How To: Remove DRM from Windows Media .WMA / .WMV using FreeMe2
What is Freeme2?
FreeMe2 is free open-source software available for people to strip down DRM protection for .WMA, .WMV, and any other Windows Media file. Unfortunately, you cannot strip down iTunes DRM’ed MP3s using this program. DRM is digital protection that only allows you to play that music file or video file on the computer or the specified device. It also can strip DRM video and audio streams too. Moving it to another device will enable the DRM and not allow you to playback the files.
Disclaimer.
There may be some legality issues with stripping DRM. The DRM was implemented by music studios so illegal music or file sharing would be discouraged. So taking something off (illegitamately) when it is suppose to be there may raise a small debate. Fortunately, many people don’t want DRM and a lot of the music record labels are listening to the users and taking off DRM slowly.
How to Do it
FreeMe2 is a Windows Command Line program meaning you will need to know how to use CMD to use this program. Luckily, I will show you all the commands nesscary to utilize the program.
Step 1.
Download FreeMe2 Here. (Hosted on my server).
Original Source Codes for programmers can be found here.
Step 2.
Drag the FreeMe2 folder to your desktop.
Step 3.
Put your DRM protected music / video files into the same folder as the program (FreeMe2)
Step 4.
Run the Windows command console: Hit “Start”->Hit “Run…”->type CMD->Hit the “OK” button.
Step 5.
Type in the console, “cd desktop/freeme2″ without quotes to change to that directory.
It should show up as (C:\Documents and Settings\XXXXX\Desktop\FreeMe2)
Step 6.
Type in “freeme2 -vs2 name_of_music_file”
Ex. freeme2 -vs alphabet.wma
Then hit enter.
the -vs2 command is very important! Make sure there is only one space before and after the -vs2
Your new non-DRM protected music file will be outputed to the same folder!
Enjoy.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to post a comment.
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}
Hi;
I tried to follow your instructions to remove the DRM from an audiobook so I could play it with my mp3 player. I had an error “Usage: FreeMe2 [-vs2] protected file”
Is the file you offer for download protected? How would I go about removing this protection?
I appreciate you putting together this guide and any advice you can offer would be appreciated.
[Reply]
No, the protected file is the audiobook you want to unlock.
Example: FreeMe2 [-vs2] audiobook.wav
[Reply]
I found this Demo which is about how to remove DRM from WMV and WMA, it’s detailed, but I don’t know if it’s legal?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z34rqYICN4
[Reply]
I’ve tried all of your steps completely, but after I typed:
freeme2 -vs2 beautiful.wma
it gives this result:
Found DRMv1 header object.
This file is version 1 protected, not version 2.
Press to acknowledge error.
I’ve tried over and over and over again with different typing and type the command that you have given over and over and over again, but it still gives the same result.
[Reply]
You tried -vs1? It should work, if not, then maybe the DRM key is a newer version that the program.
[Reply]
Hi, I get “Enter SID for this file:”
What is the SID?
Thanks
[Reply]
I also have a SID error… any advice would be great!
[Reply]
Different ways of removing DRM protection from iTunes music on Windows and Mac OS X. You can choose any of them to unlock the DRMed iTunes music songs for various MP3/MP4 players and mobile phones rather than limiting them to iPod and iPhone. Go and have your iTunes liberated!
http://itunesm4ptomp3.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/remove-itunes-drm-windows-mac/
[Reply]
Hi, I get “Enter SID for this file:”
What is the SID?
Thanks
[Reply]
Try 0 or 1 or 2.
[Reply]