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How to troubleshoot Windows Media Player error 0xc0000005?

Over the years, Windows Media Player has remained the go-to media library application for many users. However, the program is far from perfect. Some people reported that the app keeps on crashing, rendering the 0xc0000005 error code. The accompanying error message also contains details about the affected files. If you’ve seen it, you might ask, “What is the Comppkgsup.dll file in Windows 10?”

Well, if you want to discover the answer, keep reading this article. We will share all the necessary details about the issue while teaching you how to fix the Windows Media Player Error 0xc0000005.

What Is the Error 0xc0000005 on Windows Media Player?

Cumulative updates for Windows 10 are supposed to introduce security and performance enhancements. However, they have been notoriously known to bring more problems to the operating system. For instance, when the KB4013429 cumulative update was released in March 2017, it brought new bugs instead of fixing the old ones.

It was difficult for users to download and install the cumulative update. Those who managed to do so successfully ended up dealing with Windows DVD Player crashes. The cumulative update also affected other third-party applications that use Microsoft MPEG-2 libraries.

A lot of users reported that after installing KB4013429, they could not launch Windows Media Player, Windows DVD Player, and similar applications. When they tried to open media files, they would just get the Error 0xc0000005. Of course, this problem can be frustrating, especially since Microsoft has not released official fixes for the bug.

Thankfully, there are a couple of solutions that have been proven to be effective among many users. In this post, we will teach you how to get rid of the Error 0xc0000005 on Windows Media Player.

Solution 1: Uninstalling the KB4013429 Cumulative Update

  1. Launch the Settings app by pressing Windows Key+I on your keyboard.
  2. Once the Settings window is up, select Update & Security.
  3. Click Windows Update on the left-pane menu.
  4. Move to the right pane, then click View Update History.
  5. Click Uninstall Updates.
  6. On the Installed Updates window, look for the KB4013429 cumulative update.
  7. Right-click the update, then select Uninstall from the context menu.

It is worth noting that not all cumulative updates can be uninstalled. So, if you are having trouble removing the KB4013429 cumulative update, then you can try the other solutions below to get rid of the error.

Solution 2: Performing a System Restore

The KB4013429 cumulative update has the latest Comppkgsup.dll version. It’s likely that the file has bugs that cause the media player crashes. Usually, the issue occurs when a program uses the Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder (msmpeg2vdec.dll) on MPEG-2 activated systems. In this case, the workaround is to undo the changes you’ve made to your system, including the DLL files. To do that, you can follow the steps below and perform a system restore:

  1. On your keyboard, press Windows Key+S. Doing so will bring up the Search box.
  2. Type “System Restore” (no quotes), then select Create a Restore Point from the results.
  3. Click the System Restore button.
  4. On the System Restore window, click Next.
  5. Now, select a restore point wherein the Windows Media Player Error 0xc0000005 did not exist.
  6. Click Next to begin the process.

After performing a system restore, restart your computer and check if you can open media players without issues.

Solution 3: Performing an SFC Scan

If a corrupted Comppkgsup.dll file is causing the error, then you can use the System File Checker (SFC) to fix the problem. Keep in mind that you need an elevated form of Command Prompt to perform the scan. Here are the steps:

  1. Press Windows Key+R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Inside the Run dialog box, type “CMD” (no quotes).
  3. Instead of hitting Enter, you must press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to open the app as an administrator.
  4. If prompted to give permission to Command Prompt, click Yes.
  5. Once Command Prompt is up, type “sfc /scannow” (no quotes), then hit Enter.

Keep in mind that the process may take several minutes to complete. Avoid interfering with the scan until it is done. Once the SFC utility has identified and fixed problematic system files, you can restart your computer.

Solution 4: Updating Your Drivers

Sometimes, DLL files can start to malfunction because of faulty or out-of-date drivers. So, one of the solutions you can try is updating your drivers. For Windows 10, you have three options to do that:

  • Making Use of the Device Manager
  • Updating Your Drivers Manually
  • Using Special Software

Making Use of the Device Manager

  1. Go to your taskbar, then right-click the Windows icon.
  2. Select Device Manager from the list.
  3. Once the Device Manager is up, select the device you want to update.
  4. Right-click the device, then select Update Driver from the context menu.
  5. Select the ‘Search automatically for updated driver software’ option on the next window.

Let the Device Manager search for the latest driver for the device. You may need to perform these steps on all the devices on the list.

Updating Your Drivers Manually

You must know that the Device Manager can miss the latest driver versions of devices. So, you may still end up downloading the driver manually. When you choose this option, you must be cautious. If you install a driver that is incompatible with your operating system version and processor type, you may end up dealing with performance instability issues.

Using Special Software

As you can see, using the Device Manager can be time-consuming. Meanwhile, opting to download the drivers manually has real risks for your PC. Thankfully, there is an easier yet safe way to update your drivers. You can use special software like Auslogics Driver Updater. All you need to do is click a button, and the tool will identify all outdated, missing, and corrupted drivers on your computer. It will also find the latest driver versions for them. What’s more, you do not have to worry about installing incompatible drivers. Auslogics Driver Updater will recognize your operating system version and processor type.

Once the process is complete, you will be able to fix the Windows Media Player Error 0xc0000005. Moreover, you will notice a significant improvement in your PC’s performance.

Solution 5: Checking for Viruses

It’s possible that the Comppkgsup.dll file has been corrupted or damaged by malware. So, to fix the problem, you need to locate and get rid of viruses on your computer. To do that, you must perform a deep virus scan of your PC. Here are the steps:

  1. Press Windows Key+I on your keyboard to launch the Settings app.
  2. Once the Settings window is up, click Update & Security.
  3. On the left-pane menu, click Windows Security.
  4. Move to the right pane, then click Open Windows Security.
  5. Go to the left-pane list, then click Virus & Threat Protection.
  6. Now, move to the right pane and click Scan Options.
  7. Click Full Scan.
  8. Begin the process by clicking Scan Now.

While Windows Security makes it easy for users to address viruses, the tool can miss the most complex threats. In this case, we recommend that you also perform a deep scan, using a reliable security app like Auslogics Anti-Malware. This utility can detect malware no matter how discreetly it operates in the background.

Solution 6: Reinstalling Windows Media Player

If you’ve tried all of the solutions yet none of them fixed the error, then your last option is to reinstall Windows Media Player or the affected app. Follow the instructions below:

  1. Press Windows Key+S on your keyboard.
  2. Once the Search box comes up, type “Control Panel” (no quotes).
  3. Select Control Panel from the results.
  4. Click Programs and Features.
  5. Go to the left-pane menu, then click Turn Windows Features On or Off.
  6. Click the Media Features category to expand its contents.
  7. Deselect Windows Media Player.

Note: If prompted to confirm the action, click Yes. Doing so will remove Windows Media Player from your PC.

  1. Restart your computer to let the changes take effect.
  2. After your PC boots, follow the path below:

Control Panel ->Programs & Features->Turn Windows Features On or Off

  1. Go back to the Media Features category, then select Windows Media Player.
  2. Click OK to reinstall the program.

After reinstalling the app, check if the error is gone. If you want to ensure that it will run smoothly, we suggest that you optimize your computer by using Auslogics BoostSpeed. This tool will clean up all PC junk that may affect the performance of your media players. The great thing about BoostSpeed is it offers flexible and convenient scan options. With a few clicks, you will be able to address performance issues on your computer.

What other Windows 10 errors would you like us to resolve?

Share them in the comments below, and we’ll feature them on our future posts!