Windows Vista/7/8 update prevents old CD-ROM games run

[corsair91]

Got reminded of this.
Windows 7 Microsoft support ends Jan 14 2020.

see further below as now a core part of windows 10/11


Windows Vista/7/8 update prevents some old CD-ROM games from running

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2985806/windows-vista-7-8-update-prevents-some-old-cd-rom-games-from-running.html

For full details see above link

EDIT:
See Further below for Windows 10/11 Info

Citing security issues, Microsoft disables Safedisc DRM. But users can make old games work again at their own risk.

Sep 24, 2015

SafeDisc DRM will no longer run with Windows update KB3086255.

Safedisc was a DRM method that shipped on older CD-ROM games in the mid-aughts

Microsoft removed support for SafeDisc and some versions of Securom DRM in Windows 10, citing a possible loophole for viruses. Now Microsoft is closing the same loophole for older versions of Windows, locking users out of their games.

For a Windows Vista/7/8 Workaround see

MS15-097: Description of the security update for the graphics component in Windows: September 8, 2015

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3086255/ms15-097-description-of-the-security-update-for-the-graphics-component


For Windows 10:

This is a good description of the issues involved.


SECDRV.SYS Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of older games.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/games_windows_10/secdrvsys-not-loading-in-windows-10-this-will/65a6fe83-08df-4760-b2ad-6b1ce61d40d4

Microsoft is sailing dangerously close to anti-trust behaviour
and software not fit for purpose law-suits.
Apparently the only response is a closing of the Thread.


also on page 8

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/games_windows_10/secdrvsys-not-loading-in-windows-10-this-will/65a6fe83-08df-4760-b2ad-6b1ce61d40d4?page=8

wmcole post dated sept 15 2015
gives a good explanation of microsoft's profit motives


Since you are unable to remove a Windows update unlike previous windows OS as this is a windows 10 designed core feature


your options are

Try source the latest official patch which hopefully removes the DRM protection scheme. (may not be available or have this functionality)

You may get also lucky and have a unofficial 3rd party patch available which may remove the DRM.


Source a no-CD or no-DVD replacement executable
which by-passes the DRM scheme.
(Use a pirate Patch to get legal retail disk software to actually work)

If the games checks for the DRM Driver presence first
a no-CD bypass may still not help, depending on how it is written.

For example VTM Bloodlines 1 game fails as it does check for the DRM driver first before even loading the no-cd executable.
Unoffical patches are required as a no-CD only is not enough.


Source a DRM free version of the game from say GOG
that works with Window 10.
(Steam version checks for the steam client, so still has Steam DRM
but should run on Windows 10)

[fleetp]

I have the CD ROM version of the game on my Windows 10 laptop. I use a no-CD 'fix'. The game runs fine.

[corsair91]

Sid Meirer pirates!

does have a remove securerom offical update replacement executable,
but as far as I can recall this still has a DVD disk physical presence check.

v1.02 no-CDs or no-DVDs fixes should work fine for pirates!.
At least with the 2008 budget Sold out software Blue DVD re-release
and as far I can recall also the original 2 CD pirates release back
in 2004, both Upgraded with the 1.02 official patch.

EDIT: 1.02 NoCD only removes the physical Disk check, as secure Rom has been removed in the 1.02 patch.

For other games it depends which release group did the no-disk fix and how well it was done.

For windows 10 both the DRM protection and any game check for
presence of the loaded DRM driver now both have to be bypassed.
The Driver can no longer load with Windows 10 or previous windows with problem update unless uninstalled.
Before only the DRM protection check needed to be patched and the
driver could be ignored which is no longer the case.

When you upgrade from windows 7 or 8 to Win 10
you lose the ability to uninstall the problem Windows Update
as this is now integrated into the core of Windows 10.


Sid Meier's Pirates files on gamepressure
https://www.gamepressure.com/games/game-downloads.asp?ID=1471


Sid Meier's Pirates! (2004) - retail DVD fix
https://www.gamepressure.com/download.asp?ID=7077

Version: retail DVD fix

The amendment is intended to DVD edition of Sid Meier's Pirates! This is in fact a new startup file "Pirates! .exe", which overwrite the old one. Thanks to this operation, security problems disappear SecuROM on what they found some of the players.
(A Physical Disk Check remains)


This may also be of interest for Pirates!

The Sid Meier's Pirates! Challenge Pack
http://www.adammil.net/blog/v121_The_Sid_Meier_s_Pirates_Challenge_Pack.html

Quote:

To use it, replace your game executable (Pirates!.exe) with the one generated by the program. (You may want to make a backup first.)

As a bonus, if you don't select any mods, you'll get a clean, unencrypted executable that's suitable for creating mods and applying other people's mods. (The Steam version supports no exe mods. The retail version supports exe data mods but not code mods. This version supports both code and data mods.)

[corsair91]

pcgamingwiki.com
Windows 10 Gaming useful support info

https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Windows#SafeDisc_protected_games_do_not_work_with_Windows_10

has this section on

SafeDisc protected games do not work with Windows 10

Previous versions of Windows included a compatible version of secdrv.sys for Macrovision SafeDisc DRM; Windows 10 does not, rendering games protected by SafeDisc unplayable. According to a Microsoft representative "Safedisc is not supported on Windows 10" and people will have to wait for Trymedia to come out with an updated kernel driver, something which is impossible as official SafeDisc support was dropped on March 30, 2009. However a workaround is to obtain and install the kernel driver from an older version of Windows, as described below.

Install SafeDisc drivers from a previous version of Windows

Download the necessary files.
https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/1154-safediscforwin10zip/

Extract a temporary location on the system.
Copy secdrv.sys to %WINDIR%\system32\drivers.
Import secdrv.reg to Windows registry.
As the service may still not work due to lack of a digital signature,
refer to these instructions to disable driver signature verification in the operating system and sign the driver with a custom digital signature.


I would suggest trying a NoCD/DVD replacement executable first

[corsair91]

https://www.howtogeek.com/230773/how-to-play-pc-games-that-require-safedisc-or-securom-drm-on-windows-10-8.1-8-7-and-vista/

Jul 12, 2017

Microsoft made headlines when it stripped support for SafeDisc and SecuROM DRM from Windows 10
Recent security updates to Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 8.1 have also removed support for these DRM schemes from older versions of Windows.

...
You'll have problems with many PC games released on physical CDs and DVDs between the years 2003 and 2008. Many of these games include SafeDisc or SecuROM DRM.

All games using SafeDisc DRM and games using some forms of SecuROM DRM just won't work on modern versions of Windows. This includes every version of Windows 10, and Windows Vista, 7, 8, and 8.1 with update KB3086255, released in September 2015.

Microsoft purposefully broke compatibility with these old DRM

Your options are

Install an update:
Some game developers have made patches that remove the DRM available. Check the game's website and install a recent patch to see if the game functions normally afterwards.


Get a no-CD crack:
No-CD cracks are potentially dangerous, as they're often found on shady websites and used to pirate video games. However, if you did find a no-CD for the game you want to play, it would remove the DRM and you could play the game normally.


Repurchase the game digitally:
Repurchasing those old games may not sound like a great idea, but if you purchased the game on a modern platform like GOG.com or Steam, you'd be able to play the digital version of the game normally and not worry about the old disc-based DRM schemes.

[corsair91]

Macrovision SafeDisc - secdrv.sys

https://www.opendll.com/index.php?file-download=secdrv.sys&arch=64bit&version=4.3.86.0#


secdrv.sys
Company
Macrovision Corporation
Version4.3.86.0
Architecture64 bit

https://www.opendll.com/download.php?token=33122

__64-secdrv.sys4.3.86.0.zip

see included readme file


--------------------------

This is listed on the SafeDisc secdrv.sys Page link above
Listed here for convenience


ERROR
The game fails to start, even when logged in with the administrator account.



CAUSE
On November 7, 2007 Microsoft stated that "There is vulnerability in Macrovision SECDRV.SYS driver on Windows and it could allow elevation of privilege. The driver, secdrv.sys, is used by games which use Macrovision SafeDisc. Without the driver, games with SafeDisc protection would be unable to play on Windows"[1].

This vulnerability was patched by Microsoft on December 11, 2007 for Windows XP and on 8 September 2015 for Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1.

1. Article SafeDisc from Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SafeDisc


SOLUTION
If you are running Windows Vista, 7, 8 or 8.1 you can apply the solution provided by Microsoft in the article MS15-097

MS15-097
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3086255/ms15-097-description-of-the-security-update-for-the-graphics-component



If you are running Windows XP you can apply the solution provided by Microsoft in the article MS07-067

MS07-067
https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/ms07-067

Please NOTE: Applying this solution will make your Windows PC less secure, and will NOT work on Windows 10 as Microsoft completely removed the driver

Other solution?
Repurchase the game digitally (on GOG.com for example)
Get a no-CD crack (Not recommended in the article)


So what happen?
Many games from the early-mid 2000's used Macrovision's SafeDisc or Securom DRM as a means of copy protection.

There are quite a few games affected by these DRM services being blocked by the Microsoft update KB3086255, released in September 2015 — hundreds according to initial reports.

These DRM services where vulnerable to privilege escalation: CVE-2015-2511, CVE-2015-2517, CVE-2015-2518, CVE-2015-2546



Some popular titles are in the mix such as the original Age of empire, The Sims, Grand Theft Auto 3, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004, Crimson Skies and many others.



Description of the behaviour and testing:
At game startup, Windows loaded SECDRV.SYS to verify an original game disc was in the drive, after which the game would start.



When you try to run ANY game which uses this SafeDisc form of copy protection in Windows 10, the following happens:



You get an error window that tells you to log in with Administrator Privileges and to try again. This happens on any account, even those with Administrator access.
The game fails to start.
If you then set "Run as Admin" compatibility mode on the game's startup file, the message disappears, but the game doesn't start.


---------------------------------

Sid Meier's Pirates! PC (2004)
Patch History

Feb 02, 2005
SecuROM DVD patch (fixes an issue with the SecuROM copy protection)
(still has a DVD disk presence check, only now without using SecuROM)
Replacement game executable

Mar 07, 2005
1.01 patch (US version)

Aug 09, 2005
1.02 patch (US version)

SecuROM is NOT supported by Windows 10 or later OS
by Microsoft design

Not supported in Previous Windows versions by a Microsoft update
(see above)

---------------------------------


DRM Info
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8752


Steam, GOG & Retail Disk Game releases
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9236


SecureRom, Safedisk, Starforce Disk DRMs
all are NOT going to work anymore.

[corsair91]

Digital Decay Of 2000's PC Game DRM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZYy9KzFT2w

Tech Tangents
Apr 12, 2024
runtime 17:13

Quote:

I'm tired of modern video games being shut down from pointless server requirements and wanted to help the cause to spread the word that we might be able to do something about it.

It also made me wonder, how many of my physical games are now dead?
It was a lot more than I thought it would be.


Tech Tangents
https://www.youtube.com/@TechTangents