Fix NS_E_DRM_ATTRIBUTE_TOO_LONG (0XC00D28B2) in Windows

Shorten the file name or metadata

The culprit here is almost always a file or folder name that's longer than 260 characters. Windows Media Player (WMP) uses that path to generate a DRM attribute, and if it hits the limit, you get 0XC00D28B2. This happens more than you'd think when you've got a long folder structure like E:\Music\New Age\Greatest Hits\Best Of Collection\ combined with a track name like 1984 - Live at Madison Square Garden - Remastered Edition (Bonus Track).wma.

Here's the fix:

1. Move the file to a short path, like C:\Music\.
2. Rename the file to something short — under 60 characters total.
3. Edit the file's metadata (right-click > Properties > Details) and shorten the Title, Artist, and Album fields. Even if the filename is short, a long Title can still trigger this.

After renaming, try syncing again. If it works, you've found your problem. Don't bother with long filenames for DRM-protected content — Windows just doesn't handle them well.

Reset the DRM license store

If shortening the name doesn't fix it, the DRM data itself might be corrupted. I've seen this after a Windows update or a crash that leaves the license store in a bad state. The fix is to reset it — WMP will re-download licenses from the provider (if the file is from an online store).

1. Close WMP.
2. Press Win+R, type %windir%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\DRM and hit Enter.
3. Rename the DRM folder to DRM_old (this is safer than deleting, just in case).
4. Reboot your PC.
5. Open WMP and try to play or sync the file again. It'll rebuild the DRM store.

This is a nuclear option that works for most WMP DRM issues. Only downside is you'll need to re-authorize any WMP files that require licenses, but that's usually automatic if you're online.

Check for third-party DRM conflicts

Sometimes the error comes from a DRM service interfering with WMP. If you've got iTunes, Spotify, or any custom codec pack installed, it can mess with the DRM attributes. The error shows up more on Windows 7 and 8.1, but I've seen it on Windows 10 too.

Try this:

1. Uninstall any codec packs like K-Lite or CCCP — they're rarely the fix here and can cause more problems.
2. If you're using a third-party media player, try playing the file in WMP directly. If it works there, the issue is the other app's DRM handling.
3. Check if the file is from an old service like MSN Music or Yahoo Music — those services are dead, and their DRM servers are gone. In that case, the file is effectively orphaned. You might as well convert it to MP3 using a DRM-stripping tool (if it's legal in your region), or just download a non-DRM version.

Honestly, most DRM errors from defunct services are unsolvable. Move on.

Quick reference table

If none of those work, you're likely dealing with a dead DRM server. Cut your losses, rip the track from CD if you still have it, or buy a DRM-free version. That error code isn't worth pulling your hair out over.