I already know half the answer, but I keep Googling up little bits and pieces that hint there may be other methods, so, I figure it doesn't hurt to ask.
What I'm trying to do is view a protected WMV video on a Mac. I DO have a legit license for the video (and Windows, and Fusion, and Parallels...), for reference.
I can get the video to play on Windows XP x64 (which is really closer to Win2K3 server than regular XP), running in the latest version of VMWare Fusion on a current-gen mini. However, the video is a little jumpy, and it occasionally flakes out and throws up an error, closing the video, for no apparent reason. It will play ok if I re-open the same file.
I then tried getting a sample DRM'd WMV to play on my laptop (1st-gen MBP 17") in XP SP3, also via VMWare Fusion. However, WMP11 throws up a completely meaningless error and won't play. I'm guessing that the error is because of the video driver problems Fusion has on this particular model of GPU (it gives a warning on startup), which WMP reads as being an improperly DRM-okay driver or something (not that the error TELLS you this...). Could also be a run-of-the-mill WMP11 glitch, except it absolutely refuses to uninstall (somehow its rollback folder got deleted, so HAH! No uninstall for you!) Either way, 2 hours last night and everything short of a full Windows wipe and reinstall (with the associated call to India) and I never did get any closer.
So I'm wondering if there is some better way to go about this that I've overlooked?
Flip4Mac is of course useless on DRM and Wine/CrossOver won't run WMP11. I'm going to try converting my XP install image to a Parallels one and see if its video drivers will work, but that's another call to MS at minimum. There's of course The Methods That Must Not Be Named for fear of angering the DMCA flying monkeys, but I don't particularly want to go that route even if I could get it working, which Google tells me is not trivial.
I didn't think it was possible to hate Microsoft any more than I already did, but last night proved me wrong.
What I'm trying to do is view a protected WMV video on a Mac. I DO have a legit license for the video (and Windows, and Fusion, and Parallels...), for reference.
I can get the video to play on Windows XP x64 (which is really closer to Win2K3 server than regular XP), running in the latest version of VMWare Fusion on a current-gen mini. However, the video is a little jumpy, and it occasionally flakes out and throws up an error, closing the video, for no apparent reason. It will play ok if I re-open the same file.
I then tried getting a sample DRM'd WMV to play on my laptop (1st-gen MBP 17") in XP SP3, also via VMWare Fusion. However, WMP11 throws up a completely meaningless error and won't play. I'm guessing that the error is because of the video driver problems Fusion has on this particular model of GPU (it gives a warning on startup), which WMP reads as being an improperly DRM-okay driver or something (not that the error TELLS you this...). Could also be a run-of-the-mill WMP11 glitch, except it absolutely refuses to uninstall (somehow its rollback folder got deleted, so HAH! No uninstall for you!) Either way, 2 hours last night and everything short of a full Windows wipe and reinstall (with the associated call to India) and I never did get any closer.
So I'm wondering if there is some better way to go about this that I've overlooked?
Flip4Mac is of course useless on DRM and Wine/CrossOver won't run WMP11. I'm going to try converting my XP install image to a Parallels one and see if its video drivers will work, but that's another call to MS at minimum. There's of course The Methods That Must Not Be Named for fear of angering the DMCA flying monkeys, but I don't particularly want to go that route even if I could get it working, which Google tells me is not trivial.
I didn't think it was possible to hate Microsoft any more than I already did, but last night proved me wrong.
