Article ID: 843020 - Last Review: October 23, 2007 - Revision: 2.8

You cannot play licensed media content in Windows Media Player after you remove Windows XP Service Pack 2

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SYMPTOMS

When you try to play some licensed media content that you previously played in Windows Media Player, the licensed media content may no longer play and you may have to reacquire some licenses to play the content.
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CAUSE

This issue occurs because Windows Media Player 9 Series handles digital content licenses differently than earlier versions of Windows Media Player when all the following conditions are true:
  • You upgrade your Microsoft Windows 2000-based computer to Microsoft Windows XP.
  • You install Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).
  • You remove Microsoft Windows XP SP2.
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RESOLUTION

To make sure that your existing licensed content remains available to Windows Media Player after you remove Windows XP SP2, use one of the following methods:
  • Before you upgrade your computer to Windows XP SP2, back up the licenses for your digital media files. To do this, click License Management on the Tools menu in Windows Media Player. Then, before removing the service pack, back up any additional licenses that you have acquired. After you remove the service pack, restore all the licenses. For additional information about how to back-up your digital media licenses, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    265473  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/265473/ ) How to back up and restore Media Player license files
  • After you remove Windows XP SP2, you can install Windows Media Player 9 Series. To download Windows Media Player 9 Series, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
    http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/9series/default.aspx (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/9series/default.aspx)
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (SP2)
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (SP2)
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Keywords: 
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