Tutorial: Remove DRM from WMV on Windows XP with freeware FairUse4WM

Lakestone · #1 01-19-2010, 06:00 PM

Tutorial for how to remove DRM from WMV on Windows XP with Windows Media Player above 10 using FairUse4WM

I found that the information about how to succeed with this task was very scattered and there were broken links everywhere, so I decided to create this step by step guide to simply pay it forward. I read all other tutorials I could find on this forum and on google, but when following them, I only got errors.

So after about 12 hours of reading, reformatting/reinstalling and trying different things, I came up with something that worked for me, and of course I'm going to share it with you guys who still cannot get it to work!

* Downgrade WMP *
1a. First try to uninstall via the add/remove under the control panel.

1b. If it doesn't work, go to Program Files and delete the Windows Media Player folder.

2. Try step 1a again.

3a. Go to Microsoft's web-site

Code:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/AllDownloads.aspx

and download Windows Media Player 10, then install it.

3b. If the system complains about a newer version already being installed, read "Fully uninstall WMP".

* Fully uninstall WMP *
1. Click Start->run and enter "regedit", then click ok.

2. In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr ent Version\Uninstall

3. Click on the entry for Media Player.

4. Double-click on the Uninstall-String, and copy the value in the Value "Data field".

5. Close the Registry Editor, and click Start->Run again.

6. This time, paste the string you just copied and click ok.

7. Follow the steps to uninstall WMP, the system will prompt you about installing older versions than the one that came with the system, but you just don't give a shit about Microsoft nor their lousy products and of course choose to click ok.

* Remove DRM protection with FairUse4WM *

1. Remove all content inside "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\DRM".

2. Open up Internet Explorer and go to

Code:

http://services.wmdrm.windowsmedia.com/indivSite/en/indivit.asp

and click upgrade.

3. Open up the protected WMV-file up in WMP 10 and get your licence.

4. Download FairUse4Wm @

Code:

http://www.box.net/shared/ac286lzgji

MD5: 12815576c78a799114025b3b266dd156
VirusTotal report about FairUse4Wm.exe

5. Open up FairUse4Wm.exe and click "Recover Keys".

6. Click next and select your WMV-file and release it.

You can of course get the licence for all your files first, before you run FairUse4Wm.

Good Luck!

#2 01-20-2010, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakestone

So after about 12 hours of reading, reformatting/reinstalling and trying different things, I came up with something that worked for me, and of course I'm going to share it with you guys who still cannot get it to work!

I didn't know FairUse4WM is still working! What version do you use?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakestone

1. Remove all content inside "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\DRM".

Note to all users: This will delete all your DRM licences. Make sure you can re-acquire them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakestone

2. Open up Internet Explorer and go to

Code:

http://services.wmdrm.windowsmedia.com/indivSite/en/indivit.asp

and click upgrade.

I was getting the latest IBX during individualization. Are there any other successful users of WMP 10 and FairUse4WM?

Lakestone · #3 01-20-2010, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stream Recorder

I didn't know FairUse4WM is still working! What version do you use?

I use the one I provided link to, which is FairUse4WM 1.3fix-2.
Did you get the latest IBX even when completely uninstalled WMP and installed version 10?

Cheers

realx · #4 01-20-2010, 06:56 PM

I'll watch a live broadcast
My IBX is 6000.8015
How can I remove DRM with FairUse4WM
=======
webcast only with the IBX 6000.8015 (WMP11 latest version) is playable
=====
i did.but not solve my problem

#5 01-21-2010, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by realx

I'll watch a live broadcast
My IBX is 6000.8015
How can I remove DRM with FairUse4WM
=======
webcast only with the IBX 6000.8015 (WMP11 latest version) is playable
=====
i did.but not solve my problem

DRM removal software is intended to be used with legally purchased files only. Please do not abuse rental licences.

any ANONYMOUS forum user · #6 02-22-2010, 05:17 PM

Hello,

Thanks for the tutorial - there definitely needs to be a concise guide like this.

I can't individualise my WMP10 installation, though. When I go to the indivSite link and click "upgrade", it'll tell me "a security upgrade is required to play this file. Do you want to download this upgrade?", and after I click Yes, after a while I'll get a dialog box telling me the process timed out.

Any ideas how I can progress?

Thanks.

Lakestone · #7 02-23-2010, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by any ANONYMOUS forum user

Hello,

Thanks for the tutorial - there definitely needs to be a concise guide like this.

I can't individualise my WMP10 installation, though. When I go to the indivSite link and click "upgrade", it'll tell me "a security upgrade is required to play this file. Do you want to download this upgrade?", and after I click Yes, after a while I'll get a dialog box telling me the process timed out.

Any ideas how I can progress?

Thanks.

I presume you are on Win XP Pro and are using IE when trying this?
Then it sounds weird (not that a bug is rare on windows), what Service Pack and which installations/updates have you got?

any ANONYMOUS forum user · #8 02-23-2010, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakestone

I presume you are on Win XP Pro and are using IE when trying this?
Then it sounds weird (not that a bug is rare on windows), what Service Pack and which installations/updates have you got?

I've solved it now, thanks. It was XP Pro SP2 running in VirtualBox and the virtual network adapter had to be changed from NAT to Bridged adapter; after that the security update went through with no problem.

Aunty Beeb · #9 04-21-2010, 02:19 PM

Thanks for the easy to do removal of WMP 11, that worked fine.

Did the indivit bit at microsoft, again fine.

Then went to the bbc to re-acquire license and it wanted to sen me to the following webpage:

Code:

http://iplayldsvip.iplayer.bbc.co.uk/WMLicenceIssuer/licence.lic

Click 'yes' to get the license and the IE page that opens 'claims' that it cannot connect to the internet.
(it can as I'm happily typing away here!)

any suggestions?

zzFredzz · #10 06-07-2010, 09:34 AM

I've downloaded an Amazon Unbox video and I wish to remove the DRM using FairUse4WM, but it appears to be impossible because Amazon Unbox videos only work with WMP11. FairUse4WM will not work unless you have the DRM license. You can only get the DRM license by playing the video. You can only play the video if WMP11 is installed. FairUse4WM will not work if WMP11 is installed..................

I suppose I could download WMP11 and play the video to get the DRM license and then try using something other than FairUse4WM to remove the DRM, but I guess that belongs in another thread.