Windows 10 1803 upgrade breaks Windows Media Player (error 0xc000005)

Hi guys,

I recently upgraded Windows 10 from 1709 to 1803. Everything went fine, except one thing: Windows Media Player does no longer work. I am using a 64bit OS; the system obviously is using the 32bit version of Media Player.

Problem description

When I doubleclick a video, e.g. an mp4 file, chances are that Windows Media Player opens, no video and no sound appears, and then it closes again. Sometimes, playback of the video starts, but after one or two seconds it stutters, then stops and then Media Player closes again. Sometimes Media Player does not show up at all, but instead I only get a message that Media Player could not start and I can only press ok.

I have the feeling that this error also might depend on the size of the video opened: For bigger videos, e.g. 1,5GB, I have the above problems. For smaller videos playback does work (sometimes). When I use VLC Media Player, the videos can be played.

I have already checked the Windows event log and it shows error 0xc0000005. This error code always is the same. The error offset in contrast is different sometimes. Attached is a screenshot of the complete log entry.

What I have tried (and what did not work)

I have tried rebooting the PC, which did not change the symptoms. I have also tried uninstalling Windows Media Player (through the "install features" functionality of Windows) and then I reinstalled it. The problem however remains.

What should I do to resolve this issue?

Cheers!

Joerg

I fixed this issue by using the latest K-Lite Codec Tweak Tool to switch from Windows Media Player using 32-bit to 64-bit. I am using Windows 10 Pro v1803 build 17134.5... 64-bit, obviously.

Hei Daz1967,

I tried the K-Lite Codec Tweak Tool and it helped!

The option to switch from 32 to 64 bit is hidden under the "Various" button. Using the 64 bit version of Media Player by default did the trick.

Thanks for the hint!

Joerg said:

Hi guys,

I recently upgraded Windows 10 from 1709 to 1803. Everything went fine, except one thing: Windows Media Player does no longer work. I am using a 64bit OS; the system obviously is using the 32bit version of Media Player.

Problem description

When I doubleclick a video, e.g. an mp4 file, chances are that Windows Media Player opens, no video and no sound appears, and then it closes again. Sometimes, playback of the video starts, but after one or two seconds it stutters, then stops and then Media Player closes again. Sometimes Media Player does not show up at all, but instead I only get a message that Media Player could not start and I can only press ok.

I have the feeling that this error also might depend on the size of the video opened: For bigger videos, e.g. 1,5GB, I have the above problems. For smaller videos playback does work (sometimes). When I use VLC Media Player, the videos can be played.

I have already checked the Windows event log and it shows error 0xc0000005. This error code always is the same. The error offset in contrast is different sometimes. Attached is a screenshot of the complete log entry.

What I have tried (and what did not work)

I have tried rebooting the PC, which did not change the symptoms. I have also tried uninstalling Windows Media Player (through the "install features" functionality of Windows) and then I reinstalled it. The problem however remains.

What should I do to resolve this issue?

Cheers!

Joerg

If you previously installed the Windows Media Player Plus! plugin, it's probably the culprit. Download and install the latest version, 2.10, and it should resolve the problem.

BM-productions Windows Media Player Plus!

stevenw said:

If you previously installed the Windows Media Player Plus! plugin, it's probably the culprit. ...

Thanks for the hint, but I do not and as far as I know I also did not have this plugin installed.