How to get rid of SecuRom, NOW

[gfitz]

Hi,   Well the AL no CD is only my second one ever.    And I am now confused.   I downloaded the No CD from GameCopyWorld for AL with the patch.   The original No CD exe was some 44K in size...44,738...The new downloaded exe for AL with the patch is only 6,288Kb in size.   Anyone able to explain to me why?  Shouldn't the size be relative?   Is it the correct one?   Is this safe to use?   What about the patch would have resulted in a vastly smaller exe?    Did it or no?    I will hold off on patching and applying the No CD until someone can get back to me.   Thanks in advance.   K

I am going to say that I also had some issues finding the right one to download. I grabbed the first one I think, by vitality (or something like that). It was the only one I could make work. I couldn't get the 7zip one to work at all. The key for me was figuring out that you had to replace the installed SimsEP8 file with the no CD thing. So I would copy that somewhere first just in case. I think that has been mentioned in the steps but just wanted to reiterate that.

Also I found myself downloading trainers and not the actual .exe that runs the game. Those are much smaller too.

Hope this helps...

[Mootilda]

I am going to say that I also had some issues finding the right one to download. I grabbed the first one I think, by vitality (or something like that). It was the only one I could make work. I couldn't get the 7zip one to work at all. The key for me was figuring out that you had to replace the installed SimsEP8 file with the no CD thing. So I would copy that somewhere first just in case. I think that has been mentioned in the steps but just wanted to reiterate that.

Just remember that you should always use a version of the no-cd which matches your current patch level.  In Windows XP, you can check the version by clicking on each EXE (the original game and the crack) in Windows Explorer and choosing Properties from the File menu.  Go to the Version tab and check the File Version.  If they don't match, you've got the wrong no-cd.

[Rainne]

Thank you so much for posting this thread!  I went past it at first because I'd never heard of SecuROM and didn't know what it was or did, so when I posted the problems I was having with my reinstall, people on my thread immediately directed me here.  I just really can't thank you enough; I was absolutely losing my mind trying to figure out how to get my stupid freaking game to load.  And now it works!

Thank you again!

[Indoor Girl]

Issue the following command to show the two remaining hidden malformed files: "dir /A". To delete the two remaining hidden malformed files issue the following command: "del /F /AH *". Confirm "yes" for each of the two file deletions of the malformed files. Finally, the directory "C:\Documents and Settings\<Your Administrator name>\Application Data\Securom" can be deleted as per normal practice from within Windows explorer.

I've white-knuckled it thus far, but I've run into a snag with the malformed files. 0 file(s) and 3 dir(s) are listed, but there's no option to delete anything. The second one (del /F /AH*) brings up "The Syntax of the command is incorrect". I've spent the entire night reading through this thread, and I can't seem to find an answer to this. What am I doing wrong?

*I am running XP, under the admin. account

[jolrei]

Might it be as simple as putting a space between the "H" and the "*" (if it's a syntax error)?

[Indoor Girl]

You have to be kidding me, that was it!

Only one file came up though. I clicked "Y" for it anyway, and unchecked the "hide protected operating system files", but I can still see them inside SecuROM's subfolder. Did I miss something crutial, or should I try using the Delinvfile?

I've gotten so confused. I just want this to be over with now.

[jolrei]

Computers are essentially stupid.  Fast computers are stupid faster.  They can not and do not try to interpret what you mean in a command line.

Anyway, I'm assuming you did the following step exactly as directed:

Invoke a Windows command prompt with full Administrator privileges by typing the following into a Windows command prompt: "at <your current time + 1 minute> /interactive %systemroot%\system32\cmd.exe" e.g. "at 9:02pm /interactive %systemroot%\system32\cmd.exe". This will open a new Administrator command line when the time set has been attained. In this new command prompt change directory into the Securom folder e.g. "cd C:\Documents and Settings\<Your Administrator name>\Application Data\Securom". Issue the following command to show the two remaining hidden malformed files: "dir /A". To delete the two remaining hidden malformed files issue the following command: "del /F /AH *". Confirm "yes" for each of the two file deletions of the malformed files. Finally, the directory "C:\Documents and Settings\<Your Administrator name>\Application Data\Securom" can be deleted as per normal practice from within Windows explorer.

If that has not done the job (and your post above indicates that it has not), then tougher measures are necessary, I fancy.

3. If that damned SecuRom folder still can't be deleted, even after correctly following the instructions above, download DelinvFile from http://www.purgeie.com/delinv/dldelinv.htm . Run the executable and find the C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR NAME HERE\Application Data\Securom folder and open the sub-folder. (Sorry, mine's gone, but I believe it was named "User Data"). On the right, choose each malformed file and delete. Go back into My Computer and delete that SecuRom folder for once and all.

In short, yes, try the DelinvFile method.

[Indoor Girl]

Invoke a Windows command prompt with full Administrator privileges by typing the following into a Windows command prompt: "at <your current time + 1 minute> /interactive %systemroot%\system32\cmd.exe" e.g. "at 9:02pm /interactive %systemroot%\system32\cmd.exe". This will open a new Administrator command line when the time set has been attained.

I did that, only, it opened up a whole new command window instead of a new command line. Everything else seemed to go pretty smoothly up until this point. Time to bring out the bigger guns I guess.

[vecki]

No, it's meant to open a new command window - this one is in Administrator mode.

You have to be kidding me, that was it!

Only one file came up though. I clicked "Y" for it anyway, and unchecked the "hide protected operating system files", but I can still see them inside SecuROM's subfolder. Did I miss something crutial, or should I try using the Delinvfile?

I've gotten so confused. I just want this to be over with now.

Oh, and this bit didn't work for me with the "del /F /AH *".  Instead I typed "del *.*".  That did the trick.  I'm pretty sure I made mention of that in my post... Sigh, I wrote all that for nothing... woe!  Alas!  Alack!

[Indoor Girl]

Vecki, I did see your post, and it gave me hope. But, if I recall, you are using Vista, so I was unsure if it would work for XP. I tried it anyway though, but all I got was a message saying it couldn't find "*.*".

EDIT:   DelinvFile worked like a charm!

[jolrei]

Have you seen our "How to get rid of securom" thread?  HAVE YOU SEEN IT?

Go see it (Podium section) - detailed instructions on the first page.  Accept no substitutes. 

If you follow the instructions there to the letter, you should manage this without too much difficulty.  If in doubt about your ability to do this right, get a tech savvy friend/family member/passerby to help you.

* jolrei notes with satisfaction that posts have been moved.

[Indoor Girl]

If it's installed properly, once I pull up RegEdit, it's supposed to say C:\DocumentsandSettings/username>cd
 instead, mine keeps coming up:
C:\DocumentsandSettings/Owner>cd
and I try to direct it by typing in "cd C:\" (like Aphrodita says to) and then I type in "regdelnull hkcu -s" and I get nothing.  According to that, I don't have SecuRom on my computer (bull.  I do too). 
Oh, and I've got Windows XP.

Unless you've changed it, Owner is the default username.

[Knukleur]

John Riccitiello feels your pain?

http://www.edge-online.com/news/riccitiello-says-drm-a-minority-controversy

[spinningplates]

Sorry if I'm making someone be redundant; I scanned through and thought I found my answer but now I can't find it again...SO: I have EPs up through SEA. If I buy FT, install it, and run it with a no-CD patch, then I don't get securom. I also understand that I can install FT, install the patch, and run a patched no-CD crack.  But I am unsure if installing the patch will also install securom.

Thanks for your patience.

[Mootilda]

Sorry if I'm making someone be redundant; I scanned through and thought I found my answer but now I can't find it again...SO: I have EPs up through SEA. If I buy FT, install it, and run it with a no-CD patch, then I don't get securom. I also understand that I can install FT, install the patch, and run a patched no-CD crack.  But I am unsure if installing the patch will also install securom.

If you install using an administrator account, and if you do not actually run the game or the launcher, then you should not get securom.

I just installed all of my EPs and SPs on a new machine.  After installing and patching each one, I replaced the EXE with the patched no-cd and changed the game shortcuts to point to the no-cd.  When I was all done, I checked for SecuROM and it was not on my machine.

[spinningplates]

Thank you, Mootilda!

[wolfskies]

Well, I have two related problems.

1) I have Sims and expansions up to FT. I found SecuRom on my PC, and tried to follow the directions to get rid of it. The only thing I can find is the registry keys, not any folder. The first step with the DLL file didn't show anything. I searched my registry and didn't find any null files.

My game on my PC won't load a house now, it just crashes, and I am unsure if just deleting the registry keys will take care of the problem. I am running Sims on Windows XP on the Administrator account on my desktop.

Anyway, I got frustrated and installed it on my laptop and used the No CD Crack... on to problem 2.

2) The CD Crack for FT works fine except one thing. I can't use the CTRL-SHIFT-C anymore! I type the keys and it don't work! I checked my computer to see if any hot keys were assigned to that function but didn't find any. I am running Windows Vista Premium on my Laptop.

Any ideas? I have tried all the downloads at GameCopyWorld and all of them work, but none allow me to pull up the cheat window.

WS

[witch]

Apparently there are several other programs, particularly on a laptop, which use that combination of keys. If you figure out which one, disable or change the keys the program wants and you regain control of Ctrl Shift C for the sims.

[wolfskies]

Apparently there are several other programs, particularly on a laptop, which use that combination of keys. If you figure out which one, disable or change the keys the program wants and you regain control of Ctrl Shift C for the sims.

Well, I have looked and looked. Funny thing is, nothing opens when I press the keys outside the game. Shouldn't it load something if the keys are pressed? I have a program on my desktop that had that problem. It loaded Trillian. I don't have that installed on my laptop yet, or I would be looking at it for that. I guess I will just have to keep opening every program on my laptop and see if it has those keys listed. Joy!

WS

[witch]

Do a search here, I'm sure I've read of just this problem recently but also some time before that. I didn't pay much attention because I didn't have the problem, but I have an idea it was things that are specific to laptops, like power saving programs or whatever.

[wolfskies]

Do a search here, I'm sure I've read of just this problem recently but also some time before that. I didn't pay much attention because I didn't have the problem, but I have an idea it was things that are specific to laptops, like power saving programs or whatever.

I found it. I did a couple of searches on the internet and found that HP Health Check has that set as their short cut key. Then I just had to do a search for the program and change the properties to none. Thank GOD! It was so sucky having to play with no money cheat.

Thanks for your help!

WS

[Marhis]

Great, I've found it, at last on the Mac. I'm almost sure it installed with Spore demo.
It's concealed in a system plist (you need a plist editor to check), hidden as well (it's a dot-something). In mine it's .GlobalPreferences.plist, in /Users/<yourloginname>/Library/Preferences.  This plist stores some Finder prefs, like iTools username, # of recent documents to list, and so on.

Proof:


Now: does somebody know what do I need to do? Deleting those entries in plist is enough or have I to perform additional stuff?

[seelindarun]

Great mac-fu!  I have no idea if it would be enough to delete those entries; I didn't install Spore onto any macs, and I'm a little dubious about doing so in order to experiment with you on this.   However, I'd love to know how this turns out.

[patzi]

Ok, I downloaded regdelnull and typed in the command and got an error.  So I downloaded devlin, browsed to the appropriate place; no securom was found.  So I did a search of my entire C drive for securom:  NOTHING!  However it is in the registry.  Can I delete the registry keys?

[Callista]

I'm using a  no-CD for Pets, because SecuROM came with Sims 2 Deluxe (base game/NL). I have Uni and Pets now. I'm about to install Seasons and OFB EPs. Should I do anything other than installing the new EPs? I'm guessing that this will make Seasons my latest EP, meaning I should be using a no-CD for that one, rather than for Pets; so I guess that means changing the Pets no-CD back to the regular file, right?