Microsoft KB Archive/234292

= Error message when you type the name of a file to play by using Windows Media Player: "Cannot open file" =

Article ID: 234292

Article Last Modified on 12/12/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Media Player 8.01
 * Microsoft Windows Media Player 8.01
 * Microsoft Windows Media Player 7.1
 * Microsoft Windows Media Player 7.0
 * Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.4
 * Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.1
 * Microsoft Windows Media Player 6.0
 * Microsoft Windows Media Player 10
 * Microsoft Windows Media Player 11

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This article was previously published under Q234292





SYMPTOMS
Note Because of the generalization of error codes, the codes that are listed here could refer to other Microsoft applications.

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 of the file is incorrect. There are many ways to create a file path. The method that is used depends on how you are trying to access the multimedia content.



RESOLUTION
Make sure that the file name is not misspelled and the path of 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.

Be aware that an error message can also occur if you play an .asx file, and the .asx file refers to a path that does not exist. For example, the path may not exist because the content was reorganized on the host site. The path of the .asx file is correct. The problem is that a path embedded inside the .asx file is no longer correct. If you retype the path of the .asx file, this does not resolve this issue.

To make sure that you have the latest information about how to troubleshoot issues with Microsoft Windows Media Player 11 for Windows Vista, Windows Media Player 11 for Windows XP, Windows Media Player 10, and earlier versions of Windows Media Player, we recommend that you visit one of the following Microsoft Web sites.

Windows Media Player 11 for Windows Vista
For information about how to troubleshoot Windows Media Player 11 for Windows Vista issues, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/windowsvista/troubleshooting.aspx

Windows Media Player 11 for Windows XP
For information about how to troubleshoot Windows Media Player 11 for Windows XP issues, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/11/troubleshooting.aspx

Windows Media Player 10
For information about how to troubleshoot Windows Media Player 10 issues, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/10/troubleshooting.aspx

Earlier versions of Windows Media Player
For information about how to troubleshoot issues with earlier versions of Windows Media Player, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/previousversions.aspx

Note If you still have problems with Windows Media Player, you might want to ask someone for help or contact support. For information about how to contact support, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/



To Play a Multimedia File Located on Your Computer


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

To Play a Multimedia File Located on the World Wide Web


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

To Play a Multimedia File Located on a Local Area Network
\\ \ \

is the name of the computer on the Local Area Network where the multimedia file is located. is the shared folder, located on the server, in which the multimedia file resides. is the name of the multimedia file. Be aware that two backslashes come in front of the  and single backslashes appear between each folder name and file name. ,  and   are all required parts of the path.

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


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

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb kbprod2web kbresolve KB234292

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