406 Not Acceptable

This handy program – Freeme2 – is an open source project that removes pesky Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection from Windows Media WMA audio files and WMV video files. This is rather handy for those older MP3 downloads you may have purchased, as many sites are now selling their music without DRM. This program is a little harder to use than FairUse4WM, but it’s always nice to have an alternative in case FairUse4WM does not work; however, you may prefer Freeme to FairUse4WM!

There are download links both in the middle and one at the bottom of this article.

This post is taken from my old site Tech Rant. For some reason the exported xml did not contain this post, so for that reason I am recreating the post. I know that Tech Rant got a lot of traffic for providing links to software such as FairUse4WM; so I feel this site should begin to take some of the burden away from the old one.

When using FreeMe2 you have the choice of using the third party helper program or manually using the command line to free individual tracks of DRM. Download links and instructions on how to use both versions of the software are included in this post. For those who are not command line savvy, or are used to FairUse4WM’s interfact, I highly recommend you use a GUI when using FreeMe.

FreeMe2 should also work with Vista and should also run on Windows 7; although, problems have been reported with Vista. If you are using Windows 7, you should try using XP Mode; the tool should be more reliable. Alternatively, you can always try running FreeMe in a virtual machine; such as VirtualBox.

Please only use these program to remove DRM from files you already own, or for educational purposes. 406NotAcceptable and Tech Rant do not condone piracy.

Please remember that none of these download links are hosted by any Linode, 406NotAcceptable, Dreamhost, or Tech Rant server . They are all external. Always use a virus scanner when downloading files from third party sites.

Download links

Latest Version, source, and help file
Latest version
FreeMe2 Helper

Instructions for use with FreeMe2 Helper

Simply copy the executable into the same folder as freeme2.exe. You can to drag and drop complete folders on it which are being processed recursively (i.e. with all subdirectories).

Instructions for use without helper:

From the readme

How to use freeme2
Freeme2 is a command line application. You need to learn how to use Windows command console to run it.

How to use freeme2 to remove DRM from Windows Media .WMA and .WMV files (command line console)

1. Put your DRM protected media files in the same folder as Freeme2.
2. Run the Windows command console: Hit “Start”->Hit “Run…”->type CMD->Hit the “OK” button.
3. Then, once in the command console, change the directory by using the “cd” command to the directory where your FreeMe2 is located.
4. Extract your license keys. You can do this with drmdbg.
5. Type the following in the command line console:
Code:

freeme2 <name_of_drm_wma_file>

and press the Enter button

How to use freeme2 to remove DRM from Windows Media .WMA and .WMV files (drag-n-drop)
Drag-n-drop method is much easier than the one using command line console:

1. Put your DRM protected media files in the same folder as Freeme2.
2. Extract your license keys. You can do this with drmdbg. If you use drmdbg you can
take the drm2-i.key file generated by drmdbg, rename it to drm2.key and copy it to the FreeMe2 folder.
3. Drag your sample.wma file onto FreeMe2.exe. It starts up and runs fine.

The latest version of FreeMe2 supports decryption engine from MPlayer. There are three options to use freeme2: v,s and 2. Any combination of those is valid:

* v – verbose mode
* s – ask for SID
* 2 – use FreeMe2 original decryption engine (by default we use MPlayers one).

Example configurations:

* Decrypt file
Code:

FreeMe2 some_file

* Decrypt file in verbose mode
Code:

FreeMe2 -v some_file

* Decrypt file but force program to ask for sid
Code:

FreeMe2 -s some_file

* Decrypt file but force program to ask for sid in verbose mode
Code:

FreeMe2 -vs some_file

* Decrypt file but force program to ask for sid in verbose mode using FreeMe2 decryption engine
Code:

FreeMe2 -vs2 some_file

Download link

Latest version

FairUse4WM v1.3 fix 2 (or FairUseWM) downloads still drive traffic to my old site Tech-rant. Therefore I have updated this post here, so that the google traffic machine points you here instead! I believe this should be the latest version of FairUse4WM that works (read fixed!) for Windows Vista. I have taken some of the dead mirrors from the old article away, hopefully leaving just working mirrors for you to download FairUse4WM, plus the Vista version, from. After all most of the old download linkes have died since this article was posted in 2008

I believe the program has problems with the latest DRM protection and has not been updated from version (v1.3 fix 2.) There does not seem to be any activity that would indicate a v1.4 coming out. Especially now Vista and Media Player 11 are supported.

Download mirrors are at the bottom of this post.

Again please note that none of these download mirrors for FairUse4WM/FairUseWM are hosted on this, or any other Linode, server. They are all external; although, I have checked them for file integrity with the MD5 hash from the author.

Furthermore I do not promote piracy and buy my own music from the shops. I’d personally rather buy something without DRM that I don’t have to strip. These days some sites will let you download without DRM; so hopefully FairUse4WM is not as useful as it once was.

FairUse4WM is a graphical user interface (GUI) version of drmdbg ( a DRM removal tool). This program drmdbg does not convert your original Windows Media audio and video files. Instead it will remove the DRM header of the media file, effectively rendering it DRM free.

FairUse4WM v1.3 supports Windows Media Player 9, 10, 11 (individualization version up to .3930). It will now work correctly under Vista, which is nice.

Basic requirements:

1. Only works on individualized DRM file
2. Requires Windows Media Player (WMP) 9, 10 or 11 beta 1 and 2. Although there is no support for WMP 11 final.
3. Works with both individualized content and some DRMv1 files
4. Does not work with Win98 or similar

Download mirrors:

There are two version, the Vista edition is probably the better of the two, but it is much larger.

FairUse4WM 1.3 fix 2
FairUse4WM 1.3 fix 2 mirror 1
FairUse4WM 1.3 fix 2 mirror 2
FairUse4WM 1.3 fix 2 mirror 3

FairUse4WM Vista fix (22 megabytes!) it’s rather large…
FairUse4WM Vista fixed mirror 1
FairUse4WM Vista fixed mirror 2

Instructions for the Vista and Media Player 11 fixed version.
The only way right now to allow FairUse4WM 1.3(fix) to work on Windows Vista is to have it run under Windows XP using Virtual PC 2007 in Vista (freeware download from microsoft website).

===

1. Download Virtual PC 20007 from Microsoft.com (just do a search for it, and you’ll get a download link)

LINK: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/default.mspx

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2. Create a virtual hard drive, Windows XP, and using a Windows XP SP1 or later disc, install XP on your virtual machine (DO NOT DO ANY WINDOWS UPDATES! Be sure to activate though, or else you can’t use XP more than 30 days)

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3. Once your virtual XP machine is up and running in Virtual PC, install the included WMP11.exe file. This will install WMP version “11.0.5705.5043″ which works with FairUse4WM 1.3(fix)

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4. Once the installation is complete, you need to individualize your computer (if you are choosing to use the URGE music store, just download urge and run it, it will auto-individualize)…for everyone else using another service, individualize using this site…

LINK: http://services.wmdrm.windowsmedia.com/indivSite/en/indivit.asp

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5. Run your subscription program and download a few songs while logged into your subscription account

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6. Run FairUse4WM and click “Recover Keys”…NOTE: you may need to click “Skip” on the last step, or you will never get past this step.

===

7. DONE! Enjoy.

ADDITIONAL NOTE:

*This has been tested on Windows Vista Home Basic/Premium, Business and Ultimate

*NEVER EVER EVER EVER do any Windows Updates!!

*ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS click “No” when Windows Media Player asks you if you want to update

*Remember: This only works by using old files, so updating anything to do with Windows, Media Player, or your DRM protected subscription might make this not work.

*You can use WMP11 + Urge music service for $10 a month, and they will NEVER force updates on you, you can always clcik “No”, so I suggest using Urge as your download service.

*Remember: If you EVER update, you will have to redo your virtual machine entirely in Virtual PC and start over with a new installation of XP.

The same mirrors again, in case you missed them:

FairUse4WM 1.3 fix 2
FairUse4WM 1.3 fix 2 mirror 1
FairUse4WM 1.3 fix 2
FairUse4WM 1.3 fix 2 mirror 2
FairUse4WM 1.3 fix 2 mirror 3

FairUse4WM Vista fix (22 megabytes!) it’s rather large…
FairUse4WM Vista fixed mirror 1

Due to the popularity of my previous post on FairUse4WM 1.3. I thought I might provide some more, updated list of download locations. None of the links on the following page are hosted on 406NotAcceptable’s webspace, or Dreamhost/Linode servers.

Please remember to only use this on music you actually own. I do not condone piracy.

Mirror’s that are still live, NONE HOSTED HERE:

Download Mirror 1 rar file, password: freedom
Download Mirror 2
Download Mirror 3
Download Mirror 4

ED2k
Requires ed2k client

I might be a little behind the times here, but as you may know I reported on BackupHDDVD and how it could crack HD-DVD’s ‘unbreakable’ encryption system — AACS. Well I think I need to mention the progress of AAC encryption’s downfall. On the 13th of February DailyTech reported that theProcessing Key had been found. This key is reported to be the one key to crack any AAC protected content — HD-DVD OR Blu-Ray.

A program known as BackupHDDVD claims to be able to crack the so called ‘uncrackable’ AACS encryption used by high definition media.

Download locations included in article.

I did not realise until today that, unlike in the States, in the UK we can not make a copy of a CD or DVD for our own personal usage. In fact, the majority of the United Kingdom’s populous is breaking the law every single week when they rip music from a CD to their MP3 player.

Digital Rights Management

After mentioning FairUseWM, or FairUse4WM the name seems interchangeable, I thought I would look for a download for the tool so I could host it here. However, it seems FairUse4WM 1.2 is rather difficult to get hold of; with fakes on the p2p networks not helping much. When looking for it on them the file size should be a shade over 200kb and the tool will not come with a crack as it is freeware — those ‘cracks’ for FairUse4WM are just virii and malware installers.

Read on for the link…

If you have eMule here is an ed2k link to FairUse4WM 1.2, eMule is available here.

Fairuse4Wm 1.2.zip

Alternatively, check out this japenese blog which has a direct download for the file, as well as over anti-DRM stuff. Run the blog in google translate or babelfish’s “translate site into xxx” service to read the site.

Finally, check out Doom9’s forums, where the creator posts updates, and there are some direct download links on MegaUpload and Rapidshare posted.

Update: Here are a few download links for FairUse4WM non of these downloads for FairUseWM are hosted here. Clicking any of these download links will open in a new window, CTRL-click with Firefox to open them in a new tab, enjoy DRM free files and remember to only use FairUse4WM on files you bought:

http://ranobe.com/up/src/up134478.zip

http://www.content-type.com/-574985070/ver12.zip.htm

http://www.bigupload.com/code.php?code=0F905338

http://www.datafilehost.com/download.php?file=bc786249

http://www.bestsharing.com/files/ms0…ver12.zip.html

http://www.filehost.ro/167046/ver12_zip/

http://www.upitus.com/download.php?file=6f65c2b0

I won’t be hosting the files here as it may break Dreamhost’s ToS, which would not be nice for me. The legality of this product is rather vague.

I take no responsibility for what you do with this tool. You should only be using it on songs you OWN, aka paid for.