Hello. I've been lurking the forums here a long time now, and i've seen lots of threads about starforce, but i've never seen the same problem that i've had.
I preordered sh3, (of course) and the moment it arrived, seconds after i furiously tore open the wrapping i realised it was a dvd-rom only game, and since i didn't sport a healthy dvd drive i was out of luck.. (Silly me).
Of course the next thing i did was run to the store and buy an aopen top shelf dvd-reader/recorder, (approximate prize 150$+ and after the old installing-new-hardware dance i was happily burning out cds and dvds (making space for the game). Then i installed it, and had a ****ing great weekend, with a minimal amount of sleep, and 10 patrols.
Returning to the real life, in a while i noticed that i could not burn cds or dvds of any kind with any imaginable software. Of course i was pissed, and after reading som starforce problem forums i uninstalled the game (boycott) and used the starforce removal tool. No luck. Then i flashed the firmware on my drive. No luck! Then followed the reformat/clean windows install dance. NO LUCK!
I contacted the starforce guys. The suggested the removal tool, and said i should just forget about the game. I told them that i'd already tried. Guess what the next suggestion was? Let me quote them: "I suggest you buy a second system for burning cds and dvds, and keep a separate system for gaming" I told them that that was not an option for me, beeing a student and all. The reply (over support icq) was? You guess it. "Then you're out of luck"!
Starforce physically destroyed my drive!
After a long boycott period i just couldn't keep away from the game anymore, it's too good, but i'm still pissed off that sh3 ended up costing me an additional 100+$...
And the starforce crew? Well i've heard stories about good customer support, but, basically they can kiss my ass.
Here in Norway I think there is a law against bundling unwanted force-installed software with a game. (basically a consumer law saying that you as a customer should recieve only what your paying for), but since i'm no legal wiz, i'm leaving it as it is.
Is there anyone out there who have had the same problems as me? Anyone else contacted the starforce guys about it?