How to copy MSN Music-bought files to my PPC and other PCs?

[famousdavis]

I thought I'd try buying my first legal, DRM-protected MP3s from MSN Music recently -- spur of the moment decision.

I bought an old Genesis album and successfully downloaded the tracks onto my laptop computer. The tracks played fine on the laptop's WMP10.

Now I want to copy them onto my PPC. But I have established a partnership between my desktop and my PPC, not with my laptop. Can I just install ActiveSync on my laptop, use a Guest partnership and sync the songs from my laptop to my PPC?

Also, how does one transfer the songs from my laptop to the desktop? I assume that because it's DRM-protected, its more difficult than just drag-n-drop using Windows Explorer. I thought I'd be able to re-download the same songs from MSN's website, but even after I've signed on, it doesn't look like they keep a "Previously Downloaded" area where I can re-download the songs I bought.

In short, this may be the last time I buy DRM-protected songs from the Internet. CDs cost a little more, but at least they're easy to rip and move.

[Jason Dunn]

You can't play DRM-protected songs on your Pocket PC unless it's running Windows Media Player 10 Mobile. :( The way to get around this is to burn a CD with the songs, then re-rip it in a non-protected WMA file.

[surur]

You can't play DRM-protected songs on your Pocket PC unless it's running Windows Media Player 10 Mobile. :( The way to get around this is to burn a CD with the songs, then re-rip it in a non-protected WMA file.

This is not true. You can play protected music on earlier versions of wmp. Its the Janus stuff (subscription based music) for which you need the latest version.

The best way to transfer your music to a pocketpc is via wmp, which should list your pocketpc under Sync (or the storage card on your pocketpc).

You may be able to transfer the license to another pc, but Im not sure about that part. The best is probably to rip and burn.

Another useful piece of software is total recorder, which allows you to play music and directly record it to another format.

Like rip and burn, but more direct.

Surur

[Jason Dunn]

This is not true. You can play protected music on earlier versions of wmp. Its the Janus stuff (subscription based music) for which you need the latest version.

<sigh> That's not true - some people could, some people could not. Windows Media Player 9 Mobile couldn't transfer the DRM license to a memory card, so DRM-equipped files could only play from within RAM...but it also varied by music vendor. I could play my files from Puretracks on a CF card, but people who bought tracks from Wal-mart could not play them back from media card.

This is higly documented and frequently discussed, not just my opinion. Please give this a read:

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=31725

[OSUKid7]

This is not true. You can play protected music on earlier versions of wmp. Its the Janus stuff (subscription based music) for which you need the latest version.

<sigh> That's not true - some people could, some people could not. Windows Media Player 9 Mobile couldn't transfer the DRM license to a memory card, so DRM-equipped files could only play from within RAM...but it also varied by music vendor. I could play my files from Puretracks on a CF card, but people who bought tracks from Wal-mart could not play them back from media card.
Correct. I thought that "sync" or transfering my music to a storage card from WMP would work. It did - but then I couldn't play it on my Pocket PC. :( Hopefully HP will release WMP10 Mobile soon.

[famousdavis]

To close the loop on this thread....

Last night I began by debugging the network problem I had that kept my laptop and desktop from seeing each other's harddrives. It used to work, but somehow, someway, Norton Internet Security lost some IP settings for the Trusted Zone and NIS's wizard function just didn't do anything. :roll:

Eventually, that resolved, I copied my laptop's DRM-protected songs onto my desktop. I had to go to MSN Music to "authorize" my desktop to play the DRM songs I bought. Not a big deal, but just another thing to do ... go to a website, log-in, figure out the naviation, authenticate, log off....

I still don't get the hang of WMP, but the Library in WMP couldn't see my music until I brought them into WMP's library. I feel like I just don't "get" the philosophy behind productively using WMP (I need a Dummies book for Christmas, maybe?).

Almost there, I sync'd my X50v with my desktop, chose the playlist to sync, and pressed Go! Then I'd get an error message saying that WMP couldn't tell that I had a device connected! Huh?

More testing and trials, and I learned I could sync to the X50v's RAM and ROM, but not the SD card!

I was going crazy trying to Google some answers on my error message and why I couldn't transfer songs to an SD card. I didn't find anything helpful, however.

Eventually, I disconnected my X50v and reconnected it again. Voila! I could sync DRM-songs to the SD card!

I don't know why WMP couldn't do that earlier, and I wish I had tried re-synch'ing hours earlier when I began this process. It was a simple solution...with 20/20 hindsight.

So, I was able to listen to Genesis on my X50v this morning, and everything worked just fine.

I'm doubtful about buying DRM songs, though. Although I see how the process ought to work, I think it's more difficult than just buying the CD and ripping it into whatever file format I want, then use whatever method I want to move songs onto whatever medium I want. Dancing around to ensure I won't goof up my ability to play DRM music just isn't worth the few dollars of savings.

Frustratingly, WMP 10 still doesn't come with an equalizer, and I like to tweak my music when I listen to it. I'm unclear on whether non-WMP programs can play DRM-encoded WMA songs or not. I have to buy some piece of software to convert WMA to MP3, but if I do that, I don't know whether that program will hiccup because of the DRM protection.

In short: it's a hassle dealing with DRM music. Seems easier to just buy a regular audio CD instead, even if it's a little more expensive to obtain the hard medium. At least you've got more control -- for now, anyway -- over your music.

[Jason Dunn]

You've hit the nail on the head - DRM music is still too hard to buy, use, and put on multiple devices. Microsoft has a LOT to learn about doing this properly.

[famousdavis]

I wound up buying a number of CDs at eBay's Half.com (http://www.half.com). I bought from the Like New category, and even picked up that same Genesis CD I bought from MSN -- for about $3 less than MSN (that, even after paying $2.50 for shipping!).

So, now I'm wondering: How do you sell DRM-encoded music?

I'll not buy DRM-encoded music again.