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

Anonymous
2015-08-01T20:13:40+00:00

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.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Gaming

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-03-29T06:23:05+00:00

    Just install windows xp 32 bit 64 bit as a virtual machine in VMplayer or on VirtualBox.

    Windows XP 64 bit only 600 mb and AOM 927 mb...

    Install aom in VM. then enjoy the game. 

    its not a big deal...

    XP Available on following link...

    https://pcriver.com/operating-systems/windows-xp-professional-iso-download.html

    if you are feeling missing the old games... follow the link below

    https://www.oldpcgaming.net

    AOM also available with Crack...

    Why you paying money and stuck between system hang and microsoft while cracks are available...

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-03-19T15:26:02+00:00

    Hey Guys I could be wrong. I don't know anything about coding, except maybe a little bit of HTML which does me no good with getting these games to work. Yes I am still pissed off at Microsoft and really have been for a fairly long time now. I hate losing games and other software every time MS changes their operating system, I too have a box full of games on disks. I keep telling myself that I am just going to set up an old computer with an older OS and keep it offline in order to have the ability to play many of these old games again.

    I do stay away from the MS store and I really hate how they keep pushing their stuff up in my face. I do intentionally try to use as few MS programs and services as possible because it is all full of spyware and I positively hate that they try so hard to invade my privacy. I also avoid the Google browser and services for the same reasons. I am an advocate/activist for Privacy Rights among other political and social justice issues.

    I am going to have to run dual OS's until I can make a complete transition to Linux. I am done with MS for sure.

    I have used dual boot for a long time, but now that I have more machines I have used remote desktop to play legacy games with XP etc. Bit of a nuisance but what else can I do besides find a DRM hack for every game out there.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-03-19T05:43:37+00:00

    Hey Guys I could be wrong. I don't know anything about coding, except maybe a little bit of HTML which does me no good with getting these games to work. Yes I am still pissed off at Microsoft and really have been for a fairly long time now. I hate losing games and other software every time MS changes their operating system, I too have a box full of games on disks. I keep telling myself that I am just going to set up an old computer with an older OS and keep it offline in order to have the ability to play many of these old games again.

    I do stay away from the MS store and I really hate how they keep pushing their stuff up in my face. I do intentionally try to use as few MS programs and services as possible because it is all full of spyware and I positively hate that they try so hard to invade my privacy. I also avoid the Google browser and services for the same reasons. I am an advocate/activist for Privacy Rights among other political and social justice issues.

    I am going to have to run dual OS's until I can make a complete transition to Linux. I am done with MS for sure.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-03-19T03:40:31+00:00
    • Also in agreement with lexluther.  Bad enough that MS built DRM Blocking into Win10, but they were also heartless installing

    DRM Blocking on Win7/8/8.1 machines subversively in the guise of 'security'. I have yet to hear of a malware using secdrv.sys

    to hide in.

    As with GFWL, MS took the cheapskate way out and jumped ship, with total disregard for people who still play games affected

    by the GFWL debacle or SafeDisk driver. Rather than make a 'deal' with the developers of SafeDisk they decided to dump on the gamers,

    and try to flog the games again on line.

    The Windows Store is badly broken, but the secdrv.sys issue alone is enough to keep me from ever venturing to the Windows Store regardless.

    • Fortunately for those with a large collection of disk based games hackers cracked the .exe's of the majority of game protection systems

    long ago, so the users, and collectors of older disk based games don't have to buy those games that are still available

    online from MS's Store, or their friends at Steam, etc.  They  do still run well on Win10.

    • Most games from MS did use SafeDisk, including AOE 2, but AOE 3 uses SmartIE copy protection, as do a number of other

    MS games (not sure why Hardcore referenced this game in response to lexluther).

    • It may be because I patched the game, but it will run on Win10 without a disk in the drive, and does not need a noCD fix to do so.

    The Asian Dynasties expansion does however require a noCD to run without using the disk. (Or maybe I missed the patch ? )

    .

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-03-18T17:12:38+00:00

    Yes - it IS Microsoft's fault. My problems are with |MIcrosoft's own games !

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