Fix NS_E_CONTENT_PARTNER_STILL_INITIALIZING 0XC00D1362

This error usually pops up in Windows Media Center when opening a streaming service like Netflix or Hulu. It means the content partner's plug-in hasn't fully loaded yet. We'll walk through a fix that resets the plug-in state.

What triggers this error

You're sitting in Windows Media Center (WMC) — this was common on Windows 7 and Vista, but also shows up on Windows 8 with the Media Center pack. You open Netflix, Hulu, or some other streaming channel from the menu. Instead of the channel loading, you get a box that says NS_E_CONTENT_PARTNER_STILL_INITIALIZING with the code 0XC00D1362. The channel screen stays blank or shows a spinning circle that never stops.

I've seen this happen after a system update, a power failure that interrupted WMC, or just because the plug-in got confused after a few weeks of use. It's not a hardware problem — it's a software state issue. The content partner's initialization process got stuck partway through and never finished.

Root cause in plain English

Windows Media Center uses plug-ins for each streaming service. Those plug-ins need to load their own settings and connect to the internet before they show you anything. When you see this error, the plug-in has started loading but didn't complete. It's like turning on a coffee maker but forgetting to put water in — the machine is on, but nothing comes out.

The most common reason is a corrupted or stale cache file that the plug-in uses to remember your account info. Another possibility is another program (like a firewall or parental control) blocked the plug-in mid-load, leaving it in a half-baked state. A simple restart of WMC won't fix this because the bad state is stored on disk.

Step-by-step fix

This fix clears out the cached initialization data and forces the plug-in to start fresh. It works for any content partner — Netflix, Hulu, ESPN, whatever. You'll need to sign in to the service again after this, so have your credentials handy.

Close Windows Media Center completely. Don't just minimize it. Click the X or press Alt+F4. Then check the system tray (the icons near the clock) and make sure the Media Center icon is gone. If it's still there, right-click it and choose Exit. Expected outcome: No WMC processes are running. You can verify in Task Manager — look for ehshell.exe and ehrecvr.exe. If you see them, end those tasks.
Open the Media Center reset folder. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type
```
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\eHome
```
and hit Enter. Expected outcome: A File Explorer window opens showing a bunch of files and folders. This is where Media Center stores its cache and plug-in data.
Delete the Mcv2 folder. Inside that eHome folder, look for a folder named Mcv2. This is where all the content partner initialization states live. Right-click it and choose Delete. Windows might ask for permission — click Yes. Expected outcome: The folder disappears. Don't worry, Media Center will recreate it when you start it again. If you can't delete it, you probably still have WMC running. Double-check Task Manager.
Optional but recommended: Clear the DRM folder. Go back to %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft and look for a folder called DRM. Delete it too. This clears any digital rights management data that might also be stuck. Expected outcome: Folder gone. WMC will rebuild it on next launch.
Restart Windows Media Center. Open the Start menu, type Media Center, and launch it. Wait for the main menu to load fully. Expected outcome: It loads normally — no change yet, but we've cleaned the slate.
Launch the problematic channel again. Go to the TV + Movies section, find your streaming channel (Netflix, Hulu, etc.), and click it. Expected outcome: This time, instead of the error, you should see the channel's sign-in screen or a loading spinner that completes within 30 seconds. You might need to re-enter your username and password for that service.
Test with another channel. If you have more than one streaming service in WMC, try each one. Some may need the same treatment. Expected outcome: Each channel initializes properly.

What to check if it still fails

If you're still seeing the error after deleting the Mcv2 folder, it's time to look at account or network issues. Try these:

Check your internet connection. Open a web browser and visit the streaming service's website directly. If it doesn't load, the problem is your internet, not WMC. Fix the connection first.
Disable antivirus or firewall temporarily. Some security software blocks WMC's network access. Turn off the firewall for 2 minutes and try WMC again. If it works, add an exception for ehshell.exe in your firewall settings.
Reinstall the content partner. In WMC, go to Settings > Extensions > Libraries, find the channel, and choose Remove. Then restart WMC and add it back from the same menu. This forces a fresh download of the plug-in code.
Run System File Checker. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and type sfc /scannow. This repairs corrupted Windows files that might affect WMC. Let it finish — it takes 10-15 minutes. Then restart and try again.
Last resort: Reset Media Center entirely. Go to Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off, scroll to Media Center, uncheck it, restart, then recheck it. This reinstalls WMC from scratch. You'll lose all your recorded TV timers and settings.

If none of that works, the streaming service itself might have shut down its WMC channel. For example, Netflix stopped supporting Windows Media Center in 2018. If your error is with a very old service, there's no fix — you'll need to use a modern app instead.