Unload the Debugger and Try again

[elros]

Hello all,

I'm new on this forum, and have the same problem. This problem occurs on Morrowind, Medieval Total War, Shogun Total War, Black and White (for my games) and comes from Safe Disc CD protection under Windows XP.
So, it is not really a game problem. If you re-install XP, then install the games, they will work again. Until you re-install the software which may generate this bug...
I have tried to stop each process and services, but no changes.
So, I am currently trying to find what is common in our configuration. Can you tell me if you are doing some Video Edition ? Do you have CD Burner, and what are your Burning Software ?
I've read in some forum that removing the file amdfix.sys (in C:/Windows/System32/Drivers) will solve the issue. I've tried and it changes the problem. I did not have this f...... message, but the game never start. But may be it can help someone.

By the end, I always download the nocd patch for each game and play in this config. But it is a problem when you want to install a patch.

So, if you can give me your config (software), may be it can help.
Does anyone ask Microsoft about that ? THis error only occurs with Windows 2k and XP.

Elros

[podunkviller]

all i've noticed is that it started happening about hte same time they checked for cd-r media, duno what else to say.

[crispy]

At the edn of the day, there are many ways that progs can check for debuggers like SIce.
Checking Int handlers, driver names, vxds, softice dlls, etc etc etc. I would expect that since they've never installed sice or similar debuggers, then sd2 may be falling down over interrupt handlers in winxp (unless by some bizarre coincidence they have 3rd party software installed with the same named dlls, vxds etc as sice or similar debugger)

BUT, if these guys say they aren't running, or never have run SIce or any other debugger, then the people to call are the tech support of the games' publishers.
It's their problem for using a buggy and paranoid protection mechanism in the first place. And sadly if they can't help ya, it's gonna be difficult for us to sort you out at a distance.

[Derf]

Hi All.

I have experienced the same error message when trying to run my original copy of Sid Meier's Sim Golf. It has been very frustrating trying to solve the problem, but with a combination of some of the information on this thread and a bit of though, I was lucky enough to come across a solution. Well, it worked on my machine at least.

I am running XP Professional with a host of software, including a bunch of trial software. I also run Norton Anti-Virus.

1) Disable Norton AntiVirus
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I have disabled Norton by running 'msconfig' and disabling navpw32 under the Startup tag. I also disabled 'Norton AntiVirus Auto Protest Service' under the Services tag.

2) Remove amdfix.sys
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I got this one from you guys. I have renamed it to a .bak file. I tried this at the beginning, however it didn't seem to work. All that happened is that the message went away, but when I ran the game, a task appeared in my task bar but nothing ever ran. It did work though after step 3 below.

3) Run Ad-aware to remove spyware
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I was struggling to figure out what debuggers or similar services may be running. I then found a tool at http://www.lavasoftusa.com/aaw.html called Ad-aware. What it does is it identifies any advertising spyware that is installed on you machine and removes it for you.

After these three steps, my game finally works.

I hope this helps and good luck.

Derf.

[podunkviller]

spyware is not a debugger

another thing that may be happening is that sd2 finds some kind of emulator you may have installed. not like nesticle, but daemon tools, or something. if you dont keep your DT version later than the safedisc version, you might find that the game is finding DT. just a thought....

searched lately ? this has been a thread before - this may even be the one im thinking of.....

[Derf]

I didn't say spyware was a debugger. I just detailed what worked for me.

The fact is that some spyware runs as a background process monitoring your machine for certain events or actions. eZula is an example. This may be incorrectly interpreted as a debugger. Whatever the case is, I had tried everything else before, to no avail. It was only after I got rid of the spyware AND did the other things that my game worked.

[elros]

Hi all,

Finally, it works. You just have to rename the file
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\amdfix.sys (to amdfix.sys.save for example).
Then, reboot the PC and try again.
For me, with Morrowind, Medieval Total War, and the original CD, it works perfectly.

Does anyone knows what is this file ?

Elros

[podunkviller]

the name implies its a fix for amd processors.

[themis_t]

so,how did you found this out?

[HughBackov]

if you install MIcrosoft Office 2000 or XP and also install the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) files, the Visual Studio debugger program will be installed as well. This debugger is set to run at startup by default and you will have to disable it for Safedisc games to work.

[themis_t]

are you sure about this or is it just a possibility?

[HughBackov]

Originally posted by themis_t
are you sure about this or is it just a possibility?

100% sure. I have seen this personally.

[themis_t]

then houston we have a problem....

[podunkviller]

funny that - all my safedisc games still work :P

[Whiteknight01]

Hi, Ladies and Gentleman,

I also had problems with the damned "debugger detect"!
But I found after a long search the solution!

I am proud owner of a Soundblaster Audigy2(it's the same for Audigy)!
But the DVD-Player released with the Software is detected as a debugger.
Just uninstall the DVD-Player from the "Software"-Menu in the system-properties!

I hope, I could help some of you!
I was also quite astonished, when I found out what was the reason!

Greetings
Whiteknight