This post is a response to the even more ridiculous and draconian DRM [digital rights management = your hardware/software controls you instead of the other way around…..think DVD players, CDs, DVDs, computers, video game boxes, etc] schemes the RIAA and big labels are implementing in an attempt to keep you from copying your music CDs that you have ever legitimate right to copy according to the FAIR USE doctrine……..

This is the text of the DRM circumvention method to use if you would like to be able to use your [protected/'secure'] CDs like you should be able to…….just in case you buy one of these CDs/DVDs at the store, which are starting to become more and more prevalent in the market………

“We appreciate your purchase of our CD and apologize for any inconvenience. Please follow the instructions below in order to move your content into iTunes and onto an iPod.

[Macintosh] If you have a Macintosh computer you can copy the songs using your iTunes Player as you would normally do.

[Windows] If you have a PC place the CD into your computer and allow the Sony BMG audio player on the CD to automatically start. If the player software does not automatically start, open your Windows Explorer. Locate and select the drive letter for your CD drive. On the disc you will find either a file named LaunchCD.exe or Autorun.exe. Double-click this file to manually start the player.

TIP: If your CD does not contain either the LaunchCD.exe or Autorun.exe files, it may not be compatible with this iPod solution. Please reply to this letter for more information.

Once the Sony BMG player application has been launched and the End User License Agreement has been accepted, you can click the Copy Songs button on the top menu.

Follow the instructions to copy the secure Windows Media Files (WMA) to your PC. Make a note of where you are copying the songs to, you will need to get to these secure Windows Media Files in the next steps.

Once the WMA files are on your PC you can open and listen to the songs with Windows Media Player 9.0 or higher (or another fully compatible player that can playback secure WMA files, such as MusicMatch, RealPlayer, and Winamp). You can then burn the songs to a standard Audio CD. Please note that in order to burn the files, you will need to upgrade to, or already have, Windows Media Player 9 or 10.

Once the standard Audio CD has been created, place this copied CD back into your computer and open iTunes. iTunes can now rip the songs as you would any normal audio CD. “

-OR BETTER YET-

When you stick one of these copy-protected ‘secure’ CDs/DVDs into your drive for the first time and let the Autorun program execute, it installs a device driver onto your PC. This device driver can recognize these copy-protected CDs, which will then interfere with ripping, etc. This is why the CD will rip properly on Macs… they have no use for Windows autorun programs and device drivers.

Anyway, if you’ve never put one of these CDs in your drive and let it autorun, then either (a) disable autorun [see below] or (b) hold down the shift key as you insert the disc to bypass autorun. You will then be able to rip it normally.

If you’ve inadvertently autoran one of these CDs (and had the device driver installed as a result), Google around for instructions on how to find and remove the device driver.

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Your best course of action is this though…..so use it every time you format and reinstall Windows on your comp…………

Here is how to disable autorun on your cd/dvd drives: [if you don’t do this, whatever CD you put on your computer can autorun and autoexecute files on your PC….installing shit that you DON’T WANT, in particular, despotic DRM schemes that keep you from properly using your own property.

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Windows XP Option

- Right-click on the drive icon for your CD drive, CD recorder, or DVD drive, and select Properties.

- Choose the AutoPlay tab, and choose the desired action for each type of CD. For example, choose Music CD, then click Select an action to perform, then select Take no action.

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Windows 2000/XP Option

- Run the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE) – Start>Run>Typing ‘rededit’.

- Navigate to KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Cdrom.
Double-click the Autorun value, and type 0 for its value. (If it’s not there, create it by selecting Edit -> New -> DWORD Value, and typing “Autorun” for its name.)
You may have to log out and then log back in for this change to take effect.

- With this solution, Windows will no longer be notified when you insert a new CD. To make sure the correct icon and title for the current CD are displayed in My Computer and Explorer, press F5 to refresh the window.

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Windows 98/95 Option

- Right click ‘My Computer’ and select properties.
- Select the Device Manger and open it up.
- Select ‘Disk Drives’
- Select one drive at a time
- Right click and select properties and then choose the Settings tab.
- Turn off the Auto insert notification option.
- Click OK, and then OK again. You’ll have to restart Windows for this change to take effect.

For reference:
The Right Hand doesn’t know what the Left Hand is doing at the RIAA/Big Labels:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/ptech/10/04/music.copy.reut/index.html

If all else fails…..do what the RIAA/MPAA do…….BLAME EVERYBODY ELSE FOR WHAT AILS THEM:

http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/faq.html#ipod

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btw, nothing above is illegal, immoral and/or considered theft in any way shape or form…….just go read my info page about Fair Use.