Backup WMC and Specifically DRM
I don't know...I've never tried it. But I'm almost positive that reinstalling Windows would cause the keys to be substantially different.barnabas1969 wrote:I don't think the above method will work if you re-install Windows.
I agree, because the new installation would have a different GUID.richard1980 wrote:I don't know...I've never tried it. But I'm almost positive that reinstalling Windows would cause the keys to be substantially different.barnabas1969 wrote:I don't think the above method will work if you re-install Windows.
Yeah... I don't believe a lot of that is true.barnabas1969 wrote:If you build a new PC, you won't be able to view your old copy-protected recordings. You can safely do the following things, and you will still be able to view the copy-protected recordings (assuming that you have a backup copy of them, or that the HDD on which they are stored is still functional):
+Replace the PSU
+Replace/add tuners
+Replace/add an HDD/SSD/ODD
+Replace RAM
+Replace the motherboard with one of the exact same model.
However, if you do more than one of the above, you may or may not be able to view your old copy-protected recordings. The above list is listed in order from least likely to impact copy-protection to most likely. The PSU and tuners do not affect your ability to view pre-existing copy-protected recordings. The other components do, to varying degrees. The DRM scheme is based on the sum of all components that have changed. Some people have successfully replaced the RAM or the motherboard (with exact same model), but I don't know if you can do both.
One thing is certain: You cannot replace the CPU. Doing so will prevent you from viewing your old copy-protected recordings.
Are you certain that your recordings are copy-protected? By this, I mean... go view the synopsis of a show in Media Center. Does it say "Copy protected" at the bottom of the synopsis? What you claim goes against every post I've ever read where someone replaced their CPU or tried to upgrade to a new motherboard.LuckyDay wrote:Yeah... I don't believe a lot of that is true.
The DRM is reset when you reinstall windows or change your Windows Install HDD. As long as your install stays, so will your DRM.
I've upgraded virtually every component of my WMC PC and never lost any of my DRM for recordings.
I think what you're referring to and where this overlaps a little is upgrading portions of your PC and removing the validation from your Windows install. If you upgrade motherboard and CPU and keep your current HDD, you'll be forced to re-validate your copy of Windows (or in some cases reinstall, as changing mobo/cpu/ram can force a boot loop). This could break the DRM.
And yes you can absolutely pop a new CPU into your motherboard and your DRM will never know the difference.
E6550 to Q9450 cpu only. Windows did not ask for re-activation but WMC DRM was broken.LuckyDay wrote:That's interesting, I assume you're talking about just a CPU swap, not changing the motherboard?...
I've seen posts claiming this, but I don't believe them. Consider this: What if you and I had the exact same model components in our PCs, and I restored an image of your PC to my PC? According to the claim, I should be able to play your copy-protected recordings, thus defeating the entire purpose of PlayReady.barnabas1969 wrote:Replace the motherboard with one of the exact same model.
The number of components you change is irrelevant. What is relevant is which components you change from the time a recording was made (which is when the "original" key for that recording is created) to the time you attempt to play the recording (which is when a new key for that recording is generated (the "playback" key) and compared to the original key for that recording) and how each of the changed components affects the DRM keys. At playback time, the "playback" key is compared to the "original" key, and if the keys are similar enough, playback is allowed. If the two keys are too different, playback is forbidden. Each component is weighted differently, thus they all affect the DRM keys differently. You can change several components that are lightly weighted and end up with a key that is still close enough to the original key to allow playback. And you could end up changing one more component (regardless of how that component is weighted) and end up causing the two keys to be too different. Or you could end up changing only one component in total, and that one change could cause the two keys to be too different.LuckyDay wrote:I've upgraded virtually every component of my WMC PC and never lost any of my DRM for recordings.
That is not true. You can change the OS drive all you want, as long as you maintain the same instance of Windows on the new drive (i.e., you have to clone the old OS drive to the new OS drive). and the change to the OS drive doesn't end up pushing the difference between the original key and the playback over the allowed threshold.LuckyDay wrote:The DRM is reset when you...change your Windows Install HDD.
AFAIK, the CPU is heavily weighted, thus changing the CPU has a very good chance of breaking playback. That said, I think changing from one CPU to a similar CPU may not actually affect the keys much. That could explain why you were able to change from an i3-2100 to an i3-3225, as they are similar CPUs.LuckyDay wrote:And yes you can absolutely pop a new CPU into your motherboard and your DRM will never know the difference.
Windows authorization has nothing to do with it. You can re-authorize Windows, but that doesn't allow the recordings to play back. Additionally, while Windows and PlayReady both use the same concept to identify a PC, I believe they use different weights.LuckyDay wrote:To clarify what I think is happening with a lot of this is when you upgrade a certain combination of parts (or total amount of them, can't remember which it is) and Windows has to re authorize your install you'll get a new key generated. This is almost definitely what's breaking the DRM.
I believe that you can replace your motherboard with the exact same model, provided that you use the same RAM, CPU, HDD, ODD, SSD, etc.richard1980 wrote:I've seen posts claiming this, but I don't believe them. Consider this: What if you and I had the exact same model components in our PCs, and I restored an image of your PC to my PC? According to the claim, I should be able to play your copy-protected recordings, thus defeating the entire purpose of PlayReady.barnabas1969 wrote:Replace the motherboard with one of the exact same model.
I agree, I don't think this working every time is a definite. There are even revisions to the same model of board that Windows will detect as a different model.I've seen posts claiming this, but I don't believe them. Consider this: What if you and I had the exact same model components in our PCs, and I restored an image of your PC to my PC? According to the claim, I should be able to play your copy-protected recordings, thus defeating the entire purpose of PlayReady.barnabas1969 wrote:Replace the motherboard with one of the exact same model.
If as you say it's specific to a certain part, I'd guess it's the motherboard that's more important over anything else, but that's true for the Windows keys as well.The number of components you change is irrelevant. What is relevant is which components you change from the time a recording was made (which is when the "original" key for that recording is created) to the time you attempt to play the recording (which is when a new key for that recording is generated (the "playback" key) and compared to the original key for that recording) and how each of the changed components affects the DRM keys. At playback time, the "playback" key is compared to the "original" key, and if the keys are similar enough, playback is allowed. If the two keys are too different, playback is forbidden. Each component is weighted differently, thus they all affect the DRM keys differently. You can change several components that are lightly weighted and end up with a key that is still close enough to the original key to allow playback. And you could end up changing one more component (regardless of how that component is weighted) and end up causing the two keys to be too different. Or you could end up changing only one component in total, and that one change could cause the two keys to be too different.LuckyDay wrote:I've upgraded virtually every component of my WMC PC and never lost any of my DRM for recordings.
Sure, I was assuming we weren't talking about cloning the HDD but installing fresh.That is not true. You can change the OS drive all you want, as long as you maintain the same instance of Windows on the new drive (i.e., you have to clone the old OS drive to the new OS drive). and the change to the OS drive doesn't end up pushing the difference between the original key and the playback over the allowed threshold.LuckyDay wrote:The DRM is reset when you...change your Windows Install HDD.
Something not adding up here then because the user above went from a same socket core2duo to core2quad. Same architecture and Windows doesn't care at all about a swap like that. The 2100 and 3225 are same socket but they aren't the same series of CPU, It's Sandy Bridge to Ivy Bridge.AFAIK, the CPU is heavily weighted, thus changing the CPU has a very good chance of breaking playback. That said, I think changing from one CPU to a similar CPU may not actually affect the keys much. That could explain why you were able to change from an i3-2100 to an i3-3225, as they are similar CPUs.LuckyDay wrote:And yes you can absolutely pop a new CPU into your motherboard and your DRM will never know the difference.
This is really what I was saying. I'm not sure it's a specific one piece you can't upgrade (like the CPU comment above) and I think either parts are weighted differently or combinations of certain parts triggers it.Additionally, while Windows and PlayReady both use the same concept to identify a PC, I believe they use different weights.
In other words, neither of us can provide a definitive answer.barnabas1969 wrote:I believe
Yeah, the motherboard has several components that are used to compute the keys, so it's very important.LuckyDay wrote:If as you say it's specific to a certain part, I'd guess it's the motherboard that's more important over anything else, but that's true for the Windows keys as well.
Well I know that the processor serial number gets hashed, and then only some of the resulting bits are used to create the key. The fewer bits that are used, the higher the risk that two different CPUs result in similar values (collision). If only 1 bit is used, there are only 2 possible values, so there's a 50% chance of collision. 2 bits = 4 possible values = 25% chance of collision. 3 bits = 8 possible values = 12.5% chance of collision, etc. In Microsoft's bulletin entitled "Product Activation for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008", they describe a scenario where 6 bits are used to identify the CPU...which means there would only be 64 possible results, for a 1.6% chance of collision.LuckyDay wrote:Something not adding up here then because the user above went from a same socket core2duo to core2quad. Same architecture and Windows doesn't care at all about a swap like that. The 2100 and 3225 are same socket but they aren't the same series of CPU, It's Sandy Bridge to Ivy Bridge.
I agree that changing the CPU is not a definite trigger, but it's still one of the things that has a high chance of breaking playback.LuckyDay wrote:Not sure what the answer to this one is, but to me it rules out the CPU being the sole culprit and an absolute definite trigger to break it.
