The Win32 API function CreateFile() opens a “file” using a path, but this path can also open a volume (e.g. \.D:), or a physical drive (e.g. \.PHYSICALDRIVE2), or console handles, “changer drivers”, or even tape. This remembers UNIX, but different to UNIX, if I use GetFileSize() on a volume/drive, it fails with “The parameter is incorrect”, being necessary to use DeviceIoControl().

But how can I know if the handle is a regular file or a device? Or even tape?

I fear the only safe way is parsing the actual path beforehand and restricting to known formats.