re: Purchased Content Playback Problem(when trying to transfer 'credited/bought' music to iPhone)

Alright, a couple of days ago, I noticed that when I tried to play a purchased song on the Zune software, it wouldn't play and instead displayed the yellow icon next to the song and gave me an error message.  I soon discovered that this same exact thing was happening with most of my other purchased content.  So I went through the steps, uninstalling and reinstalling the software several times to no avail.  The same error messages kept popping up and I don't really want to go in detail about all that I've tried (DRM reset, WMA to MP3 converters, etc).  Needless to say, it's been frustrating.  Anyway, here's where I stand:

1:  Most of my purchased music will not play

2:  I noticed that the only purchased content that WONT play is in .WMA format.  MP3 formatted purchased content WILL play

3:  I checked out the FAQ and read that you cannot redownload .WMA purchased content as .MP3.  However you can apparently restore the .WMA files up to four times.

#3 is where I feel my problem exists presently.  How do I restore these unplayable .WMA purchased files?  Is there a better solution than that or am I just screwed?

I would appreciate any feedback at all.  Thanks in advance.

You can try to manually restore your licenses, but I would suggest you call support, because they can lead you through the entire process. 1-877-GET-ZUNE

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Free mp3s and Podcasts @ ZuneTracks.net
2009 Microsoft Zune MVP

Greetings EatablePrince,

This is part of a global issue that should be resolved in the next day or so. We had a major distributor send bad information to our provider and they are goign through everything to fix it. As I said, it should be resolved in the next day or so.

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That cannot live which eternally lies, and with strange untold eons even death may die.

I did end up calling the Zune support line.  They were very patient in helping solve the problem, but in the end I still got the same errors and am back at square one.  Thanks for the reassurance, David.  So does your message infer that I should leave the situation alone and it should resolve itself shortly?  Hopefully this will all work out eventually.

Again, thanks for your help and suggestions.

Yes, it should resolve itself shortly, it might be that redownloading the WMA files might be neccesary, but I don't know that at this point. You can also try: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957204?sd=zune, it has worked for some.

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That cannot live which eternally lies, and with strange untold eons even death may die.

David,

Not sure how literally I should take the time frame you gave for the problem to be solved, but the purchased WMA files still aren't playing.  If it helps, I'm getting the "Can't Play--An installation error occurred.  To continue please reinstall the Zune software" error message.  Like I said, I've been trying the uninstall/reinstall course of action, I've just deleted and redownloaded one of the songs, and I followed the instructions in the link you sent in your last message.  Sadly none of these methods have worked.  I don't know how connected you are to the solution to this WMA file problem, but if you have any more suggestions I would appreciate them.

Thanks again for all your help.

The last I was told by our provider is they are working through the files. When I have to official word on it, I will update everyone. I know it's frustrating, I know people are tired of we are working on it, but we actually are.

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That cannot live which eternally lies, and with strange untold eons even death may die.

I have an interesting problem that is, I think related to all this.
I recently bought an iPhone. I am in the process of taking music that is my own that I decided to 'buy' using the 10 credits per month owning program that MS has implemented with the new zune pass subscription. The problem is that iTunes is saying that said music is still 'protected'. The iTunes program tries to convert the WMA files to AAC format,but then pops up with the error message that these songs are 'protected'. Yes, I  have went through the whole Zune 'buy/credit' buying process just like I would if I bought the items with MS points. I have tried logging out/in of the zune software, closing iTunes, re-opening everything,etc....to no avail. How can this be remedied? (I would have tried to burn said music but I am out of audio disks. I tried on DVD-R disks but of course the files are in data format,so that didn't go too well. I shouldn't have to burn them first anyway!) So I guess the protection was not removed by the software when my computer downloaded the 'purchased' copies of the previous subscription music. It's irritating. I literally can't have it yet even though I already bought it. Has anyone else encountered this problem? How is it fixed??
  Thanks,
 S. Casey

Shanti,

Unfortunately, if you buy an .wma track with your credits, you are purchasing a DRM'd file. The only ones that aren't protected are the .mp3 files.

The only way to remove the DRM is to burn the tracks onto an audio disc, and then re-rip them (just as you would with iTunes protected songs). The Windows Media DRM component is not supported on the iPhone, and probably never will be.

Again, be sure to purchase tracks with the mp3 logo on them, when you go to use your credits. Otherwise, you're getting the DRM'd files.

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Free mp3s and Podcasts @ ZuneTracks.net
2009 Microsoft Zune MVP

While I'm not exactly dying of music deprivation quite yet, I have to wonder if there is any update on this "working through the files".  I guess I don't know what is technically being done about it, but an update would be much appreciated and hopefully reassuring.

Thanks