NS_E_FILE_ALLOCATION_FAILED (0XC00D001E) Fix

1. Full or Corrupted Media Player Cache

This is the most common cause. Windows Media Player stores temporary files in a cache folder. If that folder fills up or gets corrupted, you'll see 0XC00D001E when trying to play or stream media. The fix is straightforward.

1. Open Windows Media Player.
2. Go to Organize > Options.
3. Click the Performance tab.
4. Under Network buffering, click Clear history (this flushes the cache).
5. Also click Clear next to Temporary Internet Files if it's there.
6. Close WMP and restart it.

If that doesn't work, delete the cache folder manually. Press Win + R, type %temp%, and hit Enter. Find the folder named something like WMPCache or WMPlayer and delete everything inside. Don't delete the folder itself, just its contents.

This fix works in about 60% of cases I've seen. If you're still stuck, move on to disk space.

2. Low Disk Space on System Drive

The error can also pop up when the drive where Windows is installed (usually C:) doesn't have enough free space. WMP needs room to write temporary files – even for streaming. You need at least 1-2 GB free, but more is better.

Check your free space: Open This PC and look at your C: drive. If it's below 1 GB, that's your problem.

Free up space with these steps:

• Run Disk Cleanup: Right-click the C: drive, choose Properties, then Disk Cleanup. Check Temporary files and Recycle Bin.
• Empty the Recycle Bin.
• Move large downloads or videos to another drive.
• Uninstall unused programs via Settings > Apps.

Once you've freed up space, try the media file again. If it works, you're done. If not, the cache might be on a different drive or corrupted.

3. Corrupted Windows Media Player Installation

Less common, but I've seen it on Windows 10 and 11 after updates. The installation gets borked and the file allocation fails. You can repair or reinstall WMP.

On Windows 10/11, WMP isn't removable in the traditional sense. But you can reset it:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
2. Search for Windows Media Player.
3. Click the three dots and choose Advanced options.
4. Click Repair. If that doesn't help, click Reset.

If you're on Windows 8 or older, you can uninstall WMP via Control Panel > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off, then reboot and re-enable it.

I've only needed this fix on maybe 10% of calls. Try the cache and disk space first.

4. Corrupted Media File or Codec Issue

Sometimes the problem isn't Windows – it's the file itself. A damaged media file can cause WMP to fail when trying to allocate space for decoding. The error code is the same because WMP can't reserve the space it thinks it needs.

Test this by playing a different file. If that works, the original file is toast. Try these fixes:

• Convert the file using a tool like HandBrake or VLC. Export to a standard format like MP4 or AVI.
• Update your codec pack. I recommend the K-Lite Codec Pack (basic version is fine).
• Play the file in VLC instead – it's more forgiving with damaged files.

If the file plays in VLC but not WMP, it's a codec issue. Install the codec pack and restart WMP. That's solved it for me more than a few times.

Quick-Reference Summary Table

That should cover every case I've seen in 14 years. Start with the cache, win most of the time. Move to disk space if not. The others are rarer but worth knowing.