help needed with downloading music to MP3 player

[growbag]

Hi, I have bought my son an MP3 player for Christmas. I've downloaded CDs onto it fine, via the pc, but have had problems downloading music i've bought from sites such as HMV and Tesco. When I've bought the tracks and downloaded them, they seem to be going onto the MP3 player ok, but when I go to play them I get an error message saying "cannot play. Licence expired". It doesn't seem to matter what site I've bought it from, or whether I download it to my pc and then onto the MP3 player or straight onto the MP3 player. I'd appreciate some advice. Thanks.

[fo3nix]

What player did you buy?

Does it have the Microsoft "PlaysForSure" label on it (or on the box)?

(Most legal music right now sold online is infected with stuff called DRM, that prevents it from playing on any player. It traps you into buying special players that can play that music.)

[growbag]

It's a Sony Walkman and it has the "plays for sure" logo. I've had another stab and talked to an amazingly helpful person at the Tesco helpline (I had bought downloads from Tesco) and have now got some of the songs to load onto the MP3 but not all of them. So I really don't know what is wrong. Guess I'll continue to buy CDs and load them on....

[fo3nix]

I've never used a Sony player so can't help there.

But DRM issues are a minefield; it's easier and better to keep buying CDs.

[growbag]

Thanks anyway. Yes, I guess i'll stick to the old method...