SYMPTOMS
When you try to play a file with Windows Media Player, you
may receive one or more of the following error messages:
Invalid File Format. (Error=8004022F)
-or-
Cannot play back the file. The format is not supported.
(Error=80040265)
-or-
Cannot play back the video
stream: no suitable decompressor could be found. (Error=80040255)
-or-
No combination of filters could be found
to render the stream. (Error=80040218)
-or-
The
source filter for this file could not be loaded. (Error=80040241)
-or-
Cannot open. Please verify that the path
and filename are correct and try again (Error=8007000D).
RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, follow these methods in the order
they are presented. Test after each method to determine whether it has resolved
the issue.
Important Windows Media Player does not support the playback of every type
of media file available currently, but does provide support for the most common
types of media files. Therefore, verify that your media file is a supported
type. If it is not, do not use the methods after method 1. If Windows Media
Player does not support the file format you are using, contact the distributor
of the file for information about the availability of a viewer for the file.
For additional information about a
specific error message, click the article numbers below to view the articles in
the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
156286 Error Message: Cannot Play Back the Video Stream: No Suitable Decompressor Could Be Found.
195880 Err Msg: No Combination of Filters Could Be Found to Render...
Method 1: Verify That Windows Media Player Supports the File Format You Are Using
Windows Media Player supports the file formats in the following
list:
- Windows Media formats File name extensions: .asf, .asx,
.avi, .wav, .wax, .wma, .wm, .wmv
Note Windows Media Player versions 6.4 and later support .wmv
files. - Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) File name extensions:
m3u, mp2v, .mpg, .mpeg, .m1v, .mp2, .mp3, .mpa, .mpe, mpv2
- Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) File name
extensions: .mid, midi, .rmi
- Apple QuickTime, Macintosh AIFF Resource File name
extensions: .qt, .aif, .aifc, .aiff, .mov
- Unix File name extensions: .au, .snd
Note Windows Media Player supports files created with Apple QuickTime
version 1 and 2. Windows Media Player no longer supports the .ra, .rm, and .ram
file formats.
Method 2: Determine Whether the File You Want to Play Is Damaged
In Windows Media Player, play a different file that uses the same
file name extension as the file that you were using when you received the error
message. If the other file plays correctly, then the original file you were
trying to play may be damaged. If you receive an error message when you play
each of the files, continue to the next method.
For additional
information about file types that Windows Media Player 7 supports, click the
following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
316992
Windows Media Player Multimedia File Formats
Method 3: Reinstall Windows Media Player
Remove Windows Media Player, restart the computer, and then
reinstall Windows Media Player.
Note You must use the latest version of Windows Media Player. To
download the latest version of Windows Media Player, visit the following
Microsoft Web site:
Method 4: Reinstall the Latest Version of Microsoft DirectX
For additional
information about troubleshooting and installing DirectX , click the article
numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
179113 How to Download and Install DirectX
157730 Determining DirectX Version Using the DirectX Diagnostic Tool
Method 5: Verify That You Are Using the Correct Codec for the Media File
For additional information about verifying, installing
and troubleshooting audio codecs, click the article numbers below to view the
articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
141801 Troubleshooting Audio Codecs in Windows 95
191533 Media Player Cannot Play .avi File Using Indeo 4.x Codec
221831 Err Msg: Unable to Download the Appropriate Decompressor