This usually means that there is a filter missing that is needed to decode one of the streams in the file. The error message should show some information about the required format, but this information is very cryptic. Below you can find some of the values that the error might show you, together with the format that belongs to it.

majortype: MEDIATYPE_Audio {73647561-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
subtype: Unknown GUID Name {726D6173-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
formattype: FORMAT_WaveFormatEx {05589F81-C356-11CE-BF01-00AA0055595A}

The format above is AMR audio. To play this you need to enable AMR in ffdshow audio decoder.

majortype: MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA-00389B71}
subtype: Unknown GUID Name {31535046-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
formattype: Format_VideoInfo {05589F80-C356-11CE-BF01-00AA0055595A}

The format above if FPS1 video. To play this you need Fraps. Or enable FPS1 in ffdshow video decoder configuration.

majortype: MEDIATYPE_Stream {E436EB83-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
subtype: MEDIASUBTYPE_MPEG1System {E436EB84-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
formattype: TIME_FORMAT_NONE {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

The format above is MPEG-1. Try enabling the internal MPEG PS/TS/PVA source filter and MPEG-1 decoder in Media Player Classic. See Options -> Internal Filters -> Transform Filters.

majortype: MEDIATYPE_Stream {E436EB83-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
subtype: MEDIASUBTYPE_Avi {E436EB88-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
formattype: TIME_FORMAT_NONE {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

The types above usually mean that you are trying to play an incomplete AVI file or a non-standard compliant AVI file. The default AVI splitter of Windows has difficulty to handle incomplete files. Enable the internal AVI splitter in Media Player Classic. See Options -> Internal Filters -> Source Filters.

majortype: MEDIATYPE_Audio {73647561-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
subtype: Unknown GUID Name {34616D69-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}

The format above is IMA4 audio. Enable IMA ADPCM in ffdshow audio decoder.

majortype: MEDIATYPE_Audio {73647561-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
subtype: Unknown GUID Name {00006771-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
formattype: FORMAT_WaveFormatEx {05589F81-C356-11CE-BF01-00AA0055595A}

The format above is Ogg Vorbis audio. Enable Vorbis in ffdshow audio decoder.

majortype: MEDIATYPE_Stream {E436EB83-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}
subtype: Unknown GUID Name {57428EC6-C2B2-44A2-AA9C-28F0B6A5C48E}
formattype: TIME_FORMAT_NONE {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

The format above is RealMedia. You need to install Real Alternative or the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack. If you have already got that installed, then you need to make the following adjustment in Media Player Classic:
MPC Options -> Formats -> Scroll down to RealMedia file. Behind it you'll see the word DirectShow. Click on that and change it to RealMedia.

majortype: MEDIATYPE_Audio {73647561-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
subtype: Unknown GUID Name {736F7774-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
formattype: FORMAT_WaveFormatEx {05589F81-C356-11CE-BF01-00AA0055595A}

The format above is TWOS audio. There is no DirectShow decoder for this audio format. You should however be able to play this file in Media Player Classic if you install QuickTime (or QTA or QT Lite).

majortype: MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
subtype: Unknown GUID Name {1B81BE68-A0C7-11D3-B984-00C04F2E73C5}
formattype: FORMAT_VideoInfo2 {F72A76A0-EB0A-11D0-ACE4-0000C0CC16BA}

You may get the above error when there is a problem with your graphics driver that prevents the use of DXVA. The solution is to disable the internal DXVA H.264 decoder in Media Player Classic Homecinema.

majortype: MEDIATYPE_Video {73646976-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
subtype: Unknown GUID Name {30355649-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
formattype: FORMAT_VideoInfo {05589F80-C356-11CE-BF01-00AA0055595A}

The format above is Indeo 5. You can find that codec in the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack.

I have installed DC-DSP, but it doesn't seem to work when using Media Player Classic

You need to disable the internal audio switcher of Media Player Classic.

Options > Internal Filters > Audio Switcher

An ActiveMovie window appears when opening a DVD with Media Player Classic

Enable the internal MPEG-2 decoder in Media Player Classic.

Options -> Internal Filters -> Transform Filters

Media Player Classic gives a black screen on the TV-out

Change the output renderer. You can do that in Options -> Playback -> Output

Try the different renderers until you find one that works for you. Restart the player each time you change the renderer.

The 'Save Image' and 'Save Thumbnails' functions in Media Player Classic give an error

Media Player Classic gives error: GetCurrentImage failed, hr = 8000ffff

The solution is to change the output renderer. The renderer in Media Player Classic is set to Overlay Mixer by default, since that is the most compatible renderer. However, saving images or taking screenshots is not possible with Overlay.

You can change the renderer in MPC Options -> Playback -> Output -> DirectShow Video.

Media Player Classic freezes when trying to play a DVD

Make sure that your DVD drive is set at the correct region, and that the region of your DVD drive matches that of the DVD.

You can edit the region settings of your DVD drive here: Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager -> DVD/CD-ROM drives

Media Player Classic can only play DVDs on Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista.

Some files that contain unicode characters give a "Failed to render file" error in Media Player Classic

This may happen with for example the following file types: .rm .amr .3gp

The solution is to change the name of the file so that it only contains letters and numbers. Remove all non ASCII characters.

Playback is not smooth (it stutters) even though the CPU usage is low

In some rare cases Overlay Mixer in combination with YV12 colorspace output causes the video to stutter. Probably due to a bug in the graphics drivers.

Solutions:

Change the video renderer that is used by Media Player Classic:
Options -> Playback -> Output -> DirectShow Video
Force RGB32 output in ffdshow:
ffdshow video decoder -> Output ->
Deselect all colorspaces (YV12, etc) except RGB32. Enable "High quality YV12 to RGB conversion".

QuickTime files from the GameTrailers website play very choppy

This happens with .mov files that contain SVQ3 video, when the file is parsed by Haali Media Splitter. Frames are decoded in the wrong order.

Solutions:

Select Gabest as the preferred splitter for .mov files. You can do this with the Codec Tweak Tool.
Enable the internal MP4/MOV splitter in Media Player Classic.
MPC Options -> Internal Filters
Install QuickTime (or QTA or QT Lite). That way MPC will use the QuickTime framework for playing .mov files.

Q:	Some .mov files play without sound
A:	The solution is to install QuickTime (or QTA or QT Lite). That way MPC will use the QuickTime framework for playing .mov files.

Q:	How do I exit from the special Direct3D Fullscreen mode in MPC-HC?
A:	The context menu and most of the keyboard shortcuts do not work in Direct3D mode. The only way to exit Direct3D fullscreen is to press Ctrl+C. This will also stop playback.

Q:	Opening .asx or .wax streams gives a "Failed to render file" error.
A:	Media Player Classic does not properly support these types of streams. Use Windows Media Player for these files.

What is the difference between .mov and .hdmov?

The only difference is how Media Player Classic will play the file. Media Player Classic will use the QuickTime framework to play .mov files (and .qt and .amr files). This generally works very well and it will also play some files that can not be played properly otherwise. The only downside is that QuickTime has a relatively slow decoder for H.264 video. That video format is commonly used for movie trailers. Fortunately, .mov files that contain H.264 can also be played using DirectShow filters. The K-Lite Codec Pack contains efficient DirectShow decoding filters for H.264 video. Media Player Classic will use DirectShow filters to play your file if you rename the .mov file to .hdmov (or .mp4). If QuickTime is not installed, then MPC will automatically fall back to using DirectShow for .mov files.

Playback of QuickTime or RealMedia video is very pixelated

This can be fixed by changing the rendering method.

MPC options -> Playback -> Output

Select either the DirectX 7 or DirectX 9 mode for QuickTime and RealMedia. At least one of the two should give proper playback.

I can't repeat (or stop and play again) RealMedia files in Media Player Classic

This is a 'bug' (or limitation) in Media Player Classic.

The only way to replay the file is to re-open the file.

Some .rm files cause Media Player Classic to crash

Solutions:

Change the name of the file so that it only contains letters and numbers. Remove all non ASCII characters.
Rename the file from .rm to .rmvb

I suddenly can no longer play .ram files in Media Player Classic. I get a "cannot render the file" error.

Media Player Classic options -> Player -> Formats

Scroll down to "Real Media File". Behind it you should see "RealMedia". If you see "DirectShow", then click on it and change it to "RealMedia".

I get a "DVD: Macrovision Failed" error when trying to play a DVD

This may happen if you have are using Haali video renderer. Solution is to change the video renderer in MPC options.

MPC options -> Playback -> Output

I get a "Failed to query the needed interfaces for DVD playback" error when trying to play a DVD

This may happen if the DVD Navigation DirectShow filter from DirectX is not properly registered. Perform this command to fix it:

Start -> Run -> regsvr32 qdvd.dll

RealMedia files (.rm .rmvb) freeze or play without sound

MPC is not fully compatible with RealPlayer 11 and 12. There are two ways to solve this problem:

Uninstall RealPlayer and install Real Alternative.
Replace the file cook.dll with an older version from RealPlayer 10.5. You can do this automatically by enabling the option "Apply compatibility patch for RealPlayer v11/v12" in the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack or in Real Alternative.

Q:	What are shaders?
A:	A Pixel Shader is a graphics function that calculates effects on a per-pixel basis. A shader is basically a tiny program that is executed on your graphics card to process some graphic data. In the case of MPC, every frame of the video you play gets processed.

Why can't I enable any shaders?

The requirements for the pixelshaders in MPC:

Your graphics card must support Pixel Shaders 2.0
You need to use a compatible video renderer: VMR-7 (renderless), VMR-9 (renderless), or EVR Custom Presenter.
Surface setting must be set to "3D surfaces".
It requires some DirectX components that are not included with standard Windows installation. Run the DirectX Web Installer to get the required DirectX updates.

How do I enable or disable an internal filter in MPC?

You can find the relevant options here:
MPC Options -> Internal Filters

Source filters (aka splitters) are used for parsing files. Transform filters are decoders.

Aero gets disabled and my desktop turns to basic mode when playing a file in MPC

This can happen if you selected the wrong video renderer in MPC options. Aero is not compatible with the Overlay Mixer. It is recommended to use "EVR Custom Presenter" on Vista/7.

If you are using an old version of MPC that doesn't have the EVR option, then choose "VMR-9 (renderless)".

MPC Home Cinema has a special option to disable Aero. Perhaps you have accidentally enabled that. You can find it here:
MPC menu -> View -> Renderer Settings -> Presentation -> "Disable Desktop Composition"

Files with H.264 video play with just a black screen on my second display

This problem is caused by the internal DXVA H.264 decoder of MPC in combination with a buggy graphics driver.

Updating your graphics driver may solve the problem. Otherwise, you should disable the internal DXVA decoder in MPC options.

Some files with H.264 video give a green screen in MPC

This problem is caused by the internal DXVA H.264 decoder of MPC in combination with a buggy graphics driver.

Updating your graphics driver will in most cases solve the problem. Otherwise, you should disable the internal DXVA decoder in MPC options.

Some files play with green/black/pink video corruption in MPC

This problem is caused by the internal DXVA H.264 decoder of MPC in combination with a buggy graphics driver.

Updating your graphics driver will in most cases solve the problem. Otherwise, you should disable the internal DXVA decoder in MPC options.

It takes several seconds for MPC to load and close on Windows 7

This problem is caused by Kaspersky Internet Security 2010.

Edit: Kasperspy has released an update for KIS (called: patch "B") that fixes the above and several other performance/compatibility problems.

After opening a video in MPC it takes a few seconds before it starts playing

This problem is caused by a bug in certain (old) versions of MPC Home Cinema. It should only happen on Windows 7 and only when using the EVR CP renderer.

This bug is not present in the latest version of MPC-HC.

Kaspersky internet Security detects a keylogger in Media Player Classic

That is a false positive detection of KIS. Media Player Classic is clean and safe to use. MPC can be controlled by keyboard shortcuts and also media center remote controls. That functionality seems to trigger the detection of KIS.

If you don't believe us, then see the Kaspersky support forums.

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