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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

293 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-05-12T22:45:14+00:00

    Before I forget, I haven't used regedit which is available with this update. Basically you can set it to 4 -3 or 2, meaning how it reacts when used. The full description is available from reading the more information tab accompanying the update. Will take you through a step by step way to configure it yourself.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2016-05-12T22:36:58+00:00

    I'm running Win 7 with KB3086255 installed. I'm also playing Blitzkrieg from the nineties or noughties full screen no problem. Just loaded Heretic II to check, did get a refusal from auto - install, something about check with vendor if you need 32 or 64 bit nonsense. So opened disc and ran direct from it's install application. Few tweaks on GPU and HDTV screen, full screen no problem.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2016-05-12T20:58:58+00:00

    read the string above -- uninstall KB3086255 (and be sure it doesn't auto-reinstall), reboot, and you should be fine.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2016-05-12T19:19:31+00:00

    So i have this same problem, but i'm on windows 7.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2016-02-01T06:54:47+00:00

    I've been using noCD's  with my disk based games forever. I have about 80 of them via Mega Games,

    and never had  an malware/virus (I've never had one full stop).

    As with many download sites the noCD sites may have software that can be 'accidentally' downloaded

    (because the Big Green/Red download button is very often a link to an unwanted software

    • Many sites get their revenue from the publishers of these downloads).

    These 'PUPs' (potentially unwanted software) can be a nuisance, and difficult to remove.

    People come by these forums now and then asking how to remove this or that software, particularly

    but not limited to, 'free' system 'optimisers' and registry 'cleaners'.

    • A good example of fully legitimate (and pretty much compulsory)  software that comes with a PUP

    is Adobe Flash Player.  It has the Chrome browser download/install ticked  automatically, so the user

    has to be ever vigilant when doing Adobe, or any software download or installation.

    "you paid for game legally, shouldn't have to go pirating"

    If you have a legit copy of the game using a noCD is not pirating.

    Win10's DRM Blocking issue is not the first time a noCD was required to get a game going due to dodgy DRM.

    I have several games that would not run on 64bit Windows due to DRM

    (I believe StarForce was the worst with the 64 bit issue).

    In this instance a noCD is the only redress for draconian DRM that prevents people playing a game they paid for.

    Using a noCD is also the best way to avoid having to dig through a collection of disk based games when

    wanting to play. It allows for more spontaneity.

    I am far more likely to replay an old game, or romp though a favorite save when not having to use the disk

    than when I have to (eg- still like doing the PT boat mission in MOH-PA now and then).

    It also helps when troubleshooting issues for people on these forums.

    • As much as I hate not being able to buy second hand games any more due to on line activation allowing

    only one account per game, I prefer this new regime because even with a disk based version you don't

    need to use the disk when a game gets activated on Steam, Origin or Uplay.

    Best of all is "Good old Games" - No DRM at all.

    • This DRM Blocking is completely bogus. It does not prevent installing the DRM driver (thankfully ).

    It only blocks it when reading the disk to load the game after installing.

    I don't believe there has ever been a virus/malware that has invaded secdrv.sys to date.

    • I really believe DRM Blocking is nothing more than an attempt to make disk based games redundant.

    A form of extortion aimed at getting people to pay for games again.

    .

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments