How to identify later non-Starforce CD's?

K Gunz · 05-22-10, 05:44 AM

Hello Karleuns,

I recently acquired another SH3 CD but I have no idea whether it is one of these 'later' CDs already patched to 1.4b and excluding Starforce. How can one see without loading the CD and therefore risking re-loading Starforce once again?

I am running Windows 7 and have used the Direct2Drive version which works brilliantly (£7 well spent

). It would be nice to have a CD that I can trust though - incase I corrupt the Direct2Drive version.

Thanks guys (and gals) and I hope others benefit from this question too

.

**I have just added a quick additional note to this query - please read this thread right to the end as there are further observations about identifying the later disks.**

Regards

SquareSteelBar · 05-22-10, 06:51 AM

Here you go:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...ighlight=nodvd

Cheers,
SquareSteelBar

Cheapskate · 05-22-10, 07:13 AM

The Focus Multimedia version currently available on Amazon for £2.50 should be ok.

The item identifier on base of case spine is ESS632/D and bar code is 5 031366 016324.

Jimbuna · 05-22-10, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheapskate

The Focus Multimedia version currently available on Amazon for £2.50 should be ok.

The item identifier on base of case spine is ESS632/D and bar code is 5 031366 016324.

Yep....my secondary copy is that one

Munchausen · 05-22-10, 12:11 PM

Broderbund also provides a patched "no CD" version that includes both Silent Hunter II and Silent Hunter III ... even though the disclaimer on the back of the slip cover contains the old copy protection notice.

STEED · 05-22-10, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheapskate

The Focus Multimedia version currently available on Amazon for £2.50 should be ok.

The item identifier on base of case spine is ESS632/D and bar code is 5 031366 016324.

I ordered a back up disk which arrived today and it matches.

K Gunz · 05-23-10, 01:19 AM

Thanks very much for your responses Karleuns,

Now I am going to throw the spanner in the works

. It would appear that you can't rely on the ES632/D ID number and barcode. Both of my copies have the same numbers (the unpatched copy WITH Starforce and also the later CD which I acquired). BUT, I have noticed something else

. On looking at the two CD's, the one I definitely know is unpatched and has Starforce on it also is silver/unpainted on the top half of the CD (when you look on the upperside with the writing and the Silent Hunter III/Uboat picture). The one I recently acquired is painted white in the same area.

Karleuns, is your patched/no Starforce CD painted white in the top half? If so, this may be the clue.

Regards

Cheapskate · 05-23-10, 03:26 AM

Tks for pointing that out.

Now that you mention it, another forum member did report a while ago that he had an unpatched and SF-ridden version of the Focus edition.
As he did not quote any version number or barcode, I kind of assumed that these would have been different from mine (which has a white upper label graphic field BTW). Seemingly not!

Suggest you insert the later disc ( with autorun disabled or shift key depressed) then Explore it. If the Setup configuration file shows the date modified as 18.08.06, I'd guess you have the updated version.

As a further check, right click the setup icon. Then follow path Properties>version>Fileversion. This should return a value of 1.4.0000. Original SF infested and non updated versions show 1.00.0000.

Good Luck

JScones · 05-23-10, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K Gunz

Karleuns, is your patched/no Starforce CD painted white in the top half? If so, this may be the clue.

Yes.

K Gunz · 05-23-10, 06:11 AM

Thanks again Guys,

Well, I have explored the newer 'white label' version and the date in that is 18.08.2006 but I couldn't get the version details by right clicking on the setup icon

(advice would be appreciated on how to get this in Windows 7). This disk when loaded allowed me to see all of the files and folders without actually running it. Also, I opened the 'read me' word doc and lo and behold - there were details of the different patches up to and including 1.4b

.

As I know that the 'silver label' disk is an unpatched and Starforce disk, I didn't go and have a look on that.

So, in the event that this is of use to others it would appear that the 'white label' could be the easy identifier for the later patched and non-Starforce version.

I hope this helps.

Regards

Cheapskate · 05-23-10, 07:13 AM

From what you say,I don't reckon you need go any further. The modified date for the Setup config file would be something like 27.02.2005 if it was the old plague ridden original version.

Sorry to have confused you about the setup icon path.

Should have said select properties from the drop down menu which appeared when you right clicked it.

The White upper label seems to be the clincher though.

Nice find that!!

BTW: Just in case you didn't know: This version also doesn't need to be in the drive when being played

K Gunz · 05-23-10, 07:58 AM

Hi Cheapskate,

Many thanks for continuing with this

. I hope this thread comes in useful for others.

I didn't realise that you can still play the 'game' without the CD and so thanks for pointing that out to me

.

Well, as a final note to this thread - my 'silver label' copy of SHIII is now bin bound and will never surface again

.

Thanks once again.

Regards

05-22-10, 05:44 AM	#1
K Gunz Electrician's Mate Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 131 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	How to identify later non-Starforce CD's? Hello Karleuns, I recently acquired another SH3 CD but I have no idea whether it is one of these 'later' CDs already patched to 1.4b and excluding Starforce. How can one see without loading the CD and therefore risking re-loading Starforce once again? I am running Windows 7 and have used the Direct2Drive version which works brilliantly (£7 well spent). It would be nice to have a CD that I can trust though - incase I corrupt the Direct2Drive version. Thanks guys (and gals) and I hope others benefit from this question too. I have just added a quick additional note to this query - please read this thread right to the end as there are further observations about identifying the later disks. Regards __________________ K Gunz (U-83) Last edited by K Gunz; 05-23-10 at 06:14 AM.

05-23-10, 01:19 AM	#7
K Gunz Electrician's Mate Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 131 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	How to identify later non-Starforce CD's Thanks very much for your responses Karleuns, Now I am going to throw the spanner in the works. It would appear that you can't rely on the ES632/D ID number and barcode. Both of my copies have the same numbers (the unpatched copy WITH Starforce and also the later CD which I acquired). BUT, I have noticed something else. On looking at the two CD's, the one I definitely know is unpatched and has Starforce on it also is silver/unpainted on the top half of the CD (when you look on the upperside with the writing and the Silent Hunter III/Uboat picture). The one I recently acquired is painted white in the same area. Karleuns, is your patched/no Starforce CD painted white in the top half? If so, this may be the clue. Regards __________________ K Gunz (U-83)

05-23-10, 06:11 AM	#10
K Gunz Electrician's Mate Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 131 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	How to identify later non-Starforce CD's? Thanks again Guys, Well, I have explored the newer 'white label' version and the date in that is 18.08.2006 but I couldn't get the version details by right clicking on the setup icon (advice would be appreciated on how to get this in Windows 7). This disk when loaded allowed me to see all of the files and folders without actually running it. Also, I opened the 'read me' word doc and lo and behold - there were details of the different patches up to and including 1.4b. As I know that the 'silver label' disk is an unpatched and Starforce disk, I didn't go and have a look on that. So, in the event that this is of use to others it would appear that the 'white label' could be the easy identifier for the later patched and non-Starforce version. I hope this helps. Regards __________________ K Gunz (U-83)

05-23-10, 07:58 AM	#12
K Gunz Electrician's Mate Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 131 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	How to identify later non-Starforce CD's? Hi Cheapskate, Many thanks for continuing with this. I hope this thread comes in useful for others. I didn't realise that you can still play the 'game' without the CD and so thanks for pointing that out to me. Well, as a final note to this thread - my 'silver label' copy of SHIII is now bin bound and will never surface again. Thanks once again. Regards __________________ K Gunz (U-83)

05-22-10, 06:51 AM	#2
SquareSteelBar Sea Lord Join Date: May 2006 Location: U-73 Posts: 1,638 Downloads: 632 Uploads: 0	Here you go: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...ighlight=nodvd Cheers, SquareSteelBar

05-22-10, 07:13 AM	#3
Cheapskate XO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Darkest Essex Posts: 403 Downloads: 47 Uploads: 0	The Focus Multimedia version currently available on Amazon for £2.50 should be ok. The item identifier on base of case spine is ESS632/D and bar code is 5 031366 016324.

05-22-10, 12:11 PM	#5
Munchausen Commodore Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 608 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 1	Broderbund also provides a patched "no CD" version that includes both Silent Hunter II and Silent Hunter III ... even though the disclaimer on the back of the slip cover contains the old copy protection notice.

05-23-10, 03:26 AM	#8
Cheapskate XO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Darkest Essex Posts: 403 Downloads: 47 Uploads: 0	Tks for pointing that out. Now that you mention it, another forum member did report a while ago that he had an unpatched and SF-ridden version of the Focus edition. As he did not quote any version number or barcode, I kind of assumed that these would have been different from mine (which has a white upper label graphic field BTW). Seemingly not! Suggest you insert the later disc ( with autorun disabled or shift key depressed) then Explore it. If the *Setup* configuration file shows the date modified as 18.08.06, I'd guess you have the updated version. As a further check, right click the *setup icon. Then follow path Properties>version>Fileversion*. This should return a value of 1.4.0000. Original SF infested and non updated versions show 1.00.0000. Good Luck

05-23-10, 07:13 AM	#11
Cheapskate XO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Darkest Essex Posts: 403 Downloads: 47 Uploads: 0	From what you say,I don't reckon you need go any further. The modified date for the Setup config file would be something like 27.02.2005 if it was the old plague ridden original version. Sorry to have confused you about the setup icon path. Should have said select *properties* from the drop down menu which appeared when you right clicked it. The White upper label seems to be the clincher though. Nice find that!! BTW: Just in case you didn't know: This version also doesn't need to be in the drive when being played