DirectShow Error and Success Codes

[The feature associated with this page, DirectShow, is a legacy feature. It has been superseded by MediaPlayer, IMFMediaEngine, and Audio/Video Capture in Media Foundation. Those features have been optimized for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft strongly recommends that new code use MediaPlayer, IMFMediaEngine and Audio/Video Capture in Media Foundation instead of DirectShow, when possible. Microsoft suggests that existing code that uses the legacy APIs be rewritten to use the new APIs if possible.]

This topic lists the HRESULT return codes that are defined for DirectShow. Note that DirectShow APIs can return other HRESULT values not shown here. For additional HRESULT values, see COM Error Codes.

The following table contains DirectShow-specific error and success codes in numerical order. Return codes beginning with VFW_S_ indicate success. An operation might partially succeed and still have a successful return value. For example, VFW_S_SOME_DATA_IGNORED indicates that a file was rendered by ignoring some of its property settings. Return codes beginning with VFW_E_ indicate an error.

These values are defined in the header file Vfwmsgs.h.

Constant/value	Description
VFW_S_NO_MORE_ITEMS 0x00040103	Reached the end of the list; no more items in the list. (Filter developers: The CBasePin::GetMediaType method is expected to return this value.)
VFW_S_DUPLICATE_NAME 0x0004022D	An attempt to add a filter with a duplicate name succeeded with a modified name.
VFW_S_STATE_INTERMEDIATE 0x00040237	The state transition is not complete.
VFW_S_PARTIAL_RENDER 0x00040242	Some of the streams are in an unsupported format.
VFW_S_SOME_DATA_IGNORED 0x00040245	The file contained some property settings that were not used.
VFW_S_CONNECTIONS_DEFERRED 0x00040246	Some connections failed and were deferred.
VFW_S_RESOURCE_NOT_NEEDED 0x00040250	The resource specified is no longer needed.
VFW_S_MEDIA_TYPE_IGNORED 0x00040254	A GraphEdit (.grf) file was loaded successfully, but at least two pins were connected using a different media type than the media type stored in the GraphEdit file.
VFW_S_VIDEO_NOT_RENDERED 0x00040257	Cannot play back the video stream: could not find a suitable renderer.
VFW_S_AUDIO_NOT_RENDERED 0x00040258	Cannot play back the audio stream: could not find a suitable renderer.
VFW_S_RPZA 0x0004025A	Cannot play back the video stream: format 'RPZA' is not supported.
VFW_S_ESTIMATED 0x00040260	The value returned had to be estimated. Its accuracy can't be guaranteed.
VFW_S_RESERVED 0x00040263	This success code is reserved for internal purposes within DirectShow.
VFW_S_STREAM_OFF 0x00040267	The stream was turned off.
VFW_S_CANT_CUE 0x00040268	The filter is active, but cannot deliver data. See IMediaFilter::GetState.
VFW_S_NO_STOP_TIME 0x00040270	The sample had a start time but not a stop time. In this case, the stop time that is returned is set to the start time plus one.
VFW_S_NOPREVIEWPIN 0x0004027E	Preview was rendered throught the Smart Tee filter, because the capture filter does not have a preview pin.
VFW_S_DVD_NON_ONE_SEQUENTIAL 0x00040280	The current title is not a sequential set of chapters (PGC), so the timing information might not be continuous.
VFW_S_DVD_CHANNEL_CONTENTS_NOT_AVAILABLE 0x0004028C	The audio stream does not contain enough information to determine the contents of each channel.
VFW_S_DVD_NOT_ACCURATE 0x0004028D	The seek operation on the DVD was not frame accurate.
VFW_E_INVALIDMEDIATYPE 0x80040200	The specified media type is invalid.
VFW_E_INVALIDSUBTYPE 0x80040201	The specified media subtype is invalid.
VFW_E_NEED_OWNER 0x80040202	This object can only be created as an aggregated object.
VFW_E_ENUM_OUT_OF_SYNC 0x80040203	The state of the enumerated object has changed and is now inconsistent with the state of the enumerator. Discard any data obtained from previous calls to the enumerator and then update the enumerator by calling the enumerator's Reset method.
VFW_E_ALREADY_CONNECTED 0x80040204	At least one of the pins involved in the operation is already connected.
VFW_E_FILTER_ACTIVE 0x80040205	This operation cannot be performed because the filter is active.
VFW_E_NO_TYPES 0x80040206	One of the specified pins supports no media types.
VFW_E_NO_ACCEPTABLE_TYPES 0x80040207	There is no common media type between these pins.
VFW_E_INVALID_DIRECTION 0x80040208	Two pins of the same direction cannot be connected.
VFW_E_NOT_CONNECTED 0x80040209	The operation cannot be performed because the pins are not connected.
VFW_E_NO_ALLOCATOR 0x8004020A	No sample buffer allocator is available.
VFW_E_RUNTIME_ERROR 0x8004020B	A run-time error occurred.
VFW_E_BUFFER_NOTSET 0x8004020C	No buffer space has been set.
VFW_E_BUFFER_OVERFLOW 0x8004020D	The buffer is not big enough.
VFW_E_BADALIGN 0x8004020E	An invalid alignment was specified.
VFW_E_ALREADY_COMMITTED 0x8004020F	The allocator was not committed. See IMemAllocator::Commit.
VFW_E_BUFFERS_OUTSTANDING 0x80040210	One or more buffers are still active.
VFW_E_NOT_COMMITTED 0x80040211	Cannot allocate a sample when the allocator is not active.
VFW_E_SIZENOTSET 0x80040212	Cannot allocate memory because no size has been set.
VFW_E_NO_CLOCK 0x80040213	Cannot lock for synchronization because no clock has been defined.
VFW_E_NO_SINK 0x80040214	Quality messages could not be sent because no quality sink has been defined.
VFW_E_NO_INTERFACE 0x80040215	A required interface has not been implemented.
VFW_E_NOT_FOUND 0x80040216	An object or name was not found.
VFW_E_CANNOT_CONNECT 0x80040217	No combination of intermediate filters could be found to make the connection.
VFW_E_CANNOT_RENDER 0x80040218	No combination of filters could be found to render the stream.
VFW_E_CHANGING_FORMAT 0x80040219	Could not change formats dynamically.
VFW_E_NO_COLOR_KEY_SET 0x8004021A	No color key has been set.
VFW_E_NOT_OVERLAY_CONNECTION 0x8004021B	Current pin connection is not using the IOverlay transport.
VFW_E_NOT_SAMPLE_CONNECTION 0x8004021C	Current pin connection is not using the IMemInputPin transport.
VFW_E_PALETTE_SET 0x8004021D	Setting a color key would conflict with the palette already set.
VFW_E_COLOR_KEY_SET 0x8004021E	Setting a palette would conflict with the color key already set.
VFW_E_NO_COLOR_KEY_FOUND 0x8004021F	No matching color key is available.
VFW_E_NO_PALETTE_AVAILABLE 0x80040220	No palette is available.
VFW_E_NO_DISPLAY_PALETTE 0x80040221	Display does not use a palette.
VFW_E_TOO_MANY_COLORS 0x80040222	Too many colors for the current display settings.
VFW_E_STATE_CHANGED 0x80040223	The state changed while waiting to process the sample.
VFW_E_NOT_STOPPED 0x80040224	The operation could not be performed because the filter is not stopped.
VFW_E_NOT_PAUSED 0x80040225	The operation could not be performed because the filter is not paused.
VFW_E_NOT_RUNNING 0x80040226	The operation could not be performed because the filter is not running.
VFW_E_WRONG_STATE 0x80040227	The operation could not be performed because the filter is in the wrong state.
VFW_E_START_TIME_AFTER_END 0x80040228	The sample start time is after the sample end time.
VFW_E_INVALID_RECT 0x80040229	The supplied rectangle is invalid.
VFW_E_TYPE_NOT_ACCEPTED 0x8004022A	This pin cannot use the supplied media type.
VFW_E_SAMPLE_REJECTED 0x8004022B	This sample cannot be rendered.
VFW_E_SAMPLE_REJECTED_EOS 0x8004022C	This sample cannot be rendered because the end of the stream has been reached.
VFW_E_DUPLICATE_NAME 0x8004022D	An attempt to add a filter with a duplicate name failed.
VFW_E_TIMEOUT 0x8004022E	A time-out has expired.
VFW_E_INVALID_FILE_FORMAT 0x8004022F	The file format is invalid.
VFW_E_ENUM_OUT_OF_RANGE 0x80040230	The list has already been exhausted.
VFW_E_CIRCULAR_GRAPH 0x80040231	The filter graph is circular.
VFW_E_NOT_ALLOWED_TO_SAVE 0x80040232	Updates are not allowed in this state.
VFW_E_TIME_ALREADY_PASSED 0x80040233	An attempt was made to queue a command for a time in the past.
VFW_E_ALREADY_CANCELLED 0x80040234	The queued command was already canceled.
VFW_E_CORRUPT_GRAPH_FILE 0x80040235	Cannot render the file because it is corrupt.
VFW_E_ADVISE_ALREADY_SET 0x80040236	An IOverlay advise link already exists.
VFW_E_NO_MODEX_AVAILABLE 0x80040238	No full-screen modes are available.
VFW_E_NO_ADVISE_SET 0x80040239	This advise cannot be canceled because it was not successfully set.
VFW_E_NO_FULLSCREEN 0x8004023A	Full-screen mode is not available.
VFW_E_IN_FULLSCREEN_MODE 0x8004023B	Cannot call IVideoWindow methods while in full-screen mode.
VFW_E_UNKNOWN_FILE_TYPE 0x80040240	The media type of this file is not recognized.
VFW_E_CANNOT_LOAD_SOURCE_FILTER 0x80040241	The source filter for this file could not be loaded.
VFW_E_FILE_TOO_SHORT 0x80040243	A file appeared to be incomplete.
VFW_E_INVALID_FILE_VERSION 0x80040244	The file's version number is invalid.
VFW_E_INVALID_CLSID 0x80040247	This file is corrupt: it contains an invalid class identifier.
VFW_E_INVALID_MEDIA_TYPE 0x80040248	This file is corrupt: it contains an invalid media type.
VFW_E_SAMPLE_TIME_NOT_SET 0x80040249	No time stamp has been set for this sample.
VFW_E_MEDIA_TIME_NOT_SET 0x80040251	No media time was set for this sample.
VFW_E_NO_TIME_FORMAT_SET 0x80040252	No media time format was selected.
VFW_E_MONO_AUDIO_HW 0x80040253	Cannot change balance because audio device is monoaural only.
VFW_E_NO_DECOMPRESSOR 0x80040255	Cannot play back the video stream: could not find a suitable decompressor.
VFW_E_NO_AUDIO_HARDWARE 0x80040256	Cannot play back the audio stream: no audio hardware is available, or the hardware is not supported.
VFW_E_RPZA 0x80040259	Cannot play back the video stream: format 'RPZA' is not supported.
VFW_E_PROCESSOR_NOT_SUITABLE 0x8004025B	DirectShow cannot play MPEG movies on this processor.
VFW_E_UNSUPPORTED_AUDIO 0x8004025C	Cannot play back the audio stream: the audio format is not supported.
VFW_E_UNSUPPORTED_VIDEO 0x8004025D	Cannot play back the video stream: the video format is not supported.
VFW_E_MPEG_NOT_CONSTRAINED 0x8004025E	DirectShow cannot play this video stream because it falls outside the constrained standard.
VFW_E_NOT_IN_GRAPH 0x8004025F	Cannot perform the requested function on an object that is not in the filter graph.
VFW_E_NO_TIME_FORMAT 0x80040261	Cannot access the time format on an object.
VFW_E_READ_ONLY 0x80040262	Could not make the connection because the stream is read-only and the filter alters the data.
VFW_E_BUFFER_UNDERFLOW 0x80040264	The buffer is not full enough.
VFW_E_UNSUPPORTED_STREAM 0x80040265	Cannot play back the file: the format is not supported.
VFW_E_NO_TRANSPORT 0x80040266	Pins cannot connect because they don't support the same transport. For example, the upstream filter might require the IAsyncReader interface, while the downstream filter requires IMemInputPin.
VFW_E_BAD_VIDEOCD 0x80040269	The Video CD can't be read correctly by the device or the data is corrupt.
VFW_E_OUT_OF_VIDEO_MEMORY 0x80040271	There is not enough video memory at this display resolution and number of colors. Reducing resolution might help.
VFW_E_VP_NEGOTIATION_FAILED 0x80040272	The video port connection negotiation process has failed.
VFW_E_DDRAW_CAPS_NOT_SUITABLE 0x80040273	Either DirectDraw has not been installed or the video card capabilities are not suitable. Make sure the display is not in 16-color mode.
VFW_E_NO_VP_HARDWARE 0x80040274	No video port hardware is available, or the hardware is not responding.
VFW_E_NO_CAPTURE_HARDWARE 0x80040275	No capture hardware is available, or the hardware is not responding.
VFW_E_DVD_OPERATION_INHIBITED 0x80040276	This user operation is prohibited by DVD content at this time.
VFW_E_DVD_INVALIDDOMAIN 0x80040277	This operation is not permitted in the current domain.
VFW_E_DVD_NO_BUTTON 0x80040278	Requested button is not available.
VFW_E_DVD_GRAPHNOTREADY 0x80040279	DVD-Video playback graph has not been built yet.
VFW_E_DVD_RENDERFAIL 0x8004027A	DVD-Video playback graph building failed.
VFW_E_DVD_DECNOTENOUGH 0x8004027B	DVD-Video playback graph could not be built due to insufficient decoders.
VFW_E_DDRAW_VERSION_NOT_SUITABLE 0x8004027C	The DirectDraw version number is not suitable. Make sure to install DirectX 5 or higher.
VFW_E_COPYPROT_FAILED 0x8004027D	Copy protection could not be enabled.
VFW_E_TIME_EXPIRED 0x8004027F	Seek command timed out.
VFW_E_DVD_WRONG_SPEED 0x80040281	The operation cannot be performed at the current playback speed.
VFW_E_DVD_MENU_DOES_NOT_EXIST 0x80040282	The specified DVD menu does not exist.
VFW_E_DVD_CMD_CANCELLED 0x80040283	The specified command was canceled or no longer exists.
VFW_E_DVD_STATE_WRONG_VERSION 0x80040284	The DVD state information contains the wrong version number.
VFW_E_DVD_STATE_CORRUPT 0x80040285	The DVD state information is corrupted.
VFW_E_DVD_STATE_WRONG_DISC 0x80040286	The DVD state information is from another disc and not the current disc.
VFW_E_DVD_INCOMPATIBLE_REGION 0x80040287	The region is not compatible with the drive.
VFW_E_DVD_NO_ATTRIBUTES 0x80040288	The requested attributes do not exist.
VFW_E_DVD_NO_GOUP_PGC 0x80040289	The operation cannot be performed because no GoUp program chain (PGC) is available.
VFW_E_DVD_LOW_PARENTAL_LEVEL 0x8004028A	The operation is prohibited because the parental level is too low.
VFW_E_DVD_NOT_IN_KARAOKE_MODE 0x8004028B	The DVD Navigator is not in karaoke mode.
VFW_E_FRAME_STEP_UNSUPPORTED 0x8004028E	Frame stepping is not supported.
VFW_E_DVD_STREAM_DISABLED 0x8004028F	The requested stream is disabled.
VFW_E_DVD_TITLE_UNKNOWN 0x80040290	The operation requires a title number, but there is no current title. This error can occur when the DVD Navigator is not in the Title domain or the Video Title Set Menu (VTSM) domain.
VFW_E_DVD_INVALID_DISC 0x80040291	The specified path is not a valid DVD disc.
VFW_E_DVD_NO_RESUME_INFORMATION 0x80040292	The Resume operation could not be completed, because there is no resume information.
VFW_E_PIN_ALREADY_BLOCKED_ON_THIS_THREAD 0x80040293	Pin is already blocked on the calling thread.
VFW_E_PIN_ALREADY_BLOCKED 0x80040294	Pin is already blocked on another thread.
VFW_E_CERTIFICATION_FAILURE 0x80040295	Use of this filter is restricted by a software key. The application must unlock the filter.
VFW_E_VMR_NOT_IN_MIXER_MODE 0x80040296	The Video Mixing Renderer (VMR) is not in mixing mode. Call IVMRFilterConfig::SetNumberOfStreams (VMR-7) or IVMRFilterConfig9::SetNumberOfStreams (VMR-9).
VFW_E_VMR_NO_AP_SUPPLIED 0x80040297	The application has not yet provided the VMR filter with a valid allocator-presenter object.
VFW_E_VMR_NO_DEINTERLACE_HW 0x80040298	The VMR could not find any de-interlacing hardware on the current display device.
VFW_E_VMR_NO_PROCAMP_HW 0x80040299	The VMR could not find any hardware that supports ProcAmp controls on the current display device.
VFW_E_DVD_VMR9_INCOMPATIBLEDEC 0x8004029A	The hardware decoder uses video port extensions (VPE), which are not compatible with the VMR-9 filter.
VFW_E_NO_COPP_HW 0x8004029B	The current display device does not support Content Output Protection Protocol (COPP); or the VMR has not connected to a display device yet.
VFW_E_BAD_KEY 0x800403F2	A registry entry is corrupt.
VFW_E_DVD_NONBLOCKING 0x8004029C	The DVD navigator cannot complete the requested operation, because another operation is still pending.
VFW_E_DVD_TOO_MANY_RENDERERS_IN_FILTER_GRAPH 0x8004029D	The DVD Navigator cannot build the DVD playback graph because the graph contains more than one video renderer.
VFW_E_DVD_NON_EVR_RENDERER_IN_FILTER_GRAPH 0x8004029E	The DVD Navigator cannot add the Enhanced Video Renderer (EVR) filter to the filter graph because the graph already contains a video renderer.
VFW_E_DVD_RESOLUTION_ERROR 0x8004029F	DVD Video output is not at a proper resolution.
VFW_E_CODECAPI_LINEAR_RANGE 0x80040310	The specified codec parameter has a linear range, not an enumerated list.
VFW_E_CODECAPI_ENUMERATED 0x80040311	The specified codec parameter has an enumerated range of values, not a linear range.
VFW_E_CODECAPI_NO_DEFAULT 0x80040313	The specified codec parameter does not have a default value.
VFW_E_CODECAPI_NO_CURRENT_VALUE 0x80040314	The specified codec parameter does not have a current value.
E_PROP_ID_UNSUPPORTED 0x80070490	The specified property identifier is not supported.
E_PROP_SET_UNSUPPORTED 0x80070492	The specified property set is not supported.

In addition to the values listed previously, DirectShow Editing Services defines the following HRESULT values.

Constant/value	Description
S_WARN_OUTPUTRESET 0x00009DD4	The rendering portion of the graph was deleted. The application must rebuild it.
E_NOTINTREE 0x80040400	The object is not contained in the timeline.
E_RENDER_ENGINE_IS_BROKEN 0x80040401	Operation failed because project was not rendered successfully.
E_MUST_INIT_RENDERER 0x80040402	Render engine has not been initialized.
E_NOTDETERMINED 0x80040403	Cannot determine requested value.
E_NO_TIMELINE 0x80040404	There is no timeline object.

Requirements

Requirement	Value
Header	Vfwmsgs.h

See also

AMGetErrorText

Constants and GUIDs