WARNING!!! UT2K3 may be missing CD Keys and require firmware flash!!!! (Updated: Finally got it to go!)

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darkjester

Golden Member
Aug 14, 2001
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Originally posted by: DefRef

Now, the problem is it keeps crashing during install!:| I get CRC errors (dirty CD? no!) from both my DVD and CD-RW drives. SH*T!!!!
Does anyone remember if the file you're getting the CRC error is under the Web/images directory? I had the same problem. :(
 

DefRef

Diamond Member
Nov 9, 2000
4,041
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I took the 3rd set of discs over to my g/f's house where I keep a second computer and guess what?

It installed.

It appears that whatever CP they've slathered all over this game HATES LiteON optical drives, cuz the #2 rig has a TDK 12/10/32 CD-RW (rebadged Plextor) and it didn't complain a bit about installing.

I'm planning on taking it back and demanding a refund because it's clearly a DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. I don't think it's acceptable in the least that end users should have to swap CD drives, reinstall OSes or avoid certain hardware just because a company believes that the people who buy their products are THIEVES!

This is the same mistake that the music industry is making - treating the people who actually PAY for their products as the threat. The CD Key should've been enough, but nooooooooo, they had to bung it up with SecuRom and screw a LOT of people who have a fairly common brand of optical drive.

If there was a firmware update that corrected this, I could accept that as any requirement that drivers be up-to-date, otherwise, Epic/DE/Atari/Infogrames just lost a customer and earned an enemy.

Say "Hi" to John Romero, guys. You'll be bunking with him in short order.
 

acidvoodoo

Platinum Member
Jan 6, 2002
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lol it installed perfectly on my lite on 40x12x48, dunno whether it's optical or not, but i got it like a month ago
 

Flashram

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2000
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Installed with no problems on a 52x Liteon on my son's computer and fine on the 24x Liteon CDRW on my computer.
 

DefRef

Diamond Member
Nov 9, 2000
4,041
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Here's the latest:

Updated the CD-RW drive to the latest BIOS and tried install.

It sailed past the areas where it was sticking before. :)

Then it BOMBED OUT later!!! :(

I can't locate a firmware for my DVD drive (LiteON LTD163) at LiteON's site (nice work!) and a firmware site I found has broken links, so I can't get the update.

This is suck.:|

 

DefRef

Diamond Member
Nov 9, 2000
4,041
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I give up.

I can't find a workable firmware to flash the DVD drive and flashing the CD-RW didn't help.

I've WASTED 10-12 HOURS, MINIMUM, of my life without getting a moment's pleasure. I was looking forward to playing this and Unreal 2: The Awakening, but it'll be a cold day in Satan's crib before Infogrames get's another penny from me.

To Mark Rein and the Epic gang: You've wasted your time making a game that a LOT of people won't be able to play. You've reached Microsoft levels of incompetance and you better pray for licensees, cuz I, for one, will never patronize your buggy SW again unless you stop treating the paying customers as thieves.

Remember that the next time you find yourself barfing up some platitudes about how you support "the community".

/me sits back and waits for Doom 3 and Quake 4.


At the very top of the tech support site is a 1200-question thing lurking behind the title:

If you believe that you are having trouble with your CD's SecuRom copy protection, please complete the following:
SecuRom Troubleshooting Questionnaire.

This is a KNOWN ISSUE that they are going to have to SPEND MONEY supporting!!!

You hear that, Infogrames?!?!? YOU'RE SPENDING MORE MONEY ON SUPPORT THAN YOU'D HAVE LOST IT THERE WAS NO SECUROM!!!!!

UT2K3 taken back - $50
U2 not bought - $50
The satisfaction that I'm not the only one sick of getting jacked around and won't be buying both games - Priceless.

Math quiz, you jerks (@ Infogrames): What's $100 x [all the people SecuROM will ice out] = ????????

Any questions?
 

grunjee

Senior member
Jun 18, 2001
932
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I really feel for you man, you got hosed :(

It really is true, these copy protection schemes usually just punish the paying customer -- they don't do jack sh*t to stop the w@rez monkeys. :|
 

Shagga

Diamond Member
Nov 9, 1999
4,421
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DefRef I feel for ya man. Nothing more frustrating then spending cash (and hours getting the bloody thing) only to find it doesn't work. Nor does changing it! :(

However, I am willing to bet you that "as a gamer" you will buy Unreal 2 ;)
 

DefRef

Diamond Member
Nov 9, 2000
4,041
1
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Nope. Much as I would love to, I've got stacks of unplayed games and half-played games that will easily tide me over until something that doesn't come on bunged-up media is released. Oh, I WANT TO play these games, but f*ck it, life's too short to put up with bad treatment. I wouldn't let a date dump all over me like this, why should some evil French company get any more.
 

HardwareAddicted

Golden Member
Apr 5, 2000
1,351
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Not getting too involved in this thread, but I installed with a Lite-On DVD 16x/48x and it works just fine.

Just in case anybody was thinking it was Lite-On..... no NO-CD patch or nothing.

NOTE: I heard from a friend of mine that supports games, that you can use the DEMO .exe to patch the retail version so as to disable the need for the CD. :):)

Good luck dude !!

~ Mark
 

DefRef

Diamond Member
Nov 9, 2000
4,041
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GOOD NEWS UPDATE (with a big "if"):

I finally got the DVD drive flashed up by disconnecting a HD cable and pluging it into the DVD, allowing the flasher to see the drive. (Extra bonus: It's now region-free!)

Popped the CD in, hit install and........................IT WORKED!!!!

What a frigging ordeal. Totally uncalled for measures to adapt to the damn SecuROM. Infogrames must be getting REALLY sensitive about this, cuz the thread I had over on the UT2K3 Tech Support forum got DELETED!!! Brave men there!

I may not be in the clear, I was playing and got a GPF crash to desktop, but we're further along than before. Thanks to all you suggested solutions and watched me pop a blood vessel.:)
 

Vladdy

Junior Member
Oct 9, 2002
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Hey Def, I am in the same exact boat you are in. I actually was posting in that thread you had over at infogrames. I posted more today since they deleted it. How did you go about flashing your firmware? I have no experience in doing that, I've just never had to do that before :(

I still think it's bs that I should even have to do this extra work to get a game working that I paid for, damn ripoff!
 

DefRef

Diamond Member
Nov 9, 2000
4,041
1
81
Nice of them to kill that thread, no? I was gonna update it that I'd gotten it to work, but it was more important to protect the bosses, I guess.

What kind of drive do you have? Also, try the General Hardware and Peripherals forums here. Do a search first. Good folks and info abound here, though I seem to have the stumper questions.
 

Shagga

Diamond Member
Nov 9, 1999
4,421
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Originally posted by: DefRef
I may not be in the clear, I was playing and got a GPF crash to desktop, but we're further along than before. Thanks to all you suggested solutions and watched me pop a blood vessel.:)

Don't worrk about it bombing out...it does for me too. It's a bit buggy just like the original UT when it first came out. There ia a patch due anytime now resolving a number of bugs and a few additional features too...

[edit]

Glad you got it working....Have you reserved Unreal2 yet? ;)
 

DefRef

Diamond Member
Nov 9, 2000
4,041
1
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After I posted, I played again and it locked up solid during the opening cinematic. I reset and was able to play for about 90 minutes over 3 sessions - online, instant action and ladder. Runs great on the #1 Def PC, but it ran like ass on the #2 rig with a P3-1GHz/GF3Ti200/640MB RAM. Weird.

Firing Squad beat it up pretty bad, giving it a 73% and I tend to agree with their comments. The maps are really underwhelming. They look awesome, but play weak. Time will tell.