Windows Media Player Error C00D11B1

If Windows Media Player cannot play a particular file, you may encounter the C00D11B1 error message. There are a number of different reasons that this error message is displayed, including:

• The driver for the sound card in your computer needs to be updated.
• The sound device you are trying to use to play the file has an out of date driver.
• The sound device is not functioning properly.
• A sound card or hardware to output sound has not been installed on your computer.
• If trying to play an Internet file, the server hosting the file may be busy.
• The file itself may be corrupt.

Because this is such a wide ranging and varied list, the first thing that needs to be done is to determine what is causing the error itself. Obviously, if you haven’t got a sound card or sound device installed, then you will need to do so. If you do have a sound card and sound device installed, then the best way to determine if one of them is the issue is to use Device Manager.

To run Device Manager, right click Computer (My Computer) in the Start menu and then click Manage. When the window opens, choose Device Manager from the left hand column. In the center column, expand Sound, video and game controllers. This should list your devices. If there is an X beside any of them, then it has been disabled. Right click and click enable.

To update the driver, right click your sound card or device in Device Manager and click Update Driver Software.

If the problem is with an Internet file, you can’t do a lot about it and will just have to try later. Finally, if the file is corrupt, you will not be able to play it and should try to find a new version of the file, one that is not damaged.