1 Starforce issue fixed

[TDK1044]

I don't want to start an anti Starforce rant with this posting, I just want to point out that if, like me, the only issue you've had with Starforce is that SF reduced the burn speed of your CD and or DVD Burner by fifty percent, this issue can now be resolved by downloading an updated version of the Starforce Drivers. I used to simply uninstall the Starforce Drivers before a burn in order to burn at the max setting and then let the Drivers re-install when I next ran SH3. But it seemed obvious to me why the Starforce Drivers were reducing the Burn speed by 50 percent on either the primary or secondary devices, including External Drives, and the fix was also obvious to me so I spoke to Starforce about it. The latest version of the SF Drivers on their website resolves this issue without adding any additional intrusion into your system. I still don't like, Starforce, but they did listen.

[Gizzmoe]

Good!

You can download the latest drivers here:
http://www.star-force.com/protection/users/

[Gairith]

Originally Posted by Gizzmoe

Good!

You can download the latest drivers here:
http://www.star-force.com/protection/users/

This should be added to the mod/tools list.

Just my opinion.

[Gizzmoe]

I "sticky" this thread.

Guys, try the update if you have any kind of SF related problems. Please let us know if it worked.

[Col7777]

I don't want to install anything to do with SF, but I'm wondering if the SF removal tool will remove SF after the upgrade.

[Gizzmoe]

I´ve tried it. The removal tool also removes the updated driver.

[retired1212]

There are two programs:

<Moderator edit: Do not mention such programs - Gizzmoe>

I didn't try them yet but I guess that they might do some "trick"

[Capn Tucker]

Hope this works. Haven't installed SH3 on my new computer yet, because of worries that Starforce will screw with the DVD+/-RW burner. Well, <takes deep breath> I'm off to finally put SH3 on the new system...

[Highblur]

Originally Posted by Oombongo

There are two programs:

<Moderator edit: Do not mention such programs - Gizzmoe>

I didn't try them yet but I guess that they might do some "trick"

Those are for circumventing a starforce protected game(image) by disabling your cd drives so only the mounted image remains.

So they are useless in this case...

[CB..]

one thing puzzles me---if --as is assumed-- the star-force drivers install from the disc, and if one were to un-install the SF drivers using the SF removal tool--(if you still had problems after the SF driver patch)

which drivers would re-install when you put the SH3 disc in the drive to play the game?

i tried an experiment and ran the SF removal tool restarted- as per the request- then ran the game--(with-out the disc in the drive)
the SF drivers re-installed from the hard drive- NOT from the game disc -
so given that neither the game un-install or the SF removal tool actually un-installs star force for good -one can only assume that unless your a bit of whizz with these things -once you've got SF on your system your stuck with it (the best you can do is deactivate it with the driver removal tool)

apolgies for the paranoia!!!

[Gizzmoe]

Originally Posted by CB..

which drivers would re-install when you put the SH3 disc in the drive to play the game?

The original old driver that came with SH3 (driver date is 3.Mar.2005), even when you have previously installed the SF update (driver date is 10.Aug.2005).

i tried an experiment and ran the SF removal tool restarted- as per the request- then ran the game--(with-out the disc in the drive) the SF drivers re-installed from the hard drive- NOT from the game disc

The SF installation file is either embedded in some file that´s inside the SH3 directory or it stores it somewhere in the Windows dir.

so given that neither the game un-install or the SF removal tool actually un-installs star force for good -one can only assume that unless your a bit of whizz with these things -once you've got SF on your system your stuck with it (the best you can do is deactivate it with the driver removal tool)

The removal tool deletes the driver, it´s gone and not just temporarily deactivated.

[CB..]

the file i'm concerned about is the The SF installation file--

if this file isn't removed by either un-installing the game or by running the SF removal tool then --unless there is a safe manual way to remove it -then your stuck with it no matter what you do--

my point here is simply that the percentage of folks who do have trouble with SF with or without the patch---and even after un-installing the drivers and what ever the offending game happens to be-- have no genuine consumer protection regardless of what any one says--

it seems the game companys are happy with SF- so it's isn't going to go away--either way around

[Gizzmoe]

Originally Posted by CB..

the file i'm concerned about is the The SF installation file--

if this file isn't removed by either un-installing the game or by running the SF removal tool then --unless there is a safe manual way to remove it -then your stuck with it no matter what you do--

An installation file is an archive that contains the not yet installed product. If you don´t install it it does nothing except taking away disk space, it´s harmless magnetic data on your harddisk. So even if - which I doubt - SF leaves an installation file of itself somewhere in the Windows dir it is certainly nothing that one should be worried about.

folks who do have trouble with SF with or without the patch---and even after un-installing the drivers

If they have trouble even after uninstalling the drivers then that means that the drivers were not removed correctly or even not at all for some reason. When the removal tool works as advertised (and it does on my system) the drivers are 100% gone.

[CB..]

Gizz' me old fruit lets try to remember this isn't a discussion regarding the merits or other wise of SH3- it's a discussion regarding the merits or other wise of Star Force--
i think folks have a habit of getting the two things mixed up--
thinking that to have an issue with the merits of SF is to have an issue with the merits of SH3--

if SF leaves an installation archive on the HD some where (as it must do in order to re-install it-self even with the disc not present in the drive)

what concrete proof do we have that that archive is 100% benign?

it all comes down to wether you as an individual trust Star Force ;

and as is obvious-- that comes down to wether you have had problems or not--

i have had problems--i do not trust SF
those (and it is obvious that majority of people do not have significant problems) that do not are more inclined to either trust SF or ignore it alltogether--

but what ever the issues are they are about Star Force not any associated game or gaming approach attitude or similar--

i don't mind role playing "heroism" in the context of a game--it's part of the attraction-and is hard to avoid--
but it stops when i exit the game--do you see what i'm saying
i'm just not prepared to risk my PC to play a game -it's patently rediculous

i am un convinced by SF's stance on consumer protection--
their stance on copy right protection how ever is extremely laudible

[Gizzmoe]

Originally Posted by CB..

i think folks have a habit of getting the two things mixed up-- thinking that to have an issue with the merits of SF is to have an issue with the merits of SH3--

You are right, some people do. I don´t...

what concrete proof do we have that that archive is 100% benign?

What kind of question is this? Do you think that the archive installs itself after midnight to deliberately harm your system or that it spies you out, because it hates you for removing the SF driver?

i'm just not prepared to risk my PC to play a game -it's patently rediculous

It is. But it won´t go away for a while. People are even bad in boycotting it! The numerous "I hate Starforce" forums are full with people saying "I will never buy a Starforce game again!!!!!!!!! Ok, in a week <insert name of top-notch game with SF protection> comes out, I buy it, but that´s an exception. Boycott Starforce!111!!!11!!".

People will get used to it. SF continues to make their driver as harmless as possible and I think that many gaming companies will use it in the future. Do I think that´s a good thing? Not really...