Yeah, that error is annoying as hell, especially when you're trying to archive a recording and it just refuses. But here's the thing — the fix is stupid simple. Let's get to it.
The Fix
Rename the output file. That's it. When you archive a recorded TV show in Windows Media Center, it defaults to the same filename as the original recording. If you don't change it, you hit this exact error.
Here's what you do:
- Open Windows Media Center.
- Go to Recorded TV.
- Right-click the recording you want to archive.
- Select Archive.
- In the dialog box, you'll see the output filename. It's identical to the source file. Change it — add a ".copy" or a date or anything.
- Click Archive and watch it work.
That's the whole fix. No registry hacks, no service restarts, no third-party tools. Just a filename that isn't the same as the input.
Why This Works
The error code 0XC00D1B84 literally means the archive file has the same name as the input file. Windows Media Center won't overwrite the original recording, so it throws a fit and stops. By renaming the destination, you're telling it "hey, this is a different file, so no collision."
It's a dumb design flaw, honestly. The default filename should never match the source. But Microsoft left it that way, and we've been dealing with it for years. I've seen this on Windows 7 Media Center and Windows 8/8.1 (with the Media Center pack). It doesn't happen on Windows 10 because they killed Media Center, but if you're still on an older system, this is your life.
Less Common Variations
Sometimes the error pops up even when you think you've renamed the file. Here are a few gotchas:
Trailing Spaces
If your new filename ends with a space — like "Show Name " — Windows strips it silently, and you're back to square one. Make sure there are no trailing spaces.
Same Folder
The check isn't just the filename — it's the full path. If you're archiving to the same folder where the original recording sits, and the names match, you'll get the error. Rename the file, or better yet, archive to a different folder (like an external drive).
Extension Mismatch
Sometimes people change the extension by accident. If the original is .wtv and you set the output to .wtv but with a different name, fine. But if you set it to .dvr-ms or something weird, Media Center might get confused. Stick with the same extension it suggests.
Network Shares
If you're archiving to a network share, the same-name rule applies based on the remote path. So if you archive to \server\shared\ShowName.wtv and the original is on \server\shared\ShowName.wtv, it's going to fail. Rename it, or create a subfolder.
Prevention
You can avoid this error entirely by making it a habit to rename every archive before you click the button. Yeah, it's extra typing, but it beats the error dialog and the time wasted Googling.
I'd also suggest setting up a dedicated archive folder outside the default Recorded TV folder. Something like D:\Archives\. That way, even if you forget to rename, the path is different, and it still works. Not always, but often enough to save you.
If you're really lazy (like me), you can write a small batch script that copies the file and appends the date to the name. But honestly, just typing a different name is faster.
One last thing — don't bother checking for Windows updates or reinstalling codecs. That's not the problem. The error code is explicit, and the fix is naming. Trust me, I've fixed this for a dozen users over the years, and it's always the same.
So rename, rebuild, and get back to your shows. If it still fails, double-check the path and the trailing spaces. That's 99% of the cases.