Second Life Forums Archive - Dreamfall anyone?

Wrom Morrison

Validated User

Join date: 15 Apr 2006

Posts: 462

08-25-2006 18:27

Hey guys I just bought Dreamfall from a local Gamestop. I was wondering if anyone here played this game and had issues with the starforce copyprotection system they use? I don't want to unpack this game if it's going to nuke my hardware.

From the wikipedia StarForce entry,

From: someone

StarForce has received criticism for installing its own device driver onto computers. The StarForce driver, which is installed along with the protected product, is mostly not uninstalled along with the software and cannot be uninstalled using conventional methods

In addition, the StarForce drivers are often linked to system instability and computer crashes. Some users claim that the StarForce drivers can cause optical drives to fail, but StarForce claims there is no definite proof of this.

StarForce (all version known until August 2006) creates a real security problem when installed. The access control list of the drivers are set such that any user, including those without administrative rights, are allowed to change the association with the executable.

So I'm a bit weary about installing this game. Has anyone here run into a starforce protected game?

_____________________

Content creators, please check this feature proposal. The aim of this proposal is to end re-sale rip-offs. (Also benefits freebie makers).

Lianne Marten

Cheese Baron

Join date: 6 May 2004

Posts: 2,192

08-25-2006 18:54

I never have, it's one thing that will keep me from buying a game even if I would have enjoyed it otherwise...

Here's a way to remove it though:

Remove the StarForce device drivers, using the Device Manager within the Windows Control Panel (look for the StarForce entries in the hidden devices)

Delete all "sfdrv," "sfhip." and "sfsync" system files from your C:/Windows/system32/drivers folder

Run "regedit" from the Windows Start menu's Run dialog. Use the Find option to locate and delete all registry keys containing the phrases "sfdrv," "sfhip," and "sfsync." *be careful with this step*

Honestly... it's more trouble than it's worth, I think. But if the game looks good enough...

_____________________

Wrom Morrison

Validated User

Join date: 15 Apr 2006

Posts: 462

08-25-2006 19:45

I took the game back to Gamestop, they assured me the CD version I had did not have starforce protection system.

I've always wanted to try this game, so I came back and tried to install it.

1's hurdle. The game would not install if your C drive did not have more than 7 gig free. There is a looping error message, there is no way to change drive to my game drive

. Waded through lots of forums and found that you have to change some entry in the reg to let it install (but this would have kept most newbies from game).

Installed the game and as Lianne said (thx), checked to see if any of those files were there. I did not see any of those, but I do have one "sfhlp01.sys" (Starforce Protection Helper Driver 1.5.0.0). Not sure if this was installed by this game or another game since the copyright states 2000-2003.

Used the starforce removal tool from here : http://www.glop.org/starforce/remove.php

_____________________

Content creators, please check this feature proposal. The aim of this proposal is to end re-sale rip-offs. (Also benefits freebie makers).

Reitsuki Kojima

Witchhunter

Join date: 27 Jan 2004

Posts: 5,328

08-26-2006 04:51

Starforce is awful. I won't buy games with Starforce installed, but sadly I made /one/ exception to that rule for Silent Hunter 3 (drool).

_____________________

I am myself indifferent honest; but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me: I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offenses at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in. What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven? We are arrant knaves, all; believe none of us.

Wrom Morrison

Validated User

Join date: 15 Apr 2006

Posts: 462

08-26-2006 05:12

This version of the game has securom. Due to complains they had to dish out a securom version instead of starforce apparently. But the EU versions still have StarForce. Mainly cause of the lame producer (funcom).

I found this out by mistake when I tried playing the game without the CD in, it gave a securom error.

As far as the game goes, once installed, it's a pretty sweet game. I've played it for a few hours now. Quit gripping and brings me memories of old adventure games (though this can't really be catagorized as one of those). Plus a very nice sound track, awesome lighting, and smooth fps at 1440x900 all cranked up .. something most of my games don't do well.

_____________________

Content creators, please check this feature proposal. The aim of this proposal is to end re-sale rip-offs. (Also benefits freebie makers).

Dreamfall anyone?
Wrom Morrison Validated User Join date: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 462	08-25-2006 18:27 Hey guys I just bought Dreamfall from a local Gamestop. I was wondering if anyone here played this game and had issues with the starforce copyprotection system they use? I don't want to unpack this game if it's going to nuke my hardware. From the wikipedia StarForce entry, From: someone StarForce has received criticism for installing its own device driver onto computers. The StarForce driver, which is installed along with the protected product, is mostly not uninstalled along with the software and cannot be uninstalled using conventional methods In addition, the StarForce drivers are often linked to system instability and computer crashes. Some users claim that the StarForce drivers can cause optical drives to fail, but StarForce claims there is no definite proof of this. StarForce (all version known until August 2006) creates a real security problem when installed. The access control list of the drivers are set such that any user, including those without administrative rights, are allowed to change the association with the executable. So I'm a bit weary about installing this game. Has anyone here run into a starforce protected game? _____________________ Content creators, please check this feature proposal. The aim of this proposal is to end re-sale rip-offs. (Also benefits freebie makers).
Lianne Marten Cheese Baron Join date: 6 May 2004 Posts: 2,192	08-25-2006 18:54 I never have, it's one thing that will keep me from buying a game even if I would have enjoyed it otherwise... Here's a way to remove it though: Remove the StarForce device drivers, using the Device Manager within the Windows Control Panel (look for the StarForce entries in the hidden devices) Delete all "sfdrv," "sfhip." and "sfsync" system files from your C:/Windows/system32/drivers folder Run "regedit" from the Windows Start menu's Run dialog. Use the Find option to locate and delete all registry keys containing the phrases "sfdrv," "sfhip," and "sfsync." be careful with this step Honestly... it's more trouble than it's worth, I think. But if the game looks good enough... _____________________
Wrom Morrison Validated User Join date: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 462	08-25-2006 19:45 I took the game back to Gamestop, they assured me the CD version I had did not have starforce protection system. I've always wanted to try this game, so I came back and tried to install it. 1's hurdle. The game would not install if your C drive did not have more than 7 gig free. There is a looping error message, there is no way to change drive to my game drive . Waded through lots of forums and found that you have to change some entry in the reg to let it install (but this would have kept most newbies from game). Installed the game and as Lianne said (thx), checked to see if any of those files were there. I did not see any of those, but I do have one "sfhlp01.sys" (Starforce Protection Helper Driver 1.5.0.0). Not sure if this was installed by this game or another game since the copyright states 2000-2003. Used the starforce removal tool from here : http://www.glop.org/starforce/remove.php _____________________ Content creators, please check this feature proposal. The aim of this proposal is to end re-sale rip-offs. (Also benefits freebie makers).
Reitsuki Kojima Witchhunter Join date: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 5,328	08-26-2006 04:51 Starforce is awful. I won't buy games with Starforce installed, but sadly I made /one/ exception to that rule for Silent Hunter 3 (drool). _____________________ I am myself indifferent honest; but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me: I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offenses at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in. What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven? We are arrant knaves, all; believe none of us.
Wrom Morrison Validated User Join date: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 462	08-26-2006 05:12 This version of the game has securom. Due to complains they had to dish out a securom version instead of starforce apparently. But the EU versions still have StarForce. Mainly cause of the lame producer (funcom). I found this out by mistake when I tried playing the game without the CD in, it gave a securom error. As far as the game goes, once installed, it's a pretty sweet game. I've played it for a few hours now. Quit gripping and brings me memories of old adventure games (though this can't really be catagorized as one of those). Plus a very nice sound track, awesome lighting, and smooth fps at 1440x900 all cranked up .. something most of my games don't do well. _____________________ Content creators, please check this feature proposal. The aim of this proposal is to end re-sale rip-offs. (Also benefits freebie makers).

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Dreamfall anyone?