The Windows Media Digital Rights Management system may not work after you perform a system restore operation

The Microsoft Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM) system may not work after you perform a system restore operation. This problem occurs if you back up DRM state information during a system backup operation. We recommend that you exclude DRM system folders from backup images when you perform system backup operations.

The DRM state information is stored in a hidden system folder on the hard disk drive. When you perform a full or partial system backup operation, the DRM state information may be backed up. When you perform a full or partial system restore operation, the DRM state information may be restored. However, if you back up and then restore the DRM state information, the DRM system may not work.

We do not recommend using third-party backup programs because DRM licenses may be lost if you restore backed up DRM state information. If the DRM licenses are lost, the DRM system may not work correctly. Additionally, you may be unable to play protected content. Protected content includes content such as music that you have purchased and downloaded from an online store.

The path of the system folder that contains the DRM state information is stored in the DataPath registry entry. To view the value of the DataPath registry entry, follow these steps:

1. Start Registry Editor.
2. Locate the appropriate registry subkey for the operating system that you are running:
   • Windows XP
     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\DRM
   • Windows Vista 32-bit edition
     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\DRM
   • Windows Vista 64-bit edition
     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\DRM
3. Double-click DataPath. The Edit Binary Value dialog box appears.

In the Edit Binary Value dialog box, the path of the system folder that contains the DRM state information appears in the Value data box.