Ok, this seems to be something people have given up on and are under the illusion that Microsoft won the DRM battle, but I have news for you. The program FairUse4WM STILL removes DRM from protected content, and works for anyone who has a Napster subscription and is downloading new files to this day. Here’s the reason this works. This method for circumventing Microsoft’s DRM is not a new crack to their new patch…you never get ahead that way. No, this method is a retroactive method. This will put your computer is a non-updatable state. This means that your IBX (Microsoft Blackbox key) will never get updated past a certain point. Why does this work? Well, Microsoft bases your IBX Key off your version of Windows Media Player installed…so all the people out there updating to Service Pack 3, and Windows Media Player 11, and getting all the latest so-called “security” patches are going in the wrong direction. See, they call it a “Security” patch because it makes Microsoft secure, not you. So, here are the steps for how DRM download subscribers can get this to work for them.
There is ONE thing you must remember. Do EXACTLY what these steps say, it takes no more than 15-30 minutes, and your downloads will be DRM free for as long as you like. If you think you can skip a step, then you may as well stop now. There is only ONE way to achive DRM-free downloads that will work with FairUse4WM.
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CAUTION: This will negate any currently downloaded music licenses that you are currently/already allowed to play. This process must get rid of your current keys and download “older” ones to allow FairUse4WM to work. If you have any DRM-protected content on your computer right now, you will have to redownload a new copy once this process is complete. This should not be a problem for subscription-based users as downloads are not charged individually, but rather as a flat monthly cost.
Requirements:
- Windows XP SP1, SP2 or SP3 (this will not work on Vista)
- Disable Windows Automatic Updates/Microsoft Update
STEPS:
1. Make sure all programs are closed. You can have your internet browser open to read this, but that’s it. All programs like Windows Media Player, games, editing programs and al must be closed.
2. Uninstall everything you can find on your system that has to do with Windows Media Player (WMP). To do this, go into Windows Control Panel, and then Add/Remove Programs, and uninstall anything with “WMP” or “Windows Media” in the name. Also click the “Add/Remove Windows Components” button and uncheck Windows Media Player in that list as well.
3. Delete DLL and EXE files related to WMP. This means manually deleting specific DLL and EXE files in your ‘system32′ and ‘dllcache’ directory both located in “C:\Windows”, but ONLY the ones that pertain to WMP. In order to do this effectively and quickly, go to “Start”, “Search”, “For Files and Folders…” Make sure you are seaching “All files and folders…” and that in the “More Advanced Options” drop-down, the first three boxes are checked (“Search system folders”, “Search hidden files and folders”, and “Seach subfolders”). If you dont check those boxes, none of this will work. Now, in the top search box type “*wmp*.*” (without the quotes), then hit “Enter”. Wait until the search is totally finished, then click “File”, “Select All”, then hit the Delete button. It might ask “Are you sure”, just say “Yes”, then empty your “Recycle Bin”
4. Delete certain program files folders: Go into “My Computer”, “C” drive, “Program Files”. Delete any folders that have the words “Windows Media” in them. In some cases, you will notice that when you delete the files out of the WMP program files folder, they will auto-regenerate. They will do this until you remove all the DLL and EXE files (namely wmpcore.dll and wmploc.dll, both of which you should have deleted in your search in step 2). You may also get the “Windows File Protection” box many times probably, just tell it you want to keep the unrecognized versions.
5. Delete your “DRM” folder, located here: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\DRM
NOTE: If you cannot see the “DRM” folder then you need to enable hiden files to be shown. Click “Tools”, “Folder Options”, then go to the “View” tab, and select the radiobutton labeled “Show hidden files and folders” then uncheck both boxes underneath that, which begin with the word “Hide…”
6. Once all the house cleaning is done, download WMP10 from Microsoft’s site. Do NOT run the EXE, but extract it with WinRar or any tool that can expand archive files. Running “setup_wm.exe” will not work, it will say “not compatible” with this version of Windows or something to that effect, so run the file “wmsetsdk.exe” to install WMP10 (Windows Media Player 10).
7. Once the installation is done, go to the individualization site here, and click “Upgrade”
http://services.wmdrm.windowsmedia.com/indivSite
This will download an old 11.0.5000.x version of the IBX key, which can be used with the first release of v1.3 of FairUse4WM (make sure you find this exact release since the updated 1.3 FIX2 will not work for you).
Just remember, IBX is downloaded and based on your installed version of WMP! If you download IBX and it gets the 6000.7000 one, just delete the DRM folder in “Documents and Settings\All Users” and do it again after you install WMP10…nothing is irreversible. Only an IBX lower than 11.0.6000.x will work. This method gives you one in the 11.0.5000.x range, which will stay crackable as long as you do not update Windows Media Player or download any Windows updates.
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