02-03-2006, 12:44 PM | #61 | |||||||
Diva of Death
|
Quote:
I know that, for instance, if I'm having a problem with my video card, my IRC client probably didn't cause it. But, hmm, my update to the latest version of DirectX might have. Time to see if anyone else has had problems. Or maybe I could look over the publically available information and documentation on the latest version of DirectX beforehand and see if I should install it or not, if I was concerned enough. Quote:
Quote:
But wait, what's this StarForce thing? Look, there's been quite a bit of media attention with many people saying they're having problems! Kind of not a good analogy, is it? Quote:
Furthermore, that doesn't help with the games that got shipped out with the previous damaging versions. Has there been a recall? Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Peace & Luv, Liz
__________________
Adventures in Roleplaying (Nov. 19): "Maybe it's still in the Elemental Plane of Candy." "Is the Elemental Plane of Candy anything like Willy Wonka's factory?" "If it is, would that mean Oompa Loompas are Candy Elementals?" "Actually, I'm thinking more like the Candyland board game. But, I like this idea better." "I like the idea of Oompa Loompa Elementals." |
|||||||
02-03-2006, 12:58 PM | #62 | |||
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Belgium
Posts: 466
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
|
|||
02-03-2006, 01:25 PM | #63 | |||
Diva of Death
|
Quote:
And, yeah, Winrar could ruin my hard drive every time I unpack something. But if it did, you'd kinda think you'd hear lots of complaints about that happening, wouldn't you? Quote:
Quote:
I already dug up one analogy that I think is relevant... Opera's ad-serving system. Matches pretty well, IMHO: isn't necessary to the functioning of the program, only benefits the company, you don't have to install it (you can easily just use another browser), had accusations of damaging stuff levelled against it, etc. Peace & Luv, Liz
__________________
Adventures in Roleplaying (Nov. 19): "Maybe it's still in the Elemental Plane of Candy." "Is the Elemental Plane of Candy anything like Willy Wonka's factory?" "If it is, would that mean Oompa Loompas are Candy Elementals?" "Actually, I'm thinking more like the Candyland board game. But, I like this idea better." "I like the idea of Oompa Loompa Elementals." |
|||
02-03-2006, 02:12 PM | #64 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Belgium
Posts: 466
|
Quote:
It's not even difficult. I could write you an executable that will go right past your virus scanner and do something nasty. The difficulty is to convince you to actually run that executable, and if that's impossible, find a way to run it on your computer without you knowing it, for example by embedding it in another piece of software (Winrar) or by spreading it through exploits in other pieces of software. So once again, Winrar is just as potentially dangerous to your system as is Starforce, until proven otherwise. Don't get too paranoid about it. |
|
02-03-2006, 03:30 PM | #65 | ||
Diva of Death
|
Quote:
If you're really trying to sell me the thought that somebody could write a program that damages or could damage your computer, have several people (or more) install it and use it, and NOBODY EVER FIGURES OUT that it's damaging or there's a possible exploit, well, I'm not buying, sorry. True it may lie dormant for many years, like the recent WMF problem. But then, as soon as somebody started exploiting the problem, WHAM, all sorts of techie sites were blabbing about it. Finally, even if you argue that you're taking an already established program and adding your own malicious code to it, well, it's my own stupidity if I don't make sure I'm downloading the software from a site I know doesn't have a record of passing virus-laden versions of offerings. Yeah, it always sucks if you're the first person to get bit by some exploit or malware. As I said, I know life isn't risk-free. But there's a far cry between taking a chance on software that lots of people haven't had complaints about, and taking a chance on software that lots of people *have* had complaints about. Again, not a good analogy. Quote:
Peace & Luv, Liz
__________________
Adventures in Roleplaying (Nov. 19): "Maybe it's still in the Elemental Plane of Candy." "Is the Elemental Plane of Candy anything like Willy Wonka's factory?" "If it is, would that mean Oompa Loompas are Candy Elementals?" "Actually, I'm thinking more like the Candyland board game. But, I like this idea better." "I like the idea of Oompa Loompa Elementals." |
||
02-04-2006, 03:15 PM | #66 |
Under pressure.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
Posts: 3,773
|
I loathe software like StarForce because it's mingling with my hardware. Not only because it has the potential to render my hardware useless, it can also be exploited by hackers. Sony's DRM software is an example of such. I'm glad Sony got all this negative attention, and I hope they'll think twice before misleading its honest, law abiding custumers again, who had no idea what's happening behind the curtain when simply playing one of their CD's.
Ironically StarForce doesn't stop piracy of their protected games at all, so it's also completely useless, except to prevent honest customers from backing up their CD's to prevent wear of the original ones. --Erwin
__________________
> Learn more about my forthcoming point & click adventure: Bad Timing! > Or... Visit Adventure Developers: Everything about developing adventure games. |
02-04-2006, 08:35 PM | #67 |
Diva of Death
|
Sorry, forgot to point up these "examples of StarForce telling complainers they are criminals".
Game journalist posts thoughts about current state of CP methods, including StarForce. StarForce posts article essentially accusing game journalist of being a pirate. Game journalist sends response. Peace & Luv, Liz
__________________
Adventures in Roleplaying (Nov. 19): "Maybe it's still in the Elemental Plane of Candy." "Is the Elemental Plane of Candy anything like Willy Wonka's factory?" "If it is, would that mean Oompa Loompas are Candy Elementals?" "Actually, I'm thinking more like the Candyland board game. But, I like this idea better." "I like the idea of Oompa Loompa Elementals." |
02-05-2006, 01:32 AM | #68 |
Epinionated.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 5,841
|
I thought the title was "Starforce starts dishing out treats" and wanted to join in the fun.
__________________
Starter of Thread Must Die. |
02-05-2006, 02:26 AM | #69 | |
gin soaked boy
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Virovitica, Croatia
Posts: 4,093
|
Quote:
__________________
What you piss in is yours for life. |
|
02-05-2006, 04:29 PM | #70 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,771
|
Starforce claims "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" and victory over the known visible universe
What a bunch of self-rightious assholes I haven't been following this topic very thoroughly, but to me it seems obvious that there have been alot of people having issues caused by starforce drivers. By their own admission, SF drivers turn down the speed on optical drives, which causes certain drives to break down with time (my pretty new Pioneer DVD-RAM drive failed yesterday as well, suspiciously after I installed Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory two weeks ago, now it can't write a single CD or DVD). And there are tons of other issues caused by SF drivers, mainly on SATA, SCSI and 64-bits systems. I honestly can't say if SF wrecked my DVD-RAM drive (4 months old), but I can't return it since the webshop where I bought the thing doesn't seem to exist anymore I just uninstalled Chaos Theory (right in the middle of the Penthouse level) as soon I figured out that SF may be the cause, since I don't want to kill my new DVD-RAM drive as well. I guess I might try to trade CT for an Xbox version, but I doubt that'll work. Starforce |
02-05-2006, 04:38 PM | #71 |
woof
|
Is SF a US only thing? cause im pretty sure my copy of CT doesnt have starforce...
__________________
"I've got nothing to lose! Except for...well everything." |
02-05-2006, 04:49 PM | #72 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 948
|
Here's how to check on Win 2000 or XP:
From: http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hard..._21092011.html check for "hidden" drivers that may be messing up your installation: Click Start->Run->CMD SET DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1 START DEVMGMT.MSC In the window that opens, Click View/Show all hidden devices. StarForce drivers will show up in Non-Plug and Play Drivers |
02-05-2006, 05:06 PM | #73 | |
Super Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Southampton, UK
Posts: 3,139
|
Quote:
__________________
Now Playing: Catherine, Sword and Sworcery:EP Recently Completed: The Witcher |
|
02-05-2006, 07:35 PM | #74 |
cows are my friends...
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tonawanda, NY
Posts: 258
|
I've done enough reading on the topic to determine that StarForce is something I want no part of. Even if I haven't had (or at least detected) any problems when it installed with Still Life and the Earned in Blood demo, I have a real problem with something installing it's own drivers like that. Call me ignorant if you will, but I have my reasons for believing this is a strange, if not serious violation of security and trust.
That said, I removed both programs and ran the uninstall program linked from the StarForce webpage. I'm mostly worried about the slow degrading effects it could have on my DVDRW drive (though I'm not fully sure I understand how and why it happens). Is uninstalling the drivers enough to prevent possible damage to my drive, or does StarForce have the ability to stick around and mess with things even after it's been removed with the official program? Am I safe, or do I need to do anything else? My previous searches on the net have not really answered this question either way, so I thought I'd consult those more knowledgeable than I.
__________________
Quadriflax "To Insanity and Beyond!" |
02-06-2006, 02:43 AM | #75 | |||
woof
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
and they say that they never received any e-mails but how do we really know that, Ebaums world has been said to not have received any complaints despite allot of people saying they have. Apparently the legal departmen doesnt bother to pass them on which doesnt seem entirely doubtfull when starforce are dealing with their reputation and $10,000
__________________
"I've got nothing to lose! Except for...well everything." |
|||
02-06-2006, 03:03 AM | #76 | |||
gin soaked boy
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Virovitica, Croatia
Posts: 4,093
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
What you piss in is yours for life. |
|||
02-06-2006, 03:09 AM | #77 | |||
Dungeon Master
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Poland
Posts: 4,152
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
What's happening? Wh... Where am I? |
|||
02-06-2006, 03:13 AM | #78 | |
woof
|
Quote:
__________________
"I've got nothing to lose! Except for...well everything." |
|
02-06-2006, 04:40 AM | #79 | |
gin soaked boy
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Virovitica, Croatia
Posts: 4,093
|
Quote:
__________________
What you piss in is yours for life. |
|
02-06-2006, 08:05 AM | #80 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Belgium
Posts: 466
|
Quote:
|
|