Its ok i found a solution. Anyone else who finds Starforce Nightmare makes off with their cd drives for longer than anticipated (code 41) should read this.
http://www.cdrom-guide.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=272544
Got my drive back but still cant get the stupid game to run, (even after re-hiding the cd drive). I guess things dont look good for Silent Hunter 3 in the short term either.
Tip, do not use 'disable cd' in SFN, instead selectively disable drives with the other buttons to prevent the problem I (and others) encountered. It may not help the game run but it'll prevent the need for registry surgery.
Regards,