How to fix Error 259 on Windows 11

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Windows 11 Error 259: “No More Data Is Available”

Why This Error Happens

Error 259 (ERROR_NO_MORE_ITEMS) occurs when an application or system process attempts to enumerate a data set—such as a registry key, service list, or driver query—but reaches the end of an index while still expecting more entries. This typically stems from a corrupted registry enumeration, a service querying a Group Policy or WMI class that has incomplete data, or a mismatch between an application’s cached index and the actual dataset size. It is frequently seen in Event Viewer alongside failed service starts (e.g., Print Spooler, Windows Update, or third-party agents) rather than as a standalone application crash.

Step-by-Step Resolution Guide

  1. Identify the source process in Event Viewer
    Press Win + X → Event Viewer → expand Windows Logs → System and Application. Filter by Event ID 259 and note the Source column (e.g., Service Control Manager, WMI, or a specific app name). This determines which subsystem is failing.

  2. Run System File Checker and DISM
    Open Terminal (Admin) and run:

   sfc /scannow
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This repairs corrupted system files that often cause enumeration APIs to return incomplete data.

  1. Rebuild the WMI repository (if source is WMI or a monitoring/inventory tool)
    In an elevated Terminal, run:
   winmgmt /verifyrepository
   winmgmt /salvagerepository

If corruption persists, back up and reset with winmgmt /resetrepository (use cautiously, as this rebuilds WMI from scratch).

  1. Check and repair the affected service’s registry key
    Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\<ServiceName> in Registry Editor (regedit). Compare subkey values (especially Parameters and Enum) against a known-good machine or Microsoft documentation—missing or malformed values here commonly trigger Error 259 during service startup.

  2. Update or reinstall the reporting driver/application
    If Error 259 points to a specific driver (common with printer, storage, or network drivers), go to Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates → Driver updates, or reinstall the driver directly from the manufacturer’s site.

Alternative or Verification Steps

  • After applying fixes, restart the affected service via services.msc (or reboot the system) and recheck Event Viewer to confirm Error 259 no longer appears for that source.
  • If the error persists and points to WMI, run winmgmt /verifyrepository again—if it reports “repository is not consistent,” escalate to a full WMI repository rebuild via winmgmt /resetrepository after backing up critical data.