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The Microsoft Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM) system may not work if you make changes to your computer hardware. You may not be able to play protected content. Protected content includes content such as songs that you have bought and downloaded from an online store

To resolve this issue, restore your computer to the original hardware configuration or to the original BIOS settings ..

1. Back up your licenses. To do this, follow these steps:

Note The license issuer, such as the online store where you bought the protected file, determines whether you are permitted to back up a specific license. Therefore, you may not be able to back up all your licenses. If you cannot back up the license for a particular file, you cannot restore that license after you change your hardware component. If you cannot restore a license, you cannot play the protected file.

2. Make the changes that you want to make to your computer hardware.

3. Reset Windows Media DRM by deleting all the files in the Windows Media DRM folder. Note that the Windows Media DRM folder is a hidden system folder. To view hidden files and folders, follow these steps:

a. Click Start, and then click My Computer.

b. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options, and then click the View tab.

c. Click Show hidden files and folders, and then click to clear the Hide protected operating system files check box.

If you cannot find the Windows Media DRM folder, the exact location of the folder on the computer is stored in the following registry key:

HKEYLOCALMACHINE-Software-Microsoft-DRM-DataPath

Note By default, the path is displayed in binary format. To see the path in plain-text format, double-click DataPath. In the Edit Binary Value dialog box, the path is displayed in the column on the right. 4. Individualize the Windows Media DRM system.

5. Restore your licenses. To do this, follow these steps:

a. In Windows Media Player, on the Tools menu, click Manage Licenses if you have Windows Media Player 10, or click License Management if you have Windows Media Player 7.x through Windows Media Player 9.

b. Select the location of the backup copies of your licenses. If you need to, insert the floppy disk where your licenses are stored.

c. Click Restore Now.

Note This step requires a connection to the Internet. For questions about Windows Media Player and privacy, see the Windows Media Player privacy statement. To display the privacy statement in Windows Media Player, click View Privacy Statement on the Help menu.