Fix NS_E_DVD_DISC_COPY_PROTECT_OUTPUT_FAILED (0XC00D1161)

Quick answer for advanced users

Open your DVD player software (like Windows Media Center), go to Settings, Video, and set the DVD output resolution to 480p or 576p. Or switch from component video cables to HDMI if your hardware supports it. That bypasses the analog copy protection restriction.

What's happening here

This error shows up when you're playing a DVD through a component video connection (those red, green, blue cables) and the DVD's resolution exceeds what's allowed by the copy protection rules. It's not a hardware failure — it's intentional. The copy protection system (Macrovision or CPRM) checks what kind of cable you're using. Component video outputs are analog and can carry high-definition signals, but the licensing rules say DVD players must cap the resolution at 480p (or 576p in PAL regions) on those outputs to prevent high-quality copying. If the disc has a flag that says "this movie requires higher resolution" or your software tries to send a 720p or 1080i signal over component, you get error 0XC00D1161.

This is most common on Windows 7 machines using Windows Media Center, older home theater PCs, or DVD playback software that doesn't handle the resolution negotiation correctly. You'll see it right when you try to start playback — the screen goes black, the error pops up, and the disc stops.

Fix steps

1. Check your video connection
   Look at the cables between your PC and your TV or monitor. If they're red, green, and blue plugs (component video), that's the source of the problem. HDMI or DVI connections don't trigger this error because they're digital and use HDCP copy protection instead. If you can switch to HDMI, do that — it's the cleanest fix.
2. Lower the DVD output resolution in your player software
   Open Windows Media Center. Go to Tasks > Settings > TV > Audio/Visual. Look for DVD Resolution or Video Output. Set it to 480p (or 576p if you're in a PAL region). Apply the change. Now try playing the DVD again. You should see the movie start without the error. The picture won't be full HD, but it'll be watchable.
3. If you're using a different DVD player app
   In PowerDVD, go to Settings > Video > Display Mode and choose Standard (480p). In VLC, it's trickier because VLC ignores copy protection flags. But if you're getting this error in VLC, check Tools > Preferences > Video > Output and try changing the output module to DirectX (DirectDraw) or OpenGL. VLC doesn't usually enforce this restriction, so if it's happening, your graphics driver might be overriding it.
4. Update your graphics driver and DVD software
   Old drivers sometimes misreport the connection type to the playback software. Head to your GPU manufacturer's site (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and grab the latest driver for your card. Reboot after installing. Also check for updates to your DVD player software. Windows Media Center updates came through Windows Update — run that and install any optional updates related to Media Center or codecs.
5. Disable copy protection enforcement (not always possible)
   Some DVD players let you disable Macrovision or copy protection checks in the registry or config files. This is a hacky workaround and I don't love it because it breaks the license agreement. But if you own the disc and just want to watch it: for PowerDVD, look for a setting called Enable Macrovision and turn it off. For Windows Media Center, there's no official toggle. You'd need to edit the registry key under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\DVDSettings and change EnableCopyProtection to 0. Back up the key first. Reboot and try again.

Alternative fixes if the main steps don't work

If you're still stuck, try a different DVD player application entirely. VLC (free) is great at bypassing these restrictions because it doesn't enforce copy protection at all. Download it, install it, and open the DVD directly through VLC. You'll likely see the movie play without the error.

Another option: rip the DVD to your hard drive using software like MakeMKV or HandBrake. This strips the copy protection flags entirely. Then play the resulting file with any player you want. This takes a bit longer (about 20 minutes per disc) but it's a permanent fix for that disc.

If you're using a home theater PC connected to an older TV that only has component inputs, consider buying a cheap HDMI-to-component converter box. That converts the digital HDMI signal to analog component video without the resolution restriction. You'll find them for $20-$30 on Amazon. Plug the PC's HDMI into the converter, then component cables from the converter to the TV. Set your PC's display output to 720p or 1080i — the converter handles the rest.

Prevention tip

The real prevention is to stop using component video cables for DVD playback. HDMI is the standard now, and it handles copy protection through HDCP, which doesn't have this resolution cap. If your TV or monitor only has component inputs, get that HDMI-to-component converter as a permanent solution. Also, keep your playback software and graphics drivers updated — newer versions handle the resolution negotiation more gracefully. For anyone building a new HTPC, use a graphics card with an HDMI output, not VGA or component.