Can't re-acquire licences: Which DRM removal tool/procedures for my situation?

[FenVale]

Hi,
I've been reading the instructional threads but am still a bit fuzzy on which are right for my situation. If someone could point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it.

I'm running Win XP Pro which I stupidly allowed to "upgrade" to WMP 11.

I have some (legit) .wmv files which I bought a few years ago and which now won't play ("you do not have the rights to play this file. Go to the content provider's Web page ......").

The rights owner I bought the videos from refuses to help: says he no longer offers the videos in this format, his tech people who set up the DRM are long gone, and he's not supporting his customers. So the WMP 11 recommended route of re-acquiring/reinstalling licenses seems like a dead end? I paid for permanent rights to the files but there's no practical way of enforcing my rights with this idiot.

My goal is to get WMP 11 off my machine, and remove the DRM from the legit files that I paid for. I've backed up every file I've ever had but don't know where the licenses reside, if it even works that way. (I thought I read that DRM licenses can be implemented in different ways.)

Can I solve this problem using freeme2 or fairuse4WM, or do these require that I be able to play the DRM-protected files? Could I at least restore the ability to play these files by uninstalling WMP 11 and reinstalling 10, as per milOtis 's steps, or have the licenses been screwed up? Do I follow the "individualization" steps to deal with WMP 11?

Thanks for helping me understand the sequence.