How do I backup a safedisk 2 game with a cdrw that doesn't read sub data?

matt31 · #1 09-10-2001, 17:43

I've heard there is something called betablocker.What is this and how can it hel me?

Also,I've heard that you can use Daemon tools.How exactly do you do that?

Any help,much appreciated,

Matt Ives

Monty Burns · #2 09-10-2001, 18:05

Hi,

betablocker is somewhat difficult to use for an unexperienced user. It works on the weak sectors of an image..blabla... You should consider the readme when you have d/led it. Daemon tools let's you mount clonecd iso images (emulates a cd-rom, so the game thinks the disc is inserted). I think the new version can also mount discjuggler images, but I am not sure as I don't have the latest version of daemon tools.

The easiest way (it doesn't always work though) is to copy the whole contents of the cd to hd. (e.g. C:\game)
Install the game.
Get safedisc analyser and unsafedisc2.xx.xx.
Use the correct version of unsafedisc on the main executable.
Copy this "new" exe to c:\game\crack
Rename the exe to the original one

Burn the shit back on a CDr and label it as the original one.
Once installed from your backup CD, simply replace the original exe with the one from your crack folder.

This worked for me 99% of the time, there was only one exception:
American McGee's Alice.

Sometimes it is good to wait for an update. Many CD readers do have problems even with the original CD inserted. The manufacturers then will show up with an update, which weakens the copy protection (im my case Black & White, which did't run with the original CD, but after updating it runs even from a simple backup).

Hope this helps.

matt31 · #3 10-10-2001, 01:28

.

Thanks for taking the time to reply Monty.I really appreciate it.
A couple more questions,if you don't mind:

1.what settings do you reccomend i use when I try and create a clonecd image using clonecd on a safedisk 2 game?

2.I didn't quite understand the other method you mentioned:
As far as I can tell,you advise copying and pasting the contents of the cd to a hard drive directory e.g. C/game.Then getting a cracked .exe replace the original .exe and then burn this lot to a cd?Have i got this right?

Thanks in advance,

Matt

Monty Burns · #4 10-10-2001, 04:08

Hi,

you got the copy/paste stuff right, but don't forget to label it the same as the original CD (e.g. in Nero, there's the field volume descript). In most cases you can't replace the exe before burning, as the installation routine creates it during the install procedure, so you should copy it into a seperate folder in your temp-burn dir. If there are also audio-tracks you should try to extract them and burn a mix-mode CD.

Well, I don't know the CloneCD settings, as my writer isn't compatible. (And I don't like mounting isos, I prefer a "real" CD). But you should check ClonyXL. It's a tool which analyses the copy protection and tells what settings you should make in CloneCD.

CU

matt31 · #5 10-10-2001, 05:10

So,let's see if I've got this right:
1.Copy and paste the contents of the cd to a temp directory on the HD.
2.Using Nero or Clonecd ,create a cd using the contents of the temp directory,making sure to use the same name as the original cd.
3.Install the game and replace the exe with a cracked one.

Is that it?
If so,do you think it would work for a safedisk 2 game (f1 2001).It's just that it seems a bit over simplistic.

Thanks again Monty,

MAtt

Monty Burns · #6 10-10-2001, 05:33

You got it right !

Sometimes it is that simple! It works up to 99%. The latest game I backed up was Max Payne, in the same way I told you.
Undying, Black & White,....., From Dusk till Dawn, also worked perfectly (taking into account that in this case there are 2 sd2 protected files: the setup.exe and the fdd.exe)

You can save a lot of time if you dl unsafedisc2 and safediscanalyser3.4. It's easy to use and you don't have to wait for a crack to be released.
In most cases unsafedisc2 creates a NOCD patch, so you don't even need a backup CD to be present in your drive.

No more scratches or any harm to your original games.

Btw, I don't own f1 2001 and therefor I cannot tell you which version of sd2 is used as protection. Maybe there is a new version (higher than 2.40.10) meanwhile. In this case you should either wait for r!sc upadating his great tool or you have to be a good cracker yourself. Just give it a try.

matt31 · #7 10-10-2001, 16:58

Thanks a lot for your help Monty.
I'll give it a try tonight and see what happens.
If it doesn't work,I'll try and create a 1-1 copy with Clone cd and instal it using a virtual drive using Daemon.

Thanks again,
Matt

Gamerunlimited · #8 10-10-2001, 19:11

The only problem is if you wish to update your version it will no longer work for you until you use a different crack. If you wish to make a real 1:1 copy you must buy a burner compatible with Safedisc 2 writing aka Acer, Phillips, Plextor. most of these work very well, I use an Acer my self for the Safedisc 2 and all other protections I use an HP. If you get an appropriate burner just use fast error skip and that's it no subs needed on Safedisc 1 or 2. Good Luck

AMIT08 · #9 01-06-2002, 10:21

Quote:

Originally posted by Monty Burns
You got it right !

Sometimes it is that simple! It works up to 99%. The latest game I backed up was Max Payne, in the same way I told you.
Undying, Black & White,....., From Dusk till Dawn, also worked perfectly (taking into account that in this case there are 2 sd2 protected files: the setup.exe and the fdd.exe)

You can save a lot of time if you dl unsafedisc2 and safediscanalyser3.4. It's easy to use and you don't have to wait for a crack to be released.
In most cases unsafedisc2 creates a NOCD patch, so you don't even need a backup CD to be present in your drive.

No more scratches or any harm to your original games.

Btw, I don't own f1 2001 and therefor I cannot tell you which version of sd2 is used as protection. Maybe there is a new version (higher than 2.40.10) meanwhile. In this case you should either wait for r!sc upadating his great tool or you have to be a good cracker yourself. Just give it a try.

Hello

I have tried copying Max Payne. My friend installed the game and tried to use it on his computer. His machine is very powerful so it is not that it isn't. The game exited at the loading screen.

The steps i took to copy Max Payne were:

1. Copy Max Payne CD to temp directory.
2. Use the Max Payne.exe from the installed game on my machine.
3. Patch the Max Payne exe from the instaled game using Unsafedisc 2.40.10.
4. Add the Max Payne exe to the temp directory.
5. Burn the game to CD.
6. When my friend got the game he installed the game, replaced the exe i had patched with unsafedisc with the one had had been installed.

Are these the correct steps to use. Is there anything i have missed. Or is there anything i should do.

With Max Payne, even when unsafedisc is used i have found that the cd is not used in the cd drive. How can this be right, wouldn't any of the game videos be run from the CD.

Thanks

JoyBoy · #10 01-06-2002, 15:44

Well done for posting to a thread thats, ermmmm, 8 months old AMIT08, nevermind.
Yes those are those the correct steps to copy a game from the Hard Drive, check the newbie guides and Backup Protected CDs links at www.gamecopyworld.com
One thing that I find puzzling, does'nt Unsafedisc usually create a Fixed Exe not a No-CD?

AS LONG AS THE BACKUP THAT U MADE WORKS, WHATS THE PROBLEM?

gh0sth@cker · #11 01-06-2002, 15:53

Yes it does create a fixed exe. But a lot of modern games only require the cd for copy protection check purposes. Once you remove this check then there is sometimes no need for the cd at all. So it can sometimes effectively be a NO-CD.

But this isn't the case for all games and a lot games have movies or sounds on the cds. But there may be a solution in copying the files to the appropiate folder on the hard drive.

AMIT08 · #12 02-06-2002, 05:06

Quote:

Originally posted by BountyWarrior
Well done for posting to a thread thats, ermmmm, 8 months old AMIT08, nevermind.
Yes those are those the correct steps to copy a game from the Hard Drive, check the newbie guides and Backup Protected CDs links at www.gamecopyworld.com
One thing that I find puzzling, does'nt Unsafedisc usually create a Fixed Exe not a No-CD?

AS LONG AS THE BACKUP THAT U MADE WORKS, WHATS THE PROBLEM?

Well the problem is that the backup copy i made does not work on my friends machine. It exits at the loading screen.

So my question was how can i resolve this. It is funny but the max payne game creates a no-cd version of the the game.

Is this correct of people who have created a max payne back up cd??

Thanks

AMIT08 · #13 02-06-2002, 05:12

Hello

I guess all i am asking is if you need the back up cd to play max payne. Could anyone who has backed up max payne reply.

Thanks

JoyBoy · #14 02-06-2002, 07:38

I've backed up Max Payne via the trusty Hard Drive Method successfully using a No-CD crack, had no problems, and no u dont need the cd in the drive.
The one thing I suggest doing is if a crack is already available for any game that u r trying to backup, use that one, dont try to create your own.

AMIT08 · #15 02-06-2002, 08:38

Quote:

Originally posted by BountyWarrior
I've backed up Max Payne via the trusty Hard Drive Method successfully using a No-CD crack, had no problems, and no u dont need the cd in the drive.
The one thing I suggest doing is if a crack is already available for any game that u r trying to backup, use that one, dont try to create your own.

Did you use the Max Payne 1.0.0.0 crack created by steven noorlander. It uses i5comp to enter ms cabinet files and to place the max payne exe that way.

Is this a better method than the one i used in my earlier post??

Thanks