Article ID: 234019 - View products that this article applies to.
This article was previously published under Q234019
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)
Cannot play back the file. The format is not supported. (Error=80040265)
Cannot play back the video stream: no suitable decompressor could be found. (Error=80040255)
No combination of filters could be found to render the stream. (Error=80040218)
The source filter for this file could not be loaded. (Error=80040241)
Cannot open. Please verify that the path and filename are correct and try again (Error=8007000D).
This issue may occur if any of the following conditions are true:
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:
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156286/EN-US/ )Error Message: Cannot Play Back the Video Stream: No Suitable Decompressor Could Be Found.
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/195880/EN-US/ )Err Msg: No Combination of Filters Could Be Found to Render...
Method 1: Verify That Windows Media Player Supports the File Format You Are UsingWindows Media Player supports the file formats in the following list:
Method 2: Determine Whether the File You Want to Play Is DamagedIn 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:
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316992/EN-US/ )Windows Media Player Multimedia File Formats
Method 3: Reinstall Windows Media PlayerRemove 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 DirectXFor additional information about troubleshooting and installing DirectX , click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/179113/EN-US/ )How to Download and Install DirectX
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/157730/EN-US/ )Determining DirectX Version Using the DirectX Diagnostic Tool
Method 5: Verify That You Are Using the Correct Codec for the Media FileFor additional information about verifying, installing and troubleshooting audio codecs, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/141801/EN-US/ )Troubleshooting Audio Codecs in Windows 95
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/191533/EN-US/ )Media Player Cannot Play .avi File Using Indeo 4.x Codec
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/221831/EN-US/ )Err Msg: Unable to Download the Appropriate Decompressor
For additional troubleshooting and information about Windows Media Player, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/faq/default.mspxThe third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.
Article ID: 234019 - Last Review: November 15, 2012 - Revision: 10.0