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DRM Rage

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GregW

GregW

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I hate Digital Rights M(whatever the "M" stands for). Not because of what it tries to do, but how it ruins an otherwise good product. Take for instance the Parts List from Heritage Trust. The DRM refuses to launch the program if the DVD happened to be in the drive when I booted the computer. Ejecting and re-loading makes no difference. I have to remove the disk, reboot the computer and then when everything is up and running, only then can I insert the disc in and hope that it will work. I recently bought Grand Theft Auto 4. My computer is about three years old so the game ran like crap. I flashed the bios so I could put a core2 duo CPU in, added 2 gig of ram and installed a new video card with 1gig of ram too. I know, a lot for a game, but the computer was starting to show it's age and some of my Photoshoping was using the scratch disk (horrors!). So I go to play the game hopefully with some good frame rates and lo and behold DRM strikes again! :madder: Seems the protection has decided that I'm putting a copied disc in the drive, not the original WTH! it's the original! I've tried numerous re-installs. Used the special DRM removal tool, found the hidden license files, run two registry cleaners, even manually removed lines in the registry after the cleaners. Re-installed, re-did my license, launched the program and <span style="font-weight: bold">still</span> the DRM thinks I'm using a copy disc and won't let me in. Why torture paying customers with this BS? I wonder if they loose more money to customer support than they would have from pirated copies. Uuuuuuuuggggggghhhhhh!
 
Greg,

Go into the Device Manager and remove all of the CD/DVD's from your hardware list. Just delete them and then reboot. Windows will reinstall their drivers on the boot up. Sometimes this cleans out some hidden history files that plague users with this B/S. If I knew where or what was hidden I'd tell you but I don't.

I knew several guys struggling to reinstall programs after a crash and this was the only way to beat the Digital Rights Management Blues.
 
Thanks Paul,
I deleted the DVD drive, but without removing GTA4. Didn't work just doing that. I'm going to email SecuROM and Rockstar now. Reinstalling is such a pain, 15gig on the hard drive once installed.
 
Greg - if you get a useful response to your support email, would you please share it with us?

After my (negative) HDTV provider experience, I'm really beginning to think that there are so many people working on "security" and "micro-control" apps, us end users either give up in disgust, or throw the new tech out into the snow.

Thanks.
Tom
 
Now that really bends me the wrong way. This game has only been out for about a month and there are cracks to bypass the DRM. So it only hampers the people that pay for the product. I remember hearing Bill Gates saying that DRM was a pipedream. Basically any code that can be written, can be reverse engineered.

Tom, I'll let you know what they say.
 
Hey Tom,
So tech support emailed me Tuesday morning with a link to a downloadable fix. I can play the game now but there are audio issues. Random crackling which at first I thought was a bad plug in the back (I had puled the computer out). But the connection was fine and I still had the crackling when I switched over to digital output for the surround sound. Only happens in the game. I don't think it has to do with security, though I've heard hacks cause weird things to happen. Next up is emailing the game maker.
 
I would try some other audio drivers and/or reinstall the current ones.
 
Exactly why I gave up "Gaming" on my P.C..
I got sick of all of the configuration problems long ago!
The Kids have Numerous game boxes {WII, Ps2, Ps3, and several other brands ect ect. ect,.} When I want to play a game I just ask them to either fire it up or go rent it for me.
Solves Two problems at once
1. I don`t have to fight the wife for P.C. time
2. P.C. configuration problems are HISTORY!
 
GregW said:
Hey Tom,
So tech support emailed me Tuesday morning with a link to a downloadable fix. I can play the game now but there are audio issues. Random crackling which at first I thought was a bad plug in the back (I had puled the computer out). But the connection was fine and I still had the crackling when I switched over to digital output for the surround sound. Only happens in the game. I don't think it has to do with security, though I've heard hacks cause weird things to happen. Next up is emailing the game maker.
Click to expand...

Thanks Greg. Glad you got it working ... but sounds like the game audio was fine *until* you downloaded and installed the fix? As a friend of mine once said "if it weren't this, it'd be something else."

You are a more patient man than I sir. Think I'll stick to BCF and Pong (my OSX Pong simulator, you understand ...).

Tom
 
NutmegCT said:
As a friend of mine once said "if it weren't this, it'd be something else."
Click to expand...

Hmmmm...

Was he an A&P?

An aircraft electrician I worked with years ago on the Fairchild A-10 Final Line used to say, when we found a problem, for example, "We'll try the landing gear relay box. If that ain't it, it's somethin' else."

Truer words was never spoke.
 
leecreek said:
I would try some other audio drivers and/or reinstall the current ones.
Click to expand...
Hi Lee,
The problem cropped up after the DMR was taken care of. I went and installed the latest Soundblaster drivers and still have the problem. The problem is definitely in the game.
aweman said:
1. I don`t have to fight the wife for P.C. time
2. P.C. configuration problems are HISTORY!
Click to expand...
Hi Kerry,
No wifey here to fight with. I agree that there is a configuration problem from time to time. I do prefer the games on PC though. The graphics are almost always superior and the keyboard has more versatility than a console pad.
coldplugs said:
Some progress - maybe - from Apple in this regard.
Click to expand...
Hi John,
Amazon has been selling DRM-free music for a while. I haven't really gotten into that. I have just been transferring music from my CD collection, but some day...
 
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