Windows 7: recorded program will not play again after restore

I use whs (both 2003 and 2011) to backup my Windows 7 media server
have several cablecard tuners
but if I ever need to restore (from earlier version) or even re-format this computer
recorded programs will not play again (can not play recordings from another computer is the message)
Any way of save/restore the current drm info before I restore from earlier version or even re-format?????
Screen capture programs are crap.
Help!!
Thanks,
Ray

I think this is a playready problem. if you replaced your c drive then playready is broken.

I just read elsewhere a drm key is made with each recording.
so if new install software or older date restore of same software, drm code will not match
shame for any archiving
Thanks,
Ray

The encryption key used for copy-protected content is time-based. As time moves on, the running currently installed Windows 7 system can decrypt (and play) all copy-protected programs recorded previously.

When you take a system image, the decryption capability implicit in that system image is limited to being able to play back all copy-protected programs recorded prior to the date/time of that system image.

So if you restore that system image, it will only be able to decrypt and play back copy-protected programs which were made prior to the date/time of the system image you just restored. Any copy-protected programs recorded AFTER the date/time of the system image you just restored will NOT be able to be decrypted and played back. That's just something we have to live with, so it's often necessary to "view down" any unwatched copy-protected recordings made after the date/time of the system image you're about to restore, because once you do that restore you will unfortunately not be able to view them.

This is the nature of the time-based encryption method and DRM technology built into Windows 7. Very tight, and strict. And there's nothing you can to do get around it.

Same with what will happen if you install a new Windows 7 system from scratch, even on the current identical machine hardware. Once again, you will NOT be able to play any copy-protected programs recorded using the prior installed Windows 7. Once again, the encryption mechanism is not only time-based but also is a function of the hardware and the "internal identity" of the installed Windows 7 system. Installing a new Windows 7 creates a new "internal identity", which is the same reason you can't play a copy-protected program recorded on one system using Windows 7 on another machine. Different "internal identity" makes it impossible to decrypt.

Very tight, and very strict... when it comes to copy-protected content recorded from a cable company service through cablecard-enabled TV tuners and WMC. There is none of this with copy-freely content (e.g. OTA/ATSC programs).

Thanks for the info. I agree from what I have seen.

I will try and keep up with my recordings.

And just to be clear, once you restore that system image (say from a week ago), your ability to play copy-protected content is backwards-limited to all recordings made prior to a week ago. And of course as time now goes forward, any new recording made with this restored image will also be able to be played back.

It is only that "window" of time between the date/time of the restored image (i.e. last week) and today (when you did the actual restore), where just those recordings will be unplayable. All older records can be played, and all newly recorded programs (following the date/time of the restore itself) will also be able to be played. Only the programs in the "window" are lost.