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Subtestube
07-03-06, 05:57 PM
Now, I want to precede this with a statement that I don't want this to turn into a flamefest against Starforce. What you do and don't think of them is besides the point - what I want is informed opinion. So, first, has anyone actually managed to get a Starforce using game to run under Vista Beta 2? I tried Trackmania, but no luck. Now, it's possible that that's just a compatibility issue (as we will be bound to get with XP era games under Vista), but I'm apprehensive about that for a very important reason.

As far as my understanding goes, for Starforce to work, it requires driver level access to your optical drive. My understanding of the Vista Device Driver Model also suggests that Vista simply won't allow third party pieces of software that kind of access, due to the new Security architecture. More importantly, I don't think the Vista device driver model will allow 'driver level' software to install that isn't actually associated with a piece of hardware directly.

So, my basic question is this: Does anyone know whether or not Starforce games work under Vista, and (b), does anyone know if Starforce have addressed this issue in any official press-releases.

scott123
07-03-06, 09:35 PM
To be honest I can't understand why so many people are attempting to run games under Vista at this point. Why don't you duel boot or install Vista on a second HD (like I did). This way everything you want to work....works :) , and then you can play with Vista, and what doesn't work...who cares :) . Vista isn't ready for games, and Starforce at this point.

grey_1
07-03-06, 09:45 PM
Good question. I've been waiting for a newer set of drivers before trying any more gaming, but I've got a couple of titles with starforce on them. Maybe tomorrow I'll see if they can be installed.

Subtestube
07-03-06, 10:17 PM
Haha - Yeah, scott, I'm well aware. I'm still using XP Pro for all my actual gaming. I installed it more out of curiosity than anything else. For reference, Trackmania installed fine - it just didn't run.

saturnotaku
07-04-06, 07:20 AM
So, my basic question is this: Does anyone know whether or not Starforce games work under Vista, and (b), does anyone know if Starforce have addressed this issue in any official press-releases.

I don't think you're going to find this out until Vista hits release candidate status. But you raise a very relevant point on this issue. I don't have any SF games personally, but I know this is one issue that I'm going to follow closely.

The Mallrat
07-28-06, 12:23 PM
StarForce released a driver a while ago to allow games to run under Vista. It can be found here: http://www.star-force.com/protection.phtml?c=83&id=957

It doesn't work on all StarForce protected games though. It worked fine on Still Life but I couldn't get Desert Rats vs Afrika Korps to run.