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General discussion

newbie question about DRM

Feb 19, 2006 1:47AM PST

Ok I am technically a newbie in all of this DRM stuff. I know the concept behind it and some theory ( I have done a little bit of research on how to answer this next question)

I have bought music from the Itunes music store and its says its ok to do a backup of your music, so I am thinking of backing it up to an external hard drive. I would love to do a fresh install of windows (of course it comes with the territory of having such OS) but I am afraid to loose the right to listen to the music that I already have paid for. So, if anyone could help me clarify this I would be grateful. Like I said before I have taken the time to research the topic but its so confusing because there is a lot out there that I dont know where to turn

Thanks for your time
marigb

Discussion is locked

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Just unauthorize the computer before you uninstall
Feb 19, 2006 1:51AM PST

then you reauthorize it after the reinstall and you'll be fine

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re: Just unauthorize the computer before you uninstall
Feb 19, 2006 5:28AM PST

ok should I do it before I back up or before re-installing windows?
By the way thanks for the advice

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Personally
Feb 19, 2006 4:20AM PST

I would back the music up to CDs in audio format and import them later.

-Ryan

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Not that I condone such a thing <cough>
Feb 19, 2006 5:14AM PST

If you burn them to CDs as a MUSIC CD and not just as data, it wipes the DRM.

But I don't think you can put nearly as many onto a CD since it saves them as AIFF (I think - I'm a little fuzzy on audio formats) instead of a compressed AAC or MP3 when saved as data.

-Kevin S.

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Unauthorize Music
Feb 19, 2006 2:47PM PST

Unauthorize before you back up. If you save the files as a music cd to take off the DRM, you lose some sound quality. Bascially it is trying to compress something that has already been compressed, so some information is bound to be lost. I don't personally care, since I my hearing is horrible and I can't discern sound like serious audiophiles can.

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AIFF and compression
Feb 19, 2006 3:46PM PST

AIFF files on a CD that you buy in a store are not compressed, is that correct? My assupmtion is that when saving an MP3 or AAC file back out to an AIFF when making a music CD from iTunes, it would not be compressed. Of course, even if it is lossless AIFF, it is saving out a file that has already been compressed so it won't get any better. But it also wouldn't get any worse.

Since I can place far fewer songs on a CD if I save as a Music CD (AIFF) I assumed it was not doing any compression. Do you know why iTunes might choose to use a lossy (compressed) version of AIFF? Are they purposely degrading a Music CD that you make simply because of DRM issues?

-Kevin S.

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ok...
Feb 19, 2006 9:09PM PST

I really not that bothered by the DRM, I just want to be able to play my music that i have paid for how many times I would like. Since my collection is about 14 GB's burning them onto a CD is not a good choice.. even a dvd..it would take what 4? so I am backing up to an external hard drive. Thanks for all your help and advice
Maria