Windows Media Player - Intermittent error when trying to play media file-Server Execution Failed

Hi Mary,

I have downloaded and installed ffdshow rev3355_20100411 following advise from the following website http://windows7news.com/2009/07/22/ultimate-guide-to-codecs-for-windows-7-media-center/

This appears to have resovled the issue - I do not appear to be getting the server execution errors anymore.  However, I have all but given up on using Windows Media Player as a media player tool now as a result of this inconsistent error I was getting.  I now have also installed Apple iTunes and DivX applications to play audio and movies.

I will now only use WMP's "Play To" feature to enable me to stream audio to my Samsung Home Theatre system, until another vendor provides a workable DLNA server that is easy to use.

Whilst the "attempts" you have made here may have assisted in working out a way around the problem, I don't believe that the Microsoft application that is supposed to be able to play media files is worthy of its effort - you should try the iTunes Genius feature - it is brillant.  It is only that I have an interest in PC applications that I have persisted for so long in the various "suggestions made".  Had I been someone with little to now knowledge of PC's other than the applications that it comes with, the directions and instructions provided by "Microsoft Answers" would have been lost long ago. 

It is rather disappointing that the so-called Windows 7 replacement for the buggy Windows Vista is introducing basic file errors where no such file errors existed previously.  With the all the faults that Vista had, WMP under Windows 7 appears less stable.

As for the Anti-Virus version, here it is...  Avast Free Antivirus 5.0.507

I removed Picture Motion Browser Software long ago as it was a poor replacement to both Google's Picasa and (surprisingly Windows Live Photo Gallery) - as such I have not tried that application.

I'm rather surprised by your last comment about "Third Party Software" - what else is a person to use.  I'm basically reading that as "if you have third party softwar, Microsoft will most likely blame that software first before looking into it's own backyard first".  Having an MPEG2 / DVD Codec I would think is a basic expectation of any user from the worlds largest software manufacturer.

I wish all other readers of this thread the best of luck if they come across a similar issue that I (and others have had). 

Gemdarwen.

Hi Gemdarwen,

Thank you for your reply.

Please relay if the videos all play successfully while using the Picture Motion Browser Software that is supplied with the Camcorder. Also, please relay the exact version of the Antivirus Program you are using.  In addition, please also relay if a MPEG-2 codec or DVD decoder that is Windows 7 compatible has been installed.

Using Third Party Software, including hardware drivers can cause serious problems that may prevent your computer from booting properly. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Third Party Software can be solved. Using Third Party Software is at your own risk.

Thank you,

Mary

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Hi Mary,

This problem does not always occur - although all my home videos are captured by this Sony HandyCam - as previously stated, it works sometimes, other times the server exeecution error.  I should also state that these same files had NEVER had a problem being played on my previous Windows Vista installation.

I've checked the Sony link you provided - and this does not relate, as all the thumbnail previews do display for my video files.

I checked the audio / video codec properties when playing the video in WMP - and these both show as "-" (nothing).  Mind you this also shows as blank when playing VOB files, as per the instructions in the second microsoft link you provided.

It would appear from the scenarios I'ee described and that fact this has only commenced as a problem SINCE installing Windows 7 Ultimate (the Beta and RC releases never had this problem either).  I have pasted below the entire application event log as requested:

Log Name:      System

Source:        Microsoft-Windows-DistributedCOM

Date:          13/04/2010 9:26:38 PM

Event ID:      10010

Task Category: None

Level:         Error

Keywords:      Classic

User:          N/A

Computer:      XXXXXX

Description:

The server {ED1D0FDF-4414-470A-A56D-CFB68623FC58} did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

Event Xml:

<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">

  <System>

    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-DistributedCOM" Guid="{1B562E86-B7AA-4131-BADC-B6F3A001407E}" EventSourceName="DCOM" />

    <EventID Qualifiers="49152">10010</EventID>

    <Version>0</Version>

    <Level>2</Level>

    <Task>0</Task>

    <Opcode>0</Opcode>

    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>

    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2010-04-13T11:26:38.000000000Z" />

    <EventRecordID>15691</EventRecordID>

    <Correlation />

    <Execution ProcessID="0" ThreadID="0" />

    <Channel>System</Channel>

    <Computer>XXXXXX</Computer>

    <Security />

  </System>

  <EventData>

    <Data Name="param1">{ED1D0FDF-4414-470A-A56D-CFB68623FC58}</Data>

  </EventData>

</Event>

Regards

Hi zcd7,

In addition to your first post, please post the recent application event logs details in its entirety by double clicking the application event log that occurred at the time of the issue and then click copy. Next, paste the event logs details here.  It is also understood that you posted an initial event log detail in your first post however in addition in order to help troubleshoot the issue a recent Application Event log in its entirety is needed as per one of your previous post you mentioned that an additional codec package has been installed. 

Please provide the above information so that we may provide additional assistance.

Thank you,

Mary

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

I've been waiting for help since December and your response is to someone else on the thread.  Awesome.  Customer service person of the year award material right there.  So how do I go about leaving feedback for all the stellar service I've recieved here to date?