Microsoft KB Archive/884568

= You receive a &quot;MCI Error - All wave devices that can play files in the current format are in use&quot; error message when you play many AVI files in Windows XP =

Article ID: 884568

Article Last Modified on 8/29/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional for Itanium-based systems

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Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry



SYMPTOMS
When you play many Audio Video Interleaved (AVI) files in a window in Microsoft Windows XP, you may receive the following message:

MCI Error - All wave devices that can play files in the current format are in use. Wait until a wave device is free, then try again.



CAUSE
This problem occurs because the Media Control Interface (MCI) supports only 25 active video windows at the same time.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, install this hotfix, and then make a change in the registry. With this hotfix, the number of active video windows that are supported has been increased to 200.

Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites to install this hotfix.

Restart information
You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix is not replaced by any later hotfix.

Registry information
Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To enable this hotfix, follow these steps:  Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK. On 32-bit editions of Windows XP, locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\VFW

On 64-bit editions of Windows XP, locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\VFW

 Point to New on the Edit menu, and then click DWORD Value. Type MaxVFWConverters, and then press ENTER. Right-click MaxVFWConverters, and then click Modify. In the Value data box, type 300, and then click OK.

The value that you enter for MaxVFWConverters is three times the number of video windows that you require. For example, to play 100 video windows, type 300 in Value data.

Note The maximum value for MaxVFWConverters is 600. This value provides for 200 video windows.</li> Quit Registry Editor.</li></ol>

Hotfix file information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) <pre class="fixed_text">  Date         Time   Version        Size     File name ---  06-Oct-2004  16:03  5.1.2600.1596  114,176  Msvfw32.dll Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) <pre class="fixed_text">  Date         Time   Version        Size     File name ---  06-Oct-2004  15:54  5.1.2600.2524  121,344  Msvfw32.dll Windows XP 64-Bit Edition (Itanium) <pre class="fixed_text">  Date         Time   Version        Size     File name     Platform --  06-Oct-2004  07:59  5.1.2600.1596  315,392  Msvfw32.dll   IA-64 06-Oct-2004 08:03  5.1.2600.1596  114,176  Wmsvfw32.dll  x86

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STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.

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MORE INFORMATION
For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Keywords: kbqfe kbhotfixserver kbwinxppresp3fix kbfix kbbug KB884568

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