[mcart117]

I am new to this forum and totally new to this arena.

I have just built a computer for an elderly gentleman from Latvia. He is totally law abiding. He has never used file sharing software. His digital music collection was rippped using WMP from CD's which he owns. And yet when I transferred it from the drive of his old dead computer to the new one, half of it does not play, and WMP rudely informs him that he does not have the right to play it!

I am flabbergasted when I google the problem and browse this forum and read this post (http://stream-recorder.com/forum/upgraded-my-system-after-my-old-motherboard-t6876.html) in particular, to learn that these legally owned tracks are in fact dead, and that the hours and days spent compiling the collection are lost for ever.

I should be very grateful if someone could tell me that I have misunderstood the forum posts, and that I can resurrect these music tracks without trying to resurrect a dead computer.:(

[Stream Recorder]

Microsoft allows to re-acquire licenses for your CD ripped .WMA copy-protected files 8 times only. But when you have CDs, you can just re-rip songs again. There are many programs that you can use for that including freeware ExactAudioCopy. And if you use Windows Media Player, do not rip to DRM protected files, rip to MP3 files instead.

There is also a freeware application called unfuck.exe. It worked for many people. But it doesn't work for me saying: "Can't play the file". This error usually occurs when you don't have a valid license.

[mcart117]

Thanks for that reply.

I was able to get the old box running in safe mode, and able to run FairUse4WM.exe (http://undrm.info/remove-DRM-protection/FairUse4WM-freeware-DRM-removal-Windows-software-Strip-copy-protection-from-WMV-ASF-WMA-Windows-Media-Player.htm).

I must take my hat off to the author(s) of that tool because it worked a dream. I have transfered the converted files to the new box and they play just fine.

Many thanks again.

:)