Topic: SFC3 CD Check Bypass

[David Ferrell]

This is in no way intended to be an authorization
to make illegal copies of any software.  This will simply allow
you to play a legal copy of SFC3 without having to insert
your CD first.

In the sfc.ini:

In the [UI] section

add
MakeItSo=1

Save the sfc.ini and close it.

Start SFC3 version 531 or above.

Dave

[Strafer]

In the sfc.ini:
In the [UI] section
add
MakeItSo=1

BWHAHAHAHAHA! I *love* it!!! Great choice in tagname! 

[Sirgod]

Excellent Dave.

Stephen

[The Pelican]

Any other hidden commands that might be useful for us Dave?

[EmeraldEdge]

Good stuff, having to thave the disk in for everything is a major annoyance.

[Dash Jones]

Wow, thanks, cool!  About time something like that was put out!

[FPF-Jem]

Thanks Dave, this is great for me. My old hand-me-down CD-ROM isn't exactly what I'd call reliable these days.

[Javora]

Thanks Dave. 

[SkyFlyer]

hax0r!!! hax0r!!! Thanks man.. great find.

[Javora]

hax0r!!! hax0r!!! Thanks man.. great find.

Find??!?  He probably wrote it.

[KBF-Dogmatix_XC]

hax0r!!! hax0r!!! Thanks man.. great find.

Find??!?  He probably wrote it.

ROFL...indeed.


Thanks for the tip though, Dave.  That's just awesome!

[Entrail]

Yay Thks Dave

[Gambler]

I don't have SFC3 so it doesn't effect me.  However, given the current bad blood between Dave and Taldren, I question releasing such a piece of information.

Certainly he says

This is in no way intended to be an authorization
to make illegal copies of any software.  This will simply allow
you to play a legal copy of SFC3 without having to insert
your CD first.

But come on people.  We know the way hackers and pirates work.  Do you really think that this isn't going to get around and help the pirates?

I wonder how much of an NDA it breaks as well.

[Gambler]

For the record, I hate CD Key Checks just as much as the next guy.  I just question the release of this information.

[Pestalence_XC]

Well my response to NDA on this is that since David Ferrell is the patch developer, all he did was list a feature for the community who owns a legitimate copy of SFC 3.. Also, it is not a CD key bypass, just a Check to see if CD is in Drive bypass.. as such, when installing SFC 3 you still have to have a CD key to install.. also DF has stated that this is not for redistributing the SFC 3 game (which will still need the CD Key on first launch even with the fix).. which means that it is illegal fors omeone to upload the entire game patched along with the CD Key (which the game will still CRC check the CD key anyways on entry to Dynaverse and GSA matches)... as such, all this is, is a feature for legitimate copies of SFC 3 sold to avoid having to have the CD in the drive, which on some systems is a problem due to Microsoft security updates that can render the game unable to read the game CD after game launch.

A No CD crack will bypass the CD key validation and CD in drive check as it cracks the game exe file.. as such it will cause problems with Dynaverse Shipyards on the server as the player would not be able to let the server resolve the economy at current time by the palyer logged in using a EXE crack file.. this is different than a switch to turn off the CD check in the INI file.. and it works completely different...

David Ferrell is still within NDA to disclose this to the community as it does not constitute an actual EXE altering crack (as stated in the EULA)

anyhow that is my $.02 as I understand it.

as such, DF is within his bounds concerning NDA and Taldren.

[Bonk]

My copy of SFC3 already works fine without the CD... <snicker>

[David Ferrell]

For the record, I hate CD Key Checks just as much as the next guy.  I just question the release of this information.

I said what I meant, and I meant what I said in the initial post regarding the release of this info.
This will allow you to play a *legal* copy of SFC3 without having to stick the bloody disc
in everytime.  I'm sure you know that you could have made a copy of the disc if you wanted to
and give it to a friend (which would be illegal) since the games release.  I gave nothing away
here except for a way to save wear and tear on your CD drive for a game that will be two
years old in 4 months.  I did not give away any CD keys or a way to crack the CD key system.

I'm sure the pirate movement could give a rats a$$ about a game that is over a year and a half
old, and was probably on the Warez sites before it hit retail shelves.

Thanks for the benefit of the doubt Gambler!

Dave

[Age]

  That's great info Dave.Thanks

[Julin Eurthyr]

This cures one of the main reasons I tend not to play SFC III...

I'm just too lazy to put the disk in the drive...

Now all we need is an official (Activision-approved) patch...

[Age]

  Where is this sfc.ini: file located in the game folder?

[Brush Wolf]

This cures one of the main reasons I tend not to play SFC III...

I'm just too lazy to put the disk in the drive...

Now all we need is an official (Activision-approved) patch...

I highly doubt that Activision will ever release an official patch. With the way they have acted it is almost as if they don't want to see a patch at all and we only have the beta patch(es) because of Taldrens fighting to get them released.

[AdmWaterTiger-11thFleet-]

This is in no way intended to be an authorization
to make illegal copies of any software.  This will simply allow
you to play a legal copy of SFC3 without having to insert
your CD first.

In the sfc.ini:

In the [UI] section

add
MakeItSo=1

Save the sfc.ini and close it.

Start SFC3 version 531 or above.

Dave

Dave,

When used on the Dyna, we found through log checks and player tracking this tool locked up shipyards for some reason.

You are the expert here, but I left this to Pestilance to explain and he seemed not to support this.

I am very confused now.

<S>

WaterTiger

[AdmWaterTiger-11thFleet-]

And whomever has smitten Dave Ferrell, you are sick. Seek help.

<S>

WaterTiger

[Sirgod]

And whomever has smitten Dave Ferrell, you are sick. Seek help.

<S>

WaterTiger

I Agree 100% with that. Dave is the Man.

Stephen

[The Pelican]

This is in no way intended to be an authorization
to make illegal copies of any software.  This will simply allow
you to play a legal copy of SFC3 without having to insert
your CD first.

In the sfc.ini:

In the [UI] section

add
MakeItSo=1

Save the sfc.ini and close it.

Start SFC3 version 531 or above.

Dave

Dave,

When used on the Dyna, we found through log checks and player tracking this tool locked up shipyards for some reason.

You are the expert here, but I left this to Pestilance to explain and he seemed not to support this.

I am very confused now.

<S>

WaterTiger

That was the NO CD Patch, which altered the executable, this simply tells the game not to check that the CD is in the drive, it STILL requires you to have a valid CD Key. Therefore, there shouldn't be any problems on the D3. Besides, the way your LoadOut file was setup last campaign, ANYTHING could have crashed it............

[AdmWaterTiger-11thFleet-]

So what is the difference between the NoCd thingy and this thingy?

NDF also has problems with one of these thingys on the Dyna.

Please, can a rocket scientist like Pestilance explain this?

<S>

WaterTiger

[MrCue]

NoCD Crack changes the game EXE so that it doesnt require a CDKEY.
This .ini change merley stops the game from looking for the CD. But Still requires a Key.

Its that simple.

[The Pelican]

NDF also made a mistake in their LoadOut file as well, once they fixed it, they didn't have any problems.

If the problem persists AFTER you've fixed the LoadOut file, then it may be causing a problem, but LoadOut errors are KNOWN to lock up the shipyard, it has yet to be proven that the No CD crack actually locks up the shipyard, because it has not yet caused a problem on a server with no LoadOut problems.

The NO CD crack is unlikely to cause a problem, as the CD Key is stored in the registry, and is still required for logging onto the server (it wouldn't let you on with a duplicate CD Key).

You can block NO CD Cracked versions by putting the correct SFC3.exe into your Validated Clients Folder (only the first one!!)

[Age]

So what is the difference between the NoCd thingy and this thingy?

NDF also has problems with one of these thingys on the Dyna.

Please, can a rocket scientist like Pestilance explain this?

<S>

WaterTiger

It is Pestalence.a instead of i

[AdmWaterTiger-11thFleet-]

I refer only to what Pestalence has said:

=======

Victor 1st, Water Tiger

I want to thank you both for your efforts in the No-CD Crack.

In the case of Star Trek : Starfleet Command III, you must modify and/or reverse engineer the game's exe file in order to eliminate the CD check.

as such, in the C:\Program Files\Activision\SFC3\Docs\License.rtf file (otherwise known as the End User License Agreement or EULA for short), it states :

LICENSE CONDITIONS
You agree not to:
? Exploit the Program or any of its parts commercially, including but not limited to use at a cyber cafe, computer gaming center or any other location-based site. Activision may offer a separate Site License Agreement to permit you to make the Program available for commercial use; see the contact information below.
? Sell, rent, lease, license, distribute or otherwise transfer this Program, or any copies of this Program, without the express prior written consent of Activision.
? Use the Program, or permit use of the Program, in a network, multi-user arrangement or remote access arrangement, including any on-line use, except as otherwise specifically provided by the Program.
? Use the Program, or permit use of the Program, on more than one computer, computer terminal, or workstation at the same time.
? Make copies of the Program or any part thereof, except for back up or archival purposes, or make copies of the materials accompanying the Program.
? Copy the Program onto a hard drive or other storage device; you must run the Program from the included CD-ROM (although the Program itself may automatically copy a portion of the Program onto your hard drive during installation in order to run more efficiently).
? Reverse engineer, derive source code, modify, decompile, or disassemble the Program, in whole or in part.
? Remove, disable or circumvent any proprietary notices or labels contained on or within the Program.
? Export or re-export the Program or any copy or adaptation thereof in violation of any applicable laws or regulations.

OWNERSHIP: All title, ownership rights and intellectual property rights in and to the Program and any and all copies thereof are owned by Activision or its licensors. The Program is protected by the copyright laws of the United States, international copyright treaties and conventions and other laws. The Program contains certain licensed materials and Activision?s licensors may protect their rights in the event of any violation of this Agreement. You agree not to remove, disable or circumvent any proprietary notices or labels contained on or within the Program.







Again, I want to thank you for taking action to notify your communities that using a No CD fix on SFC III is Illegal.

[Sirgod]

Oh jeeze.

things have changed since then WT. C'mon Man, Your a good Guy, Let's Just drop the old fueds. Please?

Stephen

[Elvis]

This isn't a crack. It is a feature.(Once hidden, now revealed.)

By the way is my pink cadillac still there....

[AdmWaterTiger-11thFleet-]

Oh jeeze.

things have changed since then WT. C'mon Man, Your a good Guy, Let's Just drop the old fueds. Please?

Stephen

Ain't no fued SirGod; Pesty made this post two weeks ago.

I honestly just wanted clarification ... don't want to make any mistakes.

<S>

WaterTiger

P.S. Elvis, your Cadillac has been towed -- Call 1-800-Tow-us-home

[Sirgod]

OK , My bad WT. I thought this was Carried over from months ago. Once again, My Bad.

Stephen the bad.

[interloper]

just my 2 cents worth..... THANKS DAVE!!!!!

[Pestalence_XC]

I refer only to what Pestalence has said:

=======

Victor 1st, Water Tiger

I want to thank you both for your efforts in the No-CD Crack.

In the case of Star Trek : Starfleet Command III, you must modify and/or reverse engineer the game's exe file in order to eliminate the CD check.

as such, in the C:\Program Files\Activision\SFC3\Docs\License.rtf file (otherwise known as the End User License Agreement or EULA for short), it states :

LICENSE CONDITIONS
You agree not to:
? Exploit the Program or any of its parts commercially, including but not limited to use at a cyber cafe, computer gaming center or any other location-based site. Activision may offer a separate Site License Agreement to permit you to make the Program available for commercial use; see the contact information below.
? Sell, rent, lease, license, distribute or otherwise transfer this Program, or any copies of this Program, without the express prior written consent of Activision.
? Use the Program, or permit use of the Program, in a network, multi-user arrangement or remote access arrangement, including any on-line use, except as otherwise specifically provided by the Program.
? Use the Program, or permit use of the Program, on more than one computer, computer terminal, or workstation at the same time.
? Make copies of the Program or any part thereof, except for back up or archival purposes, or make copies of the materials accompanying the Program.
? Copy the Program onto a hard drive or other storage device; you must run the Program from the included CD-ROM (although the Program itself may automatically copy a portion of the Program onto your hard drive during installation in order to run more efficiently).
? Reverse engineer, derive source code, modify, decompile, or disassemble the Program, in whole or in part.
? Remove, disable or circumvent any proprietary notices or labels contained on or within the Program.
? Export or re-export the Program or any copy or adaptation thereof in violation of any applicable laws or regulations.

OWNERSHIP: All title, ownership rights and intellectual property rights in and to the Program and any and all copies thereof are owned by Activision or its licensors. The Program is protected by the copyright laws of the United States, international copyright treaties and conventions and other laws. The Program contains certain licensed materials and Activision?s licensors may protect their rights in the event of any violation of this Agreement. You agree not to remove, disable or circumvent any proprietary notices or labels contained on or within the Program.



Again, I want to thank you for taking action to notify your communities that using a No CD fix on SFC III is Illegal.

WaterTiger,

To better explain how it works...

SFC 3 No CD Crack :

what this is :

It is an executable file that alters the game sfc3.exe file by eliminating the CD check and CD key. This is designed so that one can download SFC 3, install using a bogus CD key, then patch with v531, then crack the SFC3.exe and bypass the CD check and the CD key so that a server or GSA will not register the CD key and plock the player from joining the server (eliminates the CD Key CRC check vs email address or registered invalid CD keys). This method is illegal as it alters game code as originally written in the SFC3.exe game file, which by EULA is a non moddable game file.



No CD Tweak in the INI File :

that this is :

this is a tweak test entry that the game naturally uses in the SFC.ini file.. normally the SFC3.exe launches and has a call to the SFC.ini game file for MakeItSo=1, if the entry is not there or =0, then the game calls to the CD for the SFC3.ini and a .dat file to check for the MakeItSo=1 command, and once recieved, the SFC3.exe calls the CD Key into memory from the system registry, which is then used upon CRC check when entering the Dynaverse and GSA.. This is legal as the game EXE file is not being altered and because the SFC.ini file is a moddable game file (since it is altered to adjust screen resolution, sounds on and off, resolution of damage and illumination graphics, Shielding FX on and off, etc... the MakeItSo=1 command only eliminates the CD Drive check for the MakeitSo=1 command on the game CD itself, however the game EXE file is unaltered and works normally as it should in all aspects including CD Key validation upon Dynaverse and GSA log in.

In the ini tweak, the game exe file is not being altered thus preserving the CD Key check as built in to the SFC3.exe game file, where as the SFC 3 No CD Crack destroys both the CD and CD Key validation checks. This means that the SFC.ini file tweak is legal and the SFC3.exe no CD Crack file is illegal per EULA.

the SFC.ini tweak will not interfere with Dynaverse campaigns as the EXE file is operating correctly and is showing all checks to be performed and the Validation server has a proper CD key in which to register the client as logged in.

Hope that this helps.

Pestalence

[SkyFlyer]

One must ask, why do they give a rats ass about a no cd check, when theyve never given a rats ass about the community before... With their patching situation with SFC3, I doubt anyone will buy it... so who gives a damn?

[AdmWaterTiger-11thFleet-]

One must ask, why do they give a rats ass about a no cd check, when theyve never given a rats ass about the community before... With their patching situation with SFC3, I doubt anyone will buy it... so who gives a damn?

Flyer, I can tell you by experiance and a lot of hard knocks, this type of communication with the "rocket scientists" earns you no respect or gets anything done.

Politically correct way to say this:

Pesty, sir ... Don't you think that the no CD check holds little relevance now that Taldren has left the SFC series? We know everyone is working hard to bring us the best product possible.

Try it that way.

<S>

WaterTiger

[SkyFlyer]

I think Pesty has done a fine job with SFC, as has David Ferril, and many others. It does matter, according to Activision, since they hold the trek license, at least for now, and they published 3. If this was 2, they wouldnt give a damn... then again, 2 doesnt need the CD in the first place. Acti published a very good ST game a while back, Elite Force, they even put out two patches. That were not needed. But for SFC, they screwed up over, so I feel we should say up yours... I'm tired of acti's BS... they are the reason my SFC3 CD has not been in my drive in over 8 months.