Solved Securom woes. Can't play... Debugger or Emulator detected.

[Gromit1710]

I seems like the gods themselves do not want me to play city building games...

After an unsuccessful purchase of SimCity 4 deluxe that left me with an RMA number from EA games, I hopped on Steam and picked up Cities XL 2011.

Right after the download, I settled in with a beer and fired off the game.

10 seconds later, I was told that Securom cannot activate a security module (code 8017) and was promptly kicked out of the launcher.

Looking up the code on the securom website, it seems the DRM software thinks I have an emulator or Debugger running. Odd... All the other games that have securom embedded in them ( Crysis, Bioshock.. ect..) have never given me one lick of problem.

So.. I did a clean boot, leaving all the computer's bells and whistles disabled.

Still no go. Same error. I used Securom's website analysis tool ( turned up nothing ) and fired off the emails in the order it recommended.

Anyone got any ideas on how to get around this f&*king DRM so I can play the game I purchased on Steam?

 

[Maguscreed]

Are you using daemon tools, or something like that?
If it detects the sptd.sys file on your system it automatically assumes you're using a pirated copy.

Start off by removing Dameon Tools/Alcohol 120%. Its driver, Once the program is removed run the SPTD removal tool. DuplexSecure - Downloads

 

[smarteyeball]

Anyone got any ideas on how to get around this f&*king DRM so I can play the game I purchased on Steam?

If Maguscreed's and all else doesn't do the trick - d/l a crackfix. Reloaded was the scene group who released it.

 

[Gromit1710]

Are you using daemon tools, or something like that?
If it detects the sptd.sys file on your system it automatically assumes you're using a pirated copy.

Start off by removing Dameon Tools/Alcohol 120%. Its driver, Once the program is removed run the SPTD removal tool. DuplexSecure - Downloads

No, I've never installed those programs or anything similar to them on this machine.

 

[Gromit1710]

Anyone got any ideas on how to get around this f&*king DRM so I can play the game I purchased on Steam?

If Maguscreed's and all else doesn't do the trick - d/l a crackfix. Reloaded was the scene group who released it.

That shouldn't even be an option. I paid for the software legally and downloaded it through Steam. I shouldn't have to resort to a torrent to play a game that I bought and have a valid license key for!

 

[Maguscreed]

I had to do it with AC2, the only reason I finally resorted to it is ubisoft started telling me my game wasn't working because I pirated it.
So I figured what the hell I might as well, since I've already been accused of stealing anyhow after spending over 50 bucks.
Of course that was a different bit, because it was their stupid online server that was messing me up. Nothing something locally on my own machine.

I'm just trying to figure out what securerom is seeing as a emulator on your system, daemon tools was my only guess.

 

[smarteyeball]

That shouldn't even be an option. I paid for the software legally and downloaded it through Steam. I shouldn't have to resort to a torrent to play a game that I bought and have a valid license key for!

I completely agree. It shouldn't have to be an option.

But it is.

 

[MrNeeds]

Anyone got any ideas on how to get around this f&*king DRM so I can play the game I purchased on Steam?

If Maguscreed's and all else doesn't do the trick - d/l a crackfix. Reloaded was the scene group who released it.

That shouldn't even be an option. I paid for the software legally and downloaded it through Steam. I shouldn't have to resort to a torrent to play a game that I bought and have a valid license key for!

Even ubisoft use piracy for their own fixes nowadays

http://torrentfreak.com/ubisofts-no-cd-answer-to-drm-080718/

 

[SledgeDG]

Have Securom analyze the situation and send you a patch.
Excerpt from here: SecuROM

"Emulator detected!"
SecuROM™ has determined you are trying to start the protected application from a virtual drive. Please refer to the following procedure to remedy:

Please deactivate your virtual drives and emulation software. It is not necessary to completely remove or uninstall them. Other programs, similar to emulation tools (e.g. CloneCD/DVD, AnyDVD and DVD Region Killer, �) can cause this message. Deactivating these tools should solve the problem, if present.
If the problem persists, please send a SecuROM™ analysis file to [email protected] (see "Support Info" section on how to do that).

-DG

 

[Gromit1710]

Have Securom analyze the situation and send you a patch.
Excerpt from here: SecuROM

"Emulator detected!"
SecuROM™ has determined you are trying to start the protected application from a virtual drive. Please refer to the following procedure to remedy:

Please deactivate your virtual drives and emulation software. It is not necessary to completely remove or uninstall them. Other programs, similar to emulation tools (e.g. CloneCD/DVD, AnyDVD and DVD Region Killer, �) can cause this message. Deactivating these tools should solve the problem, if present.
If the problem persists, please send a SecuROM™ analysis file to [email protected] (see "Support Info" section on how to do that).

-DG

Yeah.. waiting for a response from Securom. Sent them the analysis file 2 days ago.

 

[Maguscreed]

Given my past experience with drm problems, I wouldn't be surprised if they just send you a threatening response concerning piracy in the near future.

 

[Gromit1710]

Ha!

After a week of emails back and forth.. Securom finally came up with a solution.

they had me change a registry key value.. Good lord that's a lot of trouble for a DRM company to deal with...

 

[SledgeDG]

Glad they sorted it out.
Could you please post that key and the changes for future SecuRom sufferers?

-DG

 

[Gromit1710]

Glad they sorted it out.
Could you please post that key and the changes for future SecuRom sufferers?

-DG

Sure thing!

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\SessionManager\GlobalFlag

Changed the hex value from 400 to 40000400

If anyone knows what this actually DID... that would be cool.

 

[Maguscreed]

I believe that enables a close exception, or a bad handle exception
Though I have to admit I haven't looked at global flag settings in a long time.
It's basically just a way to ignore invalid handles.
If I'm right it's just the most basic workaround they could manage.

 

[carwiz]

Sounds like Mag has been playing with Gflags.exe.

Global flags are "used to enable various internal debugging, tracing, and validation support in the operating system" including heap control (special memory regions used by programs). Normally, the Global Flags are set to zeros. Setting certain flags enables special handling of memory space and OS handling of exceptions. Software that uses the global flags are digging deep into your system. You can be sure of that.