SafeDisc, SecuROM DRM support removed from Windows 8, 7, Vista

[HEXUS]

Microsoft provides a workaround to its own security patch, warns you against using it.

Read more.

[qasdfdsaq]

Or run it in an XP VM

[Brian224]

Or run it in an XP VM

Is there a VM that offers hardware graphics acceleration?

[Vorlon99]

Of course, if the game is that old it is likely that it doesn't even need or work with an internet connection, so when you enable the workaround, just disconnect from the internet for the duration and then when you turn the workaround off again, re-enable the internet.... onviously keep anti-virus running and there shouldn't be any problem.

[BobF64]

Is there a VM that offers hardware graphics acceleration?

Yes, however, sadly, Parallels is only on Mac OS. I think VMWare Fusion might also offer it.

VMWare and VirtualBox offer some degree of 3D acceleration, but it isnt great as its emulated software.
I did manage to play Red Faction on VirtualBox a few years ago, and apart from mouse problems, it worked quite well.

I believe it is something to do with the way the graphics subsystems work, in that Windows doesnt let the VM access it, but Mac OS does.

[ik9000]

Well that's just dandy. Presumably we can just uninstall the MS patch and not have this hassle?

[GuidoLS]

Well that's just dandy. Presumably we can just uninstall the MS patch and not have this hassle?

Or just make an XP machine, and never hook it up to the net. Problem solved. Or be the GEICO caveman... the choice is yours.

Or, you know, learn to emulate in Linux....

[shaithis]

VMWare and VirtualBox offer some degree of 3D acceleration, but it isnt great as its emulated software.

The new VMWare Workstation 12 has considerably better DirectX support, going up to DirectX 10, with noticeable speed improvements.

Will probably be enough for these older titles.

[synaesthesia]

Well that's just dandy. Presumably we can just uninstall the MS patch and not have this hassle?

Why would you want to? They're doing us all a favour removing some of the more dangerous "legal" bits of software finding it's way onto our machines.

[zaph0d]

Or just make an XP machine, and never hook it up to the net. Problem solved.

Yeah I've got a retro system for Dos and 9x based games now, with a Athlon 64 X2 4800+, 512MB DDR Dual Channel, Soundblaster Audigy and 3Dfx Voodoo 5 5500 (with memory upgrade), and a 20" Crt monitor.

Certainly wouldn't be hard to build an XP or 7 based machine outta all the old spare parts I've got sitting gathering dust.

[azrael-]

Is this update pushed through Windows Update? If so, I believe this is the wrong move from Microsoft, even though I positively *loathe* DRM such as SecuROM and SafeDisc. They essentially disable software you've paid good money for. Instead of merely disabling functionality Microsoft should have created a dummy driver of sorts, which will always "true" to checks made by these DRM components. But hey, it's easier just to put the burden on the user/consumer. They already had to deal with this crap earlier, so they're used to the suffering.

[AGTDenton]

Is there a VM that offers hardware graphics acceleration?

Oracle's VirtualBox offers Hardware 3D and 2D Acceleration. However, on 4.3.26 this is still classed as Experimental.
I've not got or had the need to upgrade to a newer version to know whether this has been taken out of Experimental or not and whether it has moved on from Direct 3D version 9.
Its worth pointing out that the documentation in Oracle VirtualBox is very messy and much is outdated.

[zarnywoop]

Well that's just dandy. Presumably we can just uninstall the MS patch and not have this hassle?

Since this is a security risk, since it actively bypassed built in security (in a really bad way) it is better turned off. However, Microsoft have also provided steps in the knowledge base document how to turn the service on and off.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3086255

[ik9000]

Why would you want to? They're doing us all a favour removing some of the more dangerous "legal" bits of software finding it's way onto our machines.

because the only games I play these days are my old ones from the noughties which are riddled with this crap. So by turning this off for me, I can't play them. Cheers MS.

[GuidoLS]

because the only games I play these days are my old ones from the noughties which are riddled with this crap. So by turning this off for me, I can't play them. Cheers MS.

So either set up another machine with XP, set up a dual boot with XP, or do what millions of other people have done, and is suggested in the OP. I won't point out which suggestion, or how to follow up on the 'advice', but Google is your friend (or Bing, or Duckduckgo, or whatever search makes you happy).

Kind of think you're putting the blame on the wrong people.

[kellyharding]

The publishers (if they still exist) should do what Blizzard did and release No CD patches really. Either that or do some kind of deal to allow the serials for such games to be registered with Steam (or similar) to negate needing the CD/DVD checks.

I still have an old Pentium 4 XP box kicking around (mostly for use with PS2 HDD data transfers).