Protected Wmv Files?

[davie261]

:o I downloaded a wmv movie last week and I seem to have Windows Media Player 9 now which when trying to play the clip it prompts me to aquire a liscence. Then a web-page opens and insists I install an xxx search bar program. When did this scam start. I find out that many of the wmv files on kazaa and others are protected now. Is this avoidable. How do I preview a windows media file to find out if it has this play protection embedded before downloading.

hep hep me plez

[muchspl2]

easy
advoid All wmp files, stick to avi's

[opsis81]

Try to play it in ZoomPlayer 4.0 WMV Professional.I have some protected wmv files and it plays them.

[Vargas]

Originally posted by davie261@9 June 2004 - 22:30
when trying to play the clip it prompts me to aquire a liscence. Then a web-page opens and insists I install an xxx search bar program. When did this scam start.
about 3 months ago
add .wmv to your search filters

[mrlessk]

Originally posted by davie261@9 June 2004 - 19:30
....prompts me to aquire a license. Then a web-page opens and insists I install an xxx search bar program. When did this scam start. I find out that many of the wmv files on kazaa and others are protected now. Is this avoidable. How do I preview a windows media file to find out if it has this play protection embedded before downloading.
A mystery to me, also.
(K-Lite++ 2.4.3
KL codec 226)

I'm finding more and more files are .wmv requiring this license acquisition thingy.

I just downloaded another .wmv for this topic (typical of others I've tried and failed to view).
After the download to my Shared Folder, it has this associated, generic, Icon....
http://home.ripway.com/2003-12/44474/wmvlogo.png

And I've tried playing it in all my players:
BSPlayer .809 ("ERROR - can't open file")
MPC 6.4.8.2 ("Failed to Render File") with Windows Media File (.wmv .wmp. asf checked/enabled in "Options>Player>Format")
VLC 0.7.2(Blank Screen)

Then finally.....
Windows Media Player 9
"Acquiring License" mode begins in Windows Media Player....

All roads leading to this.....
http://home.ripway.com/2003-12/44474/wmvlicense.png


muchspl2  Posted on 9 June 2004 - 22:13
  easy  avoid All wmp files, stick to avi's
Thanks muchspl2 but your answer falls into this category of solving the problem: ;)
Patient...."Doctor it hurts when I raise my arm like this"
Doctor....."Then, don't raise that arm"

I'd like a second opinion please!

Anyway, with so many .wmv files it seems that someone, somewhere is able to view them.

How are they being viewed??
What more can I do? :frusty:

Certainly, life can go on without downloading and trying to view these files but,
there still remains an unanswered question here.

mrlessk :)

[rrtn]

Originally posted by mrlessk@19 June 2004 - 15:01
I'd like a second opinion please!

Anyway, with so many .wmv files it seems that someone, somewhere is able to view them.

How are they being viewed??
What more can I do? :frusty:
if u bought and own ur copy of Windows...u can d/l license's til ur comp crashes :D however, if u did not, muchspl2 is correct!
drm has only been cracked once(drm 2.0 (http://www.mp3newswire.net/stories/2001/drmhack.html)) and hasn't since...so using ur doctor analogy

Patient...."Doctor it hurts when I raise my arm like this"
Doctor....."You don't have any arms!...Get the hell outta my office, and don't waste my time."

EDIT: Zoom Player doesn't play em without the license on ur comp either ;)

[SeK612]

I think its possible to remove the license (I've only encountered licensed .wmv files in porn movies which require a user to pay to reveal the content). Its been asked before on here and I think a link to some tools was given.

[rrtn]

Originally posted by SeK612@19 June 2004 - 19:55
I think its possible to remove the license (I've only encountered licensed .wmv files in porn movies which require a user to pay to reveal the content). Its been asked before on here and I think a link to some tools was given.
Yes! this is true, but someone must first acquire the license($£¥€) then it can be removed and redistributed. there is no "generic" DRM patch or hack available...currently
if u have some magic tools plz provide a link ;)

[mrlessk]

Originally posted by rrtn+19 June 2004 - 19:11--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (rrtn &#064; 19 June 2004 - 19:11)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>
Originally posted by SeK612@19 June 2004 - 19:55
I think its possible to remove the license (I&#39;ve only encountered licensed .wmv files in porn movies which require a user to pay to reveal the content). Its been asked before on here and I think a link to some tools was given.
Yes&#33; this is true, but someone must first acquire the license(&#036;£¥€) then it can be removed and redistributed. there is no "generic" DRM patch or hack available...currently
if u have some magic tools plz provide a link ;)[/b]
Ok, I get the message.

I guess I was just a little surprised that none of my players....
BSPlayer .809
Media Player Classic 6.4.8.2
VLC 0.7.2
....was able to play a .wmv.
Especially VideoLan.
I seem to read many comments in various forums hyping how "VideoLan can play any file"

Example:
<!--QuoteBegin-18 June 2004 &#045; 12:19
have you tried rebooting, get this http://www.videolan.org
it uses its own codec&#39;s to render video, best player for movies, it can play anything[/quote]
(Well, maybe not "anything" but actually, except for .wmv, it does pretty well).
And then the player that should be able to play them, Windows Media Player 9, puts me through this DRM scam to add that malicious Toolbar with God knows what Dialers, Trojans, Spyware, etc., associated with it.

I don&#39;t have the technical knowledge or expertise to become a Beale Screamer (http://www.mp3newswire.net/stories/2001/drmhack.html)....able to hack Microsoft&#39;s Digital Rights Management scheme.
So as suggested, I&#39;ll simply steer clear of .wmv files and avoid downloading them all together.

Thanks all for your comments,

cheers&#33; :beerchug:
mrlessk