Trying to play .wma files from my ripped CDs

Factual Questions
1

When I try to play my .wma files that I got from ripping my CD collection, Windows tells me “blah blah blah need a license to perform this operation”. What is this license, and where do I get it? Don’t tell me I wasted hours ripping my f’n collection just so Windows will refuse to play the f’n songs!!

–Tim

2

Have you tried renaming the file extension to a .wav?

3

No, I haven’t. .wma files are somewhat related to .mp3 files in that they compress the music by removing the parts you wouldn’t hear anyway. Damn Windows.

–Tim

4

Open the media player. Select tools, options, click CD Audio tab. Click off “Enable Personal Rights Management”. Click on apply. You’re ready to play.

5

Homer have read or tried this?

6

Wow. I didn’t realize anyone else had replied! Thanks, I’ll try that tonight! (I’m on a different computer right now)

–Tim

7

Did it work?

8

Phobia, just a little advice.

Stay away from .wma files. There are several other options out there that are as good if not better than that.

Mp3’s, of course, are plentiful - players abound, they do a fine job of compression and are very portable.

Ogg Vorbis ( http://www.vorbis.com ) on the other hand, does a better job of compression, sounds better to my (admittedly amateur) ears and is free of any of those nasty patent/licensing problems that plague mp3s, Real and $MICROSOFT_FORMAT_OF_THE_WEEK files. However, it lacks much of the market penetration that mp3s currently have.

This might be your first problem with the .wma format, but I can guarantee it won’t be your last.

9

You have run up against MicroBorg’s attempt at copyright protection – a kind of “rip once only” policy. The thinking is that you can rip a disc into WMA format and it will only play on that particular PC.

Stick to MP3s.

10

My bad!

HOMER, not Phobia, HOMER…

What an idiot I am. There are some things that preview cannot fix…

11

How timely-- I just went through this exact problem last week. I decided to switch rippers, and based on MP3.com’s rating, I gotCD Copy, which works beautifully. I made mp3s, but this allows a whole range of formats. The result? My own tailored playlist going all day, every day at work. It rocks, quite literally. CD Copy is really simple to use, and the interface isn’t the easiest on the eyes, but I heartily recommend it all the same.

12

Screw it. I’m gonna delete the damn things.

–Tim