wiggle
05-03-2005, 02:24 PM
Hi,
I have quite a few win media files, which when I try to play them, a screen comes up saying I need to upgrade my DRM settings. "learn more" from microsoft says this
"Owners of secure content may also require you to upgrade some of the DRM components on your computer before accessing their content. When you attempt to play such content, Windows Media Player will notify you that a DRM Upgrade is required and then ask for your consent before the DRM Upgrade is downloaded (third party playback software may do the same). If you decline the upgrade, you will not be able to access content that requires the DRM Upgrade; however, you will still be able to access unprotected content and secure content that does not require the upgrade. If you accept the upgrade, Windows Media Player will connect to an Internet site operated by Microsoft and will send a unique identifier along with a Windows Media Player security file. This unique identifier does not contain any personal identifiable information. Microsoft will then replace the security file with a customized version of the file that contains your unique identifier. This increases the level of protection provided by DRM."
I'm afraid this is clear as mud to me. So can you help me here, I am just about to delete all the wmv files I have (because I can't play them) but before I do I thought I'd come here to ask:
1. What exactly occurs if I follow the instructions and upgrade my DRM settings?
2. I want privacy, so I don't want to do anything which gives away my privacy. Is there any loss of privacy?
3. Can we trust microsoft to tell the truth about privacy?
4. Is this a new feature of Windows media player? I remember upgrading "security patches for windows media player" and I wonder if an older version of windows media player would just play the files without question. I am wondering if those security patches were just microsoft lying to me to make me upgrade windows media player so that this DRM content stuff would start asking for permission.
5. I nearly forgot, is there any other way to play these files (with other software) which will avoid this hassle.
Thanks
I have quite a few win media files, which when I try to play them, a screen comes up saying I need to upgrade my DRM settings. "learn more" from microsoft says this
"Owners of secure content may also require you to upgrade some of the DRM components on your computer before accessing their content. When you attempt to play such content, Windows Media Player will notify you that a DRM Upgrade is required and then ask for your consent before the DRM Upgrade is downloaded (third party playback software may do the same). If you decline the upgrade, you will not be able to access content that requires the DRM Upgrade; however, you will still be able to access unprotected content and secure content that does not require the upgrade. If you accept the upgrade, Windows Media Player will connect to an Internet site operated by Microsoft and will send a unique identifier along with a Windows Media Player security file. This unique identifier does not contain any personal identifiable information. Microsoft will then replace the security file with a customized version of the file that contains your unique identifier. This increases the level of protection provided by DRM."
I'm afraid this is clear as mud to me. So can you help me here, I am just about to delete all the wmv files I have (because I can't play them) but before I do I thought I'd come here to ask:
1. What exactly occurs if I follow the instructions and upgrade my DRM settings?
2. I want privacy, so I don't want to do anything which gives away my privacy. Is there any loss of privacy?
3. Can we trust microsoft to tell the truth about privacy?
4. Is this a new feature of Windows media player? I remember upgrading "security patches for windows media player" and I wonder if an older version of windows media player would just play the files without question. I am wondering if those security patches were just microsoft lying to me to make me upgrade windows media player so that this DRM content stuff would start asking for permission.
5. I nearly forgot, is there any other way to play these files (with other software) which will avoid this hassle.
Thanks