Why remove DRM? It is a concept that comes from the anti-DRM folks, of which there are many. Basically these utils still require a license FIRST so you still must PAY for the license file for a purchased song or movie . . . so it does not circumvent that. But what it does do is allow you "fair use" so that when you do buy or rent a title - such as a personal backup in case you have a drive crash.

The main two "UnDRM" utilities (drmdbg and FairUse4WM) strip off the DRM headers, and copy the new file while adding "[NoDRM] to the beginning of the filename. However, drmdbg is older and seems to stop working for a lot of people, whereas mirakagi and FairUse4WM seems more stable and has a nice, simple GUI - so I will detail that utility.

Where to get mirakagi/FairUse4WM- For now, as of Sept 16, 2007 you can download the DRM Removal files here: CoolStuff.zip The zip file contains the following:
FairUse4WM-1.3Fix-2.doc - a Guide
mirakagi.exe - will actualize fair use rights
FairUse4Wm - removes DRM
DRM-sample-4plays.wmv - a test DRM file - until you get a license for it the file allows zero plays. So start it up and answer the prompts to get the license downloaded to your system. Now the "licensed" DRM file will allow you 4 plays only. That is the restriction that the DRM adds - test that and see. Then UnDRM it using the following step and it will play as many times as you like - the DRM restriction is removed !! Test that also.

IMPORTANT: the RapidShare link will not last (they never do) - but you can download Peer-to-Peer client "eMule" - then search for "FairUse4WM 1.23Fix-2" (you may have to search using a simpler term such as "FairUse4m" to find it since that will result in more hits) - there are usually 2 or 3 copies there. The ones placed on RapidShare and other file sharing websites never seem to stay there very long.

The UnDRM Steps

Step 1) Get a DRM video file. Use the sample, or download a video file with DRM - you should probably setup WMplayer setting to NOT automatically aquire licenses. If you have done that then the DRM download will have DRM in it but no license yet.

Step 2) (optional step - perform just once to start with a clean slate !!). Delete and then rebuild (Individualize) your DRM files - afterwards you do not need to keep runinng this Step !!:
delete the folder: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\DRM
individualize (rebuild) the DRM files by going to Microsoft's "Security Component Upgrade" page (and yes . . . this is one Microsoft site you CAN trust to not mess you up): and clicking "Upgrade".
NOTE: *these DRM files are also called the "Blackbox components" and should have the same version number as WMplayer has, also known as the "IBX". To check the IBX version, right-click on IndivBox.key and select "Properties"

Step 3) run your downloaded video for a few seconds - just long enough to cause the license file to be downloaded.

Step 4) run the file mirakagi.exe to actualize fair use rights with the IBX Blackbox files

click "Start" - this will enter the IBX keys into the FairUse4WM blackbox-keys.txt text file. The file is found on your PC drive at: C:\Documents and Settings\"username"\My Documents\blackbox-keys.txt

NOTE: Here is a sample of the contents of this file - it is just a single line with an encrypted key:
u+BX+LM7w11Wj/KHRKm4XEKnKRzkwM424OlLwpL2zpK60uNNn+nffA== XIWrY64lkzpnJ/FxJPV4P2MUgWI=

Step 5 start up FairUse4WM.exe (make sure it is version 1.3Fix-2 which should be capable of interfacing with both Windows Vista and Zune software versions). This patched version includes an important fix for a video corruption bug, often seen in scenes affording high compression.

Set the Output directory to wherever you want it to be - prefer using the same directory
click Add File and add in your video file that has DRM and that now has a valid DRM license

click Next
the file will now be copied to a new file without DRM. This new files will have the same filename except that "[NoDRM]" will be appended to the beginning of the filename

When finished, you will see a short Report - the one below is what you want to see (i.e. the UnDRM procedure was a success !!):

This file will be FREE of DRM !!!

Step 6) Test the file - and if OK, delete the DRM'd file. You are now DONE !!!

Troubleshooting
If problems occur, there are many many possible causes. The most common is that your version of WMplayer is not supported, or you have not refreshed your DRM IBX folder and file.

If you have WMplayer 11 - I have v10 so cannot be of much help - this FairUse patched version is supposed to work with v11 up to some specific release and not beyond that, but I do not know which release that is. Also I do not know how to roll v11 version back down to good old, reliable v10 release 3646 (v10.00.00.3646). I do not think it is easy, though.

If you have WMplayer v10, you can roll it back and reinstall to make sure you have the most reliable version (download v10.00.00.3646 Here)

How to uninstall Windows Media Player 10
====================================
Method 1: Use xplite
Method 2: To roll back from Windows Media Player 10 to a previous version using Add or Remove Programs, do the following:
1. Click "Start"->"Control Panel". In the Control Panel (Category View) click "Add or Remove Programs".
2. Click "Add or Remove Programs" again, and then do one of the following:
a. If you are running Windows XP Service Pack 2, select the "Show updates" check box (at the top of the list), click Windows
Media Player 10, and then click Change/Remove.
- or -
b. If you are running Windows XP Service Pack 1 or earlier, click Windows Media Player 10, and then click Change/Remove.
Reboot your machine after uninstalling.
Method 3: To roll back from Windows Media Player 10 to a previous version (that was part of your original version of
Windows) you may also use System Restore.