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
    2018-03-18T11:25:58+00:00

    You might be able to save some of your games by going to the game publisher's websites and checking to see if they have a fix or are willing to give you a Steam copy of the game, if it is available there. For instance Sega is the publisher of the Total War series of games and they made arrangements with Steam so that you can enter your CD/DVD key codes in the activate a product section, receiving a free Steam version of the game. I was able to recover my Total War: Rome, Barbarian Invasion, and Medieval II game titles through Steam.

    Upon further reflection it really isn't Microsoft's problem, the game publisher's are responsible for choosing their own SecureDisk code providers and it is their responsibility to correct the situation. Although it is a shame that I don't see any of my old Microsoft Age of Empires games collection listed on Steam, that tells me that maybe I shouldn't buy Microsoft games.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-03-08T13:42:24+00:00

    I agree. I am a big fan of The sims (and other sim games.) when I found out that it didn't work on win 10 I was F*^ing mad. I would think microsoft would be more realiable heck, the Mac from what people told me it can still play there older games.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-12-02T19:28:10+00:00

    Most likely Microsoft saw Andrés992 post and pushed an update to defeat it.  Microsoft still hasn't gotten over whatever snit they have with Rovi (formerly Macrovision) and will do WHATEVER IT TAKES to keep Rovi / Macrovision products from running on / with / instead of Windows or MS products.  So any publicly posted workaround for SECDRV.sys will get an immediately pushed update to defeat that workaround.

    Your only safe bet is to set up a Windows XP SP 2 or SP3 system THAT IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET OR ANOTHER WINDOWS MACHINE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET and install legacy games there.  Otherwise Microsoft can get their 'virtual hands' on the system and screw you out of running content for which you paid good money and legitimately own - including Microsoft games like Combat Flight Simulator.  (Thats how much they HATE Rovi / Macrovision for some odd reason.  Kind of small minded and very "Trumpy" attitude, IMHO).

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-09-09T09:19:08+00:00

    So why upgrade to windows 10... for that matter why build a new pc and get windows 10???

    Does Microsoft realize a very large portion of PC users at this point are gamers?

    Not only does this kill the desire for me to continue using the PC, it also sets me down the thought of taking my xbox one and dumping it in the trash.

    I mean the games I bought on disc can't run without the disc in the drive.

    This is beyond unacceptable.

    So, my PC is for gaming, I'll be "correcting" this issue that MS has created for me and completely opening it up on my PC, instead of MS providing a better secured product.

    To quote MS own words,

    Non-Affected Software

    Operating System
    Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
    Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems
    Windows Vista
    Windows Vista x64 Edition

    So, windows 10 is inferior to windows vista?

    What I would really like to see-

    better information

    Macrovision appears to have changed names to ROVI, and Safedisc is completely removed from any credible source on the web.

    I'm guessing a good portion of this was beyond MS control, but when I buy a game for my Xbox One, and it REQUIRES the disc in the drive, I have no doubts there is a fair solution beyond a smack in my face.

    Perhaps even something as simple as a compatibility mode option that requires the windows credentials to activate on a shortcut.

    Then at least its only active on the shortcut, and if you really wanted to get secure, require the credentials each time its launched, at least that makes it possible to use the software that is now defunct thanks to Scandisc being hacked out of existence.

    Find a solution, please, it can't be that hard.

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-08-14T07:59:07+00:00

    Dear reecew37,

    please know that you can redeem a fully functional copy of Medieval 2 Gold and / or Rome 1 Gold on Steam,

    by activating your legacy retail key via Steam. This became possible due to the Gamespy bancruptcy and shutdown of their services.

    Medieval 2 and Rome 1 Gold releases will work under Windows 10, with a minor exception for Rome 1 Gold.

    You can find a workaround elaborated by HazardHawk and written down here:

    http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=469123565

    Cheers,

    Karl (better known as "al Qamar" within the TW Community)

    P. S follow me on TWCenter.net or Steam for more interesting technical stuff around your TW games.

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