*StarForce Removal Question*

Just bought RainbowSix LockDown, I didnt know it had StarForce inside. Is there any way to remove it or unistall it? Please help!



~Wavy~

 

HERE is a recent thread on the subject I posted.

It has links for a removal tool, and how to check it's gone.

 

Thanks for the link Insom, and GT posted a great link in your thread as well. It had a list of ALL the known Starforce games( wish I had read this before buying the game ) that are out right now. What is truly screwed up is that Ubisoft didnt print on the box that RainbowSix Lockdown even had StarForce, I wouldnt have bought it if I knew. I used to trust Ubisoft.

So, after running this tool I downloaded frm your thread, I'll have to run it each time I play the game in order to remove it? Or is one run through sufficient?

~WavY~

 

The game needs that rubbish installed or you can't play.

You can only use the tool effectively after you uninstall the game.

Every time you start the game it will install this rubbish.


Play the game (or return it or whatever), then uninstall it, run the tool, then check Device Manager.

 

G@DDammit! I ran the tool which successfully removed all 5 entries, then I had to reboot to make it certain, when I tried to run the game again they reinstalled themselves again and will not let me play unless they are active! This is starting to sound like a Trojan or Rootkit! Just let me play my damn game! ARRRGGGHHHHHH ! ! ! ! ! !


~WavY~

 

You posted the same time as me.

Read my previous reply.

 

Hmm I was on the verge of purchasing this game, what exactly is the issue with starforce anyway?

 

Read the link I posted.

Basically, it installs hidden drivers. On some systems, it can cause problems.

Early versions of StarForce especially, caused a lot of problems, with some reports of hardware damage.


Admittedly, later versions of StarForce are much better (can still be buggy), but it's still draconian and shouldn't be supported.

 

Wow, I would have never known, I have that crap on here, lol.

Is there a list of games it comes with? I didn't see a link for that, only one I got was Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, and I have that game but not installed at the moment.

 

It was in the link I originally posted, but HERE it is.


The list isn't complete or up to date though.

 

Ahh that link wasn't working for me, for some reason. I found 3 games I have that are on the list, that sucks...and a good game like Splinter Cell too, dang, well not installing those anymore.

Thanks for the info.

 

Well I tried playing the game but I cant hear my own gunshots, I hear everyone elses but mine are extremely muffled. Wonder if StarForce messed up my Sound Drivers? The game starts playing fine but there is a almost inaudible squeel at first then it goes away. Any ideas with the sound?

edit: Insom you need to stop posting at the same time I post!


~Wavy~

 

Link should work, but try Google with the search term "starforce games list".

Only really popular games that use it currently are Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and King Kong.

Even the demo of King Kong has it, believe it or not!

 

No sorry, don't own the game, and have no idea.

What's it actually doing, or not?

 

Well as I said, when the game first loaded up there was a nearly inaudible squeel. And now while playing the game I cant hear any gun shots...it seems like like someone put the game on mute. I hear the dialog fine, but no gun shots. My sound drivers are relatively new and I have no ther sound problem with my pc. I guess this gives me more of a reason to return it, although there really is no such thing as returning PC games.


~Wavy~

 

Yes there is, I've returned plenty.

Don't accept their rubbish. If the game is faulty, or if you don't agree with the EULA, they legally have to offer a refund or exchange, it's your choice.

 

Regarding the sound issue, I have no answer apart from basic things like trying another sound card driver, or checking DirectX etc.

I had a similiar problem with a different game and could never work out the cause, so I really can't offer any help.

 

Umm, I had the same issues with GRAW, make sure you have EAX checked off, sometimes it will be on automatically, it did with mine and it would almost make it sound muted or muffled. EDIT: To Elaborate on this it was ONLY the gun fire that was doing this so it would make sense really since that is you're issue.

If the hardware doesn't support it, that's what happens.

 

Yeh, thats the problem. I can hear other gunfire but not my own. I turned EAX off and still had the same problem though. The manual mentions something about turning off Hardware Acceleration off in WinXp but Ive yet to find it. I thought HA was controlled only in the games themselves and cant seem to find WinXP's HA. But Im going to try this out and see if it helps.

Insom, Ubisoft states clearly that they do not give refunds only exchanges. And Walmart( where I bought the game) does give refunds on Console games only, PC games are exchanges only. So thats the reason Im so selective when buying games, cuz I dont really have a way of returning them. I guess I just chunked $29.95 down the toilet. God Bless the Capitalists USA!


~wAVY~

 

What they say, and what the law is, are two different things.

If your PC meets minimum requirements, and the game doesn't work, you can return it for a refund or exchange.

It's like if you buy a TV and it doesn't work as it should. They can't say no.

Just because they are worried about people copying games is their problem, not yours.


Another example, if you don't agree with the EULA, what do they expect you to do?

They can't have it both ways, and make you abide by the EULA, yet if you disagree, too bad you are stuck with it.

I've been through this with various outlets, and have always received a refund.

Sometimes, you need to speak to their manager, or even Fair Trading, but I've always got my money back.

 

Go to Control Panel, then Sound and Audio Devices.

On the Voume tab, click Advanced, then the Performance tab.

Play around with the slider and see if it helps.

 

Sadly thats why they dont offer refunds on PC games anymore. Usually Gamestop or EBgames( which is now the same store) were pretty good about doing refunds. But Walmart and BestBuy are the worst. After two years of haggiling it out with Department store teeny-bopper Managers I've seen that yes at most places you will get your refund back and some you won't. But Walmart is the absolute worst, they actually have a policy against PC game refunds because of piracy problems. What pisses me off is not only do you get screwed by having Starforce to stop piracy, but then you can't return it when it doesnt work, so its a lose/lose situation for the consumer. But you can always get an exchange.....like you would actually want the same game over again.


Anyway...with the info you gave in your last post I was able to successfully get the game's sound working. Thanks Insom! Also, thanks for your replies Dark!

~WavY~

 

Glad it's working.


Regarding their so called policy, what happens if you don't agree with the EULA, which is a legal document?

K-Mart and Target also have the same policy here, but I still get my money back if a game doesn't work.

Anyway, it's up to you if you accept their rubbish, but I certainly don't.

 

LoL, Don't jump the gun just yet. I'm most definetly going to try to refund it in a few days, but I'm less than half positive that the money will be refunded. In the end, it was my fault, just should'nt have bought it from Walmart.

As for the game, it is working but I still here a small fizze in the audio but it has significantly improved. But beggars can't be choosers I guess.

Once again thanks to you and Dark


~Wavy~

 

No problem, glad to hear it works.