But I Put In The Danged Disc!!!!!

[imhotep3147]

I just got a brand new computer less than a week ago. The first thing I did was install CotN. It played fine for about 3 days. Now all of a sudden I put the disc in and the comp's not even recognizing it. First it gave me the "cannot authenticate in timeframe" message. Then when I hit retry it asked me to put in the disc. I tried restarting my computer....same thing I put in the CotN disc, get the first screen that allows me to choose play/uninstall/directx/etc....I click play and either nothing happens at all or I get the message asking me to put in the CotN disc. It worked absolutely fine before. I downloaded the patch and installed it....play a few games. Now it's tripping out! I tried to run a dxdiag but instead of the nice little list I would get on my old computer I get a whole screen with all kinds of tabs and options, can't even highlight anything to copy it and no way to attach it! As a last resort I've uninstalled the game and reinstalled it but that hasn't helped. It can't be the drivers already can it?!! Anyone out there got any ideas?? :(

[sitearm]

Imhotep3147: On your tabbed dxdiag screen, at the bottom there's a button that says "Save all information". Click that and it will come up with a Save dialog on where to put your save file that you can upload. Welcome to XP! :)

... I tried to run a dxdiag but instead of the nice little list I would get on my old computer I get a whole screen with all kinds of tabs and options, can't even highlight anything to copy it and no way to attach it!...

[imhotep3147]

But I had xp on my last comp and it didn't give me that.....bah I'll go get it.

EDIT:
OK....here....but I swear that's not the problem :D

How the heck ya'll can understand what most of that means is beyond me.

[tobing]

Can you remember what else you did when the CotN-CD stopped to work correctly? Maybe you installed other software/games? Might be that some other sw caused some messup in your system (which should not be possible in XP, but it is unfortunately). I would guess that somehow your CDROM-driver got messed up, maybe because of some copy-protection of another game?

[imhotep3147]

What I did was install all of my games onto this computer the day I got it. Then went back after and got all the patches. I've played several games since then, including CotN, and have had no problems. I've played SimCity4 and Tropico since the whole debacle without any hangups so I'd imagine something went screwy with the disc. Only thing I can think of is an update notification came through right as I was about to play CotN....it asked if I wanted to restart for my updates to take affect....I clicked "no" I'd restart later. Then it all went downhill from there. That's when I got the "cannot authenticate" message. So I just ejected the disc and put it right back in thinking it got "stuck" because of the message. That's when it started asking me to put in the disc (but it was in there!). I took CotN out and restarted my comp, put the disc in again, and ... nothing...no auto run...nothing. So I went to Start/Programs/.... to do it that way....the screen came up....I clicked "Play"....it thought for a while....spun the disc (no skips, it was spinning smooth with no hiccups) then asked me to put in the CotN disc....and again....I ALREADY PUT IT IN!!!! ACK!.....it's annoying me now. Have uninstalled and reinstalled twice now to no avail. Help please.

[tjs204]

Hmm...

I doubt I could be as much help as the official techies at TM, but I do remember this happening to me before...

I cannot remember which game it was that refused to function when I installed it the second time ( a re-install about a month after I delelted it) but it refused to run.

Now that I am thinking about it... it could have been Call to Power, by Activision. I never got it to do anything but play the tutorial after re-install.

Sorry for the little bit of sad news... hope TM can get ya fixed. Happy New Year!

-tjs204

[Raccoon_TOF]

Check in your CotN.ini file, make sure that the lines:

Installed From Directory \GAMES\CHILDREN OF THE NILE\
Installed From Volume D:

match your installation path properly (the location the game is installed to, not the location of your CD-ROM unlike the section names might suggest...).

The next thing to check is your SecuROM settings in the registry. (NOTE: BE CAREFUL WHEN EDITING REGISTRY! BACKUP IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!) Under the key "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SecuROM\Keys\" check to see what is listed there. The key for CotN is "74623EE8" I believe. If that is listed there, RENAME the key (don't delete, in case it doesn't get rebuilt properly), and try loading again (it will automatically recreate the key when you load the game with the CD properly inserted and everything is working correctly).

Check to see if either of those help, and let us know what you find...

[Keith]

That "unable to authenticate" error message that came up indicates to me that your game and hardware are having SecuROM sercurity issues. You should visit the site at the following link and use the 12 steps there to help analyze the problem:

http://www.blizzard.com/support/?id=awr0648p

The site is designed for their game World of Warcraft, but the steps there should help you sort it out.

[Raccoon_TOF]

Looking at the DxDiag again, it looks like you have an Intel 925X series chipset on the motherboard. Take a look at the link below (also at Blizzard) and follow the directions there for installing the Intel Application Accelerator software (seems to solve problems with improper detection of some CD/DVD drives.)

http://www.blizzard.com/support/?id=awr0648p3

[imhotep3147]

Ooookkkkkk......I can't get the Intel Accelerator thing because it's not compatible. I checked the CotN.ini file and that info is correct. Where do I get to that registry thing Raccoon?

[imhotep3147]

Update: Ok I did a system restore to a point before everything went screwy and reinstalled the game and the patch. Now...I get a message saying CotN has caused an error and asks if I want to send an error report...I ended up sending it in after the fifth time of getting it just to see what'll happen. New development....Emperor:RotK will not work either....I didn't attempt to play it before all the difficulties so I can't say whether it worked or not. On the plus side, Pharaoh/Cleo works fine as does Tropico and SimCity4....and Locomotion and a handful of others. I'm about to lose my mind here....I mean this thing is brand new and already there are problems?

[angelisis]

can i just say that if it were me and I only got the computer a week ago I would not be messing around loading this that and the other I would be taking back to the place where I got it and have them fix it...it would be still under warranty and as you said above....for the first three days you played evrything just fine...take it back and save your self the frustration.
I just got a brand new computer less than a week ago. The first thing I did was install CotN. It played fine for about 3 days.

[imhotep3147]

There's nothing for Dell to fix.....everything else works fine.....just not CotN and apparently Emperor. I mean I'm using it now without any problems it's only these games. I was hoping that it was a simple driver type issue that could be easily solved but now it doesn't seem like it. :( Bah humbug on compatibility issues and the like.

Edit: Just a random thought but could it possibly be because I have a DVD-rw drive as my only optical?? Do I have to go and get a regular CD-rom for this to work right....cause I was contemplating doing that anyway.

[Raccoon_TOF]

It is possible that your DVD/RW is not fully compatible with the SecuROM encryption system, yes. However, that should not be causing the CTD problems that are requesting the error report to MS. It might, however, be the root of the original problem...but I don't know why you were able to run it ok for the first 3 days in that case. You might try rolling back the drivers for your DVD/RW in case Windows Update automatically updated them. To do this, right-click on My Computer, select Properties, go to the Hardware tab, and click the Device Manager button. Then double-click on DVD/CD-ROM Drives, right-click on your DVD/RW in the list, and select Properties. Go to the Driver tab, and click the Roll Back Driver button. Let me know if that fixes it. If not, I can try to walk you through the registry, but I'll warn you in advance that if you mess something up in the registry (easy to do by mistake) that you can make it so your system will not even boot up anymore...not recommended if you don't know what you are doing...

EDIT: Did some searching online and it does appear that the Philips DVD8631 that you have for your DVD/RW is not fully compatible with the SecuROM encryption software. If you are looking to get a separate CD-ROM drive anyway, I would guess that would likely fix the authentication problem. In the meantime, rolling back the drivers for the DVD/RW to the windows default drivers might allow you to play until you get the separate CD-ROM drive, though you may lose some advanced functionality on the DVD/RW. Also, once you do get the new drive, you may have to uninstall CotN, and then reinstall using the new drive, in order to get the game to check the proper drive for the CD, rather than the DVD/RW.

[angelisis]

There's nothing for Dell to fix.....everything else works fine.....just not CotN and apparently Emperor. I mean I'm using it now without any problems it's only these games. I was hoping that it was a simple driver type issue that could be easily solved but now it doesn't seem like it. :( Bah humbug on compatibility issues and the like.

Edit: Just a random thought but could it possibly be because I have a DVD-rw drive as my only optical?? Do I have to go and get a regular CD-rom for this to work right....cause I was contemplating doing that anyway.


how can you be using it now without any problems and not be able to play games...heh....seems like a problem to me. ;)
For the not so computer savy like myself I would not know to download or update drivers blah blah blah...I would and have done in the past, take it back to the dealer and have them resolve the issue.
but thats just me I hope that you, with the help that others here have offered will be able to resolve the issue.

:D goodluck

[Chris Harvey]

I've seen this problem posted one other time on the forums here, and the root of the issue was the DVD drive. In my research, I found the same thing that Raccoon posted, that some DVD drives just don't handle SecuROM very well. If you're looking to add in a second CD drive, that should do the trick.

Good luck and keep us posted on how it goes!

Cheers!
Chris

[imhotep3147]

*gives a world weary sigh* Well, hell. I'll try that. Since I was looking into it anyway I'll go pick one up tomorrow. Can you guys suggest a brand that would be compatible with the SecuROM and with Dell's stuff?

[Raccoon_TOF]

I don't currently have a CD-ROM in this system, just the CD/DVD-RW, but I know that my older Mitsumi 52x (forget the model number) worked in the other system for other SecuROM titles. You might try contacting SecuROM directly once you have a drive model picked out (before purchase) to make sure it will work.

[sitearm]

How 'bout using CD/DVD drive brands that Dell puts in their systems... I've got a Dell and disk works ok with CotN... several other folks too...

* what you might call an inexact approach to hardware specification, but hey... *

[Keith]

Hmmm... What model Dell does he have? Each model seems to come with a different brand DVD+RW burner. My Dimension XPS came with a NEC ND1100A.

[Raccoon_TOF]

Looks to be a Dell Dimension 8400...

[imhotep3147]

Mine came with a Phillips IIRC. Apparently that one isn't working well with CotN so I was wondering what other brand would allow me to play it. I also want to make sure whatever I get won't do anything funky to my computer. :D I would assume that since Dell uses a wide variety of brand names for all their doodads that almost any would work but I'd like to make sure before I spend the money.

EDIT: Yeah a Dell 8400 but with a little upgrading.

Oh yeah, ahem.... "she" :D

[Raccoon_TOF]

Yes, you currently have a Philips DVD8631 model drive. As far as I know, there is nothing about Dell systems that prevents the use of any standard off-the-shelf replacements just like any home-built system (they don't have the nasty proprietary cases and cabling that Dell and Packard Bell used to use anymore thankfully...). Mind you, whatever you add that is not added by Dell themself, will not be covered by any applicable warranty and they will usually not provide support for...but just adding a CD-ROM shouldn't be a major issue there.

As far as specific brand suggestions, the only one that I know works for sure with SecuROM is the older (2-3 years?) Mitsumi 52x CD-Roms. However, I'd say 99% of the basic CD-ROM's out there should not give you any troubles, so go for what you like/can find cheaply/whatever. Usually standard CD-ROM drivers have very few compatibility issues, it's just the recorders and especially DVD recorders that have issues in most cases (due primarily to the enhanced "features" and the fact that for DVD drives especially they occasionally support CD's with software, not hardware...)

[Keith]

Dell has a updated driver (http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/type.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_8400&category=0&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=8127&devlib=32) for your Phillips 8631 DVD+/-RW drive.

[CarrieThompson13@hotmail.]

My disc, on a daily basis, will not read. After I eject it and retry a good 8 or so times, to play screen comes up and bingo! Dont know why. The 1st time it happened, I took it out and tried other games, Tiger 04, Battlefield, etc., and guess what? It read them fine. For some strange reason, everyday, I have to retry and retry for CoTN. Keep ya head up...it gets better...

[GillB]

The DVD-RW that came with my Dell runs CotN fine - it's the drive I've always used for it. It seems to be a TEAC DV-W58E which, I presume, is different to the problem ones?

[Raccoon_TOF]

Yes, Dell varies widely which drive they use in each model computer. The Philips 8631 is definitely one reported with problems with SecuROM, but that does not mean that all drives in Dell Dimension computers will have problems (as seen above).

[imhotep3147]

Well darn the luck. I'll be buying a Cd drive in the next week or so. I will let you all know how it works....til then it's back to the ancient stone tablet (ie: 2yo laptop) LOL. I'm assuming that the new drive will probably allow me to play Emperor also? Or is that a whole seperate problem?! :eek:

[NanaBanana]

I have experienced some problems with my CD-ROM as well. We'll probably wind up buying a new one soon. It growls from time to time so I think it's just tired from over use. :p

Gateway has been great with their technical support even to helping my hubby after he's changed out the sound and video cards. Our first computer was a Compaq, and what a pain it was. Customer support was crappy too.

I'm thinking of buying a second computer for myself, but haven't decided if I want to get a Dell or another Gateway. Between work and home, I have gone through 4 Gateways (udated versions) and have only had problems with the last one at work.

I need a really good gaming computer with Microsoft Works (for my writing) and a good photo editing proggy. (OH! And major internet usage and protection.) I have too much other unused stuff on my computer that "came with the package".

[Kiya]

I need a really good gaming computer with Microsoft Works (for my writing) and a good photo editing proggy. (OH! And major internet usage and protection.) I have too much other unused stuff on my computer that "came with the package".

Nana, hope you'll find a nice computer with useful software. I recently bougth a new one with a package of all the important software I needed: virus control + firewall including updates for 3 years, microsoft Works and Word, AdobePhotoshop Elements2 ( I used that for editing my usersets snapshots and made CDlabels for Cotn music) and Album, Musicmatch jukebox (which I just love!) and what else, but no games. Compared with what other companies offered for the same price, this is an excellent choice. Even CotN is going fine, only the speed is a bit of a problem: I can't change it. Already asked this before and the only answer about this was: because it is a laptop. :( :mad: Perhaps some day I'm going to build an another pyramid. :eek:

[Keith]

Well darn the luck. I'll be buying a Cd drive in the next week or so. I will let you all know how it works....til then it's back to the ancient stone tablet (ie: 2yo laptop) LOL. I'm assuming that the new drive will probably allow me to play Emperor also? Or is that a whole seperate problem?! :eek:
Do some research before you buy. Find a brand and model CD or DVD drive you like than type that brand name and model number into Google and see what others have to say about it.

I have had good luck with my Samsung 616T DVD-ROM and NEC 1100A DVD+RW drives. There are others that will be equally as good, and their will be others out there that give you the same sort of problem you have now. So do your research.

[itisglen]

You know, there's one other possibility. The disk itself could have gotten dirty. I have resolved intermittent disk errors often by simply washing the disk in the sink with hand-soap and water. Sometimes I even scrub it with a paper towel.

It might not work, but heh, it's easy and free.

[mouse]

Sometimes drives get dirty too and need to be cleaned.

[angelisis]

You know, there's one other possibility. The disk itself could have gotten dirty. I have resolved intermittent disk errors often by simply washing the disk in the sink with hand-soap and water. Sometimes I even scrub it with a paper towel.

It might not work, but heh, it's easy and free.

can you imagine if my hubby came home and found me huddeld over the sink scrubbing the $100 gaming disc he just got me for chrissy with good old sunlight soap....LOL....I think the lint free cloth is a better option or getting it cleaned and the scratches taken out by the disc cleaning machines you see in some gaming shops and DVD rental outlets. :rolleyes:

oh and CD drives can not be cleaned with soap and water just incase you wonderin :p :D

[imhotep3147]

You know, there's one other possibility. The disk itself could have gotten dirty. I have resolved intermittent disk errors often by simply washing the disk in the sink with hand-soap and water. Sometimes I even scrub it with a paper towel.

It might not work, but heh, it's easy and free.


I thought of that....I tried reinstalling it in the old laptop and it worked fine so I think it's going to be the cd drive.....bah. But I do have another disk that should be cleaned....I usually just stick em in the toilet and give it a flush....works pretty well actually. :D

[Raccoon_TOF]

LOL! Just make sure you have clean water (ie: no nasty minerals, not just fresh water in the toilet...;))

Reminds me of when I used to run my keyboards through the dishwasher before they all started making them as membrane keyboards...the mechanical switches handle the dishwasher fine, the membrane keyboards do NOT, lol!

[imhotep3147]

OK Am I to assume that since CotN uses Empire Earth's engine that the same SecuROM problem affecting CotN will also affect EE?

Seriously this is getting ridiculous.....how can a disk just not work in a damn disk drive?

[Raccoon_TOF]

It's not that the disc doesn't work in the drive, it's that the copy-protection for the CD when the game loads doesn't work with some drives. As to the EE question, the SecuROM is not a part of the game engine, it's part of the copy-protection. I'm not sure whether EE uses the SecuROM encryption, so I can't answer whether it would work or not unfortunately.

[imhotep3147]

Well, bah. :mad:

*pouts*

[Keith]

It's not that the disc doesn't work in the drive, it's that the copy-protection for the CD when the game loads doesn't work with some drives. As to the EE question, the SecuROM is not a part of the game engine, it's part of the copy-protection. I'm not sure whether EE uses the SecuROM encryption, so I can't answer whether it would work or not unfortunately.
As far as I am aware, all VUG/Sierra games use SecuROM. Sometimes the problem is with just newer versions of SecuROM that get used and not with all versions. Newer games often get the newer SecuROM versions and games. So it is possible that EE will work, given that is is already about two years old.

[imhotep3147]

Nope, it doesn't. I just was wondering if perhaps it was the same problem.

So far I've only had 3 games not work.....Emperor:RotMK, Empire Earth, and CotN. If they all have the same SecuROM issues then I'm OK. But I just want to make sure that's what it is before I go out and buy a drive.

[Raccoon_TOF]

After a quick google...

Emperor: RotMK uses SecuROM version 4.77.00.0050
Empire Earth uses SecuROM version 4.54.00.0050
Children of the Nile uses SecuROM version 5.03.11.0132

So I'd guess that is indeed your problem...

EDIT: Note - This assumes the US release version of these titles. Some of the overseas releases use different copy protection methods (SafeDisc being a common alternative it appears).

EDIT #2: List of (reportedly) compatible drives that will work with all of the above mentioned SecuROM version numbers (incomplete, there are many others that will work, but these are definitely known to do so.)

Liteon 24x, 32x, 40x, 52x CD-ROMs
Asus 16x, 40x, 48x, 52x CD-ROMs
Ricoh MP7163A CD-R
Acer 1610A CD-R
Liteon LTD-163D DVD-ROM
Toshiba SD-M1402 DVD-ROM
Hitachi GD-7500 DVD-ROM
Toshiba SD-R1202 DVD-ROM/CD-R Combo
NEC CloneDrive DVD+-R/RW
Mat****a UJ-810 DVD RAM/-R/-RW

[imhotep3147]

Thanks for that list...that will help immensely. I've been eyeballing the Liteon so that's good to know it's compatible. And yes, they are all US versions (they'd better be!!). Now it's just going to be a waiting game until I can scrounge (sp?) up enough cash to actually buy the blasted thing.

[parrotslave]

Just thought I'd chime in and let you know I am having the same problem with my CD-ROM drive so you are not alone.

However, the disc runs well in my DVD RW drive.

[imhotep3147]

Yeah, it's that whole stupid SecuRom thing. But since the posting of this thread I have gotten another dvd drive and the game works great. This also solved the issue with a number of other games that wouldn't work with my original drive. So now if a game doesn't work in one at least I know it'll work in the other one. :D

[Antoine]

Hi.
Thanks for these posts.I had the exact same problem and also with a brand spankin' new Dell AND with the phillips 8631. I called Dell and gave them this thread to read and let them know that these games are NOT working with their phillips 8631 DVD/RW Combo drive and that more softwares may get SecuROM in the future so it is not good (because at first before I mentionned your post to them, they kept saying;"but it's just one CD that is not working so obviously there is nothing wrong with the drive." :rolleyes: ) So they are sending me a NEW DVD/RW Combo drive based on Raccoon's list (cuz I told them that I wasn't about to buy a new drive with a brand new computer...I decided to take the advice of someone else who had posted (I don't remember who :o who had said that if it is a new computer just get THEM to fix it)...I mean it doesn't matter if it is just one game that isn't working, and it also doesn't matter that it is a game and not some other software, it's not for them to judge, if something is not working, then they should fix it! ;) so...if you still have a warranty on your Dell I reccommend giving them a call and complaining, you can tell them that someone else with the same problem got a new drive! :p
Anyway thanks for all the posts......oh and thanks just in general because I have always been a fan of the city building games, Zeus, Caesar3, Pharaoh and now Emperor but I didn't know about Children of the Nile...OH MY GOD! I just played the demo, and as soon as I get my new drive I'm installing it! (I already found a shop in town that carries it, and I'm gonna buy it on monday!)
so Thanks EVERYONE!
Have a great weekend!
Antoine.

[Keith]

If you have a problem getting the CD recognized by your CD drive, try the following.

1. Open the C:\Programs\Tilted Mill\CotN folder.

2. Right click on the cotn.exe file.

3. Select Launch Analysis from the right click menu. This creates a file that contains a snapshot of your system and CD in the C:\ (root or main) folder of your hard drive called AnalysisLog.Sr0

4. Find the AnalysisLog.Sr0. Put it in a zipfile and email it to:

support@securom.com

They will look at it and get back to you later.

[Antoine]

Follow-up: PROBLEM SOLVED!!
The Dell technician just came and installed my new DVD/RW Combo drive (not sure what brand it is but it isn't the Phillips 8631) and my Emperor works fine. The SecuROM issue is solved!! :D
Now I'll be getting the CotN game on monday and hopefully that one will work too!
Thanks all!
Antoine.

P.S.: Imsohote, call Dell! Even if you already have a new drive, maybe you can complain and they'll appease you with some free stuff, feel free to use me as a reference ie: "this guy got a brand new drive and it solved the problem, I had to BUY a new drive... :mad: etc"... ? :p

[Keith]

You have to go through Dell, tech support to get a in-home technician visit, if you have that sort of warranty. Many Dells come with a 1 year in-home technician service, but not all. I bought a 4 year deal from Dell and it's paid off. I've had a new motherboard put into my wife's P4, a new hard drive (twice), a new motherboard in my XPS, a new CPU, and new RAM all via the in-home tech visit.

To get any thing like a new drive from Dell you have to call their customer care number and raise hell there. After dozens of calls to tech support over a spread of a year, I finally called their customer care number and got my wif'e's computer completely replaced after citing all the problems we had had with it and all the calls to tech support we had made, and that we had had no less than three in-home visits on her machine alone, none of which resolved her problem.

So sometimes complaining into the correct set of ears does work. For the extended in-home service, that was the best $50 I ever spent.

[imhotep3147]

Damn....just......damn. :D

But I am calling Dell on monday!!