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

We have received comments from some of you stating that content you have previously purchased in WMA format will now no longer play.  Although there are several scenarios in which this might have occurred, these seem to boil down to the content now being available in a different format (MP3) or the content having been removed by the Label from the Zune Marketplace entirely. In the vast majority of all cases, any purchased WMA content should not give a rights expiration error, so if you are getting any errors for purchased WMA (not Zune Pass downloaded, but purchased with points) we could use some information. Some of you have stated you’d like to help us; if you’re one of those people, here’s what you could do to help troubleshoot a solution:

1)      In the music collection view in your Zune Player software, right click on any purchased WMA song giving the rights expiration error and go to properties. Capture a screenshot of the pop-up window or write down the Artist, Album, Track, Media Type, Location and DRM and create a new posting with that information titled ‘WMA Rights Expiration Error’.

2)      Run Fiddler (http://www.fiddler2.com/Fiddler2/version.asp); Fiddler is an HTTP debugging proxy that logs all HTTP traffic between your computer and the Internet. Launch the Zune Player and Fiddler & try to play the Purchased WMA content.   Fiddler will list every URL you hit in the Zune Player and any errors that happen. Save the output from Fiddler after the attempt.

3)      Include the exact Zune error message that you get with all codes.

4)      Provide the DirectX Diagnostic Tool output as a text file attached to your post. (WINDOWS KEY+R, type in DXDiag) hit enter, then select ‘Save All Information’ and save the text file to your desktop.

5)      Lastly, please note whether you have recently upgraded or reinstalled your Operating System, or transferred the purchased WMA content to a new computer.

For storage of these files I would suggest using Skydrive (skydrive.live.com). Place all the files in your public folder and include the link in the forum post created.  If you feel uncomfortable posting the information in the forums, feel free to PM me. The more information we get the better chance we have of tracking this issue down and getting a resolution.

Thank you in advance for this information. I know it is a frustrating situation and we are working hard to make sure all current issues are resolved.

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

David - thanks for your attention to this issue. I have had this issue in the past, but deleted the offending tracks. The issue occurred after I reinstalled Vista x64. Now ... I cannot redownload because I have apparently reached the limit.

I can say that I was getting a C00D12EB error. With reference to the tracks "Bit Rate Variations in B-Flat (Girl)" & "Gameboy/Homeboy (Que Onda Guero)"POn Beck's "GameBoy Variations EP I continue to receive these errors. I have isolated it to my account as I created a dummy account and downloaded the tracks using the 14-day pass. they played int eh dummy account and played in my main account (the one I'm posting from) just fune until the 4-days expired. I am now unable to download or buy the track - I continue to receive the C00D12EB error.

I hope this is helpful in someway. As I said, because I deleted the offending tracks and cannot redownload I cannot provide you with precisely the steps you are looking for.

 ETH3L wrote:

David - thanks for your attention to this issue. I have had this issue in the past, but deleted the offending tracks. The issue occurred after I reinstalled Vista x64. Now ... I cannot redownload because I have apparently reached the limit.

With WMA content, if you have reached the limit, Zune Phone Support can reset that limit and allow you to download it again. As for the information, it will be helpful and I will pass it along.

Thanks.

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

Hello David

 

I sent you a pers. message about this issue.  Can you perhaps assist me?

I have saved all the screen shots and also the error message. As I said in the PM, I don't know how to use the FIDDLER thing as I am not good with computers at all.

 

Thank you

David

I just came across this error again with The Black Keys "Attack & Release".

I received a device back from service and attempted to sync my collection. For the album named above I received an error that an unknown error occurred. I deleted the tracks and tried to redownload but was presented with the c0012EB error saying that an error occurred tyring to connect to the Zune marketplace.

I undeleted the tracks from my recycle bin and on an attempt to play the album, some tracks play and some return the error: Can't Pla: an unexpected error occurred when connecting to the Zune Marketplace, Error Code: C0012EB.

Some track on the album, however, play and others do not. The ones that do play, under Properties > DRM: I have a permanent license. The others say that the license has expired.

I noticed that I have two versions of this album in my collection: 1) is in My Music > Subscription - this one appears to have the tracks that play; 2) is in My Music - I cant get any of these tracks to play.

I don't understand steps 2 & 4

I fixed my problem

I bought again from the Zune marketplace (99 points) the song that was giving me problem. I assume that Microsoft is what wants, money money money...

The song was: Sometime Around Midnight by The Arborne Toxic Event, the second copy that I purchased now is an mp3, the first one was not!

I found recently that downloaded songs are no longer available from Marketplace and I canbnot play on my Zune or burn to a CD.  Most every song I listened to is now not available.  Why?  If this is a Zune or Microsoft licensing issue and you cannot provide the service any longer then just say so.  It is frustrating to have bought the device and subscription only now to not be able to enjoy the music.  I had confidence in Microsoft.  Not anymore!

I sent you a link to the Sky Drive folder with the requested data. I am receiving the C00D12EB error when trying to restore purchased tracks (I can't repurchase them) for Ian Brown and The Black Keys. These reports are representative of D12EB errors I receive. purchased WMA tracks, can't play cannot redownload.

The Ian Brown Fiddler data is for error when I attepmt to redownload/repurchase. The Black Keys data is for errors when I am trying to play tracks.

thanks

yeah these issues are bogus. from now on I buy music ONLY from amazon.

OK, so I was just informed that the reason I'm receiving error code C00D27E1 on the music I purchased from the Zune Market place is becuase I failed to back up the content!  Nevermind the files were on my Zune and played fine until I tried to sync the content.  Nevermind that half my content is still there, never mind I haven't actually lost any of the files and actually have them backed up and restoring them doesn't help, nevermind Amazon.com has my complete purchase history and customer support wants to know the year I bought the song in.  The error code is becuase the file isn't backed up.  Great customer service, fantastic even.  So can't wait to spend more money on this service.  Now you're asking me to load some software on my computer to help you debug your problem?  Really?

I have been purchasing music since the inception of the Zune Marketplace. I now have this error on MANY tracks because of the license issue.

Must I run through these steps for EVERY track that gives the C00D27E1 error and doesn't play?

This is absurd that you're making us do all this work to figure this out.