rec.autos.simulators

by **Larr** » Sun, 11 Feb 2001 18:55:41

1. Pioneer DVD-113. Doesn't appear to be a problem, at least when it's the
only CD Drive in the system.

2. CloneCD, using the default settings, DOES make a useable backup copy of
your purchased N4 Game.
The Demo works fine, though it is restricted to 2x copying. It took 21
minutes on my machine.

3. My other machine (the non-server) has an HP SCSI Writer as drive Z, and
a Kenwood 72x as drive
X. Though this is a potential double-whammy when it comes to the
brain-dead copy protection on
the N4 CD, I think I get away with it because my primary CD drive, the
Kenwood, is the LOWEST
lettered drive in the system.

4. My Kenwood 72x firmware was at rev 212 when I first installed the game.
Though I didn't
have any problems, I noticed that the latest firmware available was 227
(or something like that)
so I went ahead and installed it. It did help in that the startup time
for N4 has been greatly reduced.

The real shame is that we really didn't need all this crap. I'm sure this
decision was Sierra's, and I know they have no interest in hearing in what
we have to say about this subject, so all we can do is take care of it
ourselves however deemed necessary.

It's really kind of ironic hearing from those that bought the CD, can't
install/run it because of the stupid copy protection, and have to play it by
downloading the cracked warez version...

-Larry

by **Steve Rosk** » Mon, 12 Feb 2001 03:49:57

So what's the solution? Either I buy a new CD drive or run with the cracked
exe and give up on online racing. And ecen if I do decide to buy a DC
drive, which one will work? My processor, video and memory are more than
adequate, I never expected to have to upgrade my CD drive.

by **The Enigmatic O** » Mon, 12 Feb 2001 05:44:49

I'd say demand Sierra fix it and, if that doesn't happen, start work
on class-action proceedings.

-Tim

by **Larr** » Mon, 12 Feb 2001 08:34:04

The only suggestion I can think of is to make sure the CD you are using for
install and running games protected like this is to make sure that CD has
the lowest letter of all your CD drives.

For example, in my case:

X = Kenwood ZEN drive - Main drive for installing and running software.
Y = Pioneer DVD 113 Drive - Only used for DVD Playback.
Z = HP 8x CD Writer - Only used for burning CD's.

I learned this trick a while back with, I believe, Test Drive 4 (or maybe 5)
that also had this obnoxious copy protection.

Someone else also mentioned putting the CD in a CD on their server, and
mapping a drive letter to it on the client. It was slow, I believe he said,
but I think it worked?

-Larry

> So what's the solution? Either I buy a new CD drive or run with the
cracked
> exe and give up on online racing. And ecen if I do decide to buy a DC
> drive, which one will work? My processor, video and memory are more than
> adequate, I never expected to have to upgrade my CD drive.

> > 1. Pioneer DVD-113. Doesn't appear to be a problem, at least when it's
> the
> > only CD Drive in the system.

> > 2. CloneCD, using the default settings, DOES make a useable backup copy
> of
> > your purchased N4 Game.
> > The Demo works fine, though it is restricted to 2x copying. It
took
> 21
> > minutes on my machine.

> > 3. My other machine (the non-server) has an HP SCSI Writer as drive Z,
> and
> > a Kenwood 72x as drive
> > X. Though this is a potential double-whammy when it comes to the
> > brain-dead copy protection on
> > the N4 CD, I think I get away with it because my primary CD drive,
> the
> > Kenwood, is the LOWEST
> > lettered drive in the system.

> > 4. My Kenwood 72x firmware was at rev 212 when I first installed the
> game.
> > Though I didn't
> > have any problems, I noticed that the latest firmware available was
> 227
> > (or something like that)
> > so I went ahead and installed it. It did help in that the startup
> time
> > for N4 has been greatly reduced.

> > The real shame is that we really didn't need all this crap. I'm sure
this
> > decision was Sierra's, and I know they have no interest in hearing in
what
> > we have to say about this subject, so all we can do is take care of it
> > ourselves however deemed necessary.

> > It's really kind of ironic hearing from those that bought the CD, can't
> > install/run it because of the stupid copy protection, and have to play
it
> by
> > downloading the cracked warez version...

> > -Larry

by **Braun Taco** » Mon, 12 Feb 2001 08:44:51

Don't. There will be a "crack" soon.

>So what's the solution? Either I buy a new CD drive or run with the cracked
>exe and give up on online racing. And ecen if I do decide to buy a DC
>drive, which one will work? My processor, video and memory are more than
>adequate, I never expected to have to upgrade my CD drive.

>> 1. Pioneer DVD-113. Doesn't appear to be a problem, at least when it's
>the
>> only CD Drive in the system.

>> 2. CloneCD, using the default settings, DOES make a useable backup copy
>of
>> your purchased N4 Game.
>> The Demo works fine, though it is restricted to 2x copying. It took
>21
>> minutes on my machine.

>> 3. My other machine (the non-server) has an HP SCSI Writer as drive Z,
>and
>> a Kenwood 72x as drive
>> X. Though this is a potential double-whammy when it comes to the
>> brain-dead copy protection on
>> the N4 CD, I think I get away with it because my primary CD drive,
>the
>> Kenwood, is the LOWEST
>> lettered drive in the system.

>> 4. My Kenwood 72x firmware was at rev 212 when I first installed the
>game.
>> Though I didn't
>> have any problems, I noticed that the latest firmware available was
>227
>> (or something like that)
>> so I went ahead and installed it. It did help in that the startup
>time
>> for N4 has been greatly reduced.

>> The real shame is that we really didn't need all this crap. I'm sure this
>> decision was Sierra's, and I know they have no interest in hearing in what
>> we have to say about this subject, so all we can do is take care of it
>> ourselves however deemed necessary.

>> It's really kind of ironic hearing from those that bought the CD, can't
>> install/run it because of the stupid copy protection, and have to play it
>by
>> downloading the cracked warez version...

>> -Larry

by **ymenar** » Mon, 12 Feb 2001 13:48:46

> start work on class-action proceedings.

Yeeeeaaaahhhh.... <roll eyes>

--
-- Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard>
-- May the Downforce be with you...
-- http://www.ymenard.com/
-- People think it must be fun to be a genius, but they don't realise how
hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world.

by **Jag** » Mon, 12 Feb 2001 13:59:04

One) thus spoke:

Gamers often mention class-action law suits, but I've yet to see one
actually happen.
--
Jagg

by **Jag** » Mon, 12 Feb 2001 14:00:55

spoke:

There already is.
--
Jagg

by **Larr** » Tue, 13 Feb 2001 09:05:40

From what I've heard, you can't play on-line with the No-CD patch.

-Larry

> Don't. There will be a "crack" soon.

> >So what's the solution? Either I buy a new CD drive or run with the
cracked
> >exe and give up on online racing. And ecen if I do decide to buy a DC
> >drive, which one will work? My processor, video and memory are more than
> >adequate, I never expected to have to upgrade my CD drive.

> >> 1. Pioneer DVD-113. Doesn't appear to be a problem, at least when
it's
> >the
> >> only CD Drive in the system.

> >> 2. CloneCD, using the default settings, DOES make a useable backup
copy
> >of
> >> your purchased N4 Game.
> >> The Demo works fine, though it is restricted to 2x copying. It
took
> >21
> >> minutes on my machine.

> >> 3. My other machine (the non-server) has an HP SCSI Writer as drive Z,
> >and
> >> a Kenwood 72x as drive
> >> X. Though this is a potential double-whammy when it comes to the
> >> brain-dead copy protection on
> >> the N4 CD, I think I get away with it because my primary CD drive,
> >the
> >> Kenwood, is the LOWEST
> >> lettered drive in the system.

> >> 4. My Kenwood 72x firmware was at rev 212 when I first installed the
> >game.
> >> Though I didn't
> >> have any problems, I noticed that the latest firmware available
was
> >227
> >> (or something like that)
> >> so I went ahead and installed it. It did help in that the startup
> >time
> >> for N4 has been greatly reduced.

> >> The real shame is that we really didn't need all this crap. I'm sure
this
> >> decision was Sierra's, and I know they have no interest in hearing in
what
> >> we have to say about this subject, so all we can do is take care of it
> >> ourselves however deemed necessary.

> >> It's really kind of ironic hearing from those that bought the CD, can't
> >> install/run it because of the stupid copy protection, and have to play
it
> >by
> >> downloading the cracked warez version...

> >> -Larry

rec.autos.simulators

N4 Copy-Protected CD - A few observations

N4 Copy-Protected CD - A few observations

N4 Copy-Protected CD - A few observations

N4 Copy-Protected CD - A few observations

N4 Copy-Protected CD - A few observations

N4 Copy-Protected CD - A few observations

N4 Copy-Protected CD - A few observations

N4 Copy-Protected CD - A few observations

N4 Copy-Protected CD - A few observations

N4 Copy-Protected CD - A few observations