Warpy

I wondered why my CDROM wasnt being detected in WINXP unless I reset the BIOS. I found out that the STARFORCE Protection used for Chaos Theory nackered my system, from visiting forum after forum I read of the same problem:

I came across this post on a forum:

Whatever you do don't waste your cash buying SC: CT for the PC. It uses special protection software than can damage your computer. This software first of all, destroys all sense of security your computer ever had. All the security coding and patch fixes Microsoft has released will be worth nothing because of Starforce. Starforce is the protection software ubi bought for it. This makes it so it cannot be copied...easily.

(After this is written by someone else. I don't know who so some person gets credit. I'm sure they will be happy to know their elegant writing was used to cripple a company that thinks that protecting their product is worth more than destroying their customers’ computers.)

SO WHAT IS STARFORCE?

Unfortunately, a reason for me to avoid some otherwise good games.

The problem is that it can conflict with other software in your system, i.e. cd burning programs and similar, so that you could have annoyances trying to play the game. Another huge problem is that it stays in your system after you uninstall the game, causing potential problems in the future. Often times the only way to totally remove it is to reinstall Windows. Trying to uninstall it manually could lead to even more problems and could significantly damage your system. Many people haven't had any problems with Starforce, but a lot of others have.

Since version 3.4.65.09, STARFORCE prevents old star*bleep* methods for deactivating
cd drives starforce goes a very hardware incompatible way. StarForce protected game tries
to reset ide channel before it begins to check protected disc. Therefore this can take up
to 2 minutes before starforce begins with its disc check. All users, who have CD
drive on SCSI controller, ATAPI CD Drive on ATA/RAID controller, CD drive on USB controller
and even coming hardware innovation called CD drive on SATA controller, all those users are
involved by this hardware incompatibility issue of Starforce protection. This hardware
incompatibility appears even than, if you remove all your drives from IDE channel physically
and deactivate your IDE channels in BIOS to set needed resources free, also you don't even
need to use our program to find it out. That's, what you get with Starforce.
It seems, starforce team doesn't care about its hardware compatibility and not just that, they
don't care about software compatibility of their product, for which they want money.
If they try to reset the channel, they "play" with priority system of windows os, therefore don't
wonder if your computer will crash or after few times starting the starforce protected game
in such environment you will not be able to start any windows application more. It happens since
starforce version 3.4.65.09 and above.

Starforce Professional 3.xx became a very powerful protection system for games and other multimedia content.

But nobody knows a back side of this "powerful protection" - after game (product) is uninstalled, Starforce leaves their drivers in active state in your system.

MORE OVER:

Starforce drivers, installed in your system, grants ring-0 (OS core) privileges to any code from ring-3 (user level) - in this case any virus or trojan can get OS privileges and totally control you on your system.

You know, why Win95.CIH virus cannot execute in Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server? Because this Windows line have enhanced technology for increasing security level - but with Starforce Professional 3.xx drivers you must forgot about your privacy and safety! Chernobyl's virus can return by Starforce backdoor! Be careful!!! Your PC and any resources, including BIOS could be under attack!

LoL

21.10.2004 Protection Technologies have a celebration - 1000th multimedia product was protected by Starforce Professional....

TO MICROSOFT STUFF:
Do you know, why some Protection Technologies (and similar) ignore your conventions about safety and trusted code for execution in system level (ring0 )? They even modify ntoskrnl.exe (SwapContext function, for hooking system scheduler). Look for evidence in their code - what you think, why didn't they send their drivers to Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL)? One answer: their code ignores any safety and quality policy on operation system level (including granting system privileges to any user-level process). After crashes user says: Windows is not quality's warranty (but it caused by intrusion in normal Windows working)....Or Microsoft have confidential conventions with Protection Technologies? Who can answer?

(Back to me again.)

Anyone who sees this practice as a problem please e-mail Ubi Press letting them know that because of starforce you will boycott ubi games using Starforce. Ubi is planning on using starforce for all new computer games they make from now on and this needs to be stopped to protect the average consumer who does not know the dangers that lie in wait for them.

http://www.ubisoftgroup.com/MediaCen...t.aspx?cpid=32
This website has the e-mail address for all of ubi for those who aren't located in the US. For US people it is jaime.borasi@ubisoft.com

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Sandok

I hate starforce... I hate puttin the CD for my own damn games and love to crack em but those damn starforce ones just are sooo annoying! Plus I've had many DVDr probs too sigh

nuG

i dont know if the new version of star force can be cracked. you used to be able to unplug your IDE cables from the drives or use a prog to disable them but that doesnt work with the new version.

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Nacht

I use an Image drive instead of trying to crack a game when i dont want to use a cd. And so far i have had no problems from Starforce protection...luckily. I have read about this in the past on the RvS ubi forums. Regretfully, it doesnt seem as any real action is taking place.

MSX

The sad thing is the technology gets cracked just like any other tech. The only real way to protect your game better is something steam like. Still you will have people using it illegally but you can hunt them down and disable them. This does not make your paying users happy though.

I think a good way to handle protection is like what blizzard has in the past. Sure your friends can play with you, but you wont get the full game. It's sort of meeting half way. Most people that steal games now a days do it for the multiplayer with their friends.

I think the best form of protection would be a usb device included with the game that uses software but doesent actually install anything. Just something physical you need to run the game that's hard to be faked without costing money. Or better yet a firewire game on an external device. That would be incredably hard to steal. But it would be more expensive than a 2 cent peice of plastic.

BiGBrOwNPimpsta

ill give them this, they still havent been able to crack chaos theory. definitely good for sales

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Warpy

The mob behind cracking Starforce (Colin Mcrea 2005, was one title) have been seized by the feds. You may have heard of the UK cracking group that got busted early this year.

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Necrosis

Does the old uninstaller still work for starforce?

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Tipstaff

The only way I got StarForce protected games to work was 1) be the administrator, 2) uninstall almost all burning software, however I've managed to keep Nero (as long as you don't use the mounting tool, and DVD Decryptor, and 3) update StarForce from HERE.

What peeves me about StarForce is the installation of drivers that, when you uninstall the game, don't uninstall themselves! (btw.. same link above will get you the removal tool). That just stinks of intrusion (just as bad as spyware), and forces you to do it 'their' way, or not at all. Anyone see the StarForce 'compatible' CD/DVD Rom list? Like, WTF? I have to buy one of the drives YOU list in order to play a game? @@%$! Not only that but StarForce also takes way too much control (liberties is more like it) over internal Windows routines for accessing IDE controllers, and the like. I still can't get it to recognize my Plextor SATA DVD burner. Damn thing refuses to recognize any SF protected CD/DVDs in that drive.

I'm gonna stop.. this is bringing back too many repressed memories/feelings towards copy protection schemes, and the like. I'm liable to mouth off some serious $#!^ soon if I don't.

-Tip

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TJ-

may we pray for their safe return...

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new sig comming soon

BWX

Any game or demo I have ever installed with Starforce has made my system act weird and sometimes unstable.

Last thing I installed was a couple days ago- a crappy demo- cross racing championship 2005- didn't realize it had SF until I heard a high pitched noise coming out of my speakers when scrolling web pages of all things..

Used the uninstaller and it went back to normal. Any game that comes with SF protection isn't worth buying.

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rig

Zardon

The truth behind these "state of the art" copy protection methods is, the people who suffer most are the people who actually buy the games, they end up with the heartaches, the hassles and the problems the protection brings.

The guys the protection is targetted to affect are actually LEAST affected. Some cracking group disables it then those downloading it dont even have to deal with it on any level.

ZeroOne

Do whe have the right , to backup our purchased CD/DVD's for personal use "not distributing it ,ok it's against the law" , and use them without putting the CD/DVD in the Drive ?

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ICE 0000 0001

daedal

Yup. Which is why I haven't picked up Splinter Cell.. at all. I want to play the game so badly but I'm not too keen on having to re-install Windows after. Heard too many horror stories from Starforce.

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Tipstaff

Tip: What are you doing?!? Lemme go.. I want to answer this.

Unknown: Hey, you remember what happened the last time?

Tip: The people need to know they have the right to make a legal backup as long as they destroy it when they get rid of the original.

Unkown: Look, I'm not going to let you do this again. Last time you got yourself commited, and shipped off to Iraq. Do you really want 'them' to come for you again?

Tip: 'They' can't shut me up about this. People have the right to know. Copy protection is control! Don't let them control you! Down with big corporations! Fight back! Down with Safedisc, down with LaserLock, down with Securom, down with Starforce! REBEL!!!

<BANG>

Unknown: OH $#!^!

StarForce: Hold it right there! Oh, it's you again.. well.. we've got something special just for.. MOVE MOVE!!! He's bolting!

Tip: AHHH!!>>. Damnit! Let me go you stupid popo wannabies! OW! Why'd you have to stick that up there you soab! you! ! Now everything I say is censored! You think this will stop me you stupid !

StarForce: Ohh.. more threats, hmm? Alright then, turn it on full boys. I want squat coming out of those holes.

Tip: ?!? <muffle><MMMMUFFLE> <mmmm mmm!>

StarForce: Where did the other one go?

Unknown: <oh $#!^ He never learns... either that or he must enjoy those probes...>

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Unknown:

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(morse code rules!)

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