original IL2 Sturmovik will not play

[teh roxxors]

This is the second UbiSoft game I've had do this:

I get one splash screen and the game drops back to the desktop. Since this is the retail version (not a copy or warez), I am assuming it checked for Alcohol 120 or it just doesn't like my CD drives. XIII did the same thing on another machine.

I can't find a no-CD patch for the latest version of IL2-Sturmovik (this is version 1.2; the patch is called il2upgrade_1.2.exe). This is NOT the Forgotten Battles add-on or Ace add-on. It's just the first retail release.

Anyone know how to get this running, or do I have to reinstall Windows without Alcohol 120? (Even that may not help?)