Cannot play legally downloaded WMA files

[rcrosier]

If you are in Windows Media Player (I'm in Version 10.00.00.3646), up on the right hand corner, there is an icon that has the Windows "butterfly", and a pull-down.

I've purchased one song from Wal-Mart Music Downloads ($.88 each), and about ten from MSN Music @ $.99 each to play at a party the other night, but had to play them all in Windows Media Player.

And yes, they do appear to be .WMA files... for instance, one file is called "...\Mardi Gras Mambo Cubanismo In New Orleans\05. Mardi Gras Mambo.wma"

Thanks

[fhysical_ed]

I'm having the same problem. Looking for a response.

[rcrosier]

Well, although I'm not thrilled with the fix I have, I've found a work-around for it.

If you burn the files to a CD from within the Windows Media Player, then RIP them back from the CD, they'll play. Problem is, that so far, I haven't found a way to do this and not lose all the file info that goes with them when I put them back, and have to manually rename them, etc. Done about 10 so far, and they all worked.

Originally Posted by fhysical_ed

I'm having the same problem. Looking for a response.

[gduns - with the Lord]

The file that goes with them is your License to use the song on that computer under windows media player. once you have burned it to a cd, I believe you are no longer licensed with it on the computer.

I am not sure of this, but it is the way I understand most of these services work. they do that so you can't easily swap the files after you buy them.

[rcrosier]

So... what does this mean legally? I purchased the song, and it's on the SAME computer that I downloaded it to (but in a different directory, for hoster access), and I have only ONE CD of it/them....??? Does anyone know?

Originally Posted by gduns

The file that goes with them is your License to use the song on that computer under windows media player. once you have burned it to a cd, I believe you are no longer licensed with it on the computer.

I am not sure of this, but it is the way I understand most of these services work. they do that so you can't easily swap the files after you buy them.

[gduns - with the Lord]

Originally Posted by rcrosier

So... what does this mean legally? I purchased the song, and it's on the SAME computer that I downloaded it to (but in a different directory, for hoster access), and I have only ONE CD of it/them....??? Does anyone know?

I have no idea. I do know that the sites are getting into protecting songs, My wife downloaded one, and it would only play on her computer on media player. Legally I wouldnt worry about it, I was just explaining the purpose of the other file. I have even seen the trading sites put those files on the computer. I don't like it myself. I am afraid they are tracking me or something.

[rcrosier]

Is the "other file" the one that is not copyable, and something like "thumbs.db"? I've seen this file when I try to move them from the downloaded directory into the directory that I store all my CD files in on my external hard drive. If not, what is the filename? All of my music files are legal, so I'm not worried about legality issues really, just curious what happened to the law about it being legal to make one copy of a "CD" that you've purchased... does it apply here, I wonder?

Originally Posted by gduns

I have no idea. I do know that the sites are getting into protecting songs, My wife downloaded one, and it would only play on her computer on media player. Legally I wouldnt worry about it, I was just explaining the purpose of the other file. I have even seen the trading sites put those files on the computer. I don't like it myself. I am afraid they are tracking me or something.