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Top Tip: Can't access music in Windows Media Player!

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Question from RaymondWJones "Had to reformat my C drive, copied all my music over to D drive, When I try to access these now on my Windows Media Player 7.01 it keeps telling me a license cannot be found. The files are now on C: and D: Is this the problem? Have a five year collection that I hope is not gone forever. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks RayJ"

Answer from btraxinc "Bring it up; and under TOOLS then OPTIONS... click on network and see what it says...

Look under CONTROL PANEL then ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS and see if it's listed; if it is....if it is not listed; and, you want to re-install it...go to

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

and, let it look for what you don't have; and, let it upgrade it to your system.... I think if you get a fresh install it will be ok, again....

And, as long as your MP3 or whatever format your music collection is in--- if it's on your hard drive- you haven't lost anything- the media player is just one device that will play your MP3's, WAVs, etc. there a many programs out there that will play your files without problems.

Let me know what happens."

Answer from natehoy "The problem is that, when you recorded the music, you had DRM (Digital Rights Management) enabled and probably recorded the files in WMA (specific to Media Player).

The music is encrypted with a key that keeps it from being played except on the same machine.

Not sure how to bypass that security (there may be a way, but I don't know it). Hopefully, someone knows of a tool to break the protection out there for you...

I know it's too late, but if you use DRM in Media Player, you need to keep your license backed up to a floppy or CD in case you need to reinstall. A very easy process that often gets overlooked when using WMP. I know that advice doesn't help you out (sorry), but it may warn others who use WMP with DRM on - back up your license."

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