What does HRESULT 0xC00D283F (NS_E_DRM_SIGNATURE_FAILURE) mean?

Status / error code:

Category:

Constant name:

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Operating System:

Description:

Failed to either create or verify the content header.%0

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NS_E_DRM_NEED_UPGRADE_PD	NS_E_DRM_LICENSE_SERVER_INFO_MISSING

NS_E_DRM_SIGNATURE_FAILURE

Read the code before the dialog

The producer of 0xC00D283F has determined that creation or verification of a protected content header signature failed. NS_E_DRM_SIGNATURE_FAILURE comes from Windows Media DRM client internals, whose state machine implements the client DRM engine that initializes security components, validates content and license identifiers, performs individualization, manages license chains and coordinates protected playback capabilities.

Start by capturing header bytes/hash, signing certificate identity and cryptographic error.

Correlate the owner and the policy

The security decision represented by this result depends on DRM component version, KID, content header signature, license chain, uplink license, individualization state, portable-device registrations and local configuration. Record the KID and header hash, DRM component version, individualization status, license-chain identifiers, registry/configuration lookup and the first client callback reporting failure from the same attempt.

The scope stays narrow: creation or verification of a protected content header signature failed. Other content or actions may still be valid.

Why the first HRESULT matters

Reconstruct the transition from the requested action to the rejected condition. To verify this, capture header bytes/hash, signing certificate identity and cryptographic error; the repaired transition must then correct the signing material or replace the corrupted signed header. Record the first lower-layer status beside this result because wrapper HRESULTs can otherwise conceal the producing component.

Minimum evidence set

Field	Value
Owner	operation, API/callback, object or session identifier, and component/device version associated with this result
Direct check	capture header bytes/hash, signing certificate identity and cryptographic error

A controlled reproduction

Preserve it and 0xC00D283F before cleanup, fallback or another media item changes the context.
Run the direct check: capture header bytes/hash, signing certificate identity and cryptographic error.
Compare the failure with a known-good case that changes only the property named by this condition: creation or verification of a protected content header signature failed.
Apply the targeted fix: correct the signing material or replace the corrupted signed header.
Associate it with its current Windows Media DRM client internals object and the requested action.

The final dialog can be broader

Creation or verification of a protected content header signature failed.

Contrast with related results

Result	Why it points elsewhere
`NS_E_DRM_NEEDS_UPGRADE_TEMPFILE`	a pending DRM component upgrade depends on a temporary upgrade artifact that cannot be used as expected
`NS_E_DRM_NEED_UPGRADE_PD`	portable-device DRM components require a newer version before protected transfer can continue
`NS_E_DRM_LICENSE_SERVER_INFO_MISSING`	the client cannot read configuration that identifies or describes the license service

Recovery at the right layer

The appropriate response is to correct the signing material or replace the corrupted signed header.

Technical references

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