FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  606 (01/04/08)

Q. I have tried loading the BBC iPlayer on my PC. The Download Manager software installed successfully and I can play streamed TV programmes on my PC, but I am unable to download and play them at a later date. Every time I try I receive a message that says there is a ‘DRM Error’.

David Southon, via email

A. This is quite a common problem and it usually happens after upgrading or updating Windows Media Player, or making changes to key hardware components, such as the CPU, motherboard or hard drive. DRM or Digital Rights Management is the mechanism used by iPlayer to control and restrict the programmes that you download and watch. This is the part of iPlayer that, amongst other things, automatically deletes recordings that you have downloaded after 30 days. If DRM files are missing or corrupt then iPlayer virtually shuts down.

There are a couple of possible solutions and if you don’t mind doing a spot of simple Registry editing I would begin with the procedure outlined in Microsoft Knowledgebase article 891664, which shows you how to backup and reset DRM Management. The second method is outlined on the BBC iPlayer support website, and this is better suited to those wary of tinkering with System files, though I have to warn you it’s a bit long-winded, so read it carefully and follow the steps precisely.

Q. I have started digitising an embarrassingly large number of audiocassettes using EZ Vinyl Converter and iTunes. The files already occupy a significant proportion of my hard drive (total used area 12.5Gb out of 38Gb), and I estimate they will eventually need more hard drive space than I‘ve got. 

I plan to copy the music files to an MP3 player, but worry that it could be stolen or malfunction, so I want to keep the music files on the hard drive. My wife tells me to get a new computer with a much bigger hard drive; this one dates back to 2002. Is she right, or is there a cheaper alternative?

What about copying the music files on to an MP3 disc - could I then copy them back on to the hard drive, if I replace the computer?

Dave Dalton, via email

A. I’m ruling out backing up to DVD or Flash memory because you have far too much data to fit onto a single disc or drive, which leaves you with three options. Your PC is now well past retirement age and sooner or later it is going to let you down, so I would definitely consider buying a new PC, but maybe not straight away. The second option is to put off the upgrade for a few months, maybe a year or so if you are very lucky, and install a second hard disc drive with at least 80Gb capacity, preferably more. This would allow you to backup the entire system, just in case your original drive fails, and still leave plenty of room for your MP3 files. If you shop around online you can find 80Gb IDE drives selling for under £30.

The third and my preferred option would be to buy the second hard drive, plus an external USB hard drive housing, which will set you back a further £10 to £15. Pop the drive into the housing and connect the cables – usually no tools needed and it only takes a couple of minutes. You are probably still using Windows 98 SE or ME, in which case you will need to load the driver disc that comes with the housing, before Windows recognises the drive. Once that’s done you’ll be able to use this drive for system backup and MP3 storage, and, when the time comes to replace your PC, you can use it to copy files to the new machine, and continue using it for backup and storage. And yes, you can copy files to and from your MP3 player, the PC and backup drive without any problems

Q. My laptop is really slow and I keep seeing adverts for a free download for a Registry cleaning program.  When I try to find out where to purchase it all I get is the price in dollars. Do you know of any UK suppliers?

Patricia Plank, via email

A. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again Registry cleaners can’t work miracles nor will they make a sluggish PC run any faster or fix deep seated problems. Unless you are getting error messages saying that there is a problem with the Registry, it is safest to leave them alone. To make matters worse a fair number of demo and trial cleaners are ‘Scareware’ and try to frighten into shelling out for the full version with reports of hundreds, sometimes thousands of errors. These errors are often unimportant, or put there by the program, so give them a wide berth.

More often than not a slow PC is simply due to clutter, unwanted Startup programs and services and so on. Upgrading your memory, especially if it is less than 1Gb for Windows XP or 2Gb on Vista can also do wonders. However, if the system is more than three or four years old the simplest solution is to save your data, wipe the drive and reinstall Windows and your applications. I know it sounds like a chore but with a little preparation and a few hours work you will have what seems like a new PC. Here’s another tip, if you have a second drive ‘clone’ your newly installed system, so the next time it starts to slow down, or become unreliable, you can switch to the fresh clone copy.

If you want to have a go at cleaning up your PC yourself it’s not difficult but it is very time-consuming if you want to do the job properly. Windows XP users should look at Boot Camps 355 to 358 and for Vista see the current series of articles, starting with Boot Camp 511.

If you have a computer problem write to: fff@telegraph.co.uk

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© R. Maybury 2008 1103