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Originally Posted by midfingr
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I've just sat and read those threads (well, it's -15 outside!!) and agree with pretty much all that is being said and it's also reminded me of something else - but more of that in a mo...
It seems there are a lot of people who have had bad experiences with Starforce, from slowing down drives to causing actual physical damage and 13HourR is absolutely right to issue his challenge.
Will Starforce take him up on it? I very much doubt it!
While publishers continue to buy their product, why should they? I am absolutely certain that publishers know what they are buying and if they were
really worried about Starforce, how quickly do you think they would distance themselves from it (and the potential costs of fighting thousands of claims for damages!)?
As I have said before, like it or not, Starforce does what it is intended to do and until someone can come up with irrefutable, incontrovertible,
independent forensic evidence that this product actually damages (or causes to be damaged) computer hardware, then they will continue to use it - and whatever derivatives it may spawn!
What about the publishers themselves? Has anyone got any contacts who can verify if they have done their own testing? If so, what were the results? Can we see them published anywhere?
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Also. Can I have your permission to submit the Starforce CD image to the Boycott Starforce site? Here is the site's url: http://www.glop.org/starforce/
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Certainly!
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It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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You're welcome.
As I was reading the above threads I remembered something that happened a few months back whilst I was using the Starforce protected software that I mentioned previously.
I had been using the program for a while (not sure how long, maybe 30 - 40 minutes) when the CDR/CDRW drive it was in started to make a very lound "grinding" noise. Needless to say I hit the "Eject" button asap but it wasn't until I had resorted to the old "paper clip in the hole" routine, that I persuaded the drive to give up the fight and open!
On checking the cd, I found that it had been very badly scored on the "read" side and has a furrow around (approx) 50% of its' circumference, about 3mm in from the outer edge. Needless to say, it can no longer be read and is now a coaster! Thankfully, the drive seems to have survived the onslaught and still functions.
Now, it could be absolutely nothing to do with Starforce and it was just unfortunate that the CD got "thrown" but this had never happened before (and I have to say, has not happened since) but it makes you wonder!
One final point before I grab a coffee and brave the cold....
I will always give my support when asked, if I believe in what I am being asked to support but, in order to give that support, I need to be sure that what I am suporting is right.
What I have read (in the main) has been informative, well thought-out, constructive criticism of a product that a) is installed without permission and b) is believed to damage the equipment on which it is installed. (I tend to regard statements such "them pi**ing in their pants", "taking over the world" and comments about "assassination attempts" by the British Government as being at best irrelevant and at worst, damaging to the credibility of the professional image you are trying to present.)
The only thing lacking is evidence - cold, hard evidence.
Get
that and you've got yourself a case - and boy, what a case it would be!!
Without it, all you've got is a long hard slog - "pushing treacle (molasses) uphill"!!!
How much would it cost to buy a virgin system, plus software and to get it to an independent Laboratory for testing? (13HourR - maybe you can come up with the answer to that?)
Would it not be possible to arrange some sort of "donation link", where all those who are concerned enough could donate a small amount to pay for it? (The equipment could be given to charity when the testing is finished.)
Let's face it, if you are not buying "Starforce" games now, you should have a few spare coins making holes in your pockets! Put them to good use now because, sooner or later, someone with an awful lot more money and clout is going to say: "Put up or shut up!"