Game will only run in SAFE Mode

[roc17]

I am not a gamer.....too old to game...but I'm trying to help my nephews install and run a game they just bought - "Stronghold 2". It seems their p/c meets or exceeds the HW requirements but it will only run if booted up in SAFE mode (??) Is this normal? Seems to install just fine and when an attempt at launching the icon, it just flashes and then sits there (??)

Dell Dimension 4400
756 ram
other stuff I don't know.

Thanks....:disgust:

 

[CPA]

Have you downloaded any patches?

 

[roc17]

I didn't see any on their website...BTW..it was in the U.K., not that that should make a difference. I also failed to mention that the OS is WinXP home and there was an error box that popped up (normal mode) that said something about a necessary security module...(??) I'm not in front of it now so I don't have it verbatim

Just wondering....they're also using AOL everything...could it be that the game contains some type of inappropriate material and therefore an AOL setting (parental control?) is blocking it?....Although...I did use an administrative login prior to running. Oh well...any ideas/suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks all.....

 

[CPA]

Here's what I found with a quick Google search, hope it helps:


Q: When trying to start the game I get this message: "A required security module can not be activated" or "Emulator detected" what do I do?
A: You get that message because the SecuROM copy protection for the game detects Virtual Drive software on your computer. Disable the software in Task Manager (CTRL+ALT+DEL) so it's not running on your computer and try again to start the game.
Here's a list of software that might trigger SecuROM:

Alcohol 120%
BlindWrite
Daemon Tools
Game-Jack
CloneCD
Game Jackal
Xoom Game Clone
CDSpace
Virtual CD
Fantom CD
Anti-Blaxx
GetRight
Virtual Drives
Speaking Clock
Nero ImageDrive

If you don't have any of above software installed or disabling it doesn't work, while having the original Stronghold 2 CD/DVD in the drive reboot your computer, then right-click either the Stronghold 2 icon on the desktop or Stronghold2.exe and click Launch Analysis and a file named AnalysisLog.sr0 will be created and placed in C:\. Zip the file (with WinZIP, 7-zip or a similar program) and send the file as an attachment to support@securom.com