Fix NS_E_INVALID_DEVICE (0XC00D1B91) Tape Playback Error

You're trying to play a tape — MiniDV, VHS-C, whatever — through Windows Media Player on Windows 10 or 11, and you get hit with NS_E_INVALID_DEVICE (0XC00D1B91). The message says something about the device not supporting control for playing back tapes. This usually happens right when you hit Play, or sometimes when WMP first detects the tape drive. It's not a hardware problem, so don't start buying new cables.

What's Actually Going On

The culprit here is almost always a broken Windows Media Player codec — specifically the one that handles tape device control. Microsoft removed native tape support years ago, but the codec still sits in the registry. When WMP sees a tape device, it tries to load that codec, and the codec fails because it's looking for hardware that Windows doesn't talk to properly anymore. The error code is just WMP saying "I can't control this device."

The Fix: Disable the Tape Codec

Skip reinstalling drivers or messing with device manager. The real fix is to remove the broken codec entry from WMP's list. Here's how to do it without breaking anything else.

1. Close Windows Media Player completely. Check the system tray — if it's minimized, right-click and exit.
2. Open Regedit (press Win+R, type regedit, hit Enter). Back up the registry first if you're paranoid: File > Export.
3. Navigate to this key:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Media Player\Setup\Plugins\Codecs

4. Look for any entry named WMP Tape Codec or Tape Device Codec. It might also show up as a GUID — check the DisplayName values. If you see anything with "tape" in the name, right-click and delete it.
5. Also check this key:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Player\Codecs

   Same deal — delete any tape-related entries.
6. Restart Windows Media Player and try your tape again.

If That Didn't Work: Remove All Third-Party Codecs

Sometimes a third-party codec pack (like K-Lite or CCCP) installs its own tape codec that conflicts. Here's the nuclear option:

1. Open Windows Media Player.
2. Press Alt to show the menu bar, then go to Tools > Options.
3. Click the DVD tab or Devices tab — depends on your WMP version.
4. Find any tape device entry and remove it.
5. Still failing? Uninstall all codec packs from Programs and Features, then reinstall only the ones you actually need (Lav Filters works well).

What To Check If It Still Fails

If the error persists, you've got a different issue. Here's what I'd check next:

• Try another app. Download VLC media player (it's free) and see if it can play the tape. VLC has its own codec stack and often works around WMP's limitations. If VLC works, the problem is 100% WMP-specific.
• Check the tape format. Some older MiniDV cameras output a weird format that Windows doesn't support natively. Try capturing with a dedicated tool like WinDV or ScenalyzerLive instead of using WMP.
• Firewire issues. If you're using a Firewire connection, make sure Windows Firewire drivers aren't disabled. Go to Device Manager, expand IEEE 1394 Host Controllers, and verify the driver is Microsoft's legacy one — third-party Firewire drivers can cause weird device detection errors.
• Post a comment with your system specs (Windows version, tape model, connection type) and I'll help narrow it down. This error is rare enough that most forum threads are dead — getting fresh eyes on it helps.

Pro tip: If you're doing this for work, just skip WMP entirely. Tape capture is a dead technology in Microsoft's eyes. Use VLC or a dedicated capture tool — they'll save you hours of frustration.