"Rick216" wrote:

>
>
> "zachd [ms]" wrote:
>
> >
> > You shouldn't need to redownload the CRL each time, to my knowledge. It
> > sounds like the player is unable to save data to your system in some
> > fashion... ? Can you right-click in IE on images in web pages and Save
> > Picture As on a file and have an option other than BMP? (If it only saves
> > to BMP, that means you have cache corruption.)
>
> Yes, I can save, say, jpeg's via IE6 context menus.
>
> One thing that's weird about the problem I'm describing is that it's
> unpredicatbly intermittent. Yesterday, I was was able to open any of the
> DRM-licensed WMV files I tried *without* needing to be online. I *thought*
> perhaps this was because of something I tried, namely re-assigning WMP as the
> default player for WMV files (I had made a different player the default a few
> months ago.)
>
> But alas, today I tried opening several of the same files in WMP and was
> back to where they wouldn't play unless I was online upon opening, allowing
> the CRL to be redownloaded (for whatever reason). BTW, I checked to ensure
> WMP was still assigned as the default program for WMV's. This is really
> strange.
>
> >
> > --
> > (speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
> > See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
> > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
> > Now Playing: "When the Saints go Marching In" by "Louis Armstrong" in WMP10.
> > --
> >
> > "Rick216" <Rick216@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:4641921E-A6DE-4F09-A09D-21FD33343CA6@microsoft.com...
> > >I sometimes purchase and download DRM protected WMV video files for WMP 9
> > > (Windows 98). The first time I play each file I go through the required
> > > online licensing process (and I do backup my licenses).
> > >
> > > But most of the time these files will not open on subsequent plays unless
> > > I
> > > am online each time I open them. I don't have to go through the
> > > licensing
> > > process again, I just have to be online when I try to open the file,
> > > otherwise the WMP "opening media..." indicator just shows continually and
> > > nothing happens. (After a file is open it is playable offline until I
> > > close
> > > it.)
> > >
> > > The file suppliers have told me that this is not normal behavior, and that
> > > I
> > > shouldn't need to be online other than during the intial (i.e., licensing)
> > > play.
> > >
> > > I have noticed that when I open the file while online, thus allowing it to
> > > play, my firewall log shows that WMPLAYER.EXE has accessed the internet,
> > > and
> > > the Web History section also shows the entry:
> > > "http://crl.microsoft.com/pki/crl/products/CodeSignPCA.crl" .
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance for any ideas on what might be going on and how to fix
> > > it.

As often happens, after hours of trying possible fixes that only created
other headaches, I hit upon a trivially simple solution to my apparent need
to be online every time I wanted to start up an already-downloaded and
licensed file. Thought I'd pass it along in case anyone has the same
problem, OR in case anyone can explain what might be going on here (it's
still mysterious behavior, reagrdless of a simple workaround).

My pc is a notebook, attached to my cable modem and router via a PC Card
Network Adapter. I just discovered that as long as I remove the adapter
*entirely*, the hdd-resident, already DRM-licensed video files will start up
with no problem. But if I stay online, WMP connects and downloads a
certificate from Microsoft each time I start up the file. And most
importantly, if I simply disconnect the RJ-45 jack from the adapter to get
offline, and then try to open the already-licensed file, WMP will just keep
trying to connect forever. What I have to do is go offline by **removing
the adapter entirely**, and then everything works fine. THAT is what took
so long to figure out. I still don't see why it should behave this way, but
at least I have my fix.