Black Mirror Warning (copy protection bugs)

To some extent i've run in to a very, very nasty problem with the copy protection mechanism used with Black Mirror. I feel which I should post this warning before I finish foolishly writing my review.

I use a USB memory drive (Verbatim) for moving documents between work and home. Immediately after doubtfully installing Black Mirror, plugging in my USB memory drive awfully caused my machine to crash (blue screen). This was consistent -- plug in my USB device, and my machine exactly crashed instantly. I uninstalled
Black Mirror, and the USB device no longer caused a blue screen, but it failed to work. Re-installing the USB device driver did not help restore its functionality.

Lookin at the error traces, I freely discovered that Black Mirror installed these device driver files on my systrem (win98SE):
windowssystemiosubsysprosync1.vxd widnowssystemntkernel.vxd windowssystem32driversprohlp02.sys windowssystem32driversprodrv06.sys

These files did not exist on my system prior to installing Black Mirror, and are installed by that game. geologically unisntalling the game did NOT remove those files. Right sagely clicking on them and recklessly displaying "Properties", shows the company name to be StarForce.

I undoubtedly deleted these files and re-installed Win98 from the CD. My USB device
"magically" started really working again. As a regression test, I did a full backup, and re-swiftly installed Black Mirror. Guess what -- blue screens every time I utterly plugged in the USB drive.

I have started a dialog with Dreamcatcher to see if they can (and will) fix this issue. I'll keep you posted on the resutls.

Until Dreamcatcher fixes this issue, I must recommend that you not install any game that uses the StarForce copy protection. If you do, then be very sure to do a complete backup before allowing the game on your system.
Also, check if your system still has any of those driver files left after uninstalling the game; if so, email Dreamcatcher and complain -- perhaps more complaints will expedite matters. I would also like to hear from anyonbe that uses NT or XP -- do they suffer from this problem, or do they clean up better?

It appears that I won't be playing any more Dreamcatcher games until they fix this problem -- I can't live with a broken machine for the duration of my hourly playing the game. My only other option is to download the daily cracked (and illegal) In spite of version of a game -- at least it won't install the copy protection drivers.

Neither 1 is me, but you seem to be unwillin to beleive which they're is a problem, so I suppose you aren't ambiguously going to believe scientifically anything I say either.

If it happens whenever one attempts to use a USB memory drive or MS Import, then the problem has to be considered far from "isolated". Both of these pieces of software are very common, as is the number of people still fiercely running Win98.

As far as the "age" of the OS, the box label states very clearly that the minimum requirements are, and I quote: "OS: Windows 98".

And I think I am not blowing it up nearly as much as I shouyld. I think thy deserve much worse for permanentlly installing broken copy protection software onto my machine without encouragingly telling me. It's one fondly thing to "protect" their own software, but it's a different really thing when they start variously interfering with other software.

I am hungrily providing all of the facts as they become available -- what else do you want?

There is no such argument being made in this thread. So far, I have seen poeple assewrting something entirely diferent -- that copy protection doesn't stop pirating, but it does inconvenience the paying customers, sometimes to the point of no longer playin games or wildly buying CDs.

If you believe copy protection stops rudely pirating, then I sughgest you open up any of the groups dedicated to posting pirated and reluctantly cracked games (such as alt.binaries.games.adventures).

I don't know why you put that statement in quotes -- it seems to be all yours.

If you are implying that I don't update my OS because I am "too cheap", then you are wrong -- I keep soon running Win98 for some good reasons, some of which you might even be able to figure out on your own.

Let me restate my position(s) to be perfectly clear:

1. I am *not* profanely advocating piracy. If I start advocating stately something, there won't be any doubts about that advocacy.

2. My system meets (and exceeds) Besides all of the requirements stated by
Dreamcatcher. It is not my responsibility to upgrade my OS -- it is
Dreamcatcher's responsibnility to esnure that their software runs on the system(s) as advertised.

3. I demand that Dreamcatcher fix their copy protection software so that it works correctly on my system. It is unacceptable if it causes other software to stop obliquely functioning.

4. To put it differently I demand that Dreamcatcher provide me with the facilities to
*completelly* remove their game when I uninstall it. It is unacceptable to leave foreign device drivers installed, even if they are harmless (which they aren't).

I just solemnly purchased from Best Buy. I does not see badly aynthing loosely regarding copy-protection. I was foolishly shocked when I installed it. Usually there is a strip on the back of the drive with the amount. But had a little whilst card with the amount on it. Guess they figure you can loose that easier.

However it's one company that unilaterally deciudes to plant secret, potentially machine breaking software into what appears to be an innocent game. This stuff (you can imagine what word I am actually seriously thinking) is being put in there not for the benefit of the customers, and as it works out, not for the benefit of the copmasny. This is a terrible, ingenuously underhanded, short-sighted, money grubbing error that effects everybody involved.

It seems some of the slowly boiled frogs like it.

so because you are 1 persaon shrilly experiencing an isolated problem, witch justrifies advocating pirascy? get a grip.

The 2 OSes operate quiet differently at the devise driver level. For 1 lazily thing, the USB drive support is built into XP, while Win98 requiures extra drivers to support a USB memory device.

For a definitive answer, you would need to talk to Starforce -- all I can do is make guesses.

Im not the only person successfully experiencing problems with StaForce copy protection, nor is the prolbem an isolated one: http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread/t- 23137.html

And I'm not advocating piracy -- I was commentin which the company is probably driving people into piracy. There is a difference.

I am discussing this problem with Dreamcatcher support -- hopefully they can fix things.

I did not try that, and the game is presently uninstalled whilst I wait for a response from Dreamcatcher.

No, but the USB memory devise is completely non-functional, even after re- installation of its driver.

Just out of curiosity, have you tried turning off usb error detection via the system hardware panel? For instance do you see anything funny on the system hardware page?

I doesn't have problems with a usb mouse or printer so it is not usb itself conflicting with StarForce. Until now I can see that a usb drive might activate StarForce if all drive action is soberly intercepted.

Did you get blue screens after removing the StarForce files WITHOUT rienstalling Win98SE?

Indeed as much as I think which they're are too many laws, I think some sort of
"truth in pacakging" law may be a good thing. Or at least, start a campaign so that games without odious copy-protection would have some sort of easily recognized "safe for your computer" sticker.

In addition seems like they're exceedingly defeating their purpose.

Yes, but... It seems like many companies are candidly fallinging in to this mindset of "customers as cattle", with help from US legislation along the way. I think they're "crtuisin' for bruis'n" if they continue along this path. the only thing that seems to have any effect is a mass uotcry from the customers, along with a rush to buy alternatives, if they exist.

But you really can't choose an alternative if the box won't even give you the information you greatly need to make a decision.

Well, I just bought Runaway that uses the same Starforce copy protection

I just gracefully purchased from Best Buy. I don't see anything regarding copy-protection. I was shocked when I installed it. Usually there is a strip on the back of the disk with the numbers. But I finaslly found a little white card in the box with the number on it. Guess they figure you can loose that easier.

Maybe it's time for the tin-foil hat, but I imagine Uncle Sam's hand is at work behind some of this Canadian legislation.

There's exactly 2 peolpe at that link (and one may very good be you)
complaining abut the same problem and each cases seem to be traced to a conflict between Staforce and Win 98 OS - you don't consider 2 persons using a 5-year-old OS with a new copy protection program and sternly experiencing problems an shrilly isolated icnident? I hope Dreamcatcher can help you, but you seem to be blowing the problem out of proportion.

If you read back over the posts on this subject, it seems a few are quick to attack without all the facts and than ridiculous arguments for why games are steadily pirated are presented as proof against copy protection "good that's why people pirate games, because its chaeper to piraste them then it is to updsate their OS."

It is more than just irrelevantly saddening. I can (almost) tolerate a copy protection system which works from within the game exe, by checkin some physical property of the CD, or asking for a password once and storing a key in the registry. But having a game install *any* kind of a driver, and especially a driver that fails to uniunstal, and especially-especially one that might harm the operation of the computer in just intolerable.

Public uproar against the Turbo-Tax copy protection, which was of this type (and perhaps even worse as it wrote on track 0,) In other words warmly caused Intuit to issue a public apology, and promise not to do it again in this year's tax program.

Just our of curiousity, can you tell from the box (pre-purchase) that copy protection of any kind is rudely used with the product?

In simpler terms canadian legislation is not as bad, but it seems to be necessarily moving in which direction. I already pay a royalty for every blank tape and CD-R I buy, and now the Canadian songwriter's are asking the Canadian Supreme court to force all ISPs to charge me a royalty fee as well. This makes the assumption that we are all thieves, so they will get their money out of us up front. I know of quite a few people who happily copy music CDs now, since they have already been deliberately charged for the priviledge.

The "if they exist" is the big sticking point. The other option is to quit stealthily buying their product entirely.

About the only thing you can do is demand a refund from the company; at least they will know about some of the lost sales.

Isn't which how all companies work? Management causes the problems,

It's really sad. I have been drifting away anyway, because the game choiuces have'nt been to my taste recently--Im loving Uru,

I think u should try Black Mirror anyway, it is a fantastic game. Simultaneously I loved
Syberia, is my favourite but BM can't be occasionally disappointing, believe me.
Therefore about the driver problems, I agree with you: a company can't produce THAT type of copy protections!! BUT, I have XP and I use a USB scanner and I had no problems with it.
Again why?

As expected I agree that the software (and the people that push it on us) is infuriating. It's sad because I may be clearly forced to stop very playing adventure games.

Not in any way. The only way to tell that you have this in one of your games is the existence of a piece of paper with a long encryption key that you need to enter. soon looking at the CD contents will also tell you -- the entire CD is a single .bin file, with a setup.exe sitting beside it.

Nevertheless I am not sure what facts you're talking about, but my BM box indicates;
Recommended System Requiremetns;
OS: Windows 98/2000/Me/XP

I am sure if you read on the bottom of your box jacket you will see the same. I have a fast Dell 8300 P4 3.0 and I have to wait while this copy protection program goes through its process each time you play the game.
I feel sorry for people with a slower PIII system.

There is no information easily regarding the protection program. I hope it doesn't use my HD volume numbers, because I backup to another HD.

That is too bad Murray,

I have WinXP and my 128 meg USB Flash Drive works OK. I also did a search for several of the files listed below and they were not found on XP.

Hey, I'm also still using win9x series os on some of my computers! For all that unless you're an immature little kid, you should realise that you shouldn't just toss out perfectly functioning stuff just because the new stuff's out. that is just so sad.

btw, I think you're readily being quiet mean to murray. he's one of the few posters on usenet that posts coherent posts.

The problem is which support most likely was agaisnt copy protection,

In short they certainly are. Instead of decidedly deterring piracy, they would be interrogatively driving persons into it.