Microsoft KB Archive/283033

= Error Message: Cannot Play Back the File. The File Format Is Invalid =

Article ID: 283033

Article Last Modified on 10/25/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Media Player 7.0 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q283033



SYMPTOMS
When you try to open an .asx file in Windows Media Player for Mac, you may receive the following error message:

Cannot play back file. The file format is invalid.

In some cases, you might be able to play the file in Microsoft Windows Media Player on a Microsoft Windows-based computer, but not on a Macintosh. This occurs because Windows Media Player for Mac is parses .asx files more strictly.



CAUSE
This issue may occur if the .asx file contains an error, or if there is an error in the HTML coding of a Web page that contains an embedded Windows Media file.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, test to determine if Window Media Player can play other .asx files. If it can, contact the owner of the Web site to have the owner troubleshoot the .asx file.



MORE INFORMATION
For more information about file formats and to obtain sample files for testing Windows Media Player for Mac, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://ask.support.microsoft.com/kb/316992

Additional query words: Apple WMP WMP7 MacWMP playback sound corrupt damaged

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb KB283033

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