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VFW_E_UNSUPPORTED_VIDEO
Meaning
Windows documents VFW_E_UNSUPPORTED_VIDEO as “Cannot play back the video stream: the video format is not supported”. Here, the playback graph cannot render the encoded video format or profile presented by the source.
Conditions that can produce it
- Cause 1: no installed transform supports the subtype.
- Cause 2: resolution, bit depth or profile exceeds decoder capability.
- Cause 3: the selected renderer cannot accept any decoder output offered for the stream.
Relevant contract
This result describes a capability or format boundary in a component graph. Container recognition, elementary-stream parsing, decoder selection, property metadata and renderer acceptance are different stages and need separate evidence.
Start with the source filter, decoder or codec property provider and downstream connection.
Evidence worth preserving
- Evidence 1: video subtype, profile, level, dimensions and frame rate.
- Evidence 2: decoder and renderer connection attempts.
- Evidence 3: successful behavior with alternate streams or renderers.
Correction strategy
- Action 1: install a compatible trusted decoder or convert the asset.
- Action 2: choose a renderer appropriate for the produced surface type.
- Action 3: perform format-capability checks before entering playback.
Example incident
A high-profile legacy MPEG stream is parsed but every decoder rejects its format block; transcoding to a supported profile prevents it.
Retry and recovery
Retry rule: Retry only after the stream, decoder or renderer path changes.
How it differs from nearby results
VFW_E_NO_DECOMPRESSOR emphasizes that no suitable decoder was found; it is the broader final outcome that the video stream cannot be played.
Official Microsoft references
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