Directory lookup for the file "%ls" failed with the operating system error %ls.

Error Message:
Msg 5133, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
Directory lookup for the file "%ls" failed with the operating system error %ls.

Severity level:
16.

Description:
This error message appears when SQL Server cannot create or find a file belonging to a database.

Consequences:
The T-SQL statement can be parsed, but causes the error at runtime.

Resolution:
Errors of the Severity Level 16 are generated by the user and are corrigible by the user. The statement cannot be executed this way. The file must either exist or be producible.

Versions:
All versions of SQL Server.

Example(s):
USE master;
IF DB_ID (N'MyExample') > 0
 DROP DATABASE MyExample;
GO
CREATE DATABASE MyExample
ON PRIMARY
( NAME = MyExample_Data,
    FILENAME = 'Z:\MyExample_Data.mdf',
    SIZE = 5,
    MAXSIZE = 5,
    FILEGROWTH = 15% )
LOG ON
( NAME = MyExample_Log,
    FILENAME = 'E:\MyExample_Log.ldf',
    SIZE = 5MB,
    MAXSIZE = 25MB,
    FILEGROWTH = 5MB )
GO

Remarks:
In the above example we try to create a database file on drive Z:. Because the system does not know this drive, the error is raised.