Usually, the link error 2001 means that you didn't link libraries required. The help file of the directshow has a page "Setting Up the Build Environment". Read this page and you'll find these libraries required: Strmiids.lib Quartz.lib ( not required if you don't call AMGetErrorText(), can be omitted in your case. ) If you don't know how to link these libraries, a simple way is provided in the following: 1. Click the Menu: (In Visual C++ 6.0) Tools -> Options -> Directories, and then choose item of the combobox below the text "Show Directories for" Library Files and set the path of these 2 libraries. (In Visual Studio .Net) Tools -> Options -> Projects -> VC++ Directories , and then choose item of the combobox below the text "Show Directories for" Library Files and set the path of these 2 libraries. 2. Add the following codes to where you want to include some files(Ex: You can add them in stdafx.h): #include "Dshow.h" #pragma comment ( lib, "Strmiids" ) #pragma comment ( lib, "Quartz" ) good luck!