SECDRV.SYS Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of older games.

Anonymous

Hello,

I have discovered an unfortunate problem with Windows 10.

Many games from the early-mid 2000's used Macrovision's SafeDisc (version 2) as a means of copy protection. At game startup, Windows loaded SECDRV.SYS to verify an original game disc was in the drive, after which the game would start.

When you try to run ANY game which uses this SafeDisc form of copy protection in Windows 10, the following happens:

- You get an error window that tells you to log in with Administrator Privileges and to try again. This happens on any account, even those with Administrator access. The game fails to start.

- If you then set "Run as Admin" compatibility mode on the game's startup file, the message disappears, but the game doesn't start.

- Keeping a window open for C:\WINDOWS\SYSWOW64\DRIVERS shows SECDRV.SYS appearing at the moment you try to start the game. Based on its size, it appears to be the file that is present on the game disc (tested across several games), even though I see no disc activity and cannot find the file elsewhere on my system.

- The Windows event log shows that SECDRV.SYS failed to load.

- This happens both with an upgraded install (Windows 8.1 > Windows 10) and with a fresh Windows 10 install, with one of the games being installed immediately upon the fresh install completing.

- On my Windows 64-bit 8.1 system, C:\WINDOWS\WINSXS has a folder called amd64_macrovision-protection-safedisc_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.16384_none_4e6b3758913c9240 with a SECDRV.SYS in it, presumably the one that ships with Windows. Windows 10 had such a folder in early builds, but it is missing from the release build. It appears SafeDisc support is missing entirely.

OTHER TESTING I HAVE DONE:

- I updated one of the games to a version that no longer required the CD check, and it started immediately and ran perfectly once the check was removed. However, this is possible only with a very limited number of games, or resorting to fixes that violate the game's EULA or put the user's system security at risk.

- I tried disabling driver signature verification and installing one of the games again; same problem.

- Multiple compatibility modes; same problem. XP (Service Pack 3) mode and / or Run as Administrator mode make the error message go away, but the games still fail to launch.

SIGNIFICANCE:

Unless this is fixed in Windows 10, a massive catalog of older games will cease to function in Windows 10 for the simple reason that they cannot pass the SafeDisc copy protection check. I am accustomed to some games breaking with every new version of Windows as technology progresses (for example, the loss of the ability to run 16-bit programs in 64-bit Windows), but this seems to be an unnecessarily harsh change.

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Anonymous

2015-09-14T13:02:03+00:00

This might have to be done anew for every regional setting Windows supports, as my (Dutch) Windows 10 doesn't find any entries searching for secdrv as K Heinz is obviously on a German, Austrian, Swiss or other German-language Windows 10, even though Heinz Ketchup is actually from Pittsburg, Pensylvania originally... ;)

Dank u wel for your confirmation Eric!

Based on the feedback within the Windows 10 Feeback app I already had the idea there is regional splitup like it is also present in Steam. Very unfortunately though.

I think you are right that the secdrv.sys issue has to be reposted on the feedback app for and in every single language / regional settings Windows supports.

It might be also a good idea to promote so upvote this issue on the Windows 10 reddit channel.

Afaik MS is also reading it. But this would be more optional in addition to the feedback app.

Have no ketchup in my veins, coming from Germany. ;)
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Anonymous

2015-09-13T23:37:44+00:00

This might have to be done anew for every regional setting Windows supports, as my (Dutch) Windows 10 doesn't find any entries searching for secdrv as K Heinz is obviously on a German, Austrian, Swiss or other German-language Windows 10, even though Heinz Ketchup is actually from Pittsburg, Pensylvania originally... ;)

Are u saying you can run these games (like Civ 4) on Windows 10 in Holland?
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Anonymous

2015-09-13T20:01:31+00:00

This might have to be done anew for every regional setting Windows supports, as my (Dutch) Windows 10 doesn't find any entries searching for secdrv as K Heinz is obviously on a German, Austrian, Swiss or other German-language Windows 10, even though Heinz Ketchup is actually from Pittsburg, Pensylvania originally... ;)
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Anonymous

2015-09-10T13:57:06+00:00

Windows 7 for gaming! Linux for everything else.
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Anonymous

2015-09-10T00:59:31+00:00

I run Windows 7 on my PC, AMD MOBO - CPU & GPU, the gaming is great full screen on a HDTV. I, like so many other fools, downloaded Windows 10 thinking it was an OS upgrade. I binned it within a day, it's junk, it has more bloatware than an unsecure free download trial. I am used to new Windows OS, been with them since the start, one of the army that retreated quickly to XP from Vista :-). 7 was what Vista would have been, if they hadn't rushed it. I've done a fresh download of 10 to another drive, it's OK for web & mail, will hold on to it until they get it right. Until then main boot is Windows 7, a computer that does everything I want, more importantly the way I tell it. You want the real answer to Windows 10 failure, it tries to be everything to everyone. I wouldn't dream of putting Windows 8 or 8.1 on my PC it's for laptops, tablets & phones. Anyone using those could quite rightly say the same about Windows 7, we know it, but Microsoft ( think or demand ) we all share the same. When will they get it right ? well removing that bloody Xbox " app " from my PC will be a start. My advice is keep the OS you've got & trust, pick up a cheap HD / SSD an external if your not sure about installation. Put Windows 10 on one, your favourite OS on the other, if they finally get it right you don't want to be paying for it.
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