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is there a way to play old WMA files on windows 10 Windows Media Player ?

Anonymous
2020-12-28T17:55:36+00:00

Have old WMA files that played successfully on Windows Vista.

When I copy them tp my Windows 10 PC I cannot open them with Windows Media Player or  Groove or any other music players.

I would like to be able to play them and/or convert them to MP3 files but have found nothing that works so far.

Does anyone have a solution to this slightly nagging problem I have?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-12-28T18:40:02+00:00

    Hello I am an independent advisor for the Microsoft community. I found this file converter that should work on your files and change them to MP3: https://downloads.zdnet.com/product/2140-10494267/

    Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-12-29T01:52:00+00:00

    I just fixed the old WMA files by downloading and using a free software named Digital Rights Update Tool.

    It fixed all of my WMA files by removing the 'PROTECTED' attribute that was turned on by Windows Vista when the WMA files were created. Windows Media Player on Windows Vista was not blocked by the PROTECT = YES but Windows 10 would not attempt to play these with Protest = Yes with the current version of Windows Media Player or with 

    Groove Music.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-12-29T01:33:07+00:00

    Hi,

    The only thing I can see in the Vista WMP that may be of help as a last resort would be to export the music files to a CD..

    If they then play on the CD you might be able to copy them back to the Windows 10 machine..

    You might be able to modify the Permissions and Ownership of the files, but I would not attempt that with the originals..

    One reason the wma files are used is to provide copy protection and licensing rights.. Under your circumstances, I'm not sure how that would apply though..

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-12-28T22:53:57+00:00

    I don't think that is the problem. I originally got the songs from my daughter who copied them and gave them to me to install on my computer. I still have the old (Windows VISTA) PC and can play them on it using Windows Media Player. However I cannot successfully open them with any other software even on the Vista computer.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-12-28T22:06:46+00:00

    Hi,

    Is it possible that those files were licensed for use only on that specific Vista machine  ?

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