"File Open" Error Message Using Windows Media Player (234292)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows XP
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player for Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player for Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 7.1
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 7
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.4
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.1
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.0
This article was previously published under Q234292

SYMPTOMS

When you type the name of a file to play with Windows Media Player, you may receive one or more of the following error messages:
Cannot open file (Error=80040216)
Cannot open 'http://Servername/Path/Filename.asf'. Please verify that the path and filename are correct and try again.(Error=80070002)
Cannot open '\\Server\Directory\Filename'. Please verify that the path and filename are correct and try again. (Error=80070035)
Cannot open '\\Server\Filename.' Please verify that the path and filename are correct and try again. (Error=80070043)
Cannot open 'protocol://server/directory/filename'. Please verify that the path and filename are correct and try again. (Error=80070005)
The specified path is invalid (Error=800700A1)
The server or proxy was not found (Error=800C0005)
The protocol is not known and no pluggable protocols have been entered that match. (Error=800C000D)
The specified stream type is not recognized. (Error=C00D07E2)
The system cannot find the file specified. (Error=C00D001A)
You do not have access to the location or file. (Error 80070005)

CAUSE

Windows Media Player cannot find the specified file name. Most likely the name has been misspelled, or the path to the file is incorrect. There are many different ways to create a file path; the method used depends on how you are trying to access the multimedia content. Below are examples of the correct syntax for common methods used to gain access to multimedia files.

MORE INFORMATION

To Play a Multimedia File Located on Your Computer

DriveLetter:\DirectoryName\FileName

DriveLetter is the letter associated with the disk where the multimedia file is located (usually C:\). Directory is any folder in which the multimedia file resides. Please note that backslashes are used between each directory name and the colon following the DriveLetter. Filename is the name of the multimedia file. DriveName and FileName are required parts of the path. DirectoryName is optional, depending on where the multimedia content is stored.

To Play a Multimedia File Located on the World Wide Web

Protocol://DomainName/DirectoryName/FileName

Protocol is a set of formats and procedures that enable computers to exchange information. Protocols used by Windows Media Player include HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and MMS (Microsoft Media Server protocol). DirectoryName is optional, depending on where the multimedia files are located on the Web site. FileName is the name of the multimedia file. Please note that the protocol is followed by a colon and two forward slashes, and a forward slash is used between each folder name as well as the file name. Protocol, DomainName and FileName are all required parts of the path. DirectoryName is optional, depending on where the multimedia content is stored.

To Play a Multimedia File Located on a Local Area Network

\\ServerName\ShareName\FileName

ServerName is the name of the computer on the Local Area Network where the multimedia file is located. ShareName is the shared folder, located on the server, in which the multimedia file resides. FileName is the name of the multimedia file. Please note that two backslashes precede the ServerName and single backslashes appear between each folder name as well as the file name. ServerName, ShareName and FileName are all required parts of the path.

To Play a Multimedia File Located on a Network, Using a Protocol

Protocol://ServerName/ShareName/FileName

Protocol is a set of formats and procedures that enable computers to exchange information. Protocols used by Windows Media Player include HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and MMS (Microsoft Media Server protocol). ServerName is the name of the computer on the network on which the multimedia file is located. ShareName is the name of the shared folder, located on the server, in which the multimedia file resides. FileName is the name of the multimedia file. Please note that the protocol is followed by a colon and two forward slashes, and a forward slash is used between each folder name as well as the file name. Protocol, ServerName, ShareName, and FileName are all required parts of the path.

Resolution

Ensure that file name is not misspelled and the path to the file is correct and try again. If you received the error message by clicking a link on a Web page, contact the content provider for an updated link.

Note that the error message can also occur if you are playing an .asx file and the .asx file refers to a path that does not exist (possibly because of reorganized content on the host site). The path to the .asx file is correct; the problem is that a path embedded inside the .asx file is no longer correct. Retyping the path to the .asx file does not resolve this issue.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:9/15/2003
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb kbProd2Web KB234292
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.