SecuROM Discussion Thread

[Schadenfroh]

Thread Limitations

• Do not link to piracy sites
• Use common sense and obey the forum guidelines

What is SecuROM

• SecuRom is DRM software developed by Sony that is used on many games, the latest version 7 seems to be giving people numerous problems ranging from the inability to run legit software (due to SecuROM's blacklisting of certain applications like Microsoft's Process Explorer) to their games not working. Some versions of SecuROM install a windows service and registry keys that cannot be deleted without special tools from Sysinternals. SecuROM also sometimes remains on your system even after you uninstall all of the games that use it. Sony's DRM software not only installs with the full game, but it even installs with many freeware demos, such as FEAR's demo and Bioshock's demo. Read more here.

Is it a rootkit?

• Sony has stated that it is not a rootkit, link.
  

  It is no spyware or rootkit at all.

Who is having trouble with it?

• Many of the customers of the publishers that have decided to ship SecuROM with their products. For example, take a look at the following tech support forums for SecuROM 7 games:
  
• Large thread about SecuROM on 2K games forum (many more in their Bioshock tech support forum)
• secuROM Removal Petition on Atari's forum for NWN2
• SecuROM thread on the NWN2 forum (many more where that came from, search around the Tech Support forum there to find many more)
• SecuROM issue thread for FEAR on Sierra's forum
• Crysis and SecuROM thread on the Anandtech Forums
• Just browse the tech support forum of many SecuROM 7 protected titles to see more

[*]I am angry about this DRM in games

• Vote with your wallet and do not buy the game and just live without it.
• STEAM versions may lack SecuROM (Jade Empire's steam version does not have SecuROM in it, iirc). But, Bioshock has SecuROM Online bundled with the STEAM version.
• Buy it for your favorite console platform
• Petition the publisher to remove it in favor of a less problematic DRM (it worked with Supreme Commander)

[*]Do I have SecuROM on my system?

• Microsoft's Rootkit Revealer should detect it (although I know of it only detecting the one that shipped with NWN2, I do not know about newer versions)

[*]How do I get rid of it?

• Uninstall all of your SecuROM protected titles and then contact Sony for removal instructions.

[*]I am getting strange errors while trying to start my SecuROM game

• Consult the SecuROM Technical FAQ on the NWN2 forums

Do let me know of anything else that you think should be added to the OP of this thread.

 

[novasatori]

I recently received ArmA from a relative in the game industry, it comes with the latest version of SecuROM I believe.

I have many problems with it asking for the original DVD/CD and I also get errors about emulation software (I do use Daemon-Tools sometimes, but I make sure to disable/exit it before running anything with SecuROM) and it always gives errors erratically, for no apparent reason. Closing/Opening the CD drive seems to help or just clicking Retry over and over again. Its pretty shitty I have to say, I never bought star force games and I think I might have to never get another SecuROM game. Luckily this game was only a gift.

Also FWIW I updated ArmA yesterday and it patched SecuROM and there is a SecuROM entry under that Rootkit Revealer. I don't know if that means that it is a Rootkit or not, but its there.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

I found this on the Wiki article:

* The version of SecuROM that comes with Armed Assault, S.T.A.L.K.E.R (European release only), Neverwinter Nights 2 , Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars (patched to v1.04), Tomb Raider Anniversary (demo and Full version), Overlord and Bioshock prevents the game from running at all if Process Explorer, a free tool offered by Microsoft, has been run since the previous reboot.
* Certain games installed using SecuROM will prevent other select games from working correctly, and will continue to do so even after game is uninstalled.[citation needed]

That is a strange, strange bug because I'm sure a lot of power users use Process Manager as a Task Manager replacement and I haven't heard of this before. Also, is SecuROM known to cause optical drive performance degradation as StarForce is known to? Some of the Customer Reviews on Newegg swear StarForce killed their optical drives. Possible?

 

[CP5670]

The Process Explorer thing is not actually a bug. That behavior is intentional, and is one of many problems with Securom.

Securom doesn't do any damage to DVD drives like Starforce though, as far as I know.

 

[nova2]

http://forum.sysinternals.com/...sts.asp?TID=10990&PN=2

on page 2 I posted some working methods so that you can avoid having securom block you for using Process Explorer.

there have been other useful posts in that thread as well.

 

[NicColt]

If anyone has SecuROM install would this not show up in your registry ?

also is there a website that shows what type of malware/copy protection is included with the title you want to purchase ?

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: novasatori
I recently received ArmA from a relative in the game industry, it comes with the latest version of SecuROM I believe.

I have many problems with it asking for the original DVD/CD and I also get errors about emulation software (I do use Daemon-Tools sometimes, but I make sure to disable/exit it before running anything with SecuROM) and it always gives errors erratically, for no apparent reason. Closing/Opening the CD drive seems to help or just clicking Retry over and over again. Its pretty shitty I have to say, I never bought star force games and I think I might have to never get another SecuROM game. Luckily this game was only a gift.

Also FWIW I updated ArmA yesterday and it patched SecuROM and there is a SecuROM entry under that Rootkit Revealer. I don't know if that means that it is a Rootkit or not, but its there.

Wow. That is new to me. I've been playing Arma since it came out in North America and haven't even noticed. Guess I should go to forums other than the official, censor-happy one.

 

[nova2]

yes.
you have some websites that have game copy protection lists.

http://www.daemon-tools.cc/dtcc/gamedb.php
http://club.cdfreaks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=79
http://www.google.com/search?h...&q=starforce+game+list

else just search like so and you'll probably find out what it uses
google: gamename copy protection

 

[imported_Bee]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Is it a rootkit?

• Sony has stated that it is not a rootkit, link.
  

  SecuROM? will install a Windows? service module called "User Access Service" (UAService) on your system. It is no spyware or rootkit at all.

Do I have SecuROM on my system?

• Microsoft's Rootkit Revealer should detect its precense (although I know of it only detecting the one that shipped with NWN2, I do not know about newer versions)

OK, I installed the Bioshock demo and used Rootkit Revealer. Doh!! Who lied, MS or Sony?

 

[nova2]

ok, as someone else at the sysinternals forum mentioned:

here is another workaround so you can use PE without rebooting:
http://forum.sysinternals.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11086
includes source code.

the other workarounds are here:
http://forum.sysinternals.com/...sts.asp?TID=10990&PN=2
i prefer these, as you do not need to run another seperate program to make securom stop erroring.

 

[Capitalizt]

Question for yall..

I'm done with Bioshock and want to sell it to someone.

bottom line: Will they have any trouble installing/playing it on their PC?

 

[Syppion]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
What is SecuROM

• SecuRom is DRM software developed by Sony that is used on many games, the latest version 7 seems to be giving people numerous problems ranging from the inability to run legit software (due to SecuROM's blacklisting of certain applications like Microsoft's Process Explorer) to their games not working. Some versions of SecuROM install a windows service and registry keys that cannot be deleted without special tools from Sysinternals. SecuROM also remains on your system even after you uninstall all of the games that use it. Sony's DRM software not only installs with the full game, but it even installs with many freeware demos, such as FEAR's demo and Bioshocks nonsteam demo. Read more here.

While I don't agree with most anti-piracy methods, I can usually understand why the attempt is made - but I completely fail to understand why you would need any piracy protection built into demos. Why go through the effort of packaging SecuROM with the Bioshock (or any) demo. Anyone have any insight into this?

I just installed the Bioshock demo on a fresh reformat/install of XP only to find out my x800xl can't run the game (my fault for not checking), then to add further insult I find out I also have SecuROM until I reformat/install again - so not the happiest atm, but will probably just start over since I have nothing else on yet.

 

[novasatori]

Originally posted by: Syppion

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
What is SecuROM

• SecuRom is DRM software developed by Sony that is used on many games, the latest version 7 seems to be giving people numerous problems ranging from the inability to run legit software (due to SecuROM's blacklisting of certain applications like Microsoft's Process Explorer) to their games not working. Some versions of SecuROM install a windows service and registry keys that cannot be deleted without special tools from Sysinternals. SecuROM also remains on your system even after you uninstall all of the games that use it. Sony's DRM software not only installs with the full game, but it even installs with many freeware demos, such as FEAR's demo and Bioshocks nonsteam demo. Read more here.

While I don't agree with most anti-piracy methods, I can usually understand why the attempt is made - but I completely fail to understand why you would need any piracy protection built into demos. Why go through the effort of packaging SecuROM with the Bioshock (or any) demo. Anyone have any insight into this?

I just installed the Bioshock demo on a fresh reformat/install of XP only to find out my x800xl can't run the game (my fault for not checking), then to add further insult I find out I also have SecuROM until I reformat/install again - so not the happiest atm, but will probably just start over since I have nothing else on yet.

I do believe that unprotected demos, while not the full game, compromise the security of the protected executable and make it easier for people to reverse engineer the original client with the information from it.

 

[aCynic2]

Oh man. Both those games do cause problems on my machine. I've gotten the big BSOD running fear, and NWN2 tends to screw up my sound.

I wish I had known this. I guess I'll have to read technical reviews of interesting games before I buy.

 

[Golgatha]

The sad part for me personally is that I already have C&C3 installed, so now I am wondering if I should just play Bioshock and not worry about it since the DRM has already infected my system.

The PC Gamer in me just wants to play the darn game, but the anti-DRM crusader in me wants to uninstall both and sell them off so the publishers are out at least one sale due to their overbearing DRM schemes.

 

[TBSN]

Well, I'm pretty sure that Splinter Cell: Double Agent has SecuROM. It's too bad, because I skipped Chaos Theory just to avoid getting Starforce, and I still got f*cked.

It would be one thing if the game ran perfectly, but it doesn't. It crashes very frequently, as well as making my DVD drive rev up for about 30sec before the game will start just to verify the disk.

The OP has a link from Sony about how to remove this program, but I worry that it will leave bits and pieces of it running on my system. Such programs are usually difficult to get completely out, no simple 'uninstall'. Does anyone who has this know how to get rid of it completely and thoroughly, or are there any links that explain it?

 

[imported_Bee]

Originally posted by: Capitalizt
Question for yall..

I'm done with Bioshock and want to sell it to someone.

bottom line: Will they have any trouble installing/playing it on their PC?

you bet. This is another little snag of that copy protection: Basically, Bioshock can't be resold.

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

Originally posted by: Bee

Originally posted by: Capitalizt
Question for yall..

I'm done with Bioshock and want to sell it to someone.

bottom line: Will they have any trouble installing/playing it on their PC?

you bet. This is another little snag of that copy protection: Basically, Bioshock can't be resold.

People say they have installed it on 2 different computers, with a 3rd install attempt failing. If you only install it once, the person who buys it should be able to do one more install. At least I hope so! I damn well should be able to sell it, especially after all the crap that they've done. If that's the case, then I will definitely never purchase another game with this hardware-bound DRM again. If I can't recoup any of that money, then screw it.

 

[CP5670]

Originally posted by: TBSN
Well, I'm pretty sure that Splinter Cell: Double Agent has SecuROM. It's too bad, because I skipped Chaos Theory just to avoid getting Starforce, and I still got f*cked.

It would be one thing if the game ran perfectly, but it doesn't. It crashes very frequently, as well as making my DVD drive rev up for about 30sec before the game will start just to verify the disk.

The OP has a link from Sony about how to remove this program, but I worry that it will leave bits and pieces of it running on my system. Such programs are usually difficult to get completely out, no simple 'uninstall'. Does anyone who has this know how to get rid of it completely and thoroughly, or are there any links that explain it?

That game does have it, although some of the international versions have Starforce instead. Although the biggest problem with that game is that it's essentially in an alpha state and will not be patched any further. I wrote a review here a few weeks ago.

I needed a couple of third-party programs to remove the Securom stuff. I used something Unlocker to get rid of its files and another (aptly named) one called RegTrash to delete the registry entries it creates. You can't delete those things with standard programs.

OK, I installed the Bioshock demo and used Rootkit Revealer. Doh!! Who lied, MS or Sony?

No prizes for guessing that.

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: TBSN
Well, I'm pretty sure that Splinter Cell: Double Agent has SecuROM. It's too bad, because I skipped Chaos Theory just to avoid getting Starforce, and I still got f*cked.

It would be one thing if the game ran perfectly, but it doesn't. It crashes very frequently, as well as making my DVD drive rev up for about 30sec before the game will start just to verify the disk.

The OP has a link from Sony about how to remove this program, but I worry that it will leave bits and pieces of it running on my system. Such programs are usually difficult to get completely out, no simple 'uninstall'. Does anyone who has this know how to get rid of it completely and thoroughly, or are there any links that explain it?

Mother...... I got Chaos Theory a month ago for $10, and had no idea or completely forgot Starforce was on it. Done with it now, guess I got some researching/removing to do once I get home. I will go on a rampage if the official "remover" tool screws anything up.

 

[CP5670]

Starforce is relatively easy to remove in comparison to Securom. You basically just go into the device manager, check "show hidden devices" and uninstall the driver it puts on your system.

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

SecuROM isn't that difficult to remove.

UAService7.exe wasn't running or in the System32 folder after I uninstalled BioShock. I guess it disabled and deleted itself. Ordinarily, if it's still running, you'd have to use process explorer to stop and disable it first.

I then used Regdelnull to take out the null character entry (command prompt):

regdelnull HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-507921405-746137067-839522115-1003\Software\SecuROM -s

Using regedit I deleted the remaining entries (the entire SecuROM folder).

Go into command prompt again, find Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\SecuROM

rmdir/s SecuROM

If you still have it, go into the Windows/System32 directory and delete UAServive7.exe.

Done.

 

[aCynic2]

Is there anyway to remove SecureROM w/o removing the game? I want to keep NWN2 on my machine, but I want SR off because it's causing stabilization issues.

 

[TBSN]

Originally posted by: Dethfrumbelo
SecuROM isn't that difficult to remove.

UAService7.exe wasn't running or in the System32 folder after I uninstalled BioShock. I guess it disabled and deleted itself. Ordinarily, if it's still running, you'd have to use process explorer to stop and disable it first.

I then used Regdelnull to take out the null character entry (command prompt):

regdelnull HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-507921405-746137067-839522115-1003\Software\SecuROM -s

Using regedit I deleted the remaining entries (the entire SecuROM folder).

Go into command prompt again, find Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\SecuROM

rmdir/s SecuROM

If you still have it, go into the Windows/System32 directory and delete UAServive7.exe.

Done.

So, you're being sarcastic when you say it isn't difficult... That is way above the average PC user's head. Does regedit come on the computer, or is it a program you have to download? I think I'm not going to bother with the command prompt stuff because I'm afraid I'll screw up my computer...

Thanks anyway though

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

Originally posted by: TBSN

Originally posted by: Dethfrumbelo
SecuROM isn't that difficult to remove.

UAService7.exe wasn't running or in the System32 folder after I uninstalled BioShock. I guess it disabled and deleted itself. Ordinarily, if it's still running, you'd have to use process explorer to stop and disable it first.

I then used Regdelnull to take out the null character entry (command prompt):

regdelnull HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-507921405-746137067-839522115-1003\Software\SecuROM -s

Using regedit I deleted the remaining entries (the entire SecuROM folder).

Go into command prompt again, find Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\SecuROM

rmdir/s SecuROM

If you still have it, go into the Windows/System32 directory and delete UAServive7.exe.

Done.

So, you're being sarcastic when you say it isn't difficult... That is way above the average PC user's head. Does regedit come on the computer, or is it a program you have to download? I think I'm not going to bother with the command prompt stuff because I'm afraid I'll screw up my computer...

Thanks anyway though

Regedit/regedit32 are a built-in functions. You can access it from Start -> Run -> Type 'regedit' in box -> click Open

Regdelnull was originally a Sysinternals program, but has since been taken over by Microsoft, and can be downloaded from them.

Command prompt is another built-in function which allows you to execute DOS commands - Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt