An update on WMA license expiration issues for purchased content: We’d like your assistance!

From my understanding, once the media is on the device, it won't be affected as long as the corresponding media is in the monitored folders. Even if the media in the desktop folders won't play, the Zune device won't be affected.

When there are errors in song playback, on the desktop, those songs won't synchronize to the Zune player. The device's media is safe, and will still continue to play.

Have you tried the reverse-synchronization method yet, from Device to PC?
This is listed somewhere in the beginning of the forum, and in the knowledge base.



Would of been safe myself, if I wouldn't of been trying to kill two birds at once at 7 AM. I could of reversed the synchronization to my PC and maybe gotten out of the mess. I must realize not to do anything after 5 AM, and just go to bed. (grin)



I got my 30GB Zune shortly after its release. Saw an advertisement at Staples, and needed something to help ease my brain while taking algebra classes again. I don't regret having a Zune, it's just when the songs stop playing that brought me back to these forums. Wished I could get one of the newer models, although mine still plays - so it's all good.

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Didgeridoo, Ethnic, Medieval, New Age, Tribal
Don't Throw A Fit, Throw a Boomerang!

 Helkos wrote:

[snipped]

• Next copy the contents of the WinXP machine's DRM folder to a flashdrive or external drive, making sure you can see all files!
• Place the old WinXP DRM files into the empty, or new, Vista x64 DRM folder.
• Reset the folder options on both machines to hide hidden system files.
  Never delete anything, back it up first, and rename it!
• Reboot your machine. Hopefully Zune will read the WinXP DRM folder contents, and allow you to burn the WMA songs to CD media.

[snipped]

Have you ever gotten this to work...?  One of the primary purposes of DRM is to prevent unauthorized copying.  If you could send a copy of the track and a copy of the license to someone, it tends to break that paradigm.  (This why, for instance, you sometimes lose your license if you make substantial changes to your PC hardware or bios...the DRM system thinks it is a different PC.)  

 NoxEnamor wrote:

 Do you people at Microsoft want to pay me $22 an hour? Because if you pay me $22 an hour I would be MORE than happy to debug your own software for you. But you don't pay me. I pay you. So, here's an idea. Fix it. Get us our music back. Or refund us.

That is the best post I've ever read. I think that sounds fair. I've been going through my files only gotten throught the G artists and I've found 82 that won't play on top of the 80 that wont redownload becouse of the file type change. How did MS figure this was a good idea? Any news on a fix for this? I have a feeling I'm going to have to many songs for them to allow me to have a refund. Also I've posted this in other forums but how is it legal for microsoft to make a change that causes songs that I purchased to not play? To me thats the same as me buying a CD from Walmart and a week later the owner of Walmart coming and breaking into my house to steal the CD.

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anyone who has any problems with microsoft please post here: http://forums.zune.net/496589/ShowPost.aspx

 NSILMike wrote:

Have you ever gotten this to work...?  One of the primary purposes of DRM is to prevent unauthorized copying.  If you could send a copy of the track and a copy of the license to someone, it tends to break that paradigm.  (This why, for instance, you sometimes lose your license if you make substantial changes to your PC hardware or bios...the DRM system thinks it is a different PC.)  

Also, Windows does have a backup/restore process for Windows DRM, but it allows the individual license issuer to determine whether to allow backup/restore...so it may work on these tracks, but not on those...

The first time I had some issues, the technical support agent had me copy the DRM folder from my WinXP machine to the new one using Vista x86. Was not a 100% recovery as the issue was complicated in that Zune changed carrier service. Still lost a lot of songs, and the agent escalated my issue and got the songs an extra download to fix what issues I had. Songs were still WMA then too. Still lost over 60 songs.

When I migrated from Vista x86 to x64, I copied the DRM folders over and had no song playback issues. Not had a problem with songs till Zune started pushing MP3, and finding out their carrier dropped WMA songs I had purchased.


As per my understanding from what the technician told me, the keys have to match with Zune's servers, using encryption that is tailored to the machine.
Don't know the intricacies, I'm only interested in keeping what I thought was mine a bit longer; better than be told that there is no resolution, and being hung up on. Zune is so pro-itself and anti-customer.

          ----------          -----------          ----------          -----------          ----------          -----------

  Tried burning a year ago, but I found the ripping was awful and everything was stripped from the songs, and it was a major pain to get it all back. Zune's burning/ripping has changed some yet there is still a hefty amount of META data stripped; that and the quality is not as good. (I can here the difference on my meager sound system with enhanced stereo surround separation.)
  Now compared to a bit over  year ago, the songs retain the song names, everything else is stripped. Takes a lot of editing, as Zune's filling in the missing data option makes a serious mess, mismatched META data all over the place.
  Have had to spend hours editing and convincing Zune what is what, even though likes to change the settings when it's only supposed to fill in only missing data. Zune still likes to change things afterward, and still have to run album checks to get Zune to stop messing with stuff.
  Finally I finish up with SyncToy to backup the DRM folders and copy any changes over to an external FreeAgent drive. (And I also backup to an external PATA drive that's missing a computer.)

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  It's going to be interesting how Zune's DRM licensing is going to be affected when Windows 7 is released, as I read there are even more changes in how DRM is handled. That and the suggested method for upgrading is from a basic install to the Win7 upgrade, and then install the software. Sort of makes me wonder why the sudden change to MP3, perhaps Microsoft saw this coming? Microsoft is heavy on auditing, and licensing.

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Didgeridoo, Ethnic, Medieval, New Age, Tribal
Don't Throw A Fit, Throw a Boomerang!

 Helkos wrote:

[snipped]

As per my understanding from what the technician told me, the keys have to match with Zune's servers, using encryption that is tailored to the machine.
Don't know the intricacies, I'm only interested in keeping what I thought was mine a bit longer; better than be told that there is no resolution, and being hung up on. Zune is so pro-itself and anti-customer.

          ----------          -----------          ----------          -----------          ----------          -----------

  Tried burning a year ago, but I found the ripping was awful and everything was stripped from the songs, and it was a major pain to get it all back. Zune's burning/ripping has changed some yet there is still a hefty amount of META data stripped; that and the quality is not as good. (I can here the difference on my meager sound system with enhanced stereo surround separation.)
[snipped]

1)  I think I've got it...  you also had to log in no doubt...  perhaps having the keys eases the transition in some way.  Frankly, though, as long as the license allows you more than one PC (it generally does...) I think moving the keys was irrelevant- but I cannot be certain.
2)  Customer service is probably in way over it's head on this issue.  There is a real problem, MS is aware of it, as you know.
3)  If you burned to audio, you lose all the metadata-  CD-Audio doesn't support ID3 tags.  And, the quality loss is something called quantization error.  It happens whenever you make a digital conversion- and is proportional to the resolution of the digital conversion...the higher the resolution and bit rate, the lower the loss.  If you take a digital file (with losses) and then convert back to CD-audio (you cannot recover the losses) and re-rip to MP3 or WMA digital again, you lower the fidelity each time you do it.
That's why burning a protected file to CD Audio as a back up is better than nothing, but isn't really a true back up solution. 
I just don't buy protected tracks, period.  Too many stories about endless problems.  Zune Marketplace is 80 or 90% DRM free according to various sources (purchases of course...zune pass won't ever be drm free.)

 NSILMike wrote:

3)  If you burned to audio, you lose all the metadata-  CD-Audio doesn't support ID3 tags.  And, the quality loss is something called quantization error.  It happens whenever you make a digital conversion- and is proportional to the resolution of the digital conversion...the higher the resolution and bit rate, the lower the loss.  If you take a digital file (with losses) and then convert back to CD-audio (you cannot recover the losses) and re-rip to MP3 or WMA digital again, you lower the fidelity each time you do it.
That's why burning a protected file to CD Audio as a back up is better than nothing, but isn't really a true back up solution. 
I just don't buy protected tracks, period.  Too many stories about endless problems.  Zune Marketplace is 80 or 90% DRM free according to various sources (purchases of course...zune pass won't ever be drm free.)

One of my friends kept telling me to just buy MP3 media, but this was well after the fact that 90% of my music was in licensed WMA format.

Have used over 50 CD-Rs already, and not quite done in converting to MP3. This is of the songs that I still can play. 36 songs still won't play, cause their counterparts on Zune's carrier don't exist. Which is odd, one album I totally deleted (after archiving) and it allowed me half of the album download - the other half is says I've depleted the amount of downloads. How the hell is that possible? Seriously, how can half an album just be killed off by Zune's software? Was it because I didn't play that half of the album as much, or something??


iTunes has a lot of nifty functions, has a high OS latency too, but yet to find just one of the songs I like as being listed DRM free, or a non-DRM media format. That's what's fairly nicer about the Zune Marketplace, it labels albums [MP3] ~ although some albums are still allowing WMA Restores.


Still got the issue (the bug was confirmed) that once a song is bought WMA, it can't be repurchased MP3 if the licensing expired or if WMA no longer exists on the carrier; per account. So those of us that have songs caught in the net, we are being told there is nothing that can be done. (Aside from making another account and buying the songs again in MP3.)
And I, myself, don't have the funds to buy them from another supplier - nor to make another account here to buy them 36 songs again that I was able to play not more than a month ago.
So it's a matter of waiting for a logical resolution, take chances that the remaining songs could be recovered, or curse Zune out while forgetting about them.
Myself, I'm going to try the first two options, and after I get my other DRM songs backed up - going to try transplanting the DRM folder from my WinXP machine in. Just hope I don't lose the 6 videos.


Now as for the licensing issue of previous songs purchased, I don't know why Zune can't remedy the issue by sticking some sort of licensing data that can only be uploaded to the Zune - and that this data must match the media on the computer, and solve the playback/backup WMA issues that a lot of us have. Sure, it would take some thought & testing; yet it's up to Zune/Microsoft to decide whether it's best to have happier customers, or to save money & care less.


(Sorry, I do get windy)

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Didgeridoo, Ethnic, Medieval, New Age, Tribal
Don't Throw A Fit, Throw a Boomerang!

My wife bought me a 30 g when they 1st came out.I have had nothing but problems with drm and zune marketplace since
i owned it. I bought a 10.00 mp3 player and the thing works great never have any problems.
 If Microsoft spent 1% of there time making customers happy instead of spending all there effort on someone stealing .79 cent songs
and 5.00 programs they would make it back 1000 fold.GREED ruined more cultures,business,friends and families than any other negative impacting  event in the world.
I truly believe in karma and some day Microsoft is going to receive there due and proper.....

 zigoapex wrote:

My wife bought me a 30 g when they 1st came out.I have had nothing but problems with drm and zune marketplace since
i owned it. I bought a 10.00 mp3 player and the thing works great never have any problems.
 If microsoft spent 1% of there time making customers happy instead of spending all there effort on someone stealing .79 cent songs
and 5.00 programs they would make it back 1000 fold.GREED ruined more cultures,business,friends and families than any other negative impacting  event in the world.
I truly believe in carma and some day microsoft is going to recieve there due and proper.....

yeah but microsoft is so big they can do it and we have to sit here and take it unless we have enough money to switch to Ipod, and mac, and Playstation. So we're stuck here with our thumbs up our ***es untill somone can produce quality hardware and software at a reasonable price at a large enough level to compete. I've learned to expect nothing from microsoft except hardware failure, errors, and shitty "customer service" that cant even tell you you're screwed in English. That way when you are screwed you expect it and you learn to go to friends who are tech nerds to get work arounds instead of waiting for 8 hours to be told they won't do anything.

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anyone who has any problems with microsoft please post here: http://forums.zune.net/496589/ShowPost.aspx

David, I have this issue and would be happy to work with you to resolve it.  DRM Music plays on my Vista laptop in the Zune software but the same DRM music on the Zune player doesn't.  Music I purchased from the Marketplace does still play, including those purchased with the 10 monthly pass-points.

I have made no hardware changes on this Win Vista laptop at all.  I can't think of any software that I would have installed since this began two days ago, except I think an upgrade from Firefox v 3.5.0x to v3.5.1.

Let me know if I can help.

Stewart

Ok I bought the Pilot Speed album Into The West a little while ago when Zune had the promotion for Put The Phone Down off of Pilot Speeds newest album. I downloaded the Put The Phone Down track for free (cause of the promotion) and now that track and my Into The West album will not play. It says:

Can't Play! This Item is no longer available at Zune Marketplace. Because of this, you can no longer play it or sync it with your Zune. There might be another iteration of it on Zune Marketplace. Error Code: C00D27E1

I went to the Marketplace and checked and that song and album are still available. Its just that the Into The West album is now cheaper than when I bought it. (I bought it for 730 and its now 665 which makes me mad as well). It will not play and it is giving me this error code.

When I right-click on any of the songs and click properties it says under DRM: Yes - Invalid license (has no usage rights.)

I would really like this fixed so please reply and give me some steps on how to fix this. Thanks!!!

 

P.S. I bought all of this DRM stuff on a diff computer but then that computer broke so I copied the files to this new one. But...other songs that I bought on that computer are still playing fine. (Cymbaline and the Nile Song from the pink floyd album More)

 

I want this fixed...NOW!!! I spent my money on these songs, and now the freaking program won't even let me PLAY them!!!!! I bought these songs and this should NEVER do this. I bet iTunes or even Rhapsody doesn't do this to there customers. This is totally un-reasonable and awful and totally unfair to the customer.

 The Kunadiun wrote:

I bought all of this DRM stuff on a diff computer but then that computer broke so I copied the files to this new one. But...other songs that I bought on that computer are still playing fine. (Cymbaline and the Nile Song from the pink floyd album More)

Not to go around an pop blisters, but I think ZMP's terms and the customer's terms need to be addressed.

• Customer buys songs, thinking that it's there's no matter which computer or device they use. (Us)
  
• Does ZMP think the individual Computer owns the songs 1st, and then the Customer 2nd? (Zune)

So...

1. A customer thinks that when buying music, it's theirs by account name/password, whereas ZMP was/is using DRM per the computer.
2. If a customer has a Home PC, a Laptop, and a Music Player - ZMP uses three licenses, or only reissues a license for the last computing device it was play on?
3. If the latter is true, that would explain why songs are being tagged as downloaded too many times; as it's not the songs being downloaded too many times, it's really the approval of the license on the current computing device being used.

Could this be what is happening with the sudden outburst of the ZMP errors?

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Didgeridoo, Ethnic, Medieval, New Age, Tribal
Don't Throw A Fit, Throw a Boomerang!

Interesting theory.

Songs played on three different computers, not at the same time, each one should get it's own license per the user's name & account. The licenses should not need to be downloaded again, or least what i would think. You are thinking maybe that each time a song is played that Zune marketplace is issuing yet another license which expires the content fast? Could it be that simple? Doubtful, i'm not an engineer tho, seems plausible tho.

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Respecting Life Honors The Great Father
http://www.cherokee.org/