WMV License protected video

[jesterhud]

Hi
I have purchased some video clips from the net that have downloaded and play themselves on Windows Media Player.
I want to copy them to DVD, but they are license protected, when you go to the Media Library it shows the location as 'http://......." instead of the usual 'C:\Documents....'.
Where are they actually stored on the HDD and is there any way to copy them ???
Cheers

[Baldrick]

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=307310&highlight=

[jesterhud]

Thanks for the link, i guess that will probably work, trouble is i still cannot find the files on my HDD, i have tried using the search function in Windows to pull up all WMV files, which it does apart from these ones. But they are there somewhere as they appear in the Windows Media Player Library, how can i find them ??

[ROF]

It sounds like you purchased streaming videos and not downloaded videos. To confirm this disconnect the computer from the network and attempt to play the video. When video doesn't play or says file can not be found you will have your answer.

[jesterhud]

Hi

Yes i have tried disconnecting from the net, they still play.

[jagabo]

Have you tried File -> Properties from Windows Media Player?

[jesterhud]

Hi

Yes when i do that it just gives the location as

http://(filename)

[jman98]

Actually, the link Baldrick provided WON'T work, at least not in terms of actually getting the software. You'll have to find FairUse4WM by other means (hint: P2P would be a good place to look).

[jagabo]

Note that the file may not have a WMV extention. ASF is also likely. But WMP will accept any extension -- it will figure out the file WMV or ASF.

Oh, and when you did the search for WMV files, did you enable searching for Hidden Files and Foders and in System Folders?

[redwudz]

jman98, on that page, the last link to Doom9 will give you some other information that may help.

[jman98]

Thanks redwudz. I missed that Doom9 link. I did however find the software through another method.

[CrayonEater]

Apparently, a new tool called Fairuse4WM strips the WMDRM with a high degree of success. Don't know where you can get it though.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/25/fairuse4wm-strips-windows-media-drm/
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/7875.cfm

[adam]

Its probably being stored in a hidden temporary folder. Do as jagabo said and set view to show hidden and system folders. (Open any folder - hit Tools/Folder Option/View and enable show hidden files and folders.) Now it will probably show up in a search.

[carloak]

Well, I found what you are looking for. Before I continue, I feel it legally necessary to add a disclaimer. Digital media license files are only for the use of the person who purchased the media and any other use of such licenses, including but not limited to commercial uses, is an infringement of US and UK copyright statutes. The violation of these statutes can result in incarceration in a penal institution for up to ten (10) years. Ok. Now that that's out of the way, here is the location of the license files. First you need to make sure you are able to see hidden files and I'm not going to go into that here. The files are located in C:\Program Data\Microsoft\Windows\DRM . If you are using a drive letter other than C for your root directory, then use that letter instead of C: . You will find several files there. Some have the extention .key, .bak, .bin, .bla, .hds and possibly others. What all these files are I haven't a clue, I assume the DRM licensing uses multiple files, but then I could be mistaken. I just don't know. All I do know is this is where the licensing files for DRM are stored. Also, this is the location in Windows Vista. Don't know about any other operating systems. Hope this helps.

[redwudz]

carloak, thanks for the information, but this is a two year old thread. Please do not dig up old topics to post in.

Moderator redwudz

[jagabo]

But he supplied the answer to an unanswered question. Seems perfectly reasonable to me. Even if the OP is no longer interested the answer may help someone else. Aren't you always telling people to search before asking questions?

[theewizard]

i agree, he supplied the answer, NOT a ' I want to know' post