Hanging on install. Safedisc?

[flamesrtl]

I am attempting to install Sim City 4 (not a copy). At the end of the installation I receive an error. "Cannot locate the CD-ROM".
I have been reading a lot to try to solve the problem as EA Games tech support has been no help at all. From everything I have read here it would seem that you all have a solution for about everything. Any info you could give me on how I can solve this problem would be greatly appreciated. I am using an LG 52x cd-rom, MSI 40x12x48 CDRW and NERO burning room v 5.5.7.1
Athlon XP 2000+, 512 DDR.
Windows XP Home

[IceBreaker]

U mentionned you have Nero software, from which I gather you've been trying to backup the original CD with it

If so, know that Nero is NOT recommended for handling copy-protected CDs, especially for the reading part.

If you are not trying to copy the CD but simply installing the game from it, then more details about the installation would be most welcome.

1) Despite the error message, is the game fully installed - ie. are all files copied to hard drive, and when opening 'startup' -> 'parameters' -> 'control panel' -> 'add/remove programs' is the game on the list?

2) What happens when you try to launch the game without the (original) CD in the drive

3) What happens when you try to launch the game with the CD inserted?

4) What is your ASPI layer version (ie. 'wnaspi32.dll', winaspi.dll', 'aspi32.sys', 'wowpost.exe') ?

5) What is the protection used on the CD (download & run clonyx version 2.0.1.5 here, it will also tell you if there's an ASPI issue) ?

6) What is your Operating System?

7) Am I asking too many questions ?

These might not be at the origin of your misfortunes, but it's always a good idea to try narrowing down all the possibilities if you want to pinpoint the source of the problem

PS. Though this might not change anything, it's always a good idea to have one's readers' firmwares up to date. Check this out.

There are 10 types of people in this world: those who understand binary and those who don't

[flamesrtl]

I have not tried to make a backup copy of this game. I have only tried to install it from the original disc.
1) The game is listed in the Add/Remove programs list.
2) The game gives me the error "Cannot locate the cd-rom". This happens when I attempt to start the game and also at the end of the installation process.
3) I located aspi32.sys in the Windows/System32/Drivers folder. Clonyx also listed Wnaspi32.dll which I located in the Nero folder.
- Wnaspi32.dll in Nero - v 2.0.1.41
- aspi32.sys in Windows/system32/drivers - v 4.71.2.0
Clonyx listed bothof these files as v 4.71.2.0
4) This game has Safedisc v 2.8
5) I run Windows XP Home edition with Service Pack 1
6) It seemed like a lot of questions at first but I am learning a lot with all the reading I have been doing.
I looked for firmware for both of my drives but could not find any. I am still unsure of what firmware does.

[IceBreaker]

Wait one...something wrong here

U say the 'wnaspi32.dll' is in the Nero folder ONLY?

Nero proggies do use their own ASPI layer so this file must remain where it is...

...BUT there should also be a file with the same name in the windows 'system32' dir.

Symptoms such as the one U got (CD-ROM drives not found) are typical of an improperly installed or configured ASPI layer.

In fact these are the correct paths for the 4 files I mentionned in my previous post (for WINDOWS 2000/XP in general, regardless of whatever burning software is installed):

c:\*WINDIR*\system32\wnaspi32.dll
c:\*WINDIR*\system\winaspi.dll
c:\*WINDIR*\system32\drivers\aspi32.sys
c:\*WINDIR*\system\wowpost.exe

where *WINDIR* is either 'windows' or 'winnt' according to the OS (I'm not sure what it is for WinXP).

Usually these 4 files are 'adaptec' version, but this is not compulsory, at least not for 'wnaspi32.dll'.

It seems that 2 files are also missing, 'wowpost.exe' and 'winaspi.dll', so U might have to reinstall ASPI layers. However this U should know:

- in theory the only adaptec ASPIs for Win2k and WinXP are versions 4.7xx (versions 4.6xx and below are for Win9x and WinNT only).

- in practice ASPI versions 4.7xx are known to be riddled with bugs that cause read/write problems, and many claim to have solved these by replacing them with v4.6, even though they had Win2k or WinXP!

- Adaptec states that version 4.71.2 is stable. Since U have that version, keep it - at least for now

So this I suggest: install (the full) ASPI 4.71.2 and reboot. You can download it
here .

After reboot make sure all 4 files have the same correct version (4.71.2) and are in the appropriate paths.

If you still have the same problems, then this you will try:
The registry you will open, and this key you will find:
'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servi ces\Aspi32\Parameters'. There should be a string-type value called 'ExcludeMiniports'. IF this value is not empty, right-click modify it and delete its content. Reboot should not be necessary.

Normally these 2 aforementionned tips (install full ASPI and check the reg key) should help.

But if it doesn't...well then fate is really hounding you, isn't it? In that case you could try reverting back to ASPI 4.6, but that's a triffle more complicated since you will need to download a package of DOS programs that includes 'killASPI' and 'forceASPI', in addition to the ASPI 4.6. There was a thread in this same forum, posted over a week ago, check it out if installing ASPI 4.7 and the reg tip didn't help.

PS. about the firmware stuff: a device's firmware is its BIOS, exactly like that of the mainboard. So it is of utmost importance since that's what interacts with the OS drivers. Towards the end of my previous post I included a link to a firmware page, I don't know if you followed it.

However judging by what U said this prob has nothing to do with the firmware, all the more so than the 2 drives U've got are quite recent, so there is no need 2 bother much about the firmware...

Nope, this prob is definitely ASPI-related, so good luck m8 - U might need it

Don't put off till tomorrow what you can put off till day after tomorrow