"The Filter Is in the Wrong State" Error Message When You Try to Write Files to a CD (823773)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Media Player for Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Media Player for Windows XP Professional

SYMPTOMS

After you write (burn) files to a CD, or after you send files to a portable device, Windows Media Player may display a "will not fit" message in the status column of each file except the first file. You may also receive the following error message:
Windows Media Error
The operation could not be performed because the filter is in the wrong state.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur if the CD-R drive or the CD-RW drive encounters buffering errors because Windows Media Player is set to a write speed that is too fast.

Note This behavior occurs most frequently with Universal Serial Bus (USB) CD-R and CD-RW drives.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, select a slower write speed in Windows Media Player. By default, Windows Media Player is set to write at the fastest speed.
  1. In Windows Media Player, click Tools, and then click Options.
  2. Click the Devices tab, and then double-click the name of the CD-R or CD-RW drive that you use.
  3. Click the Recording tab, and then select a slower write speed or select the slowest available speed.
  4. Click OK two times.
If this does not resolve the behavior, try the following:
  • Use different set of content to copy to CD. If this resolves the issue, the previous media files may be damaged.
  • Make sure that the CD-R or CD-RW drive has been updated to the latest firmware from the hardware manufacturer.
  • Use different media to create a CD. Sometimes certain CD-R and CD-RW drives have issues with writable CD media that comes from a particular manufacturer.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/1/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB823773 kbAudEndUser
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