Microsoft KB Archive/924073

= Error message when you play a file in Windows Media Player on a Windows Vista-based computer: &quot;Invalid File Format. (Error=8004022F)&quot; =

Article ID: 924073

Article Last Modified on 1/27/2007

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APPLIES TO

 Microsoft Windows Media Player 10 Microsoft Windows Media Player 11, when used with:  Windows Vista Business

 Windows Vista Enterprise

 Windows Vista Home Basic

 Windows Vista Home Premium</li></ul>

 Windows Vista Ultimate</li></ul> </li></ul>

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<div class="symptoms_section">

SYMPTOMS
You are using Windows Media Player on a Microsoft Windows Vista-based computer. When you try to play a file in Windows Media Player, you may receive one or more of the following error messages:

Error message 1

Invalid File Format. (Error=8004022F)

Error message 2

Cannot play back the file. The format is not supported. (Error=80040265)

Error message 3

Cannot play back the video stream: no suitable decompressor could be found. (Error=80040255)

Error message 4

No combination of filters could be found to render the stream. (Error=80040218)

Error message 5

The source filter for this file could not be loaded. (Error=80040241)

Error message 6

Cannot open. Please verify that the path and filename are correct and try again (Error=8007000D)

<div class="cause_section">

CAUSE
This issue may occur if any one of the following conditions are true:
 * Windows Media Player does not support the file format or the codec of the media file that you are trying to play.
 * Some of the Windows Media Player files are missing or are damaged.
 * The media file is damaged.
 * The media file uses a codec that is not installed.
 * The computer does not have audio capabilities. For example, no audio device is installed on the computer.
 * The correct audio device driver is not installed or is disabled.
 * Remote Desktop is not configured to play audio.

<div class="resolution_section">

RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, use the following methods in the order that they are presented. Test after each method to determine whether the issue is resolved.

Important Windows Media Player does not support the playback of every type of media file available currently. However, Windows Media Player does provide support for the most common types of media files. Therefore, verify that your media file is supported. If it is not supported, do not use any methods except Method 1 to troubleshoot this problem. If Windows Media Player does not support the file format that you are using, contact the distributor of the file for information about the availability of a viewer for the file.

For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

156286 Error Message: Cannot play back the video stream...

195880 Err Msg: No combination of filters could be found to render...

Method 1: Verify that Windows Media Player supports the file type that you want to use
For more information about supported file types, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

316992 Windows Media Player multimedia file formats

Method 2: Determine whether the file that you want to play is damaged
In Windows Media Player, play a different file that uses the same file name extension as the file that you could not play. If the second file plays correctly, the original file that you tried to play may be damaged. If you experience the same difficulty when you play different files that are supported, try Method 3.

Method 3: Reinstall Windows Media Player
Windows Media Player is one of the native parts in Windows Vista. To reinstall Windows Media Player, follow these steps: <ol> Visit the following Microsoft Web site to download the latest version of Windows Media Player:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/AllDownloads.aspx

</li> Click Download Now to obtain the latest release version of Windows Media Player, and then click Save to save the installation file. Save the file to a familiar location.</li> Locate the installation file, double-click it to begin the installation process, and then follow the instructions to complete the installation or upgrade.</li></ol>

Method 4: Reinstall or upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft DirectX
For more information about how to reinstall or upgrade DirectX, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

157730 How to determine the version of DirectX using the DirectX diagnostic tool

179113 How to download and install DirectX

Method 5: Verify that you are using the correct codec for the media file
For more information about how to install, verify, and troubleshoot media codecs, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

843509 Frequently asked questions about how to troubleshoot issues in Windows Media Player

230687 Error Message: Unable to download an appropriate decompressor

191533 Media Player cannot play .avi file using Indeo 4.x codec

<div class="moreinformation_section">

MORE INFORMATION
For more information about Windows Media Player, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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

For a Microsoft Windows XP version of this article, click the following link to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

234019 Windows Media Player invalid file format error message

Keywords: kbexpertisebeginner kbtshoot kbprb KB924073

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