How to Convert a Protected WMV to AVI
A Windows Media Video (WMV) file is a type of video clip that is compressed to reduce its file size and is made to play easily on the Windows Media Player software. Many WMV files come with digital rights management (DRM) protection that prevents them from being copied or altered. To convert a protected WMV file to the more portable Audio Video Interleave (AVI) file format, you will need to download and install a conversion utility specifically designed to remove the DRM protection.
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Instructions
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Open your computer's web browser. Click on the navigation tool bar at the top of the program. Navigate to a website that offers a conversion utility that can convert protected WMV files such as "Media Converter Pro" or "Video Rip" (see Resources below).
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Click on the program's download link and then click on "Save File" when a new window appears asking if you want to download the installation file. Wait for the conversion utility's installation file to finish downloading, and then exit your web browser. Open the desktop's "My Computer" icon and navigate to the folder that stores your downloaded files.
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Double-click on the file and then click on "Run" when a box appears asking for your permission to start the program. Click on the "Next" button when a new window pops up on the screen. Click on the "I Accept the Terms" button and then click on "Next" again. Click the "Install" button at the lower left side of the window to start the installation process.
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Restart the computer to finish the installation process. Find the conversion program's desktop icon and double-click it. Click on the "Add" button at the top right corner of the window. Browse through the folders on your computer's hard drive and locate the protected WMV file you want to convert. Click on the file and then click on "Open."
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Click on the "Settings" button at the bottom of the window underneath the "Convert Video To..." heading. Click on the drop-down menu and choose the "AVI" format. Find the "Output Path" button at the left side of the window and click on it. Choose the folder where you want the converted file to be saved once the conversion process has finished. Click on the "Start" button to convert the protected WMV file to the AVI file format.
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Tips & Warnings
No conversion utility is perfect, and software glitches are known to happen. Always back up your original WMV file to an external source or at least make an extra copy of it before you start the conversion program in case the file becomes corrupted and is no longer usable.
Making and distributing copies of DRM protected WMV files may be a violation of copyright laws and can have legal repercussions.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Daniusoft
