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NS_E_WMP_MLS_STALE_DATA
Where the Player stopped
Windows Media Player reports NS_E_WMP_MLS_STALE_DATA (0xC00D0FDD) when time-sensitive Media Library Service data no longer agrees with the machine clock or expected freshness window. The mls stale data condition is owned by the core that resolves Player.URL, selects or builds a playback graph, chooses codecs and devices, prerolls media and advances between playlist items while reporting asynchronous errors.
An additional test is to record UTC/local time, time-zone configuration, synchronization source and timestamp carried by the stale data; that evidence is more useful than reinstalling the Player or changing several unrelated settings at once.
Investigation order
- Start with the symbolic HRESULT; do not diagnose mls stale data from the final dialog alone.
- Use this deciding observation for this condition: record UTC/local time, time-zone configuration, synchronization source and timestamp carried by the stale data.
- Apply the smallest supported remedy for this condition: correct the system time source and reacquire the time-sensitive data rather than editing the cached timestamp.
The surrounding WMP state
The URL, playlist item, selected source, graph and codec are distinct objects; a failure at one should not be diagnosed by replacing all of them at once. A second relevant constraint is that the Error and MediaError paths can queue several results, so the first specific HRESULT and its error context are more useful than the last dialog.
Representative case: A clock jump makes previously accepted metadata or service state appear to come from the future or to be expired.
Inputs that distinguish the causes
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| What to verify | Record UTC/local time, time-zone configuration, synchronization source and timestamp carried by the stale data |
| Artifact identity | Play state and transition immediately before failure |
| Runtime state | Selected graph/source/filter or codec identity and version |
| Owning object | Audio/video device identity and driver generation |
| Lower-level result | Ordered ErrorItem queue with errorCode, errorContext and media object |
| Correlation | Player.URL, current media sourceURL and resolved final URL |
Do not confuse it with nearby results
| Result | Different condition |
|---|---|
NS_E_NEED_TO_ASK_USER | The operation reached a policy or choice point that requires interactive user input |
NS_E_NO_ERROR_STRING_FOUND | The error subsystem has an HRESULT but cannot resolve a localized description string for that code |
NS_E_WMP_SENDMAILFAILED | The Player could not hand a media link to the configured mail client |
If this result is followed by a broader “cannot play,” “cannot load,” or “operation failed” result, preserve the earlier event. The later code can be a consequence from a wrapper, fallback item or UI layer rather than the producing failure.
Verification after correction
What a real fix must change
The targeted correction for this condition is to correct the system time source and reacquire the time-sensitive data rather than editing the cached timestamp. Keep the original failing input until the same operation succeeds after one controlled change.
- Avoid installing broad codec packs before identifying the requested media subtype and missing component; it can destroy the artifact or state needed to explain this result.
- Avoid clearing the error queue or skipping to another playlist item before preserving the first failing media object; that can replace the original HRESULT with a secondary failure from another layer.
Technical references
- Windows Media Player SDK — documentation for this HRESULT.
- Player MediaError event — normative or platform material relevant to this HRESULT.
- ErrorItem object — API or format context.
- Supported protocols and file types
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