A way to "toggle" Starforce on and off?
CZroe
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I know there's all sorts of hacks for defeating Starforce to play backups, but all I want to do it remove it without uninstalling the games and quickly restore it when I am ready to play them so I can negate it's negative effects on using my optical drives for other purposes.
Is there a StarForce removal utility that can also restore it back to the un-touched state? Even if it requires a restart, I'm OK with that.
Is there a StarForce removal utility that can also restore it back to the un-touched state? Even if it requires a restart, I'm OK with that.
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Cant for the life of me remember where to get it, but you use it and it allows you to toggle some older versions of Starforce.
Might not still work just try googling it.
Starforce is extremely difficult to counter, as I believe it works by physically analyzing the angle between two bits of data on the disk, which is only the same for the master copy.
Just google Starforce removal for info on how to remove it.
Actually, it's very easy. It interfeces with your drive at such a low layer that is has to have specific support for ATA/SATA drives and does not support SCSI drives. As a result, to avoid breaking compatability with high-end systems, if your system has NO IDE/SATA optical drive, it is allowed to run without passing the StarForce check. If it has one, you will get a message to use it instead of the drive you are using. Detection of drive emulation products that create vitrual SCSI drives is also a part of StarForce, but there are many utilities specifically designed for hiding your IDE/SATA optical drive AND obscuring the use of emulation software to make it appear like you only have a SCSI drive.
I guess I'm already pretty well-versed in the workings of StarForce, but Like I said, I never have and never will attempt to defeat it. The problem is that I have a backlog of StarForce protected games and rather than install them all to play them all in one pass and subsequently uninstall StarForce to avoid the problems it causes outside of gaming, I'd like to play them one at a time at my leisure with other games from my backlog interspersed.
That's the easy part. It's removing it temporarily that I'm trying to do.
I'm pretty sure that that is for hiding your IDE/SATA drive so that you can run an emulated disc image. I'll look into it to see if it also has the ability to remove and re-add StarForce.
Oh, well, in that case. (note that this bit is mostly theory but should maybe work):
Starforce is installed whenever a SF-protected game is run and does not detect the Starforce drivers on the system. So use the Starforce Removal Tool whenever you are done playing, and the next time you start the game, it will install Starforce on your computer.
Note that this will always, always require a restart, and there's nothing you can do about that. That's just the way the Windows driver model works.
Sidenote: all this fucking around with drivers is making me wonder: do SF-protected games work at all with Windows Vista? The final release, I mean. The one that doesn't load XP drivers for compatability.
Wow. So the game executable install StarForce? I thought that it was just installed when the game was installed and that I'd have to re-run the game's installation. Since that's not the case, why does everyone care so much about StarForce? I mean, I guess you shouldn't HAVE to uninstall it every time you want to do something else with the drive, but at least it's an option.
If the StarForce uninstaller were there in the Program Group (Win3.1 terminology LOL) with every game, and they made you aware that it would be reinstalled the next time a protected game is launched, I'd be totally OK with it.
Trust me I'm sure they will release Vista installers for Starforce.
I never asked for this!
With most game publishers backing off, I'm wondering if they'll stay in business long enough.
When it comes down to it, I just want a patch for Splinter Cell:CT that removes the check, as that's the only Starforce game I give a shit about right now.
But, I mean, does anyone remember the clusterfuck with 64-bit Windows and Starforce? Half the games just didn't work.
Arg, I hate those fuckers. It's this kind of shit that makes me support cracking groups. The biggest problem with PC gaming today isn't the arms race between graphics card companies or any of that shit, it's the publishers treating the gamers like criminals.
So, anyone want my second copy of X2: The Threat (now in sig)? I got two XFX 7800GT cards for SLI and therefore ended up with two copies of the game. I always thought it' be hard to pawn that off on someone. :^:
X2 or X3? As far as I know, X2 never had Starforce to begin with. At least, for the US version.
Sure it will be. You'll just need to click through the "Are you sure you want to allow this program to rape your computer?" warnings.
The problem I'm seeing is that, like the Windows x86_64 version, it will require every old game that uses it to be repatched, which is not going to happen.
XFX includes the European versions with their cards.
It's not that simple in Vista. MS has locked it down so much that they aren't even granting virus software and drivers the types of kernel hooks they need.
That's only for the 64-bit version.
Starforce has been updated to support 64-bit Windows. I haven't checked since it was still only semi-confirmed, but Windows Vista is said to enforce a 64-bit install on a 64-bit system.
No, no it doesn't. The 32 and 64 bit installs aren't even on the same disc. I have an Athlon 64 and I have 32-bit Vista installed right now.
Oh, and the 64-bit Starforce needs the games to be individually patched by the publisher in order to support it, so many Starforce games don't work on Windows XP64.