      if (hFile == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE)
      {
        printf("invalid handle\n");
        exit(3);
      }

      SetFileTime(hFile, &file_data.attr_struct.ftCreatsionTime, &file_data.attr_struct.ftLastAccessTime, &file_data.attr_struct.ftLastWriteTime);
      dw = GetLastError();
      printf("GetLastError on setfiletime returned: %d\n", dw);
    }
  }
}

Have you read the FindFirstFile description:

If the function succeeds, the return value is a search handle used in a subsequent call to FindNextFile or FindClose.

Why do you believe you can use this handle for something else?

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa364418.aspx states:
The FindFirstFile function opens a search handle and returns information about the first file with a name that matches the specified pattern.

the information about file is stored in the FindFileData structure, it has nothing to do with the handle

As vart said, you have a bogus handle. GetLastError from SetFileTime in the above code should return a 6, indicating an invalid handle. You'll have to first open the file with CreateFile and then call SetFileTime on the opened file.

Thanks! I'm new enough to windows programming that I didn't understand there are different kinds of handles. I have it working now, so thanks again.

Leon