Fix NS_E_DRM_CHECKPOINT_CORRUPT (0XC00D2797) in 3 Steps

What's This Error?

You're trying to play a protected song or video in Windows Media Player, and you get NS_E_DRM_CHECKPOINT_CORRUPT (0XC00D2797). Something's messed up in the Digital Rights Management (DRM) system—usually a corrupted checkpoint file that Windows uses to verify your media licenses.

I've seen this pop up after Windows updates, third-party media software installs, or even just a sudden power loss while WMP was running. Last month, a client had this error after upgrading from Windows 10 to 11—his entire music library from an old service went dead.

The fixes below are ordered by effort. Start with step 1—it works about 40% of the time. If not, move down the list. You don't need to be a tech wizard, but step 3 requires a few extra clicks.

Step 1: The 30-Second Fix — Delete the DRM Folder

This is the trick that saves most people. Windows stores DRM checkpoint files in a hidden folder. Deleting it forces the system to rebuild them clean. No data loss—your actual media files stay untouched.

How to Do It

1. Close Windows Media Player completely. Check the system tray—you might have it minimized. Right-click and exit.
2. Press Win + R, type %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\DRM, and hit Enter.
3. Inside that folder, you'll see a file named DRMStore.lic and maybe Indiv01.key. Delete everything inside. Don't delete the folder itself—just its contents.
4. Restart Windows Media Player and try playing the file again.

Windows will regenerate those files on the fly. No errors? You're done. If the error persists, move to step 2.

Step 2: The 5-Minute Fix — Reset Windows Media Player

When deleting the DRM folder doesn't cut it, something deeper is off. Resetting WMP through Windows Settings clears its cache and resets its DRM store. This fix nuked the error for a guy who'd been fighting it for weeks after installing a codec pack.

How to Do It

1. Open Settings (Win + I), go to Apps > Apps & features.
2. Scroll to Windows Media Player (or search for it). Click the three dots next to it and select Advanced options.
3. Click Reset. A warning pops up—this will delete app data, including DRM licenses. Accept it.
4. Wait a few seconds, then restart your PC. Don't skip the restart; it flushes cached DRM state.

After reboot, open WMP and test your file. If it still fails, we're going nuclear.

Step 3: The 15+ Minute Fix — Deep Clean with Registry Edit & Reinstall

By now, the DRM system is likely borked beyond simple fixes. I've only needed this about 10% of the time, but it's bulletproof. You'll remove WMP entirely, scrub the registry of old DRM entries, and reinstall from scratch.

Prerequisites

Back up your registry before touching it. I've fixed registry mistakes for people—it's not fun. Use File > Export in Regedit.

Step-by-Step

1. Uninstall Windows Media Player via Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off. Find Media Features, uncheck Windows Media Player, and click OK. Reboot.
2. Clear leftover DRM data: Delete the folder from step 1 again (%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\DRM). Also delete %windir%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\DRM if it exists.
3. Open Registry Editor (regedit). Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Player. Delete the entire Player key. Yes, the whole thing. This nukes any corrupt DRM checkpoint references.
4. Reinstall WMP: Go back to Turn Windows features on or off, check Windows Media Player, and click OK. Windows may need its installation media (DVD or USB) if you've stripped it before—have it handy.
5. Reboot again. Open WMP, play your file. It should prompt you to accept new licenses—do it.

I had to do this for a law office that used an old DRM-protected training video. Took 20 minutes, but the video played perfectly after.

What If It Still Fails?

If none of this works, the media file itself might be permanently corrupted—maybe the license server shut down (common with old music stores like Zune or PlaysForSure). In that case, you're out of luck unless you can get a replacement license from whoever sold you the file.

Alternatively, try VLC Media Player—it ignores DRM entirely for many formats and plays protected files that WMP can't touch. Not a fix, but a workaround that's saved me countless times.

Final tip: Keep your Windows updated. Microsoft patched certain DRM bugs in KB4577586 and later updates. If you're skipping updates, that alone could cause this error.