Article ID: 925705
Article Last Modified on 10/23/2007
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows Media Player 11
SYMPTOMS
When you try use Microsoft Windows Media Player 11 to play a digital rights management (DRM)-protected media file or to obtain a new license for media content, the media may not play, or you cannot obtain a new license. Additionally, you may receive any one of the following error messages:
Error message 1
Error message 2
Error message 3
Error message 4
CAUSE
This problem occurs because the DRM store on the computer is not valid or is damaged. This problem may occur for any one of the following reasons:
- The computer processor has been changed.
- The computer motherboard has been changed.
- A basic input/output system (BIOS) setting that affects the computer hardware has been changed. For example, hyperthreading has been disabled.
- The hard disk on which the media content was originally downloaded has been moved from one computer to another computer.
- An application, such as the RegClean utility, changed DRM settings in a way that caused corruption.
- Microsoft Windows has been reinstalled on the computer.
Note DRM systems, such as Microsoft Windows Product Activation, maintain an internal hardware ID. This ID is based on the hardware configuration that existed when Windows was installed or when Windows Media Player 11 was installed. If you change the computer processor or other devices, the hardware ID in the DRM system does not match the new computer configuration. When this occurs, DRM determines that a user has tried to move protected content to another computer. This behavior can also occur if DRM-protected storage in the Windows registry has been changed.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, reset the DRM store on the computer. To do this, follow these steps:
- If Windows Media Player 11 is running, exit Windows Media Player 11.
- Locate the DRM folder on the hard disk, and then rename the DRM folder to DRMbackup.
Note By default, this folder is %SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\All Users\DRM in Microsoft Windows XP. - Visit the following Microsoft Web site:
- Follow the instructions on the Web site in order to update the security component of Windows Media Player 11. This procedure enables you to obtain new licenses for media content. You can also reset licenses for purchased content so that you can play that content on a computer.
Note You must contact any third-party stores from which you purchased music to reset the licenses for that music. If you have copied CDs to protected Windows Media Audio files, those CDs must be copied again.
MORE INFORMATION
891664 The Windows Media Digital Rights Management system may not work if your computer hardware changes
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