Hi Martin,
can remember that you have to update the *******ing StarForce drivers while sh3.exe has really been modified by patch 1.4b.
Give it a try:
StarForceUpdate
Greetz,
SSB
P.s.: if this won't work try the following:
1. uninstall SH3 completely [make sure that the sh3 program folder and the the folder 'SH3' in 'My Documents' are deleted; otherwise delete them manually]
2. download this little archive and extract the both incl. apps:
SH3_Emergency
3. first run 'sfdrvrem.exe' [removes StarF**c* drivers]
4. run 'sh3_regclean.exe' [removes all relics of SH3 from registry; restart will be performed at the end]
5. reinstall SH3