First check that your computer settings are correct.
However, if the digital rights management system (DRM) on your computer is corrupt then you will not be able to play downloaded programmes, all you will be able to see if the 10 second BBC ident trail then the screen will go black. This method to correct it should also work on both Windows 7 and Windows Vista.
Windows XP
The procedure for doing so varies slightly, depending on whether you use Windows Media Player 10 or Windows Media Player 11. Please follow the instructions on the Microsoft website at Microsoft's guide to solving DRM problem depending on your version of Windows Media Player, or its more general guide is here if you wish to follow these.
These links will take you to a website outside bbc.co.uk. The BBC is not responsible for content or software downloaded from external sites.
This is a quick step by step guide to the same issue – you may find this easier to follow.
You first need to make sure you are logged onto your computer using an account with administrator privileges, not just local privileges.
1. Skip to step 2 if you are using Windows Media Player 11. If you are using Windows Media Player 10 you will now need to backup existing programme licences:
- Start Windows Media Player
- Go to Tools and then Manage Licenses.
- Specify where you would like to back up or restore licences to
- Click Back Up Now.
2. In some cases you may need to manually add DRM to the address to access the folder - try copying and pasting the following address into your Explorer window:
C:\Program Data\Microsoft\Windows\DRM
3. Start Windows Explorer
4. Click Tools, then Folder Options and then select the View tab
5. In the advanced settings box click Show hidden files and folders if it is not already selected. If a warning box asks if you are sure that you wish to display hidden files, click Yes and then click OK.
6. In the advanced settings box uncheck Hide protected operating system files if it is not already.
7. Locate the DRM folder on your hard disk. In Windows XP this is usually located at drive:\Documents and Settings\All Users\DRM – the drive is usually the C drive
8. Select and delete all of the files in the DRM folder and restart computer.
9. Go to: http://drmlicense.one.microsoft.com/Indivsite/en/indivit.asp and follow the instructions to upgrade the security component of Windows Media Player.
10. Start Windows Media Player and go to Tools and then:
- For WMP10 select Manage Licenses. Specify a folder from which to restore the licences in Backup or Restore Location. Click Restore Now... and follow the on-screen instructions.
- For WMP11 select Apply Media Information Changes then select Close when the process is complete
11. To download new media usage rights for a file, start BBC iPlayer and play the programme, it should now attempt to download new rights. If this does not happen, you may need to download the programme again.
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