Today I received my purchased copy of N2k3. At 1:07pm I began the
process of installing. This comprised searching the web for details on
bypassing the copy protection. After reading a couple of public forums and
downloading two programs I placed the disk in the drive. 15 minutes later
I took the disk out of the drive and and clicked on the menu icon. N2k3
started and I installed the program. I then rebooted per instructions.
Before 2pm I had completely bypassed your expensive copy protection. While
I did have experience with past versions of Daemon Tools, I was advised by
the forums to use a very unfamiliar program to write an image of the
disk.(notice I decline to call it a cdrom since I believe your abhorrent
copy protection schemes place the disk outside of the parameters
established by Phillips for a CDrom disk).
So in less than an hour I installed, ran and tested online the program,
all without the prescense of a disk in the cdrom tray. I should bill your
companies for my time that I spent protecting my system from your copy
protection schemes.
I have read that a 'Save Game' feature was not included in this version
of Nascar Racing 2003 because of the added cost to program that feature. I
can understand that reasoning, but I am curious how much your deal with the
copy protection company cost you. If I were you, I'd be asking for a
large rebate or complete refund from the maker of the copy protection. If
I was able to defeat it within an hour, I can only imagine how simple it
would be for true professionals to bypass this system. If your company had
chosen to spend funds on improving your product instead of possibly causing
damage to my system with heinous non-standard file additions and disk
manufacturing, you might have had ample funds to program a 'Save Game'
feature.
Obviously your business choices show more intent to do harm to casual
computer user's systems than to deter actual software theft. If I was
unable to bypass the copy protection on this disk, I would have returned
it. I believe your business practice of copy-protecting by corrupting the
CDROM protocols, a purchase I have legitimately made, shows an complete and
utter DISDAIN for me, the end user.
Your use of a key number to limit online participation should be more
than sufficient to deter multiple copies of the program being bought and
sold. But by adding onerous. and ultimately non-effective, copy protection
schemes does not benefit your company, or your customer. I am sure though,
the Secure Rom or Safe Disk programmers value your financial contributions
to their bank accounts.
Dave Henrie
2928 W Wellesley Ave
Spokane, Wa. 99205
1 (509) 328-7626