How can I determine CD Serial Number before I burnt it

[qawsed]

Hi,
I'm writing a program in VB and I will write it to CD with any copy-protected methods. That's ok.
But.
I want to make a copy protection algorithm in the program.
Because, everybody able to copy the program to harddrive;

- I'll check drive type in the program , if drive is not CD-ROM drive then the program won't run.

- if drive is a CD-ROM drive then the program will check serial number of the CD.
-if S/N is correct, the program will run, else it won't run.

So;
You can copy it to hard disk but it doesn't work.
you have to run it in the CD.

You can't copy CD, because I will burn it with Copy-protect method.

you can change hard disk's or floppy's serial numbers as you know.
What about CDs? Can you determine CD's serial number before you burn it?

if anybody help me, I'll be happy,
Thanks.
my email

[qawsed]

Thanks,
actually, I tried 2 or 3 methods,
first, I converted my .exe file to BIN format and prepared a .cue
for example :
I'm writing two track in two different mode.
cue file :

FILE "project.BIN" BINARY
TRACK 01 MODE1 /2352
INDEX 01 00:00:00

TRACK 02 MODE2/2352
INDEX 01 73:30:45

I used CDRWIN and I tried to burn it. Thats ok, you can't copy the CD.
and also I tried a lot of programs for copy-protect:

CD-Protector
CloneAudioProtector
Easy Audio Lock
FreeLock
TZCopyprotection
WinLock

but these programs are not work properly!

I will burn my program in mode2/2352 first
and I'll add a dummy track to CD in mode1/2352
I think it will be useful. in your opinion?

but I have to know serial number of the CD before I burn it )
otherwise my program doesn't work even in the original cd ))
when I burn the first track, the burner program determine the S/N , I added second track, burner program add a new S/N to CD :P it's a big problem.

thanks.

[qawsed]

yes, that's works, I tested. But, that CD is not be copy-protected.
I'm using 2 different mode for copy-protect.
and only CDRWIN allows to use 2 mode in the multisession CD.
in other burners(EasyCDCreator,Nero etc.) don't allow that.
after I use CDCreator, WINCDR didn't allow to add new data in changed mode to CD.

Do you know an other good way for protected CD?
May be I change method. Because I'm new in protected CD.
I'm always writing programs in Visual Basic.

thanks your help.

[Lil Half Swell]

Just my 2 cents worth, but your time would be better spent if you avoided trying to copy protect your CD. There will always be a way around it anyway, and all that time you spent trying to protect it will be wasted. You may stop or slow down less experienced people, but anyone who's been around the CD-burning block for awhile won't be fooled.

[qawsed]

Yes, I know I know.
of course. Someone will copy it sooner or later. But no everyone.
I'm selling my programs to inexperienced users, in general.
Almost everybody have CD-Writer at their home or office.
The copy process is to easy for even a child.
Copy has to be hard a little.
A lot of poeple that I know, don't struggle for copy a CD.

[Lil Half Swell]

I can appreciate that. I did some simple CD protecting for some idiots I work with. They never realized that all they had to do was copy the files on their CD to their harddrive and then back onto a CD. A lot of people just don't think.... lucky for us.

[qawsed]

Thanks a lot.
but neverone doesn't know how can able to enter S/N for new CD. :P
see you

[DarkSoul]

Originally posted by qawsed
Thanks a lot.
but neverone doesn't know how can able to enter S/N for new CD. :P

No wonder cause the serial number will be created with the file system. A blank CDR has no file system so it has no serial number.

[qawsed]

yes, You are right.
but, can I decide it ?
for example, I want to make CD's serial number AAAA-0123.
Can I do this?

[DarkSoul]

Originally posted by qawsed
yes, You are right.
but, can I decide it ?
for example, I want to make CD's serial number AAAA-0123.
Can I do this?

If you copy a CD 1:1 then it copies the serial number, too (as far I know). So your protection will not work. Try it out. If it you copy the same CD twice and you get 2 different serials I will apologize!

If the serials are different (but I don't think so) then you could create a multisession CDR with two sessions: The first session with your programm. Then read out the serial and create the second session with a file. In this file you write the (encrypted) serial (and a serial dependend decrypt key). Your program should only read this file (cause now it should exist) and then check the serial (but make your app cracker proof). This should work... but only if the serial number of a CD will not be copied if you clone a CD 1:1.

Good luck!