NS_E_NAMESPACE_DUPLICATE_NAME (0XC00D1393) Fix for Windows Media Center & Network Shares

When You'll See This Error

You're setting up Windows Media Center on Windows 7 or 8.1, or you're configuring a DLNA media server like the one built into Windows. Suddenly you get: NS_E_NAMESPACE_DUPLICATE_NAME (0XC00D1393) - Cannot create a namespace node that already exists. Usually this pops up when you add a network share or a library folder that already has an entry in the media database. I've seen it most often after a failed network share reconnection or when you move media folders around without refreshing the library first.

Root Cause

Windows Media Center keeps a SQL database in %ProgramData%\Microsoft\eHome. When you add a media source, it writes a namespace node — basically a unique ID for that folder. If the database has a stale or corrupted entry from a previous connection, the new one clashes. It's not a network issue; it's a database integrity issue. The real problem is the mcepg4-0.db or mcepg4-1.db files have orphaned records.

The Fix: Rebuild the Database

Skip the registry hacks and uninstall/reinstall circus. The cleanest fix is to delete the corrupted database files and let Windows rebuild them fresh. Here's how:

Step 1: Stop Media Center Processes

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc).
2. Kill any ehshell.exe and ehrecvr.exe processes. They'll restart automatically later.
3. If you're on Windows 8.1, also stop mcupdate.exe and mcrdsvc.exe.

Step 2: Delete the Corrupted Database Files

Press Win+R, type %ProgramData%\Microsoft\eHome, and hit Enter. In that folder, look for these files:

• mcepg4-0.db
• mcepg4-1.db
• mcepg4-2.db (if present)
• ehrec.log
• mcepg4.log

Delete them. Don't touch any .mcepg or .xml files — those are user settings. The DB files will be regenerated automatically.

Step 3: Rebuild the Database

Open an elevated command prompt (right-click Command Prompt, select Run as Administrator). Run:

mcupdate.exe -i

This forces Media Center to reinitialize its database. It might take 30 seconds to a few minutes. Once it finishes, close the prompt.

Step 4: Re-add Your Media Sources

1. Open Windows Media Center.
2. Go to Tasks > Settings > Media Libraries.
3. Remove any existing libraries, then add them back fresh. Point to your network shares or local folders one at a time.
4. Let MC scan each source completely before adding the next.

Step 5: Restart Everything

Reboot your PC. This ensures all services reload with the clean database.

What to Check If It Still Fails

If you're still getting 0xC00D1393 after rebuilding, check these:

• Duplicate folder names — Do you have two different network shares that resolve to the same path? Example: \\Server\Movies and \\NAS\Movies pointing to the same folder. MC sees them as separate but the namespace ID matches. Remove one.
• Hidden database remnants — Sometimes the DB files hide in %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\eHome too. Check that folder and delete any mcepg*.db files there as well.
• Third-party DLNA servers — If you run Plex, Serviio, or Twonky, they might have their own duplicate namespace entries. Stop those services temporarily, rebuild MC's database, then restart them.
• Corrupted user profile — Rare, but I've seen it twice in six years. Create a new Windows user profile with admin rights and test Media Center there. If it works, migrate your settings.

That should kill the error. It's annoying, but once you've nuked the DB files, it rarely comes back unless you do something wild like moving your media folders mid-scan.