What does HRESULT 0xC00D1B85 (NS_E_SOURCE_NOTSPECIFIED) mean?

NS_E_SOURCE_NOTSPECIFIED

Where the Encoder produces this result

0xC00D1B85 (NS_E_SOURCE_NOTSPECIFIED) identifies final source-group validation finds an incompletely configured source. This is an Encoder validation error; a later “cannot start encoding” dialog can hide the original HRESULT.

The Encoder object model groups audio, video and script inputs in an IWMEncSourceGroup, associates one profile with that group, and asks a source plug-in to expose a media format that can feed the selected output streams.

What has already succeeded

Successful creation of the COM objects does not prove that the source group is complete; profile assignment, source discovery and format negotiation are later checkpoints. For example, an audio source object is added as a placeholder but never assigned an input. Reproduce the condition at the Encoder object that returned the HRESULT rather than treating it as a general codec or operating-system failure.

A controlled diagnostic sequence

1. Record 0xC00D1B85, the Encoder version and the exact API call or property access that returned it.
2. Export the current .wme or .prx configuration, then capture each source object's SetInput/GetInput values, scheme, stream name and media format.
3. Verify the source groups, streams and plug-ins precondition without changing the source, profile and output sink at the same time.
4. Run one controlled comparison that changes only the identified precondition: complete or remove the unfinished source before preparing the group.

Nearby HRESULTs that mean something else

Corrective action at the right layer

Do not delete and recreate every source group before exporting the .wme configuration and recording the active group; otherwise the failing object relation is lost.

Technical references

• Preparing a source group for encoding.
• Retrieving the profile assigned to a source group.
• Retrieving the configured encoder input.
• Saving a Windows Media Encoder configuration.