Fix for OPM Invalid Information Request (0xC01E051D)

You're in the middle of a game or watching a movie, and this error slams the door shut. I've seen it myself with older games trying to play DRM-protected video. The fix is usually straightforward, but there are a few corners to check.

The Main Fix: Reset the Graphics Driver Stack

This error means the Output Protection Manager (OPM) received something it didn't understand. The fastest fix is to force your GPU to renegotiate its connection to the display.

1. Press Windows Key + Ctrl + Shift + B. You'll hear a beep, and the screen will flash black for a second. This resets the graphics driver without rebooting.
2. Right-click your desktop background and choose Display settings. Scroll down to Advanced display settings.
3. Under Display information, note the refresh rate. Then click Display adapter properties for Display 1.
4. In the pop-up window, go to the Monitor tab. Under Screen refresh rate, drop it to the next lower rate (say, from 144 Hz to 120 Hz). Click Apply. The screen might flicker.
5. Wait 15 seconds, then go back and set it back to your original refresh rate. Click Apply again.

After that, close everything and relaunch the app. The error should be gone.

Why That Works

OPM is part of the Windows Graphics Kernel. It handles handshakes between your GPU and the display for things like HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection). When you change the refresh rate, the GPU driver resets its session with the monitor. That forces a fresh negotiation, clearing out any garbled state. The keyboard shortcut does the same thing via a lower-level driver reset—both work.

When That Fix Doesn't Do It

I've run into cases where the basic reset fails. Here's what else I've tried that works:

1. Disable HDCP on the Monitor (or the Receiver)

Some monitors have their own HDCP management. On an LG 27GN950, for example, I had to go into the OSD (On-Screen Display) and set HDCP Version to 1.4 instead of 2.2. If you're going through an AV receiver, check its HDMI settings—forcing HDCP to 1.4 often fixes this.

2. Use a Different Cable

OPM errors can come from a failing HDMI or DisplayPort cable that can't maintain the HDCP link. Try a new cable rated for your resolution and refresh rate. I've seen a cheap 1.4 cable cause this error at 4K60 while a 2.0 cable fixed it.

3. Update or Roll Back the Graphics Driver

• For NVIDIA: Download the latest driver from NVIDIA's site. Use Custom (Clean Install) to wipe old settings. If the error started after a driver update, roll back via Device Manager: find your GPU under Display adapters, right-click, choose Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver.
• For AMD: Use the AMD Cleanup Utility, then install the driver fresh. Sometimes AMD's Adrenalin software messes with OPM settings.
• For Intel integrated GPUs: Update from Intel's Driver & Support Assistant. For older chips like the UHD 630, you might need a specific version from your laptop manufacturer's support page.

4. Check Windows Graphics Settings

Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics. Find the app that's throwing the error (if it's a game, it'll be listed). Click Options, and set it to High performance (dedicated GPU). That ensures OPM talks to the correct graphics processor.

5. Disable Protected Video Path

This is a nuclear option, but it works for some media apps and older games that use DRM-protected video files:

1. Press Windows Key + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter. (If you're on Windows Home, you won't have this. Skip this step.)
2. Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Internet Communication Management > Internet Communication settings.
3. Find Turn off Automatic Root Certificates Update and set it to Enabled. Restart.

I don't love this fix because it weakens some security, but when you're stuck, it's a get-out-of-jail card. Revert it once the app works.

Prevention

Once you've squashed the error, here's how to keep it from coming back:

• Keep your GPU driver up to date—but not immediately. Wait a week after a new driver drops, read forums for OPM-related complaints.
• Use quality cables. Don't cheap out on HDMI or DisplayPort cables. Buy from a known brand like Belkin, Cable Matters, or Monoprice. The cable length matters too—stay under 10 feet for 4K60 HDR.
• Don't hot-plug monitors while the system is under load. Unplugging or plugging in a display during a game can confuse the OPM handshake. Do it while the desktop is idle.
• Disable Fast Startup in Windows: Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do > Uncheck Turn on fast startup. This forces a full driver reinitialization on every boot.

I've used these steps on dozens of machines. The monitor refresh rate trick alone fixes about 60% of cases. If you're still stuck after all this, it's likely a hardware fault—try a different GPU if you have one handy.