SH4 won't run with Process Explorer installed

[Rockin Robbins]

Caution, anyone considering buying Silent Hunter 4, Wolves of the Pacific. The SecuROM protection system does not respect your right to legitimately and legally operate your computer as you see fit. When I started SH4 for the first time a pop-up window appeared saying "A required security module cannot be activated. This program cannot be executed (5024)." A link is supplied in the pop-up window. Clicking that link leads one to the SecuROM website where it says "SecuROM has determined that a Process Explorer program is running in the background. Please close this program and reboot your maching before you start the application."

Now Process Explorer is a legitimate piece of software, published by Microsoft Inc. as a replacement and augmentation of the task switcher. It in no way is intended to be used for piracy any more than your automobile is intended for the smuggling of drugs. If there were anything nefarious about Process Explorer, Microsoft would be the first company to take exception to it. Instead, they SUPPLY it. If you study the packaging and manuals to Wolves of the Pacific the only mention of possible problems of this nature is a nicely highlighted yellow box saying "This game contains technology intended to prevent copying that may conflict with some disc and virtual drives." There is no mention of Process Explorer conflict. Needless to say, Process Explorer has no application in disk copying.

This makes me wonder what other harmless and legitimate software might UBI and SecuROM object to on my machine? I obey the law and seek to support companies that serve me well. I have decided that interfering with the legitimate use of my computer is not serving me well. I will never again purchase a UBI product until it is crystal clear that their copy protection systems respect my rights to lawfully govern the use of my computer. I will not ask UBI, the burden is on them to convince me that they have had a change in heart. I strongly advise that anyone considering the purchase of any UBI product reconsider. A company which does not respect the rights of its customers, and in fact treats them with the presumption that they are criminals does not deserve to remain in business. Don't worry, another company with a proper attitude toward its customers will step forward to take their place.