SecuRom Bypass?

[Stg-Flame]

I just bought Farcry 2, Fallout 3, and Crysis Warhead. I tried installing Crysis Warhead first since I had recently completed the game again. When it was finished installing, SecuRom performed a Release Date Check which failed because I do not have Internet access where I am currently living. I tried bypassing it by creating an ISO of the game myself, but still, SecuRom messes with my day.

Since this was after work, I wasn't in the mood to dick with EA's logic, nor was I going to attempt to comprehend how they think a release date check will do anything but annoy people.

Anyways, I figured I would install Farcry 2 since that failed... Yet again, I was introduced to EA's idiocy with another SecuRom release date check. After attempting my own ISO of the game, I was still met with the same problem as before.

Does anyone know how I can bypass this SecuRom Release Date Check without the use of the Internet? I own the games, so a valid serial key isn't the issue here. Again, since I bought the game, I shouldn't need to validate the release date of the game I purchased.

On top of my aforementioned query, is it just me, or do other people feel that EA is purposely trying to find more ways to screw with our day?

Lastly, my access to the Internet is severely limited. My brother has an Aircard from Altell, but it doesn't work on my PC. The only other Internet access I have is when I can find the time to visit the college before work.

Any help is greatly appreciated. I would hate to see $100 go to waste while I wait another five months to move back into my dorm where I will have the Internet.


Let's keep this thread on topic by trying to offer suggestions on a work-around of removing or bypassing the DRM, any more discussion on the merits of DRM, Ubisoft or EA sucking, or Downloading anything from Torrent will cause this thread to be locked.

Oakenfold- PC Gaming and Security Moderator

 

[CottonRabbit]

1. Farcry 2 is a Ubisoft game, not EA.
2. Making your own image of a disc won't even phase modern copy protection.
3. Do you have a flash drive? The easiest way would be to google what you need to bypass securom and put it on that.

 

[Stg-Flame]

Originally posted by: CottonRabbit
1. Farcry 2 is a Ubisoft game, not EA.
2. Making your own image of a disc won't even phase modern copy protection.
3. Do you have a flash drive? The easiest way would be to google what you need to bypass securom and put it on that.

1. Interesting
2. It worked in the past when I had trouble with M2TW Kingdoms and Titan Quest.
3. Yes I do. I shall Google it ASAP.

EDIT: It seems that uninstalling Daemon Tools will solve the problem. If someone can confirm this before I try to download anything, it will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Slick5150]

Yes, uninstalling Daemon tools should help you greatly.

 

[Canai]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
Yes, uninstalling Daemon tools should help you greatly.

Why would it? Having emulation software brings up the 'emulation detected' message, it'll have no impact on SecuROM dialing home.

OP, YGPM

 

[Pia]

Originally posted by: Chaoticpenguin666
On top of my aforementioned query, is it just me, or do other people feel that EA is purposely trying to find more ways to screw with our day?

Yes. Hence, I won't give them any funds to do it with.

 

[TechBoyJK]

i think most games now say "internet connection required for activation".

you should take your pc somewhere and activate the games.

 

[Modelworks]

If you don't care about multiplayer you can do what I do.
Use a cracked copy from a torrent. I already paid for the game , so I don't feel bad about downloading it.
It is sad that you have to do such things with something you paid for, but for me I would rather do that than put up with cd checks and securom.

 

[drebo]

Originally posted by: ModelworksIt is sad that you have to do such things with something you paid for, but for me I would rather do that than put up with cd checks and securom.

Yes, it's quite sad that a business can't trust its customers.

I wish people who complain about DRM would stop pretending that they're the victim. If you've ever given a game to a friend to "borrow", installed it on more than one computer, or made a copy of a friend's game, you were part of the problem, not the victim. A business has a right to make money, and when the actions of its customers affect that, a business has the right to protect its avenues for making money.

Again, these tactics are not designed to stop hardcore pirates. People who are going to steal a game are going to steal it anyway. They're designed to stop Little Johnny from getting a game and giving it out to all his friends who also want the game. So, instead of getting paid for 5 copies of a game, the publisher only gets paid for one, while 5 copies enter distribution. SecuROM and copy protection are meant to stop casual piracy, and they're probably pretty effective at it.

So, again, before you continue pretending that you're the victim here, think back to all the games you distributed amongst your friends. That's the reason we're now subject to anti-piracy measures.

 

[Canai]

Originally posted by: drebo

Originally posted by: ModelworksIt is sad that you have to do such things with something you paid for, but for me I would rather do that than put up with cd checks and securom.

Yes, it's quite sad that a business can't trust its customers.

I wish people who complain about DRM would stop pretending that they're the victim. If you've ever given a game to a friend to "borrow", installed it on more than one computer, or made a copy of a friend's game, you were part of the problem, not the victim. A business has a right to make money, and when the actions of its customers affect that, a business has the right to protect its avenues for making money.

Again, these tactics are not designed to stop hardcore pirates. People who are going to steal a game are going to steal it anyway. They're designed to stop Little Johnny from getting a game and giving it out to all his friends who also want the game. So, instead of getting paid for 5 copies of a game, the publisher only gets paid for one, while 5 copies enter distribution. SecuROM and copy protection are meant to stop casual piracy, and they're probably pretty effective at it.

So, again, before you continue pretending that you're the victim here, think back to all the games you distributed amongst your friends. That's the reason we're now subject to anti-piracy measures.

So, since I happen to have a computer and a laptop, I should purchase two copies of all the games I have, instead of installing them on both of *my* computers? WTF kind of logic is that?

Defending DRM =

Also, I see no problem letting friends borrow games I'm not playing. Have you ever lent a friend a book, movie, CD, or pretty much any other item? THEN YOU ARE A BAD MAN! :roll:

 

[Canai]

oops meant to hit edit instead of quote

 

[drebo]

Originally posted by: CanaiSo, since I happen to have a computer and a laptop, I should purchase two copies of all the games I have, instead of installing them on both of *my* computers? WTF kind of logic is that?

According to the EULA you agreed to when you installed the game (for most games from the 1990s and early 2000s), yes, you were only allowed to install it on one system. Obviously, with SecuROM in its current incarnation, most publishers are allowing installation on multiple systems. Even Microsoft is now allowing this with their latest version of Office Home & Student edition. The trend is moving toward "one license per person" rather than "one license per computer", but that was not always the case.

Originally posted by: CanaiDefending DRM =

Why does my sympathising with a company trying to make money make me a bad person?

Originally posted by: CanaiAlso, I see no problem letting friends borrow games I'm not playing. Have you ever lent a friend a book, movie, CD, or pretty much any other item? THEN YOU ARE A BAD MAN! :roll:

The difference is that I can't use a book, movie, CD, console game, car, baseball bat, vibrator, shirt, hat, pair of skates, etc, etc, etc, at the same time my friend is. As I said before, PC games have no inherent usage rights management.

Virtually every single product ever made has usage rights built in to the product by design...there's physically only one copy of it. Software is not the same way. Music and movies no longer are either, and thus they're going through the same thing that software is. It won't be long, I think, before movies have to "phone home" in order to be played.

DRM itself is not an inherently bad thing, and it should not be treated as such. DRM is simply the method a publisher has to use on purely digital products to make sure that it is being used in the manner its license specifies. With software and games, you don't have a physical part. If I buy a baseball bat, there will only ever be one baseball bat and it will never be two baseball bats. If I'm using it, my friend can't use it. If my friend is using it, I can't use it. The same is NOT true of software, and thus something needs to be put in to ensure that the software is being used in the manner in which it was intended.

Really the only two instances in which DRM is a problem are when it is not disclosed (Sony BMG rootkit scandal) or when it is overly restrictive (such as allowing 5 installations and no more). SecuROM is neither. It clearly states when you install what it is and what it will be doing. It doesn't hide itself from normal OS processes, and it's fairly unobtrusive. Not only that, but no current implementation of SecuROM forbids you from revoking installations. Thus the arguments about "oh, if I upgrade my RAM or video card, I won't be able to play anymore" are completely false, as you can always make a simple phone call (or go to a webpage in some cases) and revoke your previous install to make room for the new one.

Copy protection simply isn't enough anymore. It was only a matter of time that single player games incorporated the same "phone home" verification that multiplayer games get to use. That is not a bad thing.

 

[TridenT]

Get a crack.

/thread

 

[Canai]

Originally posted by: drebo

Originally posted by: CanaiSo, since I happen to have a computer and a laptop, I should purchase two copies of all the games I have, instead of installing them on both of *my* computers? WTF kind of logic is that?

According to the EULA you agreed to when you installed the game (for most games from the 1990s and early 2000s), yes, you were only allowed to install it on one system. Obviously, with SecuROM in its current incarnation, most publishers are allowing installation on multiple systems. Even Microsoft is now allowing this with their latest version of Office Home & Student edition. The trend is moving toward "one license per person" rather than "one license per computer", but that was not always the case.

According the the EULA of most SecuROM protected games, you can make a backup copy of the software for yourself. Of course, SecurROM doesn't allow this, and you'd have to break the DRM to make the copy.

Originally posted by: CanaiDefending DRM =

Why does my sympathising with a company trying to make money make me a bad person?

Well, shit, if a company's trying to make money, they must be good, right?

Originally posted by: CanaiAlso, I see no problem letting friends borrow games I'm not playing. Have you ever lent a friend a book, movie, CD, or pretty much any other item? THEN YOU ARE A BAD MAN! :roll:

The difference is that I can't use a book, movie, CD, console game, car, baseball bat, vibrator, shirt, hat, pair of skates, etc, etc, etc, at the same time my friend is. As I said before, PC games have no inherent usage rights management.

Did you not catch the bit about the game being one I'm not playing? If a game is not installed on my system, I should be able to do whatever I want with it, and not have to answer to some third-party DRM company.

Really the only two instances in which DRM is a problem are when it is not disclosed (Sony BMG rootkit scandal) or when it is overly restrictive (such as allowing 5 installations and no more). SecuROM is neither. It clearly states when you install what it is and what it will be doing. It doesn't hide itself from normal OS processes, and it's fairly unobtrusive. Not only that, but no current implementation of SecuROM forbids you from revoking installations. Thus the arguments about "oh, if I upgrade my RAM or video card, I won't be able to play anymore" are completely false, as you can always make a simple phone call (or go to a webpage in some cases) and revoke your previous install to make room for the new one.

Copy protection simply isn't enough anymore. It was only a matter of time that single player games incorporated the same "phone home" verification that multiplayer games get to use. That is not a bad thing.

Well, I guess you don't know much about SecuROM then. Many SP games require dialing home to play.

From the bioware forums

Q: What happens when I?ve reached the maximum # of computers for my game and I need more, say due to theft of computer, computer crashes, etc?

A: EA customer service is on hand to supply any additional authorizations that are warranted. This will be done on a case-by-case basis by contacting customer support.

Notice how there is no mention of a revoke tool? Mass Effect's SecuROM implementation does not allow you to revoke any installations, so you HAVE to contact SecuROM (who are world famous for their friendly, joyous banter) when you reach the install limit.

SecuROM does not uninstall when you uninstall the game that it came with. There are NEVER any prompts about SecuROM when installing a game. Never any explanation of what it is or what it does. SecuROM won't let you play any SecuROM'd games if you have emulation software installed, even though the emulation software is 100% legal.

Why would you think phoning home to be a good thing? My ISP sucks, and I lose internet connectivity randomly for random periods of time. I have no alternative ISP. I can't pack up my gaming box and take it somewhere so SecuROM can dial home. Why should I have to use minutes on my phone, that I paid for, to activate something else that I paid for? Why should I have to reactivate my games when I swap out hardware?


Look at OP's case. SecuROM can't dial home, so he can't play his games. There was no option to call SecuROM and activate over the phone.

DRM like SecuROM is nothing but bullshit that DRM companies sold to publishers with the promise of decreased piracy and increased sales.

 

[Stg-Flame]

I appreciate all of the suggestions, but none of them have worked thus far. Canai, the links you sent me no longer work and while at college, I am unable to browse any sites where cracks are available.

If anyone has any other ideas, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Homerboy]

try gamecopyworld.com
find your cracks there and play.

 

[Stg-Flame]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
try gamecopyworld.com
find your cracks there and play.

GCW is the first place I look for cracks, but as I stated, I am unable to browse sites such as GCW.

 

[Childs]

EULA dont mean sh*t as you cannot agree/disagree to it until after you purchase the game. If you dont agree, you can't return it.

Just go to a cyber cafe and download it there.

 

[Oakenfold]

Let's keep this thread on topic by trying to offer suggestions on a work-around of removing or bypassing the DRM, any more discussion on the merits of DRM, Ubisoft or EA sucking, or Downloading anything from Torrent will cause this thread to be locked.

Oakenfold- PC Gaming and Security Moderator

 

[Stg-Flame]

Originally posted by: Childs
Just go to a cyber cafe and download it there.

This is the reason I need to buy a laptop. The only way I could download it straight onto my PC would be if I went to a friend's house and used their Internet. Even then, it is a trial in itself to detache and re-attach everything twice - but a trial worth going through. However, with my work schedule, finding that much free time is nigh impossible.

Also, it might help if we had a cyber cafe in my area. Until I can find someone to download the cracks for me, or find some time to take my PC/thumb drive to a friend's house, I am stuck with two games that I cannot even play. That is, unless someone can find a way to disable/bypass the DRM without the use of the Internet.

 

[Maximilian]

Sorry OP but without the internet you are screwed. You need to make use of the internet to bypass securom. Just do the USB drive thing, its that easy to get a crack from gamecopyworld. Just make sure you get the correct version for the game, since you have no net that would likely be verion 1.00. Stick a few different cracks on the USB drive, dont just pick 1, theres usually a couple from different people that advertise they do the same thing, not all work though.

@drebo Your defence of DRM shows you know ah heck all about it and you cant really be a gamer or have had any experience with it at all. I guess you have just read wikipedia and skipped over the "criticism" section. Any time people dont like something theres always 1 guy who plays devils advocate and its pathetic, attention whore elsewhere.

 

[PsharkJF]

Originally posted by: Maximilian
@drebo Your defence of DRM shows you know ah heck all about it and you cant really be a gamer or have had any experience with it at all. I guess you have just read wikipedia and skipped over the "criticism" section. Any time people dont like something theres always 1 guy who plays devils advocate and its pathetic, attention whore elsewhere.

He's allowed to have his own opinion - echo chambers really don't help anyone.

I've heard and read of problems with SecuROM but i've never seen any problems with it. I'm only talking of my personal experience. That's all - don't read into it, I'm simply talking about myself.

Anyway, OP - all the other suggestions in this thread will work. Do you have a friend that has internet? That'd be even easier than going to the college.

 

[Irondingo]

Yes, it's quite sad that a business can't trust its customers.

I wish people who complain about DRM would stop pretending that they're the victim. If you've ever given a game to a friend to "borrow", installed it on more than one computer, or made a copy of a friend's game, you were part of the problem, not the victim. A business has a right to make money, and when the actions of its customers affect that, a business has the right to protect its avenues for making money.

Again, these tactics are not designed to stop hardcore pirates. People who are going to steal a game are going to steal it anyway. They're designed to stop Little Johnny from getting a game and giving it out to all his friends who also want the game. So, instead of getting paid for 5 copies of a game, the publisher only gets paid for one, while 5 copies enter distribution. SecuROM and copy protection are meant to stop casual piracy, and they're probably pretty effective at it.

So, again, before you continue pretending that you're the victim here, think back to all the games you distributed amongst your friends. That's the reason we're now subject to anti-piracy measures.

I agree the vendor needs to take steps to stop sharing like you said but its gone so far that I cant play the factory sealed legit copy of GTA4 I bought at EB Games. Because of this in the future they wont even get paid for the 5 copies or even one copy from me because I refuse to spend my money to have to put up with this crap. I have contacted securom and no help. I reckon its on their end because I was able to manually activate my game with a success confirmation yet still when I open the game it goes back to "release date check" progress to 30% and then quits with an internet error. I have internet obviously on this same computer. Its the one I am using now. I am locked out of a legitimate activated game I bought sealed at the store. Where is the justice in this? I don't agree.

 

[plonk420]

...

off topic, but

is Günther, not Oakie D:

...but ever so excellent to summon in video form x)

 

[wanderer27]

Wow, talk about necro'ing a thread . . . I didn't think there were any this old still on the board with all the Forum software/version changes.