Mansions and gardens

[TippeX]

Originally Posted by jwest

I discovered SecuROM was a problem and removed it.

really? what problem... please elaborate...

I want to play my game without using my CD's to avoid SecuROM being put back on my PC. I think it was behind a DVD drive problem I had.

heh... *think*.. great word, really means you don't have a clue... also securom is not 'put back on your pc'.. the exe is wrapped with securom.. sounds like you've been reading one of the sims fansites and started believing the crap..

I downloaded the no cd crack for M&G and it comes up with the following error message:-

Failed to enumerate any directX compatable graphics adapters in this system

Please make sure you have directX compatable graphics adapter and have installed the latest manufacturer provided driver.

The application will now terminate...

well, then check for updated video drivers for your machine.. posting more information helps (especially the specifications of the machine you're trying to play it on)

[Elliander]

Originally Posted by TippeX

really? what problem... please elaborate...
heh... *think*.. great word, really means you don't have a clue... also securom is not 'put back on your pc'.. the exe is wrapped with securom.. sounds like you've been reading one of the sims fansites and started believing the crap..

*sigh* The real problem with SecuROM is not what it does but where it is installed. It is placed in Ring 0 of the kernel with permissions above even the administrator. It could sing happy birthday and still cause problems being placed there. That's why it's been known to cause so many inconsistent problems. It's serious enough that Sony has a tool for detecting such conflicts in reporting to their tech support so it's not a "sim fantasy" - on the contrary, I was really angry after I bought Spore on pre-order when it was first released. I had to wait 2 weeks to get the game in the mail while pirates were playing it already and then when I got the game my CD burner software stopped working. (which apparently did not affect pirates) I was only able to get RecordNow DX to work and only for audio CDs. (that suggests that it wasn't the burner itself disabled, it was just that the copy protection of SecuROM was causing bugs in other software) The other software resumed working when the De-Authorization and SecuROM removal tools came out, and then stopped working again recently when I bought the Sims 2... so it's safe to assume that it's no fantasy, but neither is it anything malicious. I can work around it.

.......

Anyway, I'm on this thread because I am looking to play without my discs. (with or without SecuROM), There was a really good guide on here that helped address the issues up to University, but that guide is no longer valid since the game requires that we use the most recent disc which happens to be "Mansion and Gardens Stuff" so I was curious if a similar guide exists? When I attempt to use a No CD crack the game just hangs right after the intro video. I really don't like using game discs because I don't want them to get too scratched up in case I ever need to reinstall.