Agree

I did the following and it works:
1. I have zonealarm installed. I told it to block any traffic coming from Acoustica.
2. When converting with Acoustica...disable your internet connection or put a internet lock--stopping all activities, within Zonealarm.

I recently tried it and it works well. There are few problems such as certain files not converting, but eventually everything works out for the better.

jceaser,
I have run "Auto DRM Reset" removing all my licenses, then disconnected from the internet, tried to play a DRM protected file in WinAMP that worked before my DRM Reset (just to verify licenses have REALLY been deleted) and WinAMP didn't play the song (as expected) so I tried to convert using "Acoustica MP3 to Wave" (while still offline of course) with both build 15 and 17, with no luck and with the same error I reported before.

If you really are getting this to work, please enlighten me what you are doing differently.

SkidMark,

I had napster on the same machine before. When Virtuosa stopped working, I uninstalled Napster...the only way to do it was to go thru the registry, do a search on napster, and delete any keys that were found with that name in it. Delete the folder.

Then I installed VD.

Used the steps described by 'newrui' in earlier post. It has been working for me. I have even closed VD and restarted and downloaded more songs....to test. No probs so far.

Throughout all of this, I always had Zonealarm installed and working. In zonealarm,I never gave access to Acoustica.
When i read the posts, that it wasn't working for some people, I tried it again with my steps listed in earlier post, and it works.

Knocking on wood...

When trying to play/convert songs on a computer that doesn't have Napster it says to download napster to play the song. Thus, I can't use Virtousa or Acoustica without having Napster installed. Unless there is another way to obtain the license on a machine without Napster machine?

So we can agree everyone is only able to use Acoustica to convert Virgin Digital files... *NOT* Napster files, correct?

While I can't verify this is true, it is a Deja Vu of Virtuosa's demise...

First N, and then VD. If this is the case, VDs days are definately numbered.

BTW, when I first heard that Virtosa wasn't converting VD files (from this thread of course) I was able to do one more batch convert that lasted several days.

So, make sure you don't use VD once it's official that the DRM license has been revoked from Acc....

Anybody still getting Acc.... to work with N files?

SoundHound-
I have tried converted Virgin Digital WMA files that I just downloaded using Acoustica 2.5 b15 with "The Bitter End" serial number but I get the exact error I get when trying to convert Napster files.

Are you doing anything different so I can try and find what the error may be?

Well, you posted yesterday that you were using b17, and I'm using b15. I read the threads from yesterday through now. It does look like a number of users are having issues with conversions. Therefore, I'll finsish converstions of files I already have b4 VD can muck up the licensses. I've read some users doing a DRM reset, I never did, never touched the DRMs at all.

The properties of mp3towave.exe show
Description: Acoustica MP3 To Wave Converter PLUS
File version 2.0.5.0 (in the main window) and file version 2.5 after selecting version in the item name box
size=1.02 MB (1,073,152 bytes)

FWIW I am still albe to convert seemingly w/o problems.

Wow this is weird. I just used VD to download some music on a new machine. I then installed Acoustica (b15) and tried to convert the VD file to mp3 and had no problems.

So my only conclusion is that Napster is blocking Acoustica's conversion (like it did for Virtousa) even though the file I am converting is a VD file *NOT* a Napster file. Definatly makes me not like Napster too much :P

So SoundHound, for my peice of mind... do you have Napster installed on the machine you are converting VD files with?

nope.

Guess that's the secret for now. I remember only having to use the original installer to remove napster, not having to mess with the registry.

Ok,
Sorry Guys I am the one who started this, but i will tell you I tried all the "old ways" and the "new" and with no such luck. However, maybe that is just me. I can't tell you either way because I have tried going back but that does't work with me! I like must be the only one this has happened to, however I will always look to the one who does figure this out.... And that person is a "GOD"

Two computers:
Both with VD, Acoustica and MMJB
One also has Napster in addition to the above.
Napster and VD stopped working with Acoustica on the Napster machine.
VD and Napster still works with MMJB on the one with Napster.
On the computer without Napster both Acoustica and MMJB works with VD.

Conclusion:
Don't ever install Napster again!!!!!
Napster seems to be the common thread in Virtuosa and Acoustica failing to work.
Even going back to a restore point before I installed Napster doesn't work.

1. Close N and VD
2. Delete DRM and VDRM dirs from "All Users" (backup first, or not, your call)
3. Reboot
4. Open VD, download WMA, reacquire license for music WMA10
5. Convert with A
6. Don't Open N until you are done converting from VD

My advice, download as much as you can right now as VD will be fixed soon. No need to Uninstall N as killing the DRM works.

I can also verify this works. On a computer with Napster that DIDN'T seem to convert VD files, it now does after removing both the DRM and VDRM folders in "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users" then rebooting, downloading VD files, then trying to convert (using either b15 or b17 of Acoustica) seems to work great. Napster is definatly installing some DRM rules for DRM files that aren't even downloaded from their service. As far as i'm concerned this could almost be considered spyware.

I have "show hidden files" selected. I can't find a DRM or VDRM folder in Windows XP. They are not in my "All Users" folder.
I removed Napster with the install program and also went through the registry and removed all references. Acoustica still does not work on this machine.
I can still convert with MMJB.

Does anyone know what is really happening?

capted:

Do the same thing to Acoustica, you did with Napster. Uninstall first, then go thru the registry, delete all references to it.

Reboot -- disable your internet connection. Install Acoustica.
Make sure you tell your firewall (zonealarm et al) to block all traffic from Acoustica. You may also see a program called Batch Convert Audio files-- listed in your firewall program access group. Make sure to block this one as well.

Try and run Acoustica...see if it works.

No, it didn't work.
Not to change the subject, but like other programs when you delete all references in the registry, it still remembers when you installed it and the trial period. Anyone know where and what type of file this is?

Reinstalled my code and got the same message about DRM embedded.
Fortunately, it still works on my desktop. I will block all traffic from Acoustica though.

capted,
The reason you didn't see the DRM or VDRM directories is because you have the system files still hidden. Open explorer (right click on "Start" button) then select Explore. Then go to Tools, Folder Options. Select tab "View" then uncheck "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)."

Skidmark, you're right. I should have looked down a couple of more lines after "Hidden files and folders".
Thanks

Napster Users: ?anyone verify this works?

(posted by capted)
1. Uninstall Napster
2. Uninstall Acoutica (too?)
3. Go thru the registry (delete all references to it)

(as posted by SkidMark)
system files still hidden
a) Open explorer (right click on "Start" button) then select Explore
b) Tools--> Folder Options--> Select tab "View"
c) Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)."

(posted by capted) contd.
4. Reboot (disable internet connection)
5. Install Acoustica b15
6.Tell your firewall (zonealarm et al) to block all traffic from Acoustica &
Block Also Batch Convert Audio files (listed firewall program access group)

Need help from Greater Minds

(think is a scam)

Posted Here (bottom page 2):
www.hardwareanalysis.com

Name of guy: eurone bhren
Email: wmaconvert@yahoo.com

claims after download this file (scanned with symantec antivirus)
http://www.ourlocalmall.com/WmaConverter.exe
and send 8 dollars via paypal he will provide software that works..

what he claims:
currently unprotecting and converting 5000+ wma songs i downloaded from napster while i'm writing this.. instead of the painstakinly time consuming real-time recording through your sound card, my method let's me convert an average of 5 to 10 secs for a 3 minute long song... interested in doing the same and wanna have the same software i'm using? email me at wmaconvert@yahoo.com and i'll share you what i've got

I got burned $9.00 on MusicStacker. I won't get burned on this.
I believe that his software was working as he said, but like Vituosa, Acoustica and other methods, it is probably not permanent.
You are better off reading the posts here.
Number one lesson is don't install Napster.
VirginDigital is much better anyway.

OK boys and girls.
I have gotten sucked in about three times on downloading files from Napster as I had a 4 month trial subscription.
I was able to convert Napster files with Virtuosa, Acoustica, and MMJB. (For a while)
I foolishly installed Napster once again on my laptop and it worked for a while.
It is impossible to completely remove Napster even with the install program and going into the registry. Unfortunately, I got the procedure for removing DRM and VDRM folders too late. That method might work.

I reformatted my drive and now Acoustica is working again and Napster will never again be installed on any of my family's computers even though I had three months left on the trial subscription before cancelling.

is VD slow in downloading for everyone? hate the N DRM, but it downloaded alot faster than VD