rec.autos.simulators

> --

>      RocketMan


>> Here's what I understand about the issue - I'll be lazy and not post
>> links, but any google search on starforce should yield tons of info:

>> 1)  Ring 0 access - because Starforce uses a system driver that appears
>> like an IDE disk driver, it runs at a highly priviledged level in the
>> system that could potentially be exploited by malicious software.  This
>> has been noted with multiple copy protection/DRM packages.  So far
>> no-one has demonstrated or seen an exploit 'in the wild' AFAIK, but
>> that doesn't mean it isn't possible.  Note that this is different from
>> the poorly-written Sony rookit.  The Sony DRM package created a *huge*
>> security hole by creating a directory that was completely hidden from
>> normal system operations.  A malicious program could drop files in the
>> same dir and there would be almost no way to detect it.  The Sony
>> rookit also created a device chain that could bluscreen your PC if the
>> DRM driver was disabled.

>> 2) Dead DVD writers.  This appears to be the most common complaint.
>> How truly frequent this occurs is unknown (some fraction is probably
>> conicidental normal hardware failure), but some reasonably respected
>> netizens have posted that they have had DVD writers ***out after
>> loading SF-protected games.  The problem is partly Microsoft's - what
>> appears to be the problem is the "auto-stepdown" function of IDE
>> drivers in WinXP.  What happens is WinXP will automatically slow down
>> drive access as it encounters read errors on IDE devices, starting with
>> the Ultra-DMA modes, slowing all the way down to PIO modes.  IMHO this
>> was one of those stupid "Microsoft knows better than you" decisions -
>> the OS never reports an error to the user or allows the behavior to be
>> changed (although XP SP2 apparently slows the step-down counter so it
>> is less likely to occur).  I have personally experienced this in the
>> early days of XP (not related to Starforce).  What seems to kill some
>> DVD writers is they are not designed to operate in PIO modes, and the
>> step down to PIO permanently damages the drives.  Starforce was stupid
>> here in that they could have written the virtual driver as a SCSI
>> device (like *** 120%'s drives) and avoided this problem
>> completely.

>> 3) Starforce's business practices - Instead of recognizing there might
>> be a problem and trying to get info from users to fix it, they called
>> anyone who reported problems hackers/pirates/script kiddies.  They
>> setup a ridiculous contest where they would pay anyone $10000 who could
>> come to Russia (on thier own dime) and reproduce the problem on
>> Starforce's own hardware.  When nobody took them up on such a stupid
>> offer they proclaimed that it meant there was no problem.  They have
>> also done such *** things as posting links on thier own forums to
>> pirated software (Gal Civ II, I think).

>> Myself - I avoid 1+2 by having a dedicated *** PC that I do not use
>> for regular internet browsing, nor do I do my DVD burning on this PC.
>> 3 is a matter of personal decision.  I abhor the way they do business,
>> but support Simbin and thier work for the sim market enough to hold my
>> nose and enjoy the hell out of GTR and GTL.  I don't think the
>> developers make those decisions - that's more in the hands of the
>> publishers.

>> Hope I got all that right!
>> Kendt

> I have had GTR on since it's USA release and it's fully patched.  I also
> have a DVD recorder that uses Nero Software.  Nero worked fine in the
> past.
> But after not using it for some time,  I have recently tried to back up
> all
> my rFactor tracks and run into some complications.  If I use the Nero
> StartSmart icon,  my system goes into some sort of shutdown, IMMEADIATELY.
> The system leds are still lit but the screen goes black and in a very
> short
> time the monitor shuts down.  No set of key presses that I have tried can
> break this odd lockup.
>  I have to hit the Reset or Power Off button on the box to reboot and
> reload windows(SP Pro SP2) If I choose the start menu for the Nero
> SmartStart program(kinda like a Nero menu system for all the various Nero
> utilities)  that too will STOP My system cold.  And another reboot.
>  However,  if I choose an individual Nero program like Nero Express, THEN
> and ONLY THEN can I run the program and burn a data disc.

>  Starforce?  or just a klutzed up system?

> dave henrie

> I have had GTR on since it's USA release and it's fully patched.  I also
> have a DVD recorder that uses Nero Software.  Nero worked fine in the past.
> But after not using it for some time,  I have recently tried to back up all
> my rFactor tracks and run into some complications.  If I use the Nero
> StartSmart icon,  my system goes into some sort of shutdown, IMMEADIATELY.  
> The system leds are still lit but the screen goes black and in a very short
> time the monitor shuts down.  No set of key presses that I have tried can
> break this odd lockup.
>   I have to hit the Reset or Power Off button on the box to reboot and
> reload windows(SP Pro SP2) If I choose the start menu for the Nero
> SmartStart program(kinda like a Nero menu system for all the various Nero
> utilities)  that too will STOP My system cold.  And another reboot.
>   However,  if I choose an individual Nero program like Nero Express, THEN
> and ONLY THEN can I run the program and burn a data disc.

>   Starforce?  or just a klutzed up system?

> It's my decision.  The publishers can care or not care that they lose
> a customer.

> I WOULD have bought GTL by now if it weren't for StarForce.

> -Larry

>> Many people have bought GTL.  Most have no problems. Some people take
>> Starforce as a personal insult and get quite exercised about it.  I
>> wouldn't pass up a great sim because a few people scream about
>> Starforce.  In fact, I didn't.  No problems here.