Fix NS_E_SYNCWIZ_CANNOT_CHANGE_SETTINGS 0XC00D11EF

You're in the middle of setting up sync for your portable device in Windows Media Center (WMC), or you're just trying to change which playlists sync. You click 'Change sync settings' and bam — that error. It reads "It is not possible to change sync settings at this time". The exact error code is 0XC00D11EF (NS_E_SYNCWIZ_CANNOT_CHANGE_SETTINGS). I see this mostly on Windows 7 machines, but it can happen on Vista too. The culprit here is almost always a corrupted Media Center database or a permissions problem with the database files. Don't bother reinstalling WMC — that rarely helps and wastes time.

What Causes This Error?

WMC stores all your sync settings in a database file called ehRecvr.msc and a couple of others. When that database gets corrupted — from a crash, a bad update, or even just a flaky drive — the sync wizard can't read or write its settings. Another common trigger: the SYSTEM account or your user account lost permission to that database folder. This happens more often than you'd think after a Windows update or a security software scan.

Step-by-Step Fix

Try these in order. Skip the first one if you don't care about your existing sync settings.

Step 1: Reset Media Center Database

This wipes your sync settings but usually fixes the error fast.

Close Media Center completely.
Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
Find Windows Media Center Receiver Service. Right-click it and select Stop. Do the same for Windows Media Center Scheduler Service.
Open File Explorer and go to:
%ProgramData%\Microsoft\eHome
You'll see files named ehRecvr.msc, ehSched.msc, and some folders. Rename them to .old — like ehRecvr.msc.old. Don't delete, just rename in case you need to revert.
Go back to Services, right-click both stopped services and Start them.
Open Media Center. It'll rebuild the database from scratch. Try changing sync settings now.

Step 2: Fix Permissions on the eHome Folder

If step 1 didn't work, permissions are the usual suspect.

Open File Explorer. Go to %ProgramData%\Microsoft\eHome.
Right-click the eHome folder, choose Properties.
Go to the Security tab.
Click Advanced. At the top, next to Owner, click Change.
Type SYSTEM in the box, click Check Names, then OK. Check the box Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.
Back in the Permissions list, make sure SYSTEM and Administrators have Full control. Your user account should have at least Modify.
Click OK all the way out. Restart Media Center and try again.

Step 3: Clean Sync Database with Command Line

This is for when steps 1 and 2 don't cut it. It forces a complete re-index.

Close Media Center.
Open an administrative command prompt (Win + X, then 'Command Prompt (Admin)').
Run:
```
mcupdate.exe -DatabaseReset
```
Wait for it to finish — might take a minute.
Then run:
```
mcupdate.exe -ForceUpdate
```
Reboot your machine and test.

Step 4: Check for Corrupt Media Libraries

Sometimes the sync settings error is just a symptom of a larger library corruption.

In Media Center, scroll to Tasks > Settings > Media Libraries.
Select your library type (Music, Video, Pictures) and click Remove. Then add it back fresh.
Reboot and try sync settings again.

Still Failing? Check These

User profile corruption. Create a new local admin account and test WMC from that profile. If it works, migrate your data.
Third-party software conflict. Antivirus programs sometimes lock the eHome database files. Temporarily disable your AV and see if the error goes away.
Windows updates. KB3135445 and KB3164035 on Windows 7 are known to break WMC sync. Uninstall them if you see them in installed updates.
Hardware issue. Bad RAM or a dying hard drive can corrupt the database repeatedly. Run chkdsk /f on your system drive and check the event log for disk errors.

That's it. 9 out of 10 times, step 1 does the trick. If you're still stuck after all this, the database is probably toast beyond repair — a full Windows restore or reinstall might be your only option. But try the steps first. They've saved my ass more than once.