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StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113240
11/30/03 11:33 PM
11/30/03 11:33 PM
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Jenny100 Offline OP
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For anyone who has played Black Mirror (and probably other games that use StarForce copy "protection") -

The game install installs StarForce drivers on your computer. Uninstalling the game does not remove these drivers and they may conflict with other software.

Of special interest is this part

Quote:

Bugs or problems:

Black Mirror uses a copy protection system provided by StarForce. On Windows98SE, I encountered two severe problems, both of them related to some device drivers that were installed by the StarForce copy protection software:

Uninstalling the game does NOT remove the StarForce drivers; this is completely unacceptable behaviour. I have complained to Dreamcatcher and demanded that they provide me with facilities to remove the drivers. Dreamcatcher has since sent me a program called "sfclean.exe" that appears to remove them.

The StarForce device drivers conflicted with the device drivers for my USB memory drive, and caused my machine to crash (BSOD) whenever I plugged in my memory drive. This problem has not yet been resolved by Dreamcatcher.

Contact Dreamcatcher if you have uninstalled your game, and find any of these files remaining on your disk: prosync1.vxd, prosync1.sys, sfhlp01.sys, prohlp02.sys, prodrv06.sys

Last edited by looney4labs; 06/25/07 11:59 AM. Reason: remove broken link
Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113241
12/01/03 07:14 AM
12/01/03 07:14 AM
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Posts: 205
florida
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ErnestineZ Offline
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Does anyone know whether Quarterdeck's CleanSweep works on XP? If it did, it might fix this. Symantic also has a "clean sweep" program but I don't know anything about it. Anyone out there know about any software that cleans up on uninstall?


Salty
Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113242
12/01/03 07:49 AM
12/01/03 07:49 AM
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MrLipid Offline
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Forever Worlds is the only upcoming title from Dreamcatcher that I was really looking forward to. I emphasize was.

Since I am using Win98SE and StarForce seems to have problems with Win98SE, I may skip Forever Worlds and avoid the grief.

Copy protection that breaks other apps while failing to gracefully and completely unistall itself is simply unacceptable.

Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113243
12/01/03 07:59 AM
12/01/03 07:59 AM
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Philly
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I just emailed them - the files are on my machine - and asked for a fix to the problem. I also told them that it is unacceptable that an uninstall would leave files behind and that I would not purchase any more of there games until they corrected this problem.

Kim


(Anti) Social Development
Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113244
12/01/03 08:43 AM
12/01/03 08:43 AM
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Kentwood, Left my heart in New...
JohnBoy Offline
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Kim, I will do the same. The files are also on my computer.


I Baag, Therefore I Am. Update: I Don't Baag Anymore, Therefore I Ain't! Update: I'm baaging again but just a little.
JohnBoy
----------------
Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113245
12/01/03 09:14 AM
12/01/03 09:14 AM
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mississauga ontario canada
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james laurie Offline
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Thanks for the info.

First does this affect xp also?
If so,how do I fine these drivers in my pc?
I'm running xphome edition.
Thx for any help.
Jimmy


jim laurie
Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113246
12/01/03 09:31 AM
12/01/03 09:31 AM
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Kentwood, Left my heart in New...
JohnBoy Offline
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Kentwood, Left my heart in New...
Jimmy, Go to start and click on search for files and folders and type in the file name.


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JohnBoy
----------------
Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113247
12/01/03 10:22 AM
12/01/03 10:22 AM
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Betje Offline
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Does anybody have an email address for me to email Dreamcatcher? I can only find an on-line form. TIA.


The beaded curtain slams shut behind you. There's no turning back now...
Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113248
12/01/03 10:30 AM
12/01/03 10:30 AM
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The only non-order-form address I've found is this:

info@dreamcatchergames.com

Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113249
12/01/03 10:37 AM
12/01/03 10:37 AM
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Linds Offline
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I found one of the files on my computer . Since I had no other games installed yet I did a system restore to a day before I started Black Mirror.The file is now gone and I didn't lose any information in other programs.
Susan

Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113250
12/01/03 10:41 AM
12/01/03 10:41 AM
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BillyBob Offline
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I use Win98SE and have those files on my computer, but not the game (anymore). So far, I have not noticed any problems with my computer that might be associated with the Starforce Protection. Still, I don't like having them on here. Do I HAVE to get that "cleanup" file from Dreamcatcher or can I just eliminate those files from my computer that are mentioned in the article?


I didn't do it......and if I did I'm not guilty!
Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113251
12/01/03 11:09 AM
12/01/03 11:09 AM
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MrLipid Offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by BillyBob:
Do I HAVE to get that "cleanup" file from Dreamcatcher or can I just eliminate those files from my computer that are mentioned in the article?
Probably depends on whether or not StarForce drops something into the Registry. If it does and the drivers have been removed, there could be a problem.

Usenet reports suggest that sfclean.exe appears to restore a system to its pre-StarForce state.

Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113252
12/01/03 11:29 AM
12/01/03 11:29 AM
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Philly
kwbridge Offline
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If we all email them and tell them we are going to boycott their games until they correct problems with copy protection maybe we can cause a change for the better.

Copy protection irks me - it is causing problems for legitimate owners of the game. Also, I believe that people who pirate games are not going to then buy the game if they can't get a copy of it - they don't plan on EVER purchasing the game. I bought a music cd recently with some sort of copy protection on it and I can't play it on my computer at all - it will only work in my cd player. Since I purchased this cd I should be able to play in wherever I want to.

End of rant ...

Oh - does anyone know if the copy protection on BS3 leaves files behind too? As far as I can tell it isn't Starforce ...

Kim


(Anti) Social Development
Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113253
12/01/03 01:02 PM
12/01/03 01:02 PM
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BillyBob Offline
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MrLipid...........

I rather suspected that might be the case. Besides, it wouldn't hurt if they get an EMail from all of us about this. Might get their attention. laugh


I didn't do it......and if I did I'm not guilty!
Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113254
12/01/03 01:07 PM
12/01/03 01:07 PM
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Llewton Offline
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I use Windows 98 SE. I have 3 Starforce 3 games currently on my computer in various stages of play (Runaway, Broken Sword 3 and finished Black Mirror) and have not had a single problem since they were installed.


If the world didn't suck would we all fall off
Now playing Post Mortem, Midnight Nowhere and Still Life
Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113255
12/01/03 01:13 PM
12/01/03 01:13 PM
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BillyBob Offline
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Could someone simply include here on GB the EMail address to make a complaint about this "Starforce" garbage. As usual, when I go to a site for someone like this and click on support I get run around in circles and lose my patience with them. laugh


I didn't do it......and if I did I'm not guilty!
Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113256
12/01/03 01:25 PM
12/01/03 01:25 PM
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Salar of Myst Offline
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Well if it was on Runaway too then I definitely have it on my WinXp computer. Havent seen any problems since I finished it but I'd just as soon not take chances.

Is the utility Dreamcatcher offered just for 98se or is it good for other OSes?

I guess I could just copy each file name listed into "search" and delete it manually, yes?

Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113257
12/01/03 01:31 PM
12/01/03 01:31 PM
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I filled out this form ...

http://www.adventurecompanygames.com/tac/forms/tech_support.html

It is been my experience that it will be a good 5 days before I hear back from them.

I don't think the issue is so much whether the leftover files are affecting our computers in a negative way as it is that an uninstall does not remove all files. My computer is working fine but I don't want extra Starforce files left behind on my system.


(Anti) Social Development
Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113258
12/01/03 01:35 PM
12/01/03 01:35 PM
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MrLipid Offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by Salar of Myst:
Is the utility Dreamcatcher offered just for 98se or is it good for other OSes?
That's not clear. It may only be for Win98SE.

Quote:

I guess I could just copy each file name listed into "search" and delete it manually, yes?
Maybe. Maybe not. It appears that the files are referenced in the Registry as part of the StarForce Protection Environment. Not clear what effect deleting just the file might have.

Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113259
12/01/03 01:36 PM
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Llewton Offline
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If you are currently playing another Starforce 3 game (ex. Runaway, BS 3) do not delete anything yet as it would probably affect those games. Even though Runaway doesn't have the keycode/serial it is still a Starforce 3 game.


If the world didn't suck would we all fall off
Now playing Post Mortem, Midnight Nowhere and Still Life
Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113260
12/01/03 01:58 PM
12/01/03 01:58 PM
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Linds Offline
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I just received Conspiracies and Mysterious Journey 2. I have not yet opened the boxes. Does anyone know if they have Starforce proection?
Thanks,
Susan

Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113261
12/01/03 02:52 PM
12/01/03 02:52 PM
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Jenny100 Offline OP
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Conspiracies does not use StarForce. It's Dreamcatcher that is using StarForce on their games and Conspiracies is published by GotGame.

The big issue to me is that games with StarForce are leaving behind garbage that is known to conflict with certain computer devices. And the game's uninstall does not get rid of it. Suppose you got something, like a new printer or new videocam, and it wouldn't work because you played this game that had StarForce on it. Why should copy "protection" be leaving behind any "drivers" at all? It's getting entirely too invasive.

Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113262
12/01/03 03:13 PM
12/01/03 03:13 PM
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JohnBoy Offline
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I agree with you 100 percent Jenny. Amen!


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JohnBoy
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Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113263
12/01/03 03:29 PM
12/01/03 03:29 PM
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happydance I am not a 100 % sure that Starforce really does this at least not always. I played and un installed In Memoriam, which also is protected by Starforce. The files mentioned above were never installed, in this case any way. (I Use Win XP)

Cheers


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Re: StarForce leaves garbage on your system #113264
12/01/03 03:47 PM
12/01/03 03:47 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
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southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline OP
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Jenny100  Offline OP
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According to what I've read on the Internet, there are three different varieties of StarForce. In Memoriam may be using a different one from the one Dreamcatcher is using. Or the uninstaller for In Memoriam may be better at removing whatever was added by StarForce. In any case, using a "system restore" seems to get rid of the problem, if your version of Windows supports it.

But Dreamcatcher should make the StarForce uninstaller available for download on their website. And they shouldn't be using such invasive forms of copy "protection" in the first place. Every time I started up "Black Mirror" I had to wait while the game did a "copy check" with this accusatory "StarForce" icon sticking up in my face, checking to see if I'm a thief or not. It's stuff like this that makes me want to quit buying new games.

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