Windows 7 - Gameguard Fix and Gameguard answers.

Bear with me its a long post, but if you need Gameguard working, might be worth your while.

Introduction

Alright folks. Lets talk about Gameguard. Now I noticed that there are already a lot of threads talking about this issue, however most of them talk about individual games that use Gameguard (Rapplez, gunbound, maplestory, etc), and if I posted in one of those threads, my post would never get seen since they're like 40 pages long. So heres a fresh thread, addressing Gameguard itself.

Now I was trying to run Gunbound and a few other pleasant games from the southeast, when Gameguard loaded up and gave me the Blue screen of death (yes terrifying). So I set out to find a solution. Not too many knew a lot about the problem, and some claimed they had no problems at all.

Issues with Gameguard and Windows 7

Heres the problem. Gameguard likes to hook onto system DLLs, and what that means is windows 7 will detect these actions as a critical system error, and will most likely shut down the OS. "Due to GameGuard's nature of hooking into core system DLLs, Windows 7 does not allow for this type of execution. Games running GameGuard will display the splash screen and then crash with an error code of error:0" (Wikipedia) Some people claimed to get an error code, some the blue screen.

In response to this, Gameguard released an update to make it compatible with Windows 7. Some games have taken advantage of this (for example Softnyx Gunbound works with windows 7 x32 and x64 bit operating systems). " On March 23, 2009, it has been updated and found that some GameGuard games are working with Windows 7 due to a new update. One of the examples is Gunbound GIS." (Wikipedia) The only problem is that most games don't consider this an "Important Update" because windows 7 is still in its early stages, and may not utilize the Gameguard update until windows 7 comes out with a stable release.

Solutions

A lot of the confusion here is that windows 7 x64 bit can function with Gameguard easier, x32 bit has a harder time. (Only game developers and their games that recognized the Gameguard update will work in x32 bit) This is why users are having so much difficulty relating. Some say that Gameguard works, others say it does not. Thats because they are running different operating system builds. Since most computers run x64 bit now, Gameguard has worked on an update that supports x64 bit. (I've tried Gameguard on both x32 and x64, and tried working around the problem on both OS')

If your having trouble using Gameguard with windows 7, Heres my solutions for you. Based on your OS, heres your options.

Windows 7 (x32 bit) Beta - RC1 users:

Most of you that use x32 probably get the blue screen of death. I used x32 bit windows 7 and I absolutely could not get Gameguard working at all. Even with the Gameguard update. Gameguard and windows 7 x32 bit will NOT work with any method possible, (Gameguard fix, admin options, UAC disabled, etc) Ive tried them all. Until INCA Internet Co., Ltd and game developers work harder to get x32 bit and Gameguard working, Gameguard will not work with this version of windows 7.

(Note: Some game developers have worked on this issue. For example Softnyx's Gunbound works with windows 7 x32. Try contacting your game's manufacturer to see if they have an update for x32)

Solution: If your computer can support x64 bit, I recommend installing windows 7 x64 bit. Thats what I did to get Gameguard working, I went from x32 bit to x64 bit system, and Gameguard began working flawlessly with the new update. If your computer doesn't support x64 bit, then maybe dual boot windows 7 and xp/vista, or live without Gameguard and its games for a while. (You could try using the Gameguard fix listed under the solutions for x64 bit, but this didn't work for me in x32 bit. Use at your own risk.) Sadly, these are your only options.

Windows 7 (x64 bit) Beta - RC1 users:

Right when I switched from windows 7 RC1 x32 to windows 7 RC1 x64, Gameguard ran with no problems. However some people still had an error code, as some games never utilized the update.

Solution: If your game gives you an error code, you need to force Gameguard to update. Go into your games folder (Example C:\Nexon\Maplestory) and delete the Gameguard folder and GameGuard.des. Now download the Gameguard fix listed below and extract it to your games folder (the one where the Gameguard folder was located). Make sure User Account Control is disabled. Now run the game as an administrator. If you got the error:0 code before, you should now have no problems. (This has been tested).

Conclusion:

When running both versions of windows 7 (x32 and x64), I came across a unique discovery. When running x64, I tested Gameguard using several different games. All of them worked beautifully. When I used the same games with the same version of Gameguard in x32 windows, I had tons of problems, and got the blue screen of death every single time. My advice is if your using windows x32, try switching to x64. It worked for me.

If you have any questions, or still need further assistance, please reply to this post. I would be happy to assist anyone, and helping them enjoy windows 7 to its fullest extent.

Regards,
-LS

Downloads~
Gameguard fix for x64 bit

Sources~
Downloads - Rappelz - GameGuard Windows 7 Fix

nProtect GameGuard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

omg lol. I need 32bit fix =/

Your are right about all of it i knew that about the x32 bit versions wasnt aware of the x64 bit having a more probable solution. Your also right on another thing aswell Rappelz was never the issue and I should have said it diffrently, that gameguard was the cause of not being able to play Rappelz.Never got the bluescreen of death on the x32bit version, although my build of windows 7 was build 7260 so im sure the build plays a direct role as to how the os would respond to gameguard.

OK I think this is fully disscussed.Now anyone seeking solutions to this issue or at least a solid answer can find it on this thread alone, I think.

Dude, that totally worked for me! (x64 win 7 rc1)
I was trying to play Trickster Online and I couldn't connect. I had checked everywhere and none of the solutions worked for me. When I almost gave up, I just randomly came here, and to my luck, this post was on the very first page.

Thanks LaughinSkull!

Glad I was of help. Yeah x64 windows 7 works a lot better. Ive been able to run all my favorite gameguard games after I switched. If you guys run into any other problems, send me a private message or reply here. Ill always be up for helping!

to bad fro me i whant play ... but a 32 bit (*-*) .. (in main pc )

It doesn't work on Windows 7 Build 7600 64-bit. Oh, my god!

after doing the instructions for x64 i get an eror message upon running the game it says that there are multiple events of game execution or gameguard is already running.. why is that?

there is no "x32 bit" & "x64 bit"

it's 32 bit/64bit & x86/x64.

So there is currently no Windows 7 32-bit solution if you only have a x86 CPU. Is that correct?

What kills me is that Rappelz works fine on my Windows 7 computer. It's Shaiya that doesn't work for me. It sounds to me like these game companies need to run the same version of GG