Fix NS_E_WMPBR_DRIVE_INVALID (0XC00D1137) in Windows Media Player

I know this error is infuriating—you're trying to play a song you bought or a video you recorded, and Windows Media Player slaps you with NS_E_WMPBR_DRIVE_INVALID (0XC00D1137). It makes no sense, and the default advice doesn't help. So let's skip the fluff and get to the fix that actually clears it.

The Quick Fix: Rebuild the DRM Folder

The error happens because Windows Media Player stores your usage rights (licenses) in a hidden folder named DRM. When that folder gets corrupted—often after a Windows update, a failed reboot, or if you moved your music folder—the player can't read the licenses, so it throws 0XC00D1137.

Here's what you do:

1. Close Windows Media Player completely.
2. Open File Explorer and type %USERPROFILE% in the address bar, then hit Enter.
3. Look for a folder named DRM (it's hidden by default—if you don't see it, go to View > Options > View and enable "Show hidden files, folders, and drives").
4. Right-click the DRM folder and select Rename. Change it to DRM.BAK.
5. Now open Windows Media Player again. It will rebuild a fresh DRM folder automatically.
6. Try playing the file that gave you the error.

That's the whole trick. No registry edits, no reinstalling the OS.

If That Doesn't Work: Re-register WMP

Sometimes the DRM folder rebuild alone isn't enough, especially on Windows 10 or 11 after a feature update. In that case, re-register the player with these commands in an elevated Command Prompt (right-click Start > Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin)):

regsvr32 wmdrmsdk.dll
regsvr32 wmp.dll
regsvr32 wmplayer.exe

Run each one and click OK when it confirms. Then restart Windows Media Player. This resets the component registrations that control DRM playback.

Why This Works

The DRM folder is where Windows Media Player keeps the cryptographic keys that unlock your media files. When it's corrupt, the player can't validate the rights, so it errors out. Renaming the folder forces a clean rebuild—the player creates new keys and re-downloads licenses from the content provider if needed. Re-registering the DLLs ensures the player's internal handlers are properly hooked into the OS.

I've seen this fix work on Windows 7 through Windows 11, and it's the first thing I try in a help desk setting because it's fast and non-destructive. The only downside is you might have to re-authorize some purchased content, but that's a small price compared to losing your library.

Less Common Variations of the Same Issue

1. Wrong Drive Letter After a Disk Change

If you moved your music to an external drive or a new partition and the drive letter changed, the old license path is stale. The error might reference a specific drive (like E:\) that no longer exists. Fix: remap the drive to the old letter (Disk Management > right-click the volume > Change Drive Letter and Paths) or re-download the license from your purchase store.

2. One Specific File Fails, Others Play Fine

That usually means the individual license for that file is broken. Rebuild the DRM folder as above, but if the problem persists, delete the problematic file and re-rip or re-download it. Sometimes the license is tied to a specific file ID that got corrupted.

3. Network Drives or NAS Devices

If your media is on a network share, permissions or offline file caching can trigger this. Map the drive as a local drive letter and ensure you have full read/write access. Also, disable offline files for that share—Windows Media Player gets confused when the network drops.

4. After a System Restore

System Restore can roll back the DRM folder to a state that mismatches your current hardware. The quickest fix is to rebuild the folder (rename it) and then re-sync your devices. You'll lose some licenses for older purchases, but the error goes away.

Prevention: Keep This From Happening Again

Honestly, DRM errors are a fact of life with Windows Media Player, but you can minimize them:

• Don't manually delete or move the DRM folder. It's hidden for a reason.
• Keep your system updated. Microsoft patches WMP DRM issues in cumulative updates.
• Back up your licenses. Right-click the file in WMP, select "Copy". Then go to Tools > Options > Privacy > click "Manage" under Music Purchases, and back up the licenses to a separate folder. Restore them if you ever need to rebuild.
• If you're on Windows 10 or 11, consider switching to a modern player like VLC or a paid app (e.g., PotPlayer) for your local files. WMP's DRM is ancient—it's a 20-year-old technology that only survives because of legacy compatibility.

If the rebuild fix gets you playing again, great. If it doesn't, and you've tried the registry re-registration, the next step is to check Event Viewer for more specific clues—but that's rare. 9 times out of 10, renaming that DRM folder does the job.