How to get rid of SecuRom, NOW

[Lord Darcy]

the patch for BonVoyage is .exe file, so "to apply a patch" means to run this .exe file, but if it contains SecuRom, as I understood, won't it be installed on my PC once I click on it?

Securom is activated the first time you run game executable (Sims2EPx.exe), not patch executable. Installing a patch alone does not activate Securom. If you put the NoCD right after installing a patch, you should be fine.

[Amairani]

the patch for BonVoyage is .exe file, so "to apply a patch" means to run this .exe file, but if it contains SecuRom, as I understood, won't it be installed on my PC once I click on it?

Securom is activated the first time you run game executable (Sims2EPx.exe), not patch executable. Installing a patch alone does not activate Securom. If you put the NoCD right after installing a patch, you should be fine.

Thank you for the prompt reply! Now I can safely install BonVoyage, apply the official patch v1.10.0.130, replace the original .exe file with the one from gamecopyworld and finally send my Sims to vacation 

Thanks to all people contributing to this thread, you all are truly awesome.

[Roux]

Amairani, as long as you're installing onto an Administrator account, you will be just fine. Also, make sure the cracked .exe is for the patched version of Bon Voyage.

If the account does not have Administrator permissions, SecuRom will be installed when the game is installed, i.e. before you even run the game. You'll have to remove Securom before applying the cracked .exe.

[Amairani]

Amairani, as long as you're installing onto an Administrator account, you will be just fine. Also, make sure the cracked .exe is for the patched version of Bon Voyage.

If the account does not have Administrator permissions, SecuRom will be installed when the game is installed, i.e. before you even run the game. You'll have to remove Securom before applying the cracked .exe.

Hey Roux

Administrator account is the only account I have, I'm the only one using my PC, so no problems here. As for the cracked .exe, it's "The Sims 2: Bon Voyage v1.10.0.130 [MULTI16] No-CD/Fixed EXE" on gamecopyworld. This one should replace the original .exe after I patch the game with official patch from Sims2 site and then make sure the desktop's shortcut point to that cracked .exe.

[Faizah]

You just need one no-CD exe, to replace the one you use to run the game. In this case, Free Time.

[Kazzandra]

Bastdawn: I see what you did there. And it saved my pointy stick from needing another sharpening.

[Craigbear]

I installed BV from disk and tried the no cd crack and keep comming up with this error i am a new poster on this site so please be nice. LOL anyway here is the error "failed to enumerate any directx9 graphics adapters on this system". Maybe i missed something im not sure.

Please help as i really liked playing with BV installed.

[jsalemi]

That happened with a bad crack, I think -- try getting a new version from gamecopyworld and see if that fixes the problem.  Also, make sure you start the game from the no-cd.exe, and not from the launcher.

[Craigbear]

Ok tried what you said and it worked except a few odd things. There is something called flt-tsbv on my desktop kind of looks like a monitor and also on the start menu instead of the picture at the top that i chose there is a circle kind of looks like a pie menu with green,red,blue and yellow and a green checkmark. Can you tell me what that is?

[talysman]

That happened with a bad crack, I think -- try getting a new version from gamecopyworld and see if that fixes the problem.  Also, make sure you start the game from the no-cd.exe, and not from the launcher.

No, it's caused by the crack being in the wrong folder. It has to go in the TSBin folder, where the SecuROM-infected EXE is. I made the same mistake, but fortunately remembered another thread that mentioned the same error.

I have no idea what Craigbear's second comment is about, but it sounds like, somehow, the system video tools are linked to shortcuts on the desktop. Pictures mean nothing. Right-click on the icon, select "Properties", and tell us what it says, Craigbear.

[Craigbear]

I fixed the problem thank you both for your help im just happy to ba able to play BV again.

[jsalemi]

You can add screen size on the command line (details in the readme that comes with the game), but it's easier (and permanent) to do it within the game.  Go to the graphics options and pick the size that's the same as your widescreen.  If that size doesn't exist, then you have to edit the graphicsrules.scr file in your games ...TSDATA/RES/CONFIG folder to add the proper settings.  Do a search on 'graphicrules.scr' here to find older messages with complete details on how to do this.

[Rhaevyn]

I have SecuROM.  I am going to be getting rid of it.  It's just coming down to a choice of going through the lengthy instructions here or a restore of my system and starting over.  But I have a question.  After reading through this entire thread, and some other information about this file, I'm curious what exactly has been happening to everyone as a result of this file - exactly, I mean, what are your personal experiences from having this file invade your computer?  From what I've read it supposedly keeps games from starting, or makes them crash.  Have any of you lost data or had any kind of damage?  I don't want it, I think it's very wrong for them to force it on us, but I really don't even understand what it does, to be honest, I mean the bad things it can do, not what THEY want it to do.

The only problems I've had so far, since installing the game on my newly upgraded machine, were the errors I shared in my other thread that I've had closed down (missing game files - per JM).  I've since spent a day re-installing, and now I'm getting an artifact on my cursor when I enter the game, along with a flickering mouse cursor.  It also started happening in another online game I play.  From what I can tell, it's not interfering with game play, it's just annoying as hell.

I had the computer looked over by the guy who built it for me.  He reinstalled the motherboard and video card drivers and was unable to determine what is causing the anomaly - it still lives.  Do you all think it's SecuROM?  If not, any suggestions?

[Jelenedra]

What kind of artifact is it?

[Rhaevyn]

The guy who built my computer said that's what it's called (an artifact).  My cursor flickers and has a squarish thing behind it wherever you move it.  It looks like it's trying to copy bits of the desktop or something.  It only happens when you launch a game.  I only have two games at the moment:  Sims 2 and WoW.  It doesn't happen anywhere else, like on websites or desktop.  Only in games. 

I entered a house in Sims and as I moved around the lot I noticed a circle around my cursor outside the house.  It was night time and there was snow on the ground.  There was a dark circle, like a shadow, around the cursor wherever I moved.  The cursor was flickering.

It's the strangest thing.  I've not stayed in the game for any extended period of time yet so not sure if it would actually go bonkers although the sound did stutter a bit upon loading, which it hadn't done previously.  I'm going to try and remove the dreaded file and get the crack first and see if that kills it.  And I'm still curious about my question.  I honestly want to know what this file does to people's computers.

If all else fails, I'll go ahead and do the wipe/restore.  I've just been through so much over the past few weeks since getting my upgrades done I'm exhausted and would like to actually play a game on my computer.  Novel concept as it may be.

[snowbawl]

Sounds more like a graphics issue...
SecuROM treats my drive as though it does not exist when starting my game.  Or I get the insert original disc message.  Simply put, I have to jump through hoops to start my game.  This has only applied to TS2.  I have never had any other problems with other games.

[TimeStop]

Alright, so I've read the entirety of this topic (to which I am heretoforth eternally greatful) and the only question I've still got in regards to avoiding SecuROM is this:

Is there any benefit to buying the EPs as many people on this topic still seem ready to do if you are simply going to use a No-CD anyway besides the legal side of it and perhaps getting a serial number?

[Ambular]

Alright, so I've read the entirety of this topic (to which I am heretoforth eternally greatful) and the only question I've still got in regards to avoiding SecuROM is this:

Is there any benefit to buying the EPs as many people on this topic still seem ready to do if you are simply going to use a No-CD anyway besides the legal side of it and perhaps getting a serial number?

I like to own a physical copy of the disk--call it a security blanket--and to be at least nominally legal.  But the only purely practical benefit to using a legit copy as opposed to non-legit is that you don't have to mess with torrents or Daemon Tools or any of that to install the thing.

[jolrei]

You don't actually run RegDelNull. You just install it on C:\. Then go to the Windows command prompt and follow the rest of the directions.

For those of us non techie types: How do I install it on c:\ and get the directions?

You download the regdelnull application as directed and save it to your C:\ drive's root directory.  If you get it zipped, make sure you unzip it so that the file in C:\ is called regdelnull.exe.  Then you follow the directions on the first page of this thread.  Install = put it on the C:\ drive in this case.

If you are still having difficulty figuring this out, you may wish to ask a friend/family member more familiar with DOS commands to help you.  Playing with the registry without any knowledge of what you are doing may be hazardous to your system's health.  If you proceed, follow directions EXACTLY as written in the tutorial.

(to which I am heretoforth eternally greatful)

We have a similar words in English:  "henceforth" and "grateful".

Is there any benefit to buying the EPs as many people on this topic still seem ready to do if you are simply going to use a No-CD anyway besides the legal side of it and perhaps getting a serial number?

Hmmm.  That's a tough one.  Let's see.  Many of us don't care about the legal side, since we don't care to give out a lot of personal information and so we don't register our games anyway.  So much for the legal side.  If you arrr! a copy of the game, there are keygens which take care of all that "protection" crap - so much for needing the serial number.  If you use an arrr! copy and a no-cd crack, you don't run the risk of having suck-u-ROM debilitate your machine.

Nope, you got me.  I can see no particular advantage or benefit, apart from having the colourful and friendly looking CD case with the official "artwork" to clutter up your bookshelf.

[TimeStop]

But the only purely practical benefit to using a legit copy as opposed to non-legit is that you don't have to mess with torrents or Daemon Tools or any of that to install the thing.

So the No-CD is like any other "arr!"ed program once you install it as opposed to something that functions within the installation of the legal copy of the game then. Although I suppose that isn't really a question as it's kind of redundant; that just makes sense.
 

And sorry for my inability to use proper English.

[Ambular]

So the No-CD is like any other "arr!"ed program once you install it as opposed to something that functions within the installation of the legal copy of the game then. Although I suppose that isn't really a question as it's kind of redundant; that just makes sense.
 
And sorry for my inability to use proper English.

It basically just replaces the game's .exe file with an exact duplicate minus the SecuROM.  Everything else comes off the CD, torrent, whatever you used to install.

[jolrei]

I'm worried about you, timestop.  I reread my post where I said "an arrr! copy AND a no-cd crack".  You can also use the bought disk and a no-cd crack, but the no-cd crack just replaces the .exe file that starts the game, and, as Amber said, is securom free.  You still have to have the game, one way or the  other.  You gotta read all the words if you're going to manage the remove securom instructions.

[morriganrant]

I have SecuROM.  I am going to be getting rid of it.  It's just coming down to a choice of going through the lengthy instructions here or a restore of my system and starting over.  But I have a question.  After reading through this entire thread, and some other information about this file, I'm curious what exactly has been happening to everyone as a result of this file - exactly, I mean, what are your personal experiences from having this file invade your computer?  From what I've read it supposedly keeps games from starting, or makes them crash.  Have any of you lost data or had any kind of damage?  I don't want it, I think it's very wrong for them to force it on us, but I really don't even understand what it does, to be honest, I mean the bad things it can do, not what THEY want it to do.

My personal experience was a fire wall that was repeatedly turned off, virus scan and Adaware that was not allowed to update or run properly and "Emulation software detected" even though there was none installed during some of those attempts. Someone I know online had to replace her cd drive though, I trust her to be pc literate enough to believe her when she says that Securom was the culprit. No matter what they did, they could no longer get the pc to recognize the drive, the shop they brought it to seemed to believe that it was also the problem.

[TimeStop]

You gotta read all the words if you're going to manage the remove securom instructions.

I don't have SecuROM, so I'm not really worried about the removal aspect of it. I'm not even sure if I want to install any of the newer EPs, I was just curious as to how it worked. And I see that I worded things wrong - what I meant was that the No-CD does require a game because it is, as you say, just the .exe, but it doesn't require something within the legal version of the game.

No need to worry about me even if I do sound like I'll mess something up - just tell me what it is so that I can figure it out. I never mess around with anything I'm unsure of on my PC until I know everything I need to to do it.

[geekgirl]

I entered a house in Sims and as I moved around the lot I noticed a circle around my cursor outside the house.  It was night time and there was snow on the ground.  There was a dark circle, like a shadow, around the cursor wherever I moved.  The cursor was flickering.

That's normal. there's an option to disable it somewhere in the graphics options - it's called "x-ray cursor," and it is actually useful if you need to find newspapers under the snow, or things like that.