Error C00D11B1 when playing M4V files in WMP12/WMC6

[jledbetter]

I'm at my wit's end. When playing back certain files in Windows Media Player on my HTPC, I keep getting errors that it can't play the file. These errors always happen in the same place (that is, when I play a certain file it errors at the same location each time). When I click Web Help, it takes me to the Win7 page for error C00D11B1. Since the file is stored locally, only the first three bullet points apply, and all check out.

Here's what I've done so far:

• Gone to this page and updated a security component, restarted WMP, then rebooted computer
• Checked to see if the sound card was operating
• Checked all sound devices for driver updates (none found)
• Checked WMP to see if my M4V codecs were enabled (not sure if I found the right entry, but I think they are...other M4Vs play fine)
• Googled the problem to no avail

I'm not sure what else to do, so I'm coming here. Here are my HTPC stats:

• Files in MP4 format (.m4v files) with either AAC (faac) Dolby Pro Logic II 160 kbps or that plus AC3 Passthru auto bitrate, large file size, ripped from DVDs using Handbrake 0.9.5
• HTPC running Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
• WMP version 12.0.7601.17514
• WMC version 6.1.7601.17514
• Sound devices are NVIDIA High Definition Audio (4 entries), PlayOn Virtual Audio Device, and Realtek High Definition Audio

The odd things is that I can play the files in VLC player, so I don't think the file itself is corrupted. Who knows at this point. Maybe I need new MP4 codecs? Or somehow play VLC straight from WMC? Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Shark007]

What codecs have you installed?

 

[jledbetter]

Just libavcodec, which is enabled by default. I have a couple of codec packages in mind (ffdshow, k-lite) but am not sure which entry under WMP's Options -> DVD -> Advanced I need to modify to make it work for M4V's.

 

[Shark007]

A default installation of the Win7codecs with the x64Components addon should get those files playing in the Windows players. After installation, start each of the Settings Applications with a rightclick on the shortcut, choosing 'Run as Administrator' and select the button on the Help TAB to associate filetypes to the Windows players.

 

[jledbetter]

The computer I'm running this fix on is Win7 32-bit. Is there an x86Components I need to use instead?

 

[Shark007]

Nope. All you need to install is the Win7codecs.

 

[jledbetter]

Hmm...I installed the codecs, ran the Settings application as an administrator, used the recommended settings, opened WMP and played the file. Same error: "Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing the file." VLC plays it fine at the same part of the file.

 

[Shark007]

On the Misc TAB is a button to analyze a media file
use that tool to have a look inside that video file to determine what it needs to be played.
post the output here so I can have a look.

 

[jledbetter]

General
Complete name                            : T:\TV Shows\True Blood\Season 02\S02E01 Nothing but the Blood.m4v
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID                                 : mp42
File size                                : 8.97 GiB
Duration                                 : 57mn 55s
Overall bit rate                         : 22.2 Mbps
Encoded date                             : UTC 2011-09-10 22:37:45
Tagged date                              : UTC 2011-09-11 04:49:01
Writing application                      : HandBrake 0.9.5 2011010300

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : [email protected]
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames                : 4 frames
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 57mn 55s
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 22.0 Mbps
Width                                    : 720 pixels
Height                                   : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Variable
Frame rate                               : 23.976 fps
Minimum frame rate                       : 19.965 fps
Maximum frame rate                       : 29.970 fps
Standard                                 : NTSC
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 2.655
Stream size                              : 8.90 GiB (99%)
Writing library                          : x264 core 112
Encoding settings                        : cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=3 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=240 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=3.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=3 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date                             : UTC 2011-09-10 22:37:45
Tagged date                              : UTC 2011-09-11 04:49:01
Color primaries                          : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709-5, BT.1361
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile                           : LC
Codec ID                                 : 40
Duration                                 : 57mn 55s
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 160 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                         : 305 Kbps
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel positions                        : Front: L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 66.3 MiB (1%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2011-09-10 22:37:45
Tagged date                              : UTC 2011-09-11 04:49:00

Text
ID                                       : 3
Format                                   : Apple text
Codec ID                                 : text
Duration                                 : 57mn 55s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 0
Stream size                              : 184 Bytes (0%)
Encoded date                             : UTC 2011-09-10 22:37:45
Tagged date                              : UTC 2011-09-11 04:49:01

Edit: I saw that the format was MP42, so I looked in WMP to see if I could change the codec to something else from libavcodec. The only other option was "disabled". The same thing goes for AVC1 (listed under H.264/AVC in WMP).

 

[Shark007]

Try manually changing the extension from M4V to MP4.

 

[jledbetter]

That didn't work. It still froze in the same spot in WMP. I also tried renaming to .avi to no avail.

I've also been messing around with conversion to MKV files, using MKVMerge and XenonMKV, in order to convert them back to M4V. I've run into a couple problems there:

1. I can't use XenonMKV because the files use a variable frame rate.
2. Anytime I view the folder that has an MKV file in it, Explorer crashes. In fact, any program that uses the common dialog to open/save files crashes. I can't even manually delete the file in Command Prompt. Only deleting the containing folder in Command Prompt removes the file. This part is very frustrating and turning me off of MKVs.

The good news is that once I actually open the file in WMP, it plays fine (except for some occasional blockiness, which could be contributing to the problems I'm having). I'm not sure, however, if this file will be listed and play in my WMC TV Library plugin. I'd prefer to stay away from just using MKVs unless those two conditions are met.

 

[Shark007]

The explorer crash is caused by a poorly encoded or incomplete torrent download of an MKV file. To stop the crash (and lose mkv thumbing) you need to disable the DivX MF splitter on the MKV TAB.

The best and easiest tool for conversion to MKV (or repair poorly encoded MKV's) is found on my Tools page, its called Metafox. Once installed, all you need to do is drag n drop any file to the Metafox desktop icon and it will write an MKV file in the originating folder.

Once you have repaired your MKV's using Metafox, you should be able to re-enable the DivX MF splitter to get proper thumbnails. MKV's that are found to be incomplete (Metafox cannot fix them), should just be deleted.

 

[jledbetter]

FYI, I'm still working on the solutions you've suggested...I've just been busy. Will respond with an update soon.

 

[jledbetter]

So here's what worked for me:

I think my computer doesn't especially like the codec I've been using to encode my DVDs. Apparently I can change that codec in Handbrake (from H.264 to MP4 ffdshow). I've run some tests, and doing so not only appears to work, but also cuts my file size by 90% and my encoding time needed by 85%. I also notice no degradation in quality because I don't own any Blu-Rays or other high-def content...only DVDs which are in a compressed format to begin with.

Unfortunately, I didn't solve the underlying error (which I think was simply because my files were corrupted somehow), but this is a fantastic workaround.