Err Msg: Unable to Download an Appropriate Decompressor

• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4
• Microsoft Windows Media Player versions 6.0, 6.1
• Microsoft Windows 98
• Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you try to play a file with Windows Media Player, the following error message may appear:

Unable to download an appropriate decompressor. (Error=80040200)

CAUSE

This error message can occur for any of the following reasons:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.02 or later is not installed on your computer. Internet Explorer is required to install decompressors, which are files that enable you to play multimedia content. Although Internet Explorer is required to download decompressors, it does not have to be set up as the default browser.



• Your Internet security options are set too high to allow decompressors to be downloaded.



• Installation of the decompressor requires a restart of your computer but no restart occurred.



• You may be playing a file format that is not supported by Windows Media Player.

RESOLUTION

• To install the latest version of Internet Explorer on your computer, see the following Microsoft Web site:

  http://www.microsoft.com/ie/download




• To lower the Internet security level to medium, follow these steps:
  
  
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  
  
  
  2. Double-click Internet.
  
  
  
  3. On the Security tab, click Internet.
  
  
  
  4. Under Security Level For This Zone, move the slider to Medium or lower.
  
  
  
  5. Click OK.
  
  
  



• Restart your computer and try to play the file again.



• For information about file formats supported by Windows Media Player, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q234019 Windows Media Player Invalid File Format Error Message

Additional query words: mplayer2

Keywords          : kbenv kberrmsg win95 win98 mplayer win98se 
Version           : WINDOWS:6.0,6.1,95; winnt:4.0,4.0 SP4
Platform          : WINDOWS winnt 
Issue type        : kbprb 

Last Reviewed: July 8, 1999