new method to bypass starforce 3!

[john486496]

Bypassing new starforce 3.x games without using SFnightmare or unplugging drives.


Test by Roms6 - 12/07/2005 Translated by French Lover.



This method should be right for all games protected by starforce 3.x without the need to use SF Nightmare or unplug your CD/DVD drives.

You need :

• The right image of your game, I don't give you advices, as settings in Alcohol120% to create your image file vary for each game ;

• VirtualDrive Pro 10, which will hide your drives safely and perfectly.

• Daemon Tools 4.


VirtualDrive Pro 10 installation


Run VirtualDrive Pro, it should take a long time to install, as it copy his own drivers.

By default, VirtualDrive Pro will be installed in C:\Program Files\FarSton\VDPro.

VirtualDrivePro will ask you to install at least one drive. Note you can change the number of drives after installation.
Once it's finished, please reboot your computer as it said.


Using VirtualDrive pro


Before using your image with Daemon Tools 4, you have to set your software.

• Right Click to VirtualDrive Pro icon on systeme tray , then click on « VCD Manager ».

• In the new windows go to « Tools » then click on « Disable CD ». Quit VirtualDrive Pro ;

• Mount image of your game protected by starforce in Daemon Tools 4. Note that all emulation must be set to off .

• Run your game from a desktop shortcut. Be patient!


Re-enabling your drive


You can do this by coming back to "Tools" , then click on "Enable CD"
If your CD/DVD drives are not re-enabled, try this:
• Go to control Panel, then System.
• In new windows, go to Hardware tab, click on device manager
• In DVD/CD ROM Drives section, right-click on your drive and select "activate"
Reboot to find again your drive in explorer.


GAMES SHOULD WORK (NEED TEStERS!) with VDPRO10:

- Worms 4 Mayhem (incl. Update-Patch,Nforce Chipset)
- Prince Of Persia - The Two Thrones (NforceChipset)
- Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (Nforce,ULI chipsets)
- Trackmania Sunrise (incl. eXtreme Add-On/Patch) (Nforce ,ULI chipsets)
-The Suffering Ties That Bind (ULI chipsets)
-PJ King Kong (Nforce, ULI chipsets)


-->:D Big Thanks to !HaGaR! , XdaywalkerX to submit their result :D <--

[temp]

I play them anyhow without unplugging anything, i use one the apps to hide ata or i simple dissable in device manager for my gameplay time (no reboot needed) thats the nice thing about sata hdds.

I for one aint gonna install any more crap that puts drivers on pc SDhide does me for now.

[Grumpy]

@temp
'john486496' has taken his time to register and post something that could very well be usefull to other members, especially those members who do NOT have sata hardrives!
There are always different methods available to help others but they wont always be methods you personally agree with therefore you should not criticize other peoples input!
It was his very first post and yet you may have very well put him off from ever posting ideas here again!
Lighten up next time please and think before you type!

[leezer3]

Sorry to dissapoint, but the original poster has a Nforce mobo ;)
Just checked, & all Farstone does is to disable the drives via Windoze device manager, and this doesn't fool SF unless you are one of the lucky ones. (Tested on a Compaq machine, no idea what mobo chipset)

-Leezer-

[glenbo]

i have a nforce chipset and none of this stuff ever works for me lol.

its always 1 of 2 things for me,a no cd crack or my original disc.

[prakash_tiwari2004]

hey thats good new i think Brian Lara Cricket 2005 also come with star force 3 so can u please tell me how to make the image of 1st disc so i can play that game,reply me fast pls

[john486496]

hI all !

temp,all drivers can mess a system.However this drivers works perfectly for me as said in tutorial, at the contrary to SFNigtmare with my system.

grumpy,thanks, you are right, all people can't have a sata harddrives!
This is the consequences of complexity of starforce that make different issue for each user.

RIght.:eek: When I have read temp post,I think that I should not post anymore in this forum,cause I have take the time to translate and test this method and this sort of people should use more of his brain instead of claims:"I dont need that....blah...blah"

leezer3 I confirm that this method work with non nforce chipset:I have a intel Pentium M based chip.Be care to order and number of drives.

However I have tested with only Trackmania sunrise (starforce 3.4.71.19).Maybe newest version of starforce blacklist VirtualDrive Pro.
As contrary to someone said in daemon tools forums,I think this could be a good product for backup cd/dvd.

It would be interessant to test the backup possibilities with starforce 3 (officially supported in v10)and securom 7..worse than alcohol120%?
Can someone post his result here ?it would be nice:p

I don't have time to test with other games ,but I think if we combines this method with other and other tips against starforce (sfcure method,rename drivers of VDRIVEpro..) we can find new method to bypass starforce while waitng ide jammer's daemon tools!

Testers and specialists feel free to find this new ways with VirtualDrive pro,daemon tools,alcohol120% : WE NEED YOU !

[leezer3]

Hiya mate,
Any chance of you providing some more complete system info please?
Just tried this on the lappy (Tecra S1, Centrino chipset) & SF works without drives being disabled in any way (POP 2T). It sounds to me as if we may have found another 'inacessible' chipset, or it could possibly be related to the fact that I anyway have a hotpluggable DVD/ HDD. (Normally use the HDD)
An Everest report would be great :cool:

Cheers

-Leezer-

[Joe Forster/STA]

(It is very sad to see the home edition of Lavalys Everest (http://www.lavalys.com), formerly AIDA32, an "industry standard" free software, having been discontinued... :()

[!HaGaR!]

(It is very sad to see the home edition of Lavalys Everest (http://www.lavalys.com), formerly AIDA32, an "industry standard" free software, having been discontinued... :()

@J.F./STA - Yep. Sad, that they stopped the free one. Offtopic, though ;)

Well, VirtualDrive10 isn´t that cheap at all... Around fifty bucks.
But, I´ll have a try if my trial-download-mail will appear in the inbox...
Dammit, hate registrations for trialware...

Bye the way: Nice post, if it works! Thx for sharing!
But... I´m afraid how long this method will face the starforce-updates...


UPDATE:
=======

Workaround confirmed with:
- Worms 4 Mayhem (incl. Update-Patch)
- Prince Of Persia - The Two Thrones

Used Virtual Drive 10 for disabling, image mounted in Daemon Tools V4.00

Motherboard-Chipset: Nforce 2
Before installing VirtualDrive 10: Starforce detected IDE drive and wants the disc there
After installing VirtualDrive 10 and following the guide above: Starforce checks discs and succeeded.

Fooling around a bit more with it tonight...
BTW: VirtualDrive10 gives you a fifteen day trial...

UPDATE 2:
========

Confirmed Games:
- Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (Retail)
- Trackmania Sunrise (incl. eXtreme Add-On/Patch)

UPDATE 3:
========

Tested Game: Trackmania Sunrise eXtreme
- Software-Drive-Disabling via Starforce Nightmare: Detected, Starforce gives Error-Feedback
- Software-Drive-Disabling via Virtual Drive 10: Successfull, game starts

Re-Enabling drives gives a little error. While disabling the ide-drives, HardwareManager reports a deactivated Nforce-Controller. After re-enabling them, the Nforce-Controller is "enabled" again, but the IDE-Drives under the "Drives"-Tab is still disabled. Right-Clicking on it and "reactivating" the drive is successfull. Drive is recognized by windows and other applications (nero) again. Reboot was not needed.

Small hint: With SFN-Deactivated IDE-Drive the Virtual Disc 10 application reports an error when it tries to deactivate the IDE-Drive, but starforce will be cheated nevertheless.

Well... Something strange happened... Had the idea to test VD10s abilities to start starforce-images... But... VD10 recognizes its OWN virtual drives as physical ones... Deactivated Daemons Drives, but problem still stays the same. Added another virual drive with VD10, rebooted as requested... Same thing again... VD10s virtual one appears to be a physical to it... Trial-Limitation? Would be weird, though...

Any suggestions!?

[neptun]

....However I have tested with only Trackmania sunrise (starforce 3.4.71.19).Maybe newest version of starforce blacklist VirtualDrive Pro....


Up to version 3.4 of starforce ( included 3.4 ) software disable of drives through device manager or using SFNightmare works.The problem is with 3.5 and 3.6.For this versions software disable works most of the time for nforce based motherboards and fof pentium m chipsets as i see but for other chipsets this does not work anymore.All this things with hiding of devices are a temporary solution.The next version of starforce and maybe even the next patch for a game will make it not to work anymore.The real sollution is either an IDE virtual drive or the hope that someone will find a way to crack all starforce games ( which is not possible in my opinion ).Another good solution is to use additional IDE controller on PCI slot and connect your optical drives to it so windows detect them as SCSI devices.

[Evil Homer]

The real sollution is either an IDE virtual drive or the hope that someone will find a way to crack all starforce games ( which is not possible in my opinion ).Another good solution is to use additional IDE controller on PCI slot and connect your optical drives to it so windows detect them as SCSI devices.
Yes, I agree the ultimate starforce crack would be great but I can confirm that using a PCI Raid card to connect your opticals works fine, since I've been using one there isn't a Starforce game that I can't play with an image. Thats provided that you spend some time trying to create the right image. I use Alcohol 120% for all my images and sometimes it may take 4, 5 or even 6 try's with different settings and speeds but as I said I haven't got a Starforce game that doesn't work. Here's just a few of the games that work.
*Splinter Cell, Chaos Theory
*V8 Supercars 2 (Aust), Toca Race Driver 2 (Eng) DTM Race Driver2 (Ger)
*Ricky Ponting-International Cricket- I think Brian Lara's Cricket is identical game.
*King Kong
*Prince of Persia-The Two Thrones
*BOS-Bet On Soldier
*Worms 4-Mayhem
Thats what I can actually play ATM without unplugging anything, no doubt there would be more Starforce games it would work with but I don't own anymore.
There is one problem though, I have Sata drives on this machine and none of those games worked before with any kind of workaround, now they all work on this machine but I also installed the same kind of Raid card on my other machine that has IDE hard drives and for the life of me I can't get it to run properly with card installed so I can't try the games until I get the machine running with the card.
Anyway just thought I'd let you know this method does work but if anyone has any ideas on why my other machine won't work I would love to hear from you.
Thanks EH

[john486496]

thanx for all your answers,guys !
I do interesting search so post will be long.

--------------------------------
FIRST PART STARFORCE PROTECTION:
The hide function of VirtualDrive Pro 10 is definively not the same as "desactivate" in Windows Device manager.

For me ,Trackmania sunrise doesn't run with desactivating in Windows Device manager.

Trackmania sunrise run with "disabling function" of VDPRO10

So I think the hide function Tool in VirtualDrive Pro can be compared to SFNIghtmare,with less hardware/software issues than SFNIghtmare .


In addition it will be more safe to rename Virtual Drive oF vDPro10 or uninstall it on device manager (it's called FvFInc-CDDVD-2003-200x0800)
If you uninstall it,it will be reinstalled automatically on next reboot,no problem;)

Many thanx to you,!HaGaR! I create a database in beginning of my topic with working game.

Or perhaps,that seems to work on a system,but no warranty,this is the problem of starforce.

I thinks it would be great to send a solution pack for each game on gamescopyworld instead only one with the fixed images.
So users,who want to play his game without cd/dvd inserted should find a solution on his fit.

Yes,neptun ,you 're right hiding devices and others tricks different than IDE Jammer,IDE Virtual Drive in Daemon Tools will always been a temporary solution.But if we people can make this sort of pack for each games,that be a good things,instead of partial
solutions.

Ah starforce v>3.4 seems to not work in non nforce or Pm motherboards.
Can people that have a different system post their result? There are hundred people who read this topics!
Why not you?
Yes,you in back of classroom!
Can you tell me ? ;)

Perhaps I will update the tutorial and post it backup sites.

Also,I'm still convinced that with this new tools and with old tricks,we can bypass even the new versions of starforce.I repeat for news:

Testers and specialists feel free to find this new ways with VirtualDrive pro,daemon tools,alcohol120% : WE NEED YOU !
Anyone has try to create or copy his cd/dvd with VirtualDrivePro 10 with starforce3 options enabled.This tool should be more etudied with other to find new bypass methods!
------------------------------
SECOND PART:Trackmania sunrise

I have updated trackmania sunrise with trackmania sunrise extrem.

SO,New versions of starforce have been installed there (>3.4)

Before installing trackmania xtrem,I kept a backup of trackmania sunrise exe.


I run the old exe after installing trackmania extrem with VDPRO10 method.Fine,no problem.Of course,I can't play the game because media contents changed,but starforce is bypassed.
Note that I have never run the new exe of trackmania


------
Now I run the new exe,the games doesn't run trick is detected.

Now I run the old exe,it doesn't works anymore.
---Conclusion----:

I think new starforce were really set when I run the new exe.
THis is't not a news,because when you uninstall with sfcleaner (it doesn't do a good job for new version,note that) and you run the exe after it ask you to reboot to complete installation of starforce drivers.

In fact exe unpack starforce drivers which are stored in dat or dll file.

------

If you want to play sunrise extrem,with few restrictions,you can keep the old exe,but you will have to correct path in gamedata and resource.This works for few things (tracks..)

Note that I have tried to add all features,6 month before to demo version ,but this didn't work.

Best regards,
John.
------------------------------------
UPDATED:
Hi !HaGaR!
what do you mean by physical drive? in explorer I Have this bug,it appears as physsical drive sometimes.But it disappears when I reboot.Note that I have the legally licenced version.So this a bug.iF you can test other of his possibilities It would be great ;-)

[!HaGaR!]

King Kong - The Game - Also confirmed. Running Out of Starforce-Games ;-D

Btw... Still searching for a reason, why VD10 doesn´t recognize its own virtual drives as virtual ones... On my system, VD10 believes they are pyhsical... (Drives are listed under "other drives".)

N8

To describe the behavior of the "virtual" drive of VD10 (unlicensed trial-version!)

At the windows explorer, all drives I added with VD10 are visible and accessible. If I doubleclick the icon it says, that there is no disc inserted - like a real empty drive. But when I enter the VCD-Manager of VD10, the "Virtual Drive"-List is empty and all "optical" drives (virtual VD10-drives, virtual daemon drives and physical ide-drives) appear under the "other drives"-List. Checking the drive-details also shows, that the vd10 drive is here, but recognized as a physikal. Insert/Eject-Buttons are ghosted. No way to mount an image in here...

Well, as I am a customer of DT I will wait until their release of the jammer or the vide, so it´s not a big deal for me, if the bug of VD10 will be here for the next 14 days :-D ... But, still, it´s strange...

[temp]

Grumpy, i didnt say anything bad about him, i simply can do without any more rubbish drivers getting installed thats i dont know wtf they do to pc, i have played these games for long time wirh no need for this driver or unplugging any roms, and i am on a Nforce mobo.

Most this is old news or very near same as other methods.

Simply solution, like me use a SATA hdd then you will stand a far better chance of beating SF.

[XdaywalkerX]

i think ULI chipsets are better than nforce chipsets (for starforce protected games :D )... for the following reason:

look to my signature - i can start ALL of thoose games without disable or disconnect or hide anything (excluding pop t2t - only works on x64 OS)

but i've tested the games wich i owned again (other games in my signature was only rented)

Splinter Cell CT
The Suffering Ties That Bind
PJ King Kong
Trackmania Sunrise and extrem Addon

ur method works fine on ULI Southbridge M1567 (Northbridge is M1695).

VERY IMPORTANT IS A GOOD DPM INFO OF UR CD/DVD BACKUP!!! OTHERWISE THE GAME WON'T WORK. (with alcohol set dpm reading speed to low - with blindwrite use "auto")

i'll test the other games asap - and as i get them (huh... my english is so bad... o.O)

[Nightmare]

Hi,
I did all that you write (@john486496).
I have an MSI MS-6712 V2 board.
I also have Daemon Tools 4.03.
Deactivating with VirtualDrive does work, my DVD-Burner is deactivated.
But when I mount my Prince Of Persia TTT Image (which is perfect, because I can play if I unplug my DVD-Burner), the game writes:" Insert the disc into another drive" (I don't know the exact message, because I'm German).
I have only the Daemon Tools device and VirtualDrive device.
And of course I have disable all emulations in Daemon Tools.

And that what VirtualDrive makes, is the same as I go to device manager and deactivate my secondary IDE-channel + my CD/DVD-Device.

What could I've done wrong??

Greets

[!HaGaR!]

Daemon Tools V4.00 mit VirtualDrive Pro 10 Methode

Vorbereitung:
- Das Image des Spiels in Daemon Tools 4.00 mounten und wie gewohnt installieren
- Rechner rebooten

Spiel starten:
- Über das Tray-Icon von VirtualDrive 10 Pro in den VCD-Manager gehen und über die
Menu-Schaltfläche "Tools" den Eintrag "Disable IDE-CD-ROM" anklicken.
Die internen optischen IDE-Laufwerke werden versteckt und brauchen nicht manuell abgesteckt
werden!
- Image des Spiels im virtuellen Daemon-Tools-Laufwerk mounten und wie gewohnt starten
(funktioniert bislang für alle Starforce-Versionen, inkl. 3.5x und 3.6x)

Achtung:
- Um die internen optischen Laufwerke wieder zu aktivieren, erneut in den VCD-Manager gehen
und unter "Tools" die Funktion "Enable IDE-CD-ROM" anklicken.
Auf einigen Systemen funktioniert die Re-Aktivierung nicht reibungslos. In diesem Fall den
Gerätemanager von Windows aufrufen und unter dem Eintrag "CD-/DVD-ROM-Laufwerke" alle
mit einem roten "X" markierten Laufwerke rechts anklicken und "aktivieren" wählen.
Die Laufwekre sollten jetzt wieder in Windows zur Verfügung stehen. Klappt es immernoch nicht,
sollte ein Reboot des Systems die Laufwerke zurück bringen


Daemon Tools V4.00-Methode

Vorbereitung:
- Das Image des Spiels in Daemon Tools 4.00 mounten und wie gewohnt installieren
- Rechner rebooten

Spiel starten:
- ab Starforce V3.5.xx.xx die internen optischen IDE-Laufwerke abstecken (!)
- Image des Spiels mounten und wie gewohnt starten.


USB-Methode

- Das Spiele-Image mit Alcohol 120% brennen und die RMPS-Infomationen mitschreiben lassen
- Daemon Tools oder Alcohol 120% mit aktivierter "RMPS"-Emulation starten
- bis Starforce V3.4xx.xx mit Starforce Nightmare V1.12 die internen optischen IDE-Laufwerke deaktivieren
- ab Starforce V3.5.xx.xx die internen optischen IDE-Laufwerke abstecken (!)
- Die gebrannte CD/DVD in ein externes USB-2.0-CD/DVD-ROM (!) Laufwerk einlegen und Spiel wie gewohnt
installieren und starten


SFCure-Methode

Vorbereitung:
- Das Image des Spiels mounten und wie gewohnt installieren
- Rechner rebooten
- "SFCure V0.3 X64"-Ordner öffnen und "!setup.bat" anklicken. Die SFCure-Treiber wurden installiert.
- Rechner rebooten

Spiel starten:
- "SFCure V0.3 X64"-Ordner öffnen und "!start.bat" ausführen
- "Starforce Nightmare V1.12" starten, "Disable Node" und "Disable CD" ausführen!
- bis Starforce V3.4xx.xx mit Starforce Nightmare V1.12 die internen optischen IDE-Laufwerke deaktivieren
- ab Starforce V3.5.xx.xx die internen optischen IDE-Laufwerke abstecken (!)
- Image des Spiels mounten und wie gewohnt starten.


I know, this is an english-only forum. The above given is a collection of the common starforce workarounds written in german. Nothing which hasn´t been mentioned here multiple times before (except the first part which is more or less a tranlations of the first post of this thread!). No warez-talk or anything else! Maybe someone has the balls ;-D to translate it into english. I am too lazy for that 2day... I posted it to help the german users who often had problems to follow the starforce-workaround manuals.

Note: For all the manuals above you need a correct dpm-dump of your gamedisc and the original game/multiplayer/starforce-keys as well!

Hope I didn´t get a ban or something else for my post

---
English translation:

The Daemon Tools v4.00 with VirtualDrive Pro 10 method

Preparation:
- Mount the image of the game into Daemon Tools 4.00 and install as usual.
- Reboot computer.

Starting the game:
- From the tray icon of VirtualDrive 10 Pro, go to the VCD Manager and click on the "Disable IDE CD-ROM" entry of the "Tools" menu.
The internal optical IDE drives will be hidden and you won't have to manually disconnect them!
- Mount the image of the game into the virtual Daemon Tools drive and start as usual.
(functioning for all Starforce versions so far, including 3.5x and 3.6x)

Warning:
- To re-enable the internal optical drives, go to the VCD Manager again and click on "Enable IDE CD-ROM" in the "Tools" menu.
On some systems, the re-activation is not without problems. In such cases, launch Windows' Device Manager, open "DVD/CD-ROM drives", right click on all drives marked with a red "X" and select "Enable".
The drives should now be available to Windows. If still no luck, a reboot of the system will get the drives back.

The Daemon Tools V4.00 method

Preparation:
- Mount the image of the game into Daemon Tools 4.00 and install as usual.
- Reboot computer.

Starting the game:
- starting with Starforce V3.5.xx.xx, disconnect all internal optical IDE drives (!).
- Mount the image of the game into the virtual Daemon Tools drive and start as usual.

The USB method

- Burn the image of the game with Alcohol 120%, along with the RMPS information.
- Launch Daemon Tools or Alcohol 120% and activate "RMPS" emulation.
- up to Starforce V3.4xx.xx, deactivate all internal optical IDE drives with Starforce Nightmare V1.12.
- starting with Starforce V3.5.xx.xx, disconnect all internal optical IDE drives (!).
- Insert the burnt CD/DVD into an external USB 2.0 CD/DVD-ROM (!) drive and install and start the game as usual.

The SFCure method

Preparation:
- Mount the image of the game and install as usual.
- Reboot computer.
- Open the "SFCure V0.3 X64" directory and run "!setup.bat". This installs the SFCure driver.
- Reboot computer.

Starting the game:
- Open the "SFCure V0.3 X64" directory and run "!start.bat".
- Launch Starforce Nightmare V1.12 and click "Disable Node" and "Disable CD".
- up to Starforce V3.4xx.xx, deactivate all internal optical IDE drives with Starforce Nightmare V1.12.
- starting with Starforce V3.5.xx.xx, disconnect all internal optical IDE drives (!).
- Mount the image of the game and start as usual.

[john486496]

!HaGaR! I have the all same problems for my licensed VD10.
But the "Virtual Drive"-List is not empty: my virtual drive appears.
Insert and eject buttons are grayed,but you can image in VCD fromat.

As I said it would be interesting to test (!HaGaR! or antoher tester) the make image option as,it support starforce3.However as XdaywalkerX said,alcohol do already that with good dpm info..


Nightmare85,I'm afraid that this method doen't work for msi chipset.



For all people, I'm not responsible if this doesn't work; -)

Starforce is so complicated that each user have to face it with his own system! Yes,all tricks will be still odd-jobs without good nocd/DVD or IDE Jammer Daemon tools.

However,for this time,I 'm convinced that we can find more tricks with combining vd10 tricks with others tricks, for example, internet image option in VD10..

People please test all this possbilities!

[prakash_tiwari2004]

anyone can pls tell me how make a image in MDF&MDS mode please,if its unlegal to ask this question then i am sorry and pls dont ban me from this forum

[temp]

Nope its not ilegal to make a image of your LEGIT game, i did it to play Splinter Cell CT(3) without need for disk, you need to get Alcohol latest build, you can grab demo on their site. :)

http://www.alcohol-soft.com/

[john486496]

Hi all!:)

Moderators, shall you transfer this Thread to "CD Copy Protections & Utilities" ?

It would be nice,thanks in advance !

Anyone has tested other games ,other possbilities?

Best regards,
John :p

[!HaGaR!]

!HaGar! again bumpin´ this thread...

As I posted above I had the problem, that VD10 (trial-version) doesn´t recognize it´s own virtual drive as a virtuall, so it doesn´t allow to mount anything in it.

As john486496 mentioned that the image-engine of VD10 should be able to create working starforce-images, i decided to investigate more time in VD10...

First off, I imaged my Worms 4 Mayhem disc with the VD10 ripping function, but, as already said, I couldn´t mount the image because of the missing vdrive.

So I tried to add another virtual drive. Rebooted. Nothing happened! No new drive were added. Well... Doesn´t really know why... Tried the procedere once more... But again: Nothing. Just the "first" "physical vdrive" stayed alive in my explorer.

Then I swapped the discs in my DVD-Burner because I need to copy a file... And then it happened... My system screwed up and died with a bluescreen!
This was the first bsod I met EVER on this machine!

Well, was pissed and slammed the reset. Windows came up with checkdisk on drive D: (ntfs!)... Okay, let windows run through it... Welcome screen appears, tray proggies comin´up... and BOOM! System blowed again...

Next try... Checkdisk coming up again, traytools loading... BSOD. Different reason this time as the errorcode that something about calling a bad block...

Okay... Tried secure mode... Whouw! Checkdisk again... Welcome-Screen... Wham! System rebooted without any report...

Ok... So what to do... First off: Disconnected "faulty" harddisk. System boots up without checkdisc (sure!), but bsod returns again...

Disconnected DVD-Burner this time... Reboot. System runs without any problems now... Connected my burner again... BSOD returns also...

Ok, to sum the story up: Rebooted again without my burner to let windows stay alive... Deinstalled VD10 and (nearly) all problems disappeared...
Burner works again, all harddrives are fine... But I had to force chkdsc via registry to not check d: at each reboot - don´t know what happened during the first crash at all...

But it seems the buggy VD10-driver (didn´t work properly on my system from the beginning) screwed something up here.

So just use this software on your own risk!

HaGaR out

[bluehoxxe]

Hi,

I tried exactly what is posted but it still doesn't work :(. I think too many DVD drives. (They keep respawning after using Starforce).

But I still thank you for your time into testing. :)

Cheers,
bluehoxxe

[lucifur2k]

ok this is what computer i have and i cant get suffering tttb to work without unpluging ide from cdrom apparently having sata hardrives helps with beating sf3xx i have sata so how does that make it better. by the way i cant even play the game with original game loads until the menu then reboots my com any one know why. i dont know why some people put others down for posting in the forums to me anyone aiding in the battle against game protection is cool in my books keep up the good work. die sf die
--------------------
-- CPU-Z version 1.30
----------------------

[... blablabla deleted ...]

[kingking]

help john486496 i tried your method with peter jackson king kong and it keeps teekling me inssert king kong's disc 1 into another drive and press retry pls help !! i disazbled the ide cd rom with virtual drive pro as it wasx said mouted with daemon tools still the same problem "insert king kong's disc 1 into another drive and press retry" help me pls i really wanna play this game and i saw your post i had some hope but it didn't work pls help also when i disable the ide with vdpro 10 i check my device mlanager and i see only my secondary ide disactivated the primary is still running but the avtual cd rom drives disappears they are disactivated pls help or any body that could help me , some of you said kin kong worked with vd po how did you do ? help

[Joe Forster/STA]

@lucifur2k: If you need help with your original game, you're on the wrong forum; contact the publisher instead! Also, I had to delete your list because without the pH value of your urine it is not useful anyway...

[kingking]

if anybody needs the keygen for virtual drive pro pm me sorry if it's illegal to write this things here

[Joe Forster/STA]

@kingking: Banned; you now have two weeks to understand the forum rules.

[kooka]

i am encountering the same problem with king kong after trying the virtual drive pro it says an error insert disc into another drive and retry any ideas that could help us pls

[Joe Forster/STA]

Guys, if you have filtered fake information and have collected confirmed and useful information from all around, please, post them into the PC Games - FAQ subforum, too, so that I can add it to the FAQ. Thanks!

[kooka]

pl help i can't make king kong to work with vdpro help it gives me pls insert king king disc in another drive pls help

[!HaGaR!]

Just wanna say thanks for translating my little workarounds-post ;-D

By the way: I know, it´s english only in here, but maybe the sticked guide-threads could be multilingual? Only thrusted, working tips and not editable fpr anyone. May help some people. What do you think?

mkay... gotta go to work know. have a nice day ;-D

[SamFisher]

@J.F./STA - Yep. Sad, that they stopped the free one. Offtopic, though ;)

Well, VirtualDrive10 isn´t that cheap at all... Around fifty bucks.
But, I´ll have a try if my trial-download-mail will appear in the inbox...
Dammit, hate registrations for trialware...

Bye the way: Nice post, if it works! Thx for sharing!
But... I´m afraid how long this method will face the starforce-updates...


UPDATE:
=======

Workaround confirmed with:
- Worms 4 Mayhem (incl. Update-Patch)
- Prince Of Persia - The Two Thrones

Used Virtual Drive 10 for disabling, image mounted in Daemon Tools V4.00

Motherboard-Chipset: Nforce 2
Before installing VirtualDrive 10: Starforce detected IDE drive and wants the disc there
After installing VirtualDrive 10 and following the guide above: Starforce checks discs and succeeded.

Fooling around a bit more with it tonight...
BTW: VirtualDrive10 gives you a fifteen day trial...

UPDATE 2:
========

Confirmed Games:
- Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (Retail)
- Trackmania Sunrise (incl. eXtreme Add-On/Patch)

UPDATE 3:
========

Tested Game: Trackmania Sunrise eXtreme
- Software-Drive-Disabling via Starforce Nightmare: Detected, Starforce gives Error-Feedback
- Software-Drive-Disabling via Virtual Drive 10: Successfull, game starts

Re-Enabling drives gives a little error. While disabling the ide-drives, HardwareManager reports a deactivated Nforce-Controller. After re-enabling them, the Nforce-Controller is "enabled" again, but the IDE-Drives under the "Drives"-Tab is still disabled. Right-Clicking on it and "reactivating" the drive is successfull. Drive is recognized by windows and other applications (nero) again. Reboot was not needed.

Small hint: With SFN-Deactivated IDE-Drive the Virtual Disc 10 application reports an error when it tries to deactivate the IDE-Drive, but starforce will be cheated nevertheless.

Well... Something strange happened... Had the idea to test VD10s abilities to start starforce-images... But... VD10 recognizes its OWN virtual drives as physical ones... Deactivated Daemons Drives, but problem still stays the same. Added another virual drive with VD10, rebooted as requested... Same thing again... VD10s virtual one appears to be a physical to it... Trial-Limitation? Would be weird, though...

Any suggestions!?
i've nforce3 chipset and i'll try that it seems like working perfect... maybe somebody make a "hider" hides optical drives same as "virtualdrive10"... thing would be much easier if it would be..

[kooka]

you all say guy virtual drive works for you how you make it work pls help

[Joe Forster/STA]

@kooka: Don't litter with your off-topic questions here; use the "PC Games" forum instead!

@!HaGaR!: I believe NO ONE should even launch a browser and go online without knowing, at least, basic English! The world language is certainly not English (yet?) but the Web language is English. (I know German and French people - and probably quite a few other nations, too - really get pissed about it but, well... better luck next time... :D) Also, organizing not only the translation of already existing guides but also the maintenance of translations, whenever an English guide is updated, is a major headache; I don't want to bother with it.

(Damn, gotta start reading this forum. I've never visited it before... :))

[Lilith]

I believe NO ONE should even launch a browser and go online without knowing, at least, basic English!

I am happy to announce you that my mother (>60) launch IE and browse efficiently google, tavel agencies, ..., but never learn english. More, her english vocabulary does not exceed 10 words. This amount puts her out of the 85% of the world who do not even know a single english word.

Of course, she does not browse fileforums.com:).

PS.:feel free to fix my spelling, you may have understand that engish is not my mother' language!

[kooka]

why is my post off topinc aern't we talking about making games work with virtual drive pro ? and still nobody answred me about the error and i have a question does vdrivepro hides also virtual drives like the ones of daemon tools for example

[Joe Forster/STA]

@Lilith: If your mother doesn't need to understand English web pages and she just browses through the national TV programme or some domestic travel agencies etc., why should she learn that language? That's perfectly fine. However, if she wanted to crack games, develop software, read UseNet NEWS etc., she won't be able to do a single step without knowning English! Yes, I was a bit harsh with my "definition" - sorry about it - but I guess you know what I'm talking about... [Edit] By the way, neither am I a native English speaker; see my Location...

@kooka: You're talking about problems with King Kong, a specific game, while this forum is about copy protections in general. If you need help with a specific game, yes, your question is off-topic here.

[acal3000]

I am not English Native either I speak Spanish

[kooka]

king kong is a starforce protected game and im giving just king kong as an example it's the same thing for spc chaos theory and prince of persia the 2 thrones so pls helppppp

[Hellyy]

I have tried all methods
- Disabling CD/DVD in Device Manager
- Image in Alcohol/DT
- SFcure & SFNightmare
- Disabling IDE Secundary (dont know why my PC doesn't detect my IDE ATAPI/ATA like the Nforce ones that i've already seen in some posts)
- Using dif keys nothing works
My PC Config is
Intel P4 2.4ghz
motherboard asus p4s8x
2 drives: 1lgcdrw gce8481 / dvdlg
radeon 9600pro
2 hdd: westerndigital & seagate

Can some1 help me pls??????

[kooka]

mz too i tried everything but i wanna ask how do you disable your primary ide drives because when i right click on it in the device manager there is just uninstall ? and i have a question when you disable ou ide drives the virtueal drives don't get disaabled so it always detect the cd , how do oyu want it to work if it can detect the cd ? thanks for answering me pls

[Hellyy]

yeah i have the same problem i only can deactive the second ide the first and the third i only can Uninstall them grrr =S !!! some kind of drivers im missing???

[neptun]

It is not possible to deactivate IDE channel if your harddisk with windows on it is attached to this channel.If you have only optical drives connected to your IDE controller it is possible to deactivae it.

[kooka]

how do i know if my hard disk is connected to the primay ide ?
and id the virtual hard drive thing works for you guys why it isn't working for others what do we do wrong ?
and a little question if you disable your ide drives your virtual drives that you are mounting the image are still not hidden so the star force protection will always detect the cd and thus the game won't work help pls

[Joe Forster/STA]

To check your hard disks, enter the BIOS setup or see Windows' Device Manager. As for virtual drives, as far as I remember, those are checked - along with all SCSI drives - only if at least one IDE drive is also present in the system. Also, Daemon Tools 4.x hides itself better than previous versions and there's no need to disconnect drives on motherboards with the nForce 3/4 chipset (confirmed by Daemon Tools developers).

[kooka]

and another question they arer some starforce games that has been cracked like hammer and sickle why splintercell chaos theory king kong and pop the two thrones are not cracked yet ? can anybody answer pls

[Joe Forster/STA]

There are several levels of protection in Starforce. If you spend few money on the copy protection, the result will be lightly protected, thus easily cracked; more money, heavy protection, a year to crack.

[kooka]

i don't understand by spending more money in copy protections you mean i need to buy some special stuff to crack the games ? what do i need to get to crack these games ?

[Joe Forster/STA]

No. If the publisher spends more money, a heavier version of Starforce is applied, which takes much-much more time to crack (for the crackers).

[!HaGaR!]

Yeah, asking questions brings knowledge...
But, spend some time in the forum here, so many q&a about starforce... And... For some it seems to be like a wheel of fortune if starforce backups will work...

Sometimes you´ll win, sometimes you´ll loose *g

Greetx

[kooka]

come on guys crack star force already i think just those crackers doesnt spend enough time in it to find out how to crack it

[Joe Forster/STA]

@kooka: You're really getting on my nerves... If you're so damn smart that you think you can command professional crackers around, why don't you spend a few years with learning programming andf then the art of professional cracking and join them?! Otherwise, stop bitching and wait patiently - and in silence - for the results of their hard job...

[Hellyy]

grrrr okay so i have to desactive them manually openning the machine......pc experts where are u?? cmon we need more easy way to pass by SF xp

[Hellyy]

okay so i have to open the pc and desactive them manually grrrr =S....!!! thx.....

[lucifur2k]

I found by updating the starforce protection i got original game to run BUT! and its a big but in doing so it totally screwed up my com i had to remove all star force and reflash my dvd burner cos i could not even burn a simple disk or in fact any thing to burn could not use alcohol or nero.

[kooka]

lucifur2k can you give a little guide how you did ?

[Joe Forster/STA]

Update/remove Starforce drivers: http://www.star-force.com/protection.phtml?c=91
Get original game to run: RTFM, contact publisher, read official game support forum.
Flash CD/DVD-ROM: Go to manufacturer's web site, search for firmware update for the type of your particular unit, download, RTFM.
Burn CD's/DVD's with Alcohol 120%/Nero: RTFM.
Anything else?

[kooka]

yes what is RTFM ? and thank you

[Joe Forster/STA]

Find out what acronyms mean: http://www.acronymfinder.com

[kooka]

can anybody make a mini image or a maxi image for king kong and prince of persia the two thrones that work pls

[Joe Forster/STA]

@kooka (or is it rather cuckoo?): You have been banned for two weeks for excessive bumping. Use this time to search around this forum (or the Web in general) and find answers to your general questions yourself, instead of asking them again and again and again and again...

[dark_destiny]

I can bypass starforce but theyasking me to insert disc into another drive the press retry what does that mean???

[TippeX]

that is not quite a bypass now is it?

[Joe Forster/STA]

Starforce found out that you're using an image, mounted into a virtual CD/DVD emulator, instead of a real CD/DVD in a real CD/DVD drive. Read the FAQ on ideas on how to circumvent this problem.

[dark_destiny]

which FAQ I can see to solve my problem???

[Joe Forster/STA]

See the link in my signature.

[r0t1prata]

i have seen and tried most of the stuff given in the faqs. i have tried VirtualDrive Pro and yet my PoP:T2T does not let me play without a cd.

[Stincus]

Hi all! i'm new here... i've got a question.. i hav prince of persia the two thrones... i tried the john's method to play it with virtualdrive pro, but i cant play it... it tell me to put the cd-rom into another drive...:( i'm happy if someone can explain me how to make it work...
bye...

you can contact me on my e-mail: ai3_3**********it

[nytrogyn]

i follow all the insructions n the fist post, but when i finish, this appears:
http://img474.imageshack.us/img474/5791/popt2tproblem0hy.th.jpg (http://img474.imageshack.us/my.php?image=popt2tproblem0hy.jpg)

after reinstallation, the game still does not work

[nytrogyn]

I found a definite way to bypass starforce 3.6+.

1. First, turn off your pc.
2. Remove cover and unplug power cable from all your CD-DVD ROM/Burners.
3. Turn on your computer.
4. Make sure the drivers for starforce are still installed, because if they are uninstalled, the game will not work.
5. Turn on Daemon Tools, enable one virtual drive, and mount your image.
6. Open the game and it will run.
7. After playing, turn off the computer, and plug the power cable back.
8. Turn on your computer, and voila, everything is back to normal.

**repeat steps 1-6 each time you play your game**

(none of that Nforce motherboard crap, I have an Intel IDE controller and this method works perfectly)

[m_malyszko]

Hey guys i have a Asus A8N SLI Deluxe Motherboard, my NForce drivers are 6.70, i have 3 IDE drives: A DVD-RW drive, a CD-RW drive, and my 160 GB HDD. The RW's are hooked up to 1 IDE cable, and my HDD to another. I cant disable my Parallel Controller in Device Manager, btw its a NFROCE 4 chipset with a NForce Parallel Controller, why, cause it controlls both my primary and secondary channels. Now said this, I understand someone said that SF-Protected games should work on NForce 3/4 mobo's. Who ever said this Must be high on something. But thats just me. Anyways, im saying this because ive tried to play Splinter Cell:Chaos Theory, i DL the images from TorrentSpy, ive used SFNightMare so many times, ive done so many things ive given up on it. Ive also tried other SF games and nothing. So who ever is saying that SF games Version 3.4 like Splinter Cell should work on NF4 Mobo's is lying. Guys, please add this mobo to your list of NON WORKING MOBOS and also CRAPPY MOBOS. At first i thought this was a great buy, but after i had so many crashes, and bugs, im like screw it. Does anyone have a suggestion on a new mobo.

[Grumpy]

@m_malyszko
i DL the images from TorrentSpy
Read the forum rules!!
ive done so many things ive given up on it.
Have you actually tried putting your hand in your pocket, to get some cash, then going to the game store to purchase the game legally!!!!

Bye Bye your are now banned for a month! This should give you enough time to purchase the game, legally!!

[JannoBuzzBazz|]

Eh... first post here, but not the point.

I've been looking for a way of bypassing the StarForce software/virus, but with no luck.

Now, before you judge me and start thinking that I don't buy my games, youre probably right, at some points.
I do want to test the games befor I buy them, and that is what I do. But don't get me wrong! I do now own legally versions of almost all my games,
because of hard working labour. The only problem is that that includes some starforce games(manly SCCT). But I still want to be able to make playable backups of them,
because I have this paranoid thinking that what should i do when the original disc breaks.
So I tend to use it as little as possible, but then again that stops me from playing a perfectly good game, right??

Please guys, I need help! None of the backup disc's of SF games will run on my sys.

Motherboard: MSI KT4V-L
CPU: AMD AthlonXP 2600+ Thoroughbread
Ram: 2x Cosair ValueS 512MB 400MHz + 1x Cosair ??? 256MB 400MHz
GFX: ATI Radeon 9800PRO 128MB ALL-IN-WOUNDER
HDD: 1x Maxtor Diamond9 120GB, 1x Maxtor ?? 80GB, 1x Maxtor ?? 40GB + 1x IBM 40GB.
All HDD's are old ATA133.
(also I may need a bit help in getting the right bios for my MB, the ram only runs at PC2600, allthough it is PC3200 400MHz, any ideas??)

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________
The Master Himself will rule the world.
http://www.home.no/janno/janno.gif
Do me a favour... Don't get me mad, CAUSE I'LL EAT YOU!!!
Proud Hongfire member, Janno
dj_icb**********com

[skinke]

Hello

I did all the method and nothing works :( i did this method and i got this

i follow all the insructions n the fist post, but when i finish, this appears:
http://img474.imageshack.us/img474/5791/popt2tproblem0hy.th.jpg (http://img474.imageshack.us/my.php?image=popt2tproblem0hy.jpg)

after reinstallation, the game still does not work

and after reboot it said "insert disc into another drive the press retry"
after that i tryed this one:

I found a definite way to bypass starforce 3.6+.

1. First, turn off your pc.
2. Remove cover and unplug power cable from all your CD-DVD ROM/Burners.
3. Turn on your computer.
4. Make sure the drivers for starforce are still installed, because if they are uninstalled, the game will not work.
5. Turn on Daemon Tools, enable one virtual drive, and mount your image.
6. Open the game and it will run.
7. After playing, turn off the computer, and plug the power cable back.
8. Turn on your computer, and voila, everything is back to normal.

**repeat steps 1-6 each time you play your game**

(none of that Nforce motherboard crap, I have an Intel IDE controller and this method works perfectly)

and till nothing works and now it says:

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/8720/14fs.jpg

Why is this happening ? wired that some people got it running :(
(sorry for my bad english)

Thanks!

[Muji-FightR]

I like the fact you have a bookmark folder called warez :P And the torrents...
lol This time I won't judge anyone tho, do what you like. In the end I'll be blamed for blaming you... It isn't obvious enough, is it ?

[!HaGaR!]

Update/remove Starforce drivers: http://www.star-force.com/protection.phtml?c=91
Get original game to run: RTFM, contact publisher, read official game support forum.
Flash CD/DVD-ROM: Go to manufacturer's web site, search for firmware update for the type of your particular unit, download, RTFM.
Burn CD's/DVD's with Alcohol 120%/Nero: RTFM.
Anything else?

Yeah!
UNDERSTAND the fuckin´ manual ;-D

Sorry 4 the bump

[neptun]

Hello

I did all the method and nothing works :( i did this method and i got this



and after reboot it said "insert disc into another drive the press retry"
after that i tryed this one:



and till nothing works and now it says:

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/8720/14fs.jpg

Why is this happening ? wired that some people got it running :(
(sorry for my bad english)

Thanks!

This means that your image is not good enough.Make new image witha alcohol 120% latest version setting DPM to high or just download better .mds file from www.copybase.ch and replace your current .mds file with the downloaded.Oh another reason to get this error may be the old version of the virtual drive you use.Try with the latest alcohol 120% or daemon tools before proceeding with the image file.

[gmax]

Is john486496's method confirmed working on a K8 (AMD) Mobo, so without Nforce? If not, is there another way to get the game (in my case: TOCA Race Driver3) to work without pulling my cabels out?

[Nightmare]

Hi,
maybe someone has posted this, too.
But I cannot search words like "USB or IDE" (too short).

I cannot play the games without unplugging my drives.
I tried everything.

Will a "USB 2.0 TO IDE CABLE DRIVE ADAPTER" solve this problem?
For example this here (ebay-german):
http://cgi.ebay.de/USB-2-0-TO-IDE-CABLE-2-5-3-5-5-25-DRIVE-ADAPTER-5141_W0QQitemZ8777172021QQcategoryZ47604QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

Thanks!

Greets

[Joe Forster/STA]

I wouldn't buy such stuff from Ebay. Instead, why don't you buy a nice kit from ViPower:

- a VP-8054V (an IDE docking station with a SmartCable port and a PSU), OR

- a VP-8054KIT (like the VP-8054V plus a complete external IDE box, for hard disk rack or CD/DVD-ROM etc.), AND

- a VP-8208 cable (USB 2.0 SmartCable; don't get the VP-8008, it's USB 1.1!) or any other SmartCable you like

in a shop? That should give you reliable performance via a USB connection. I'm very satisfied with it! :)

[Dr. Killer]

Why dont you just disable all your cd-roms (or writers) at your "Device Manager"? That worked for me!

[Grumpy]

@Dr. Killer
Why dont you just disable all your cd-roms (or writers) at your "Device Manager"?
Unfortunately what works for one person does not necassarily work for another. It doesnt work for everyone. ;)

[Dr. Killer]

@Dr. Killer

Unfortunately what works for one person does not necassarily work for another. It doesnt work for everyone. ;)

Everyone recommend this. It worked for me and all my friends.
You can atleast give this a try.

[Nightmare]

@Dr. Killer: It doesn't work for me! Also with Virtual Drive, no chance!
It works for my friend, because he has a(n) Sata-HDD. Special feature: He needn't to disable any cd/dvd-devices :D
Lucky fool :p

@Joe Forster/STA: I don't want to buy something like this from ebay.
I only wanted to know, if this (some devices/adapters like this) would solve my problem.

I don't want to unplug my cd/dvd-writer.
And if I use my cd/dvd-writer via usb, maybe StarForce won't be able to use its "mights" :)

I also red, that with a usb-driver, you are able to burn StarForce games and to play them. Of course RMPS must be on.

I will search for the adapters.
Thanks :)

Greets

[Dr. Killer]

@Dr. Killer: It doesn't work for me! Also with Virtual Drive, no chance!
It works for my friend, because he has a(n) Sata-HDD. Special feature: He needn't to disable any cd/dvd-devices :D
Lucky fool :p
Greets

I forgot to say. There are certain programs like anydvd that have to be disabled first. :D

[Nightmare]

I haven't AnyDVD.
Which other programs should be closed, too?
I have also other virtual cd/dvd-drives.
(NeroImageDrive).
I also deactivated it, but didn't work...

I only have Nero 6, nothing more (burning software).

Greets

[Joe Forster/STA]

See a list of a few of them in the FAQ.

[Dr. Killer]

I haven't AnyDVD.
Which other programs should be closed, too?
I have also other virtual cd/dvd-drives.
(NeroImageDrive).
I also deactivated it, but didn't work...

I only have Nero 6, nothing more (burning software).

Greets


Uninstall any slysoft programs and other virtual drive programs. Use Daemon 4.
The error doesn't look like a drive error. It look if you have a illegal cd key.

[Nightmare]

?

Which error?
You mean the problem that I need to unplug all drives?

LOL illegal cd-key! :D

My friend, the message is: "Please insert the disc into another drive" or something. I think you got a wrong point ;)

And if the cd-key would be illegal, why should it run with unpluged CD/DVD-Drives? (i've no idea about things like that.)

Sorry, I cannot see your logic...

Greets

[Nightmare]

I asked the seller.
Here my e-mail and the reply (Sorry, German only and I am too boring to translate now :D ;))

Hallo,

ich bin an diesem Produkt sehr interessiert.
Jedoch hauptsächlich um PC-Spiele, die mit dem Kopierschutz "StarForce" geschützt sind, problemlos spielen zu können.

Dieser Kopierschutz überprüft ja bekanntlich alle IDE-Kanäle.
Bei der USB-Methode entfällt diese Möglichkeit ja schon mal.

Um jetzt so ein Spiel starten zu können, muss ich meinen DVD-Brenner abklemmen. Und das mach ich nur ungern! Daher will ich Ihr Produkt erwerben.

Können Sie mir evt. genauere Informationen zu diesem Thema geben?
Vielleicht haben Sie es ja selbst schon mit einigen Spielen getestet.

Danke im Voraus!

Gruß Konstantin

hallo,
leider hat die Starforce die Eingang vom Usb-Gehaeuse gesperrt, d.h ab Starforce vision 3.7 kann man nicht mit usb cd-rom/DVD-rom spielen.

MFG

Xu,dan

Greets

[Grumpy]

@Nightmare85
Dont be lazy! Translate it to English as Fileforums is an English only forum!!
You know better than that! I should just delete it! :rolleyes:

[Joe Forster/STA]

The answer said that this game, protected with Starforce 3.7, cannot be played from USB CD/DVD drives. Not much more to translate. ;)

[Nightmare]

Hehe, right :D :D

But next time, I will translate.

P.S. I hadn't time to translate this here (No time+lazy :D) ;)

Greets

[adbailey]

Bypassing new starforce 3.x games without using SFnightmare or unplugging drives.


Test by Roms6 - 12/07/2005 Translated by French Lover.



This method should be right for all games protected by starforce 3.x without the need to use SF Nightmare or unplug your CD/DVD drives.

You need :

• The right image of your game, I don't give you advices, as settings in Alcohol120% to create your image file vary for each game ;

• VirtualDrive Pro 10, which will hide your drives safely and perfectly.

• Daemon Tools 4.


VirtualDrive Pro 10 installation


Run VirtualDrive Pro, it should take a long time to install, as it copy his own drivers.

By default, VirtualDrive Pro will be installed in C:\Program Files\FarSton\VDPro.

VirtualDrivePro will ask you to install at least one drive. Note you can change the number of drives after installation.
Once it's finished, please reboot your computer as it said.


Using VirtualDrive pro


Before using your image with Daemon Tools 4, you have to set your software.

• Right Click to VirtualDrive Pro icon on systeme tray , then click on « VCD Manager ».

• In the new windows go to « Tools » then click on « Disable CD ». Quit VirtualDrive Pro ;

• Mount image of your game protected by starforce in Daemon Tools 4. Note that all emulation must be set to off .

• Run your game from a desktop shortcut. Be patient!


Re-enabling your drive


You can do this by coming back to "Tools" , then click on "Enable CD"
If your CD/DVD drives are not re-enabled, try this:
• Go to control Panel, then System.
• In new windows, go to Hardware tab, click on device manager
• In DVD/CD ROM Drives section, right-click on your drive and select "activate"
Reboot to find again your drive in explorer.


GAMES SHOULD WORK (NEED TEStERS!) with VDPRO10:

- Worms 4 Mayhem (incl. Update-Patch,Nforce Chipset)
- Prince Of Persia - The Two Thrones (NforceChipset)
- Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (Nforce,ULI chipsets)
- Trackmania Sunrise (incl. eXtreme Add-On/Patch) (Nforce ,ULI chipsets)
-The Suffering Ties That Bind (ULI chipsets)
-PJ King Kong (Nforce, ULI chipsets)


-->:D Big Thanks to !HaGaR! , XdaywalkerX to submit their result :D <--

This worked perfectly for me, thank you!!! IDE devices are disabled/enabled no problem and the games run fine, including TOCA 3!!!!

[bigal55]

use a usb caddy or what i use is a hard drive caddy,cheaper, dismantle it and connect the internals to your cd/dvd drive run the usb lead outside your box and u can connect it at will, not been beaten yet.

[Zulu]

@adbailey
When having a nForce/ULi based MoBo SFNightmare also works for SF 3.5+
I'd prefer SFNightmare, it's free and has no installer. What chipset do you have ? Also nForce or ULi ?

[toshea68]

Virtual Drive Pro 10 actually works and get's around the starforce crap protection! Cheers buddy you've my gameplay interesting again.:D

[Zulu]

Virtual Drive Pro 10 actually works and get's around the starforce crap protection! Cheers buddy you've my gameplay interesting again.:D Next one, same question: What chipset does your MoBo have ?

[dsac23]

@m_malyszko

Read the forum rules!!

Have you actually tried putting your hand in your pocket, to get some cash, then going to the game store to purchase the game legally!!!!

Bye Bye your are now banned for a month! This should give you enough time to purchase the game, legally!!

Hi.

I too think that people must pay for their games, because i do it, but why cant we make a backup of our bought games so we can protect the original CD?

This seems to be the problem for example of Toca Race Driver 3...

[Grumpy]

@dsac23
but why cant we make a backup of our bought games so we can protect the original CD?
Well if it was up to me I would say "yeh sure go ahead" ;)

But unfortunately for you it is not up to me!
Complain to the game publishers, even better just boycott all games protected with starforce. ;)

[dsac23]

@dsac23
Complain to the game publishers, even better just boycott all games protected with starforce. ;)

That would work if they listen our complaints, but they only want to "protect" their business at all cost.:)

Now, micro$oft aplicattions are one of the most wanted by pirates, and still Micro$oft has great profits... do you know how much it costs Toca Race Driver 3 in Portugal? nearly €60... if they had lower prices would sell more and have less or none pirated software...:)

[satanWest]

I am sure this must have been the first step taken for killing SF but then .. For me anyway.. i simply had to disable the drives from windows device manager. Game started and worked. :) - Tested game : Cold War

[Joe Forster/STA]

@satanWest: And the chipset on your motherboard is?

[toshea68]

Next one, same question: What chipset does your MoBo have ?

If you take a look at my list you'll see my setup!:)

[Zulu]

If you take a look at my list you'll see my setup!:)At that time it wasn't in your sig ;)

NForce 4, so i guess SFNightmare would also be suitable for SF 3.5+

[daniel_pt]

Bypassing new starforce 3.x games without using SFnightmare or unplugging drives.


Test by Roms6 - 12/07/2005 Translated by French Lover.



This method should be right for all games protected by starforce 3.x without the need to use SF Nightmare or unplug your CD/DVD drives.

You need :

• The right image of your game, I don't give you advices, as settings in Alcohol120% to create your image file vary for each game ;

• VirtualDrive Pro 10, which will hide your drives safely and perfectly.

• Daemon Tools 4.


VirtualDrive Pro 10 installation


Run VirtualDrive Pro, it should take a long time to install, as it copy his own drivers.

By default, VirtualDrive Pro will be installed in C:\Program Files\FarSton\VDPro.

VirtualDrivePro will ask you to install at least one drive. Note you can change the number of drives after installation.
Once it's finished, please reboot your computer as it said.


Using VirtualDrive pro


Before using your image with Daemon Tools 4, you have to set your software.

• Right Click to VirtualDrive Pro icon on systeme tray , then click on « VCD Manager ».

• In the new windows go to « Tools » then click on « Disable CD ». Quit VirtualDrive Pro ;

• Mount image of your game protected by starforce in Daemon Tools 4. Note that all emulation must be set to off .

• Run your game from a desktop shortcut. Be patient!


Re-enabling your drive


You can do this by coming back to "Tools" , then click on "Enable CD"
If your CD/DVD drives are not re-enabled, try this:
• Go to control Panel, then System.
• In new windows, go to Hardware tab, click on device manager
• In DVD/CD ROM Drives section, right-click on your drive and select "activate"
Reboot to find again your drive in explorer.


GAMES SHOULD WORK (NEED TEStERS!) with VDPRO10:

- Worms 4 Mayhem (incl. Update-Patch,Nforce Chipset)
- Prince Of Persia - The Two Thrones (NforceChipset)
- Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (Nforce,ULI chipsets)
- Trackmania Sunrise (incl. eXtreme Add-On/Patch) (Nforce ,ULI chipsets)
-The Suffering Ties That Bind (ULI chipsets)
-PJ King Kong (Nforce, ULI chipsets)


-->:D Big Thanks to !HaGaR! , XdaywalkerX to submit their result :D <--


well, unfortunely, this procedure doesn't work for me... :mad:

I am a bit suspicious of my dvd image, because, and now a bit off topic, when i'm installing TOCA 3, I get to that part of the installation when near of the end another installation bar pops up showing 1/43, it stalls @ 20/43 saying that the RD3_AntiNonReversingDeUnSquishifimicateriser.exe stopped answer... I don't really know what that program is, but after closing that .exe, the man installation bar proceeds until the end.

Can you point me some direction, where I can clear this issues of mine, please? thanks... :)

[LoedD]

Don't work for me too.
I guess U need a nForce 4 board but the BIOS hack from another thread (http://fileforums.com/showthread.php?t=76593) works perfectly.

[n1link]

or after all this you could just download the unintstall which they have now been forced to release and correct because some of the games they distributed SF with did not mention the fact that it would install SF to your computer. Horay a happy day for gamers that had their Drives f****d up by starforce. Search starforce on google and go to their official site to get the updated version of the remover. this time it works

[Grumpy]

@n1link
You should really do a search of these forums before writing something which has been mentioned here months ago!
Also do you realize that if you uninstall the Starforce drivers, using the removal tool, then when going to play that particular game again it will re-install the Starforce drivers. (Unless you of course use a crack!) ;)

[erchamion92]

Starforce and Starfuck my arse!!!

I own several titles protected by Starforce and prefer not to have to insert my disks everytime I wish to play one of them. Games are expensive and as a collector I want mine to reamain in pristine condition. Why is everyone pulling their damn IDE cables though? There's a much easier way to resolve the issue which is plainly obvious and I'm amazed I can't find a reference to it anywhere else on the web despite hours of searching.

I just want to make sure it works on a couple of differently specced machines and I will post results here and every other relevant forum I've come across.

[Joe Forster/STA]

Oh, yes, please, please, please, send us any useful and confirmed (!) information on making Starforce-protected games work without the CD/DVD; I'd be more than happy to add them to the FAQ! :)

[TeTTiweTTi]

Hi guys,

I tested
trackmania sunrise
pacman world 3
toca race driver 3 (DTM 3)

i can only bypass the SF protection of tracmania sunrise. I don't know why such a stupid game has such a stong proctection.
Mayby the other games have a newer version of SF, but i can't find anywhere which game has which SF protection.


*edit*

pacman world 3 and dtm 3 are games on dvd's. they are'nt working with an image. Is there hope for games on dvd's?

[Kavel]

Add X3:Reunion / 1.4.02 patch in nForce.

Ty

[thief7710]

i just managed to start Prince Of persia T2T.Just listen
Make an image with Alcochol 120%
Mount it in a virtual with Daemon tools
And then ladies and gentlemen just leave your DVD rom with its tray open
and click to play the game
when the game begins close the tray
it worked on my Sony Vaio FE11S
hope it works with you too!

[qrpiech]

any1 tried this? seems too simple but worth a try...

[TippeX]

You can do this by coming back to "Tools" , then click on "Enable CD"
If your CD/DVD drives are not re-enabled, try this:
• Go to control Panel, then System.
• In new windows, go to Hardware tab, click on device manager
• In DVD/CD ROM Drives section, right-click on your drive and select "activate"
Reboot to find again your drive in explorer.


blah blah blah

all virtual thingie does is the exact opposite of that, so theres little point installing it at all... 10+mb for what, 4 clicks...

and its relative to the starforce driver version, they can definately detect this now.. so its probably a redundant 'trick'

[innocent rookie]

hi guys(or hackers):p . I have colin mcrae rally 2005. It also uses starforce protection. I was thinking that is it necessary to mess around with CD/DVD drives etc. Can i override starforce by simply doing some modifications to "protection.dll" in the game directory. is there no way out other than cloaking my CD/DVD drive.:confused:

[TippeX]

yup u could modify protect.dll if you were (1) skilled, (2) lucky, course then you also have the drivers to modify too, considering the cdcheck is done by the drivers (ring 0)..

[Grumpy]

@innocent rookie
Or you could just use the Colin McRae Rally 2005 v1.0 [ALL] Fixed EXE available here. (http://m0001.gamecopyworld.com/games/pc_colin_mcrae_rally_2005.shtml) ;)