Help with HOMM 4 - can't make working copy
 

I am using CloneCD v4.0.1.6 to make my copy with a Lite-On LTR-24102M CD R/W. It can use the SAO-RAW mode. I used the Universal Backup Instructions for RAW mode. The game won't recognize the CD. I have applied the patch to run without CD and it works, but would like to make the back up CD so I can put the original away so the kids won't ruin it.

I've seen some suggestions to set CloneCD to "Hide CDR Media" - but this is disabled and I can't select it. The manual for CloneCD says it's not available in the US.

Any help appreciated.

what game is it? and what protection has it got?
I think if you change your regional settings, you can use hide-cdr, not 100% sure of this.

Heroes of Might and Magic 4, uses safedisk2.

How do you change regional settings in XP, and what should I change it too?

Go to Control Panel, and look for an icon named Regional & Language Options, in there you will find a tab called Regional Options. Now just use the drop down menu to choose a different country. I am in Australia, and mine works so maybe choose that one. Again I'm not entirely sure this will work but I guess it's worth a shot.
If you have another cd/rom drive other than your cd/writer you should be able to use this one regardless whether hide-cdr media is selected or not.
Also, you might like to try using Clonyxxl. If you don't know already, this will scan the cd you are about to copy and recomends which settings to have when using Clonecd depending on what the protection is.

copy HOMM4 with CloneCD set to hide cd-r media works - why?
 

I went into Windows XP and set my location to Australia. This allowed me to set CloneCD to "Hide CD-R media." Then I made the copy of the HOMM4 play disk, and lo and behold it works!

Then I tried the previous disk I made (before setting CloneCD to hide cd-r media) - and it works too!?! Why does setting the CloneCD switch let my copy work? I thought it had something to do with allowing it to copy it correctly. Does the copy protection see CloneCD and a CD-R and decide I have a copy and therefore won't let it work? But then I shouldn't have been able to play from the original! I don't understand, can someone explain this?

This is a really easy one. The install disc has NO protection on it (which is good), so you can copy it with even eazyCDcreator. Then just download the patch and bingo you can play. Hope it works for ya. See ya,



gamer17

This is a cracked copy - nothing special - Marshall4 is making a Cloned 1:1 copy.

Now as for Hide CD-R Media:
Every CD-R contains an ATIP - this contains info on dye colour, length, manufacturer etc. Pressed cd's (originals) don't have an ATIP as they are pressed so don't need one. Most of the new games have a secondary protection to check for an ATIP; if an ATIP is found then it knows it's a copy. The problem with this protection (and it's the main reason why it's a secondary protection) is that only cd-writers can read ATIP; normal CD-ROM's cannot.
So the solution is to play the game in a CD-ROM. For those without a CD-ROM drive, then Hide CD-R Media is the solution as it hides the fact that the cd has an ATIP (works like an emulator).

ATIP and CD-R
 

Now I understand why it will work on my other computer which has a plain vanilla cdrom without r/w capability. If I use the DVD drive I wonder if it will work too?

it should work in the DVD too