Can't play LOTR: Battle for Middle Earth

[Martoch]

Okay...just bought the DVD vesion of LOTR: Battle for Middle Earth and upon launching the game, I get this error:





I wasn't aware that I had any emulation software running...the only thing I can think of that it might be is Alcohol 120% somehow...but I'm not sure.
Maybe CloneCD?

I believe that (I: ) is the problem...I don't really have a physical I: drive.


Here's a snapshot of my processes:


Any suggestions? Google searches are telling me to uninstall CD copying programs and reinstall them. Why the heck would I need to do that?

Thanks!
Mike

[vass0922]

You dont happen to have clonecd installed do you?
It automatically installs an app for dvd emulation.. I got caught on the same problem with a few games.
Uninstalled clonecd and it worked fine.
Alcohol maybe causing problems but not sure.

[Martoch]

Thanks vass... I just uninstalled CloneCD...still not working. Guess I'll try Alcohol.

[Mighty_Mouse]

Well I didn't want to start a whole new thread with another problem with BFME. When I am playing for a while I sometimes get a General Exception Failure message and the game shuts down. After I click ok on the GEF message, it pops up with another screen that says something along the lines of C++ runtime error in the main .dat file of LOTR:BFME. Should I justr wait for a patch or is there any suggestions?

Also I need to apologize for a lack of screenahots, but I am at work and the Celeron 433 I have won't run LOTR. LOL! When I get home (in about 6 hours ) I will post some screenies.

[vass0922]

MM, its the same game but a completely different problem.. in this case a new thread would be best

[Mighty_Mouse]

Ok, I'll start one with the screenies when I get home...... Hope you guys can wait.

[GroundZero3]

alcohol can mount images making it emulate a drive.

looks like you will have to disable it from starting up. i hate video games that are doing that now

[Undeadlord]

*sigh* Not to thread crap, but this is just another case of companies causing trouble for no reason. What right does that software company have to tell you that your not allowed to have CD/DVD emulation software on your computer?

Its like buying a VHS tape and then being told you can't watch it becuase you own a VCR with MIGHT be used to make a copy of it.

Undeadlord

[Martoch]

OMG I just uninstalled CloneCD, CloneDVD, and Alcohol 120%...rebooted...I'm still getting that error!

[GroundZero3]

does the virtual drive still show up in My computer?

Look in the device manager for a SCSI device

[Martoch]

Everything looks normal...no extra drives in 'my computer' (that I: drive is gone)...nothing funny that I can see in device manager.

Geesh...do I have to uninstall Nero as well???
GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

I'm going to be forced to use a no-dvd crack. Geesh!!!

[Martoch]

Works fine now...only because I had to use a no-dvd game.dat file.


What a bunch of BS!!! I paid $45 to play the game...not uninstall programs I use to backup my games.

[Mighty_Mouse]

Hmmm... I'd have to say that is pretty lame. Have you tried contacting EA? I know thier tech support isn't up to snuff, but for some reason, when I do buy a game from EA, it's usually buggy. I e-mail them serveral times a day until I get a response. I also try to include as much info as possible for the tech team to come up with solutions. In a small way I feel this helps them come out with a patch sooner, since they have error codes / screenies to work with.

No response yet on my LOTR: BFME issues yet though.

Quick edit: Can you play on-line with the no-cd crack? I hope it doesn't boot you or something...

[Bizkitkid2001]

My friend has deamon tools and can play the DVD version just fine. (Just got back from his house playing it) So I guess this game doesn't detect all DVD emulation software?

[poopeyhed2]

LOTR:BFME is protected by Macrovision's Safedisc 4. The problem is the fact that it detects virtual drives IE. CloneCD's or in your case Mike (mind if I call you that Martoch?) is that it detected your virtual drive from Alcohol 120% so it black listed it and gave you that problem.



In order to beat the Safedisc blacklisting, you must upgrade that particular version of virtual drive, hence Bizkitkid2001's friend is able to play it with Daemon Tools.

Mighty_Mouse EA is not going to do anything about it because that's part of the protection doing it's job, and not allowing you to copy it as easily.

AFAIK, I don't think you'll be able to play online with the no cd crack.

[Mighty_Mouse]

I don't know much about CloneCD/DVD or Alcohol, but are those legal? I mean like they are packaged and sold in stores? I don't know what the functions of those software suites are, but is it not EA's job to make sure thier games are 100% compatible with as many different systems as possible?

To me it sounds like those programs are used for making illegal copies of games, in such case, I would definitly see the game not working with those programs installed.

[GroundZero3]

they are not illegal, they are used to make up backup copies or your software so if it gets scratched you are coverd

[Martoch]

I seriously doubt I'll be able to play online with the fixed game.dat file...I think I would have to pay anyway, so I don't care about that.

I will certainly contact EA as soon as I can. They shouldn't make their games detect anything else on my computer except the specific hardware/software to make sure I meet minimum requirements to play. End of story.

[Undeadlord]

Mighty Mouse

Alcohol 120, Virtual Deamon, CloneCD = VCR

Basically, they all allow you to make backups and play image files. For example, I own a copy of Battlefield 1942, however BF1942 searches for the CD between every map load and slows things down. I made an image of the CD and used that on the install, so instead of having to spin up a CD to check for the CD, it takes 1/10 of the time to hit the HDD.

Just one legal use of the software.

Undeadlord

[Whos Theo?]

I will get this game soon, and I hope I don't have problems like this. I use virtual cd so i don't have to put the cd in every time, but I hope it won't come up with that message.