Protected Sectors

Judderman19 · #1 17-03-2002, 05:56

I'm in the middle of copying The Sims Original. And Im getting many failed to read sector errors. I'm hoping this is just cd protection such as safe disc. Just to be sure could you please tell me what sectors the protection is at? I've been getting nothing but errors since sector 806 and im still getting errors at 3050 and the errors are still coming. So is this cdprotection? Or is my cd writter not upto scratch?

My CloneCD settings are
CloneCD Version 3.3.4.1
and default settings.
Ive no clue what type of cdwriter I have but in my system settings it says "LG CDRW CED-8083B" I also have a Samsung DVD drive but i use my writer to read the image anyway.

Can anyone help?

gh0sth@cker · #2 17-03-2002, 06:04

The errors should be 800-10000 (approx). Enable Fast Error Skip while reading the make it go quicker.

Judderman19 · #3 17-03-2002, 07:33

Thanx I did as you said. and it copied fine. apart from the obvious errors from the protected sectors. Now im attempting to install the game. Ive put the cd into my DVD drive. and the autostart for sims has come on fine. but wen i click on install. it just seems to hang. My dvd drive busy light is on but thats all. Is this again cos of protection? Do I have to mess around with unsafedisc?

gh0sth@cker · #4 17-03-2002, 09:47

The protection doesn't "kick-in" until you try to play the game from the copy - not during installation (except with Westwood games). So I don't believe it's a copy protection problem. Maybe the original is scratched?? Trty installing from the original and see if you can play with the copy.

Judderman19 · #5 17-03-2002, 10:01

I've figured it out I think. it installs fine and works with no problems if i do it through my Cd rewriter. So i guess my DVD drive is just packing up. I have a perfect 1:1 copy of sims. I Dont even need to use any NoCD cracks or anything.

Thanx for your help.

themis_t · #6 17-03-2002, 13:55

well done

Judderman19 · #7 17-03-2002, 15:58

One more question? Is there a good webpage for me to read up on how to use unsafedisc?? Thanks

gh0sth@cker · #8 17-03-2002, 16:13

There is a page - can't think of it right now - maybe you'll find a link at Gamecopyworld. But there's really not much to it.
[list=1][*]Copy all dll's to a temp directory, along with the main exe as well.[*]Run safedisk 2 dumper on the exe. A data.bin file is created.[*]Run safedisk 2 Rebuilder on the data.bin file. This creates your new 'fixed exe'.[*]Rename the new file to exactly what the original one was.[*]To burn to a CD-R - copy the whole disk to a temp directory, replace the original exe with the new 'fixed exe'. Use Nero preferably to burn the contents of the temp directory WITH THE ORIGINAL CD LABEL. If the label on the original cd is "Sims", then your copy must have this exactly as well.[/list=1]

Judderman19 · #9 18-03-2002, 10:00

It's easy to backup cdz then really. Maybe easier than it should be. ohwell. One more Question before I stop buggin you. When you say ALL dll's do you just mean the ones that are at the route of the cd? I dont have to go searching folders for the lot do i?

Ta Very Much

gh0sth@cker · #10 18-03-2002, 14:54

It's usually just the ones that are in the same folder as the exe, but it's not hard to find them all just in case.

Start Find and type *.dll the star tells it to find all the .dll files. And point the search to your cd-drive. Then select them all, copy, and paste.

Judderman19 · #11 18-03-2002, 15:48

Thank you very much.

themis_t · #12 19-03-2002, 12:46

you would noway understand how to use it by the notes of the author....

Judderman19 · #13 19-03-2002, 13:21

The instructions ghosthacker gave were clear enough, so I may aswell stay clear of the authors instructions if they are hard to understand.

themis_t · #14 20-03-2002, 05:51

ok...go on trying..