Windows Media Player 12 - DRM issue

[strugglinauthor]

Hi David,

One question - rather than de-install WMP12, can I just turn it off with the 'Turn Windows features on or off' option and then install WMP 11 or will this not work?  I'm sure it is straightforward but I have a bit of an aversion to messing around with the registry in case my PC is never quite the same again...

Thanks

Keith

[DavidPK]

Hi Keith,

To be honest, I think there may be a better and permanent solution to this whole problem.

I've been doing a bit more research into this issue and from what I can see, this problem does not occur when a retail installation of Windows 7 is used - it seems to mostly be associated when you buy a computer with the OS pre-installed and is caused by the process big manufacturers use to image the OS on multiple machines.

There is however a completely legitimate way of creating a retail installation of Windows 7 instead of your current OEM version, but it would require you to reinstall the operating system using a method I will go on to describe - I have personally used this method many times.

Let me know what you think regarding this and also whether you have created your set of Recovery Discs for your current installation.

Regards,

DP-K

[strugglinauthor]

Hi David,

Sounds good to me.  A clean, permanent solution is always better.  I've only installed MS Office so far, for which I have the original disks, and so the risks are fairly low.

I have created my recovery disks and so if it's reasonably straightforward then I'm happy to give it a go.  One thing - when I install Windows 7, will I need a product key?  If so there is nothing obvious that came with the laptop...

Rgds

Keith

[DavidPK]

Hi Keith,

First of all, just check that you do have the activation key required on your COA label ( it should be on the underside of your notebook ) - this is a 25 alpha/numeric key in 5 blocks of 5 an example of which is Here.

As long as this key is present carry on with the following procedure.

Create a Retail Installation disc - just download the correct Disc Image from the link below.  The ISO you need to download must be the same version as your OEM installation - ie as you notebook came with Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit, this is the ISO you must use.

Windows-7 sp1-iso-official-32-bit-and-64-bit

When downloaded, use an application such as ImgBurn to burn the ISO correctly to a blank DVD - a guide on using ImgBurn to write an ISO to a disc is Here.

Use the disc to perform the installation, enter the Windows activation key found on the COA sticker on the underside of your notebook when requested and when the installation has completed, use the 'Phone Method' detailed in the link below to activate the OS - this method supported by Microsoft and is popular with people who just want a clean installation of Windows 7 without the additional software load normally bundled with OEM installations.

http://www.kodyaz.com/articles/how-to-activate-windows-7-by-phone.aspx

Any additional drivers you may need can be found on your notebooks support page Here.

Regards,

DP-K

[strugglinauthor]

Hi David,

I'ev kicked off the installation.  The system is asking whether I want to upgrade, which apparently keeps all my settings/programs, or do a custom (advanced) install.  My normal action in such situations is to go the standard route but is that the right thing here?  After all I'm trying to get a clean copy of windows.  My only concern is that if I go the custom route then Windows will assume I know what I'm doing and start to ask questions about partitioning drives etc etc...

Eek.

Rgds

Keith

[strugglinauthor]

Hi David

I went ahead with a clean install in the end.  The whole look/feel is different which is odd seing as how it is the same version.  One thing - I now need to connect to the internet but my ability to connect to wifi has completely vanished.  All I have is an icon at the bottom right of the screen saying 'no connections are available'.  When I look in Control Panel->Network and Internet it says 'Windows did not detect any networking hardware.'  If I tick the box that says "Show connection options that this computer is not set up to use" then there is an option to set up a broadband connection manually.  When the PC was first set up I simply pressed a button on the back of the router and hey presto - wifi!

Are you able to advise?

Rgds

Keith

[DavidPK]

Hi Keith,

Custom install was the right choice.

Regarding your network, it sound like Windows has not been successful in loading a generic driver for the wireless card.

Go into Device Manager, Network Adapters, right click on the problem device and select Properties.  Click the Details tab, choose Hardware Ids from the dropdown box and post back with the details shown under Value.

Regards,

DP-K

[strugglinauthor]

Hi David,

I've now reverted to the original install from my recovery disks.  HP gives you the option to do a limited restore which leaves out all the 'extras' that they put on when it is factory supplied.  I'm sure we would have got around the network/wifi issue but I'd always be wondering what else is missing and I don't really have the depth of knowledge to sort it out if something else manifests itself in the future.

Needless to say I tried playing the WMP file but I get the same message; I think I'll just live with it and hope that HP/Microsoft fix it in the future via a patch. 

Thanks for all your help on this one - it is much appreciated - and I'll mark the thread as closed.

Rgds

Keith.

[DavidPK · Accepted solution]

Hi Keith,

You're welcome

All the best,

DP-K

[Batonrougeboy]

The DRM protection used in the BBC iPlayer downloaded programmes is annoying. Here is a guide of how to drop DRM protection of iPlayer programmes: http://dig4u.org/rip-drm/bbc-iplayer-ripper.html