SecuROM registry error, etc

[TheMercenary87]

Hi all,

 

I just re-download and reïnstalled GTA IV againg via Steam because the first install somehow went wrong.

I first comepletely uninstalled GTA IV offcourse and I allso comepletely uninstalled SecuROM. I know I correctly uninstalled

SecuROM because I used a tutorial on how to do it, like this one: http://www.fpsbanana.com/tuts/7292

and checked the system afterwards and everything was gone. So then I re-download and reïnstalled GTA IV trough Steam

and installed it (Rockstar Social Club, Games for WIndows Live, etc) But now I'm bassicly getting kicked again in multiplayer

because of system to slow. So now I checked the registry to look if everything GTA IV or SecuROM is correctly installed.

And I try to open HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SecuROM\License information

and it gives me an error basicly saying (in Dutch) that the system can't find the file (whatever file it means)

So my question is are you able to open this key? (License information) Or not? Because I really do'n't know anymore what causes this kicks etc,

mabey SecuROM has anything to do with it.

Thanks for any help..

[Marcin6]

The same

This f*cking key dont wanna to be deleted ! :|

[TheMercenary87]

But can you also not open it if you click it?

Because I'm not trying to delete it.

Edited April 8, 2009 by TheMercenary87

[Hydro_PT]

That kick has nothing to do with Securom, I think. It's a system implemented by GFWL, to prevent lag on the games. If a computer is running too slowly, then the system will automatically kick that player. Is your game lagging badly online? How many FPS do you get? Are you using programs such UTorrent while playing online?

[TheMercenary87]

 

That kick has nothing to do with Securom, I think. It's a system implemented by GFWL, to prevent lag on the games. If a computer is running too slowly, then the system will automatically kick that player. Is your game lagging badly online? How many FPS do you get? Are you using programs such UTorrent while playing online?

I don't know how many FPS I get, but I dont have any torrent programs in the background. I only have AVG anti virus.

And I have the DOX Nvidia 182.05 driver. So I don't know what causes this.

Everything on Medium in the game and resolution on 1280 x 1024. I have 9700m GT (laptop version)

[Hydro_PT]

To see how many FPS you're getting just download FRAPS, which is a small program that takes pictures, records movies and also tells you how many FPS you're getting.

 

Hmm did you try to lower the settings? Put everything on low or off, all sliders to minimum, resolution to 800 x 600. See if it still happens. If not, then start raising the settings again until you get kicked again. Your graphics card isn't that good for a game like this.

 

Btw check your NAT setting on GFWL. If it's STRICT, then you will need to forward some ports or allow GTA IV on your firewall. This is common for anyone who uses a router. Since you're playing on a laptop, maybe that's the problem.

[TheMercenary87]

 

To see how many FPS you're getting just download FRAPS, which is a small program that takes pictures, records movies and also tells you how many FPS you're getting.

 

Hmm did you try to lower the settings? Put everything on low or off, all sliders to minimum, resolution to 800 x 600. See if it still happens. If not, then start raising the settings again until you get kicked again. Your graphics card isn't that good for a game like this. 

 

Btw check your NAT setting on GFWL. If it's STRICT, then you will need to forward some ports or allow GTA IV on your firewall. This is common for anyone who uses a router. Since you're playing on a laptop, maybe that's the problem.

Right now I'm doing very well with 19/24 frames per second at a resolution of 1440x900 (everything else on medium)

In both single and multiplayer. Not getting kicked at all anymore. Still pretty cool with a graphics card with a 128-bit memory interface.

I guess I start tweaking the view distance and detail distance, etc, now.

Edited April 9, 2009 by TheMercenary87

[mkey82]

You could try the official securom removal tool

 

https://support.securom.com/removaltool/

[TheMercenary87]

 

You could try the official securom removal tool

 

https://support.securom.com/removaltool/

Yes I also used the official tool, wich leaves multiple Securom files en registry entries undeleted.

That's why I used a tutorial like the one I posted in the o.p

I completely removed SecuROM. The registry folder: "License information"

located at: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SecuROM\

was also gone (the entire map offcourse) So the system was comepletely SecuROM free.

 

After that I reïnstalled GTA IV, which also reïnstalled SecuROM offcourse

Only to find that I couldn't open the registry entry: License information

located at the path I mentioned above. So I still have the question:

is everybody also unable to open this key? I get an error in Dutch

(see first post)

 

[Rockstar Toronto]

Contact Securom support.

 

https://support.securom.com/pop_gtaiv.html

[TheMercenary87]

Contact Securom support.

 

https://support.securom.com/pop_gtaiv.html

Thanks, will do. Still find it a bit strange I can't open this key.

Just never know what it has to do with running the game smoothly.

Case closed I guess.

[zBobG]

You are not supposed to be able to open or delete the registry key: "License information". It is hidden by the same method that 'root kits' are hidden. This DOES NOT make SecuRom a root kit, it uses the same mechanism to prevent the user from accidently deleting or changing the key's contents.

 

The key basically contains a digital signature, which is also on the DVD, and merely shortens the time it takes to verify a DVD when you run a SecuRom protected title. It is also part of the DRM system which prevents you from just copying a DVD.

 

Now, a clever person having this information would know how to open this key and examine its contents. Doing that would gain you very little though because it's only part of the SecuRom protection system. Hackers interested in defeating the SecuRom system simply bypass it altogether.

 

Just for your information, the SecuRom software only runs to verify a DVD. Once that's done and your application is running SecuRom is no longer running. So it's impossible that SecuRom could affect the performance of that particular application such as lowering the FPS or causing stuttering.

[EDIT for punctuation]

Edited April 10, 2009 by zBobG

[TheMercenary87]

 

You are not supposed to be able to open or delete the registry key: "License information". It is hidden by the same method that 'root kits' are hidden. This DOES NOT make SecuRom a root kit, it uses the same mechanism to prevent the user from accidently deleting or changing the key's contents.

 

The key basically contains a digital signature, which is also on the DVD, and merely shortens the time it takes to verify a DVD when you run a SecuRom protected title. It is also part of the DRM system which prevents you from just copying a DVD.

 

Now, a clever person, having this information, would know how to open this key and examine it's contents. Doing that would gain you very little though because it's only part of the SecuRom protection system. Hackers interested in defeating the SecuRom system simply bypass it altogether.

 

Just for your information, the SecuRom software only runs to verify a DVD. Once that's done and your application is running SecuRom is no longer running. So it's impossible that SecuRom could affect the performance of that particular application such as lowering the FPS or causing stuttering.

Thank you very much for this very informative post!