Now, a similar update has disabled SafeDisc DRM on Windows Vista, 7 and 8 as well. This was used by Microsoft as an explanation for actively blocking both digital rights management (DRM) drivers in Windows 10, arguing that with only selected games – and none from the last few years – relying on the software it was safer to break it than risk leaving it embedded into Windows. These copy protection systems date back to when most games were distributed on CDs/DVDs, especially in the mid noughties.
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There is a way around this, though, if you want to run a game that isn’t working. Here is the update’s description: “In addition to the changes that are listed for the vulnerabilities that are described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS15-097, this security bulletin addresses a defense-in-depth update for the secdrv.sys driver, a third-party driver”.
There is a workaround, however, as the update turns only off the secdrv.sys driver.
Fortunately Microsoft does offer a fix, by starting a command prompt as Administrator and typing “sc start secdrv” the service is loaded again and Safedisc protected games should play again. On Windows 8 press Windows-X, and select Command Prompt (admin) from the context menu.
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Previously we reported that Microsoft removed support for SecuRom and Safedisc from Windows 10 which also caused old games to no longer work on Microsoft’s latest OS. Afterwards, you enter “sc start secdrv” without the quotes. Using this workaround “may make a computer or a network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses”, and like the no-CD crack method, isn’t recommended. Microsoft states that you can still access those games, but the instructions they provided seem to be rather long-winded and unnecessarily complicated.
