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Now how to overcome the SafeDisc 2 protection… The easiest way would be to use a burner that supports correct EFM encoding. You could then use CloneCD to back-up the game with these settings:
- READ TAB:
- Fast Error Skip ON
Since some time now CloneCD has a new option called ‘Amplify Weak Sectors’ which was intended to help writers that normally couln’t make a good (read: working) back-up. For more info on this new option read this article.
If you have a burner that cannot reproduce the weak sectors and doesn’t work with ‘Amplify Weak Sectors’ you’ll need to use another tool. These tools are available and I’ll briefly explain them all:
- BetaBlocker
- DAEMON Tools
- InseKtorS
- PlayBackup
BetaBlocker
URL: www.geocities.com/cdbeta
This is the latest (German) SafeDisc 2 tool and very simple to use. An English version of this tool is also available but the program only has two buttons so it’s not very difficult to understand and/or use.
Usage
- Create an image of the SafeDisc 2 protected game with CloneCD (Fast Error Skip enabled). Three files will appear on your harddisk after a while called ‘IMAGE.SUB, IMAGE.CCD and IMAGE.IMG.’
- Copy the BetaBlocker file to the same folder as where the image files are located. You don’t have to do this but it’s easier this way.
- Start BetaBlocker and drag the IMAGE.IMG file to the BetaBlocker main screen.
- Now press the first button to scan for weak sectors. The default range of 1000 sectors is ok since the weak sectors are in the first 500 sectors of the disc. After a few seconds BetaBlocker will report the weak sectors that were found.
- Now press the second button to patch these sectors. This will again only take a few seconds.
- You can close BetaBlocker now and use CloneCD to burn the modified image to a CD-R.
BetaBlocker is a small file and easy to use. You don’t need an extra program installed or running in the background to play the back-up.
Disadvantages
It doesn’t work with all SafeDisc 2 protected games! I tested it myself and found it worked great with ‘Max Payne’ but it failed with ‘The Sims Party.’ You’ll have to try and see if it works or not. Here’s a tip: use a CD-ReWritable so you don’t waste CD-Recordables.
DAEMON Tools
URL: www.daemon-tools.com
This is a very good and well known program to emulate common copy protections and SafeDisc 2 is one of them. An English manual is included in the download of the program so I won’t explain how to use this program. DAEMON Tools is an emulator which means it uses a virtual CD-ROM drive (called V386 PHANTOM CDROM) to simulate the protection and play back-ups created with for instance CloneCD, DiscJuggler, CDRWin or BlindSuite.
Advantages
Besides SafeDisc 2 DAEMON Tools can also emulate other copy protections like the LaserLock, SecuRom, SecuRom NEW and the normal SafeDisc protection. DAEMON Tools is frequently updated when Macrovision for instance brings out an update of their SafeDisc 2 protection blacklisting this program. Another big advantage of DAEMON Tools is that it can also play (created or downloaded) images before you burn them! You can load these images with your virtual CD-ROM and see if they work properly before burning them to a CD-R.
Disadvantages
Not a very big disadvantage but you need to have DAEMON Tools installed and running to play the back-ups. DAEMON Tools can be automatically loaded at start-up if you wish to.
InseKtorS
URL: go.to/insektors
This is a so-called ‘image patcher’ for the SafeDisc (2) and SecuRom protection. It supports images created with CloneCD, BlindSuite, CDRWin, Nero and ISO@2352 but BlindSuite is recommended.
Usage
- Again a simple to use program. First create an image of your SafeDisc 2 protected game with your desired program. BlindSuite is recommended but other programs are also supported.
- Start InseKtorS and go to the last tab (Installation/Check) to see if the InseKtorS driver is installed which is needed to play the back-ups. If not press ‘Install/Update driver’ to install the driver. Your computer has to be restarted.
- After the restart, start InseKtorS again and use the first tab (CD image patch) to select your image created in the first step.
- Press ‘Prepare’ to modify the image.
- Now burn the modified image back to a CD-R with the same program you used to create it with in the first step.
- After burning the image start InseKtorS again and go to the second tab (CD Drives control & Status) to select the drives you’re going to use to play the back-up with.
InseKtorS supports several image files and both the SafeDisc and SecuRom protections are supported. It’s easy to use and works fast (e.g. the back-up will run quicker than the original when you start the game).
Disadvantages
You need to install a driver and select which drives you’re going to use to play the back-up with.
PlayBackup
URL: N/A
This was the first successful SafeDisc 2 tool which was the answer for a lot of people using CloneCD to back-up their SafeDisc 2 protected games. It works a bit like InseKtorS does but it has less capabilities.
Usage
- Install PlayBackup and restart your computer. If you installed it correctly a red smiley will appear in your Windows taskbar. We’ll get back to this later.
- Create an image of your SafeDisc 2 protected game with CloneCD (Fast Error Skip enabled).
- Start ‘PatchImage.EXE’ (included in the PlayBackup download). If you’re using a registered CloneCD version PatchImage will automatically find your CloneCD image but if not you’ll need to select it manually.
- Now press the yellow arrow in the PatchImage main screen to patch the image.
- Burn the patched image back to a CD-R with CloneCD.
- Now right click on the red smiley in your Windows taskbar and choose ‘Enable PlayBackup’ so it turns into a yellow smiley (indicating PlayBackup is active).
- You can now play the back-up.
Again very simple to use and it gets the job done.
Disadvantages
There’s no download link or homepage for this program so you’ll need to look for it somewhere on the net. PlayBackup only works on a Windows 95/98/ME based computer and not on a Windows NT/2000 based computer. And last but not least it only works with CloneCD images and it can only defeat the SafeDisc 2 protection.
Now for the conclusions…
27 Comments
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 23 Aug 01 01:37
"CD Freaks doesn't support or encourage software piracy but people have the right to back-up their games (if they are the owner) for personal use. That's what this article was intended for. " Why don't you ask the maker of the game if you can copy itfor your own use. You are being hypocritical. If people want to back a game, then they should send a letter requesting permission and a way to do so. You are being complicit and you completely advocate illegal pirating.
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 23 Aug 01 20:16
If you don't like this site get the f*ck out of it... :P It is my right to make a backup... and when the software company is preventing me in doing that... I must search for a source which keeps it possible to make a good copy... so: great work, CDFREAKS! :7
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 24 Aug 01 18:45
You do have written consent from the manufacturer. Read the EULA agreement, in most cases you are allowed 3 personal copies of the game. I think Macrovision_Rules should know a little more about what he is talking about, because I , as well as others I am sure, am getting sick if his comments that are supportive of protection, but have no base when it comes to the legality of copying a cd. I dont know how many of you have been happy you have that backup of a game when the original gets a nice scratch, or you left it in the sun too long. So cool it Macrovision_Rules
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 09 Sep 01 21:24
First off, I am no lover of MacroVision or CD copy protection, but the 'Legal right to backup' is apparently a myth. I thought, at first that this was true, but after writing a e-mail to the european copyright council complaining about the infringment on my right by MacroVision and other copy protection companies, I was informed that Copying is Illegal, in any form and the EULA state that no part of the CD or product can be copied, not even with consent. Now I know this will not change many poeple opinions on copying and copyright laws may be different in america but i just though i'd make the point. 
It is true that some EULA state that no copies are allowed, however, some also state that a certain number are allowed as long as there is not intent to sell or distribute.
Very good article.. But I wasn´t able to make a backup of my Max Payne. When I tryed to install it it stopped and complained about the file data2. Is it anything wrong with the original cd?? I used CloneCD and BetaBlocker. What should I do??
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 09 Oct 01 10:29
I think that all legit purchasers should be able to make backups of their games. I have been told by a couple of companies (and my friends have also) that they are not allowed to make ANY additional copies at all of their PURCHASED software. One of my best friends had his house burn about 6 months ago and lost a lot of games, so we all started backing up what we could, but with copy protection today we often don't get very far. I believe that if I purchase a game, I should be able to make backups for myself with no problems, I bought it, I can do what I want with it, damnit! (within reason)
I live in Norway, and here everyone has a RIGHT to make copies of cd's and even share it with friends and family,so copy protection like this is actually against norwegian law...
-About the article: I got a plexwriter 24/10/40,and acording to the list in this article states that it supports correct efm coding, my backups of diablo2 will only play in the burner.. Does anyone know why?
-About the article: I got a plexwriter 24/10/40,and acording to the list in this article states that it supports correct efm coding, my backups of diablo2 will only play in the burner.. Does anyone know why?
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 07 Nov 01 10:47
Mozez. You're NOT allowed to make copies of cd's and share them with your friends in Norway. Where have you heard that? :4
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 23 Nov 01 22:39
Good site!:4 I have found where i was looking for! And now let's hack and crack some games!!!:d :d :d
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 29 Dec 01 01:06
perhaps if game makers made there games more affordable, we would not be looking to copy them for friends or family. I get a little PO'd when I pay 40-50$ only to see the price slashed in half 6 months down the road
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 24 Jan 02 00:52
Most EULA's state that at least one backup can be made of a program for your own use, and limit how many systems the program can be simultaneously installed or run on. If the EULA does not permit backups of the CD to be made, then the company typically will provide you a backup in case of damage or loss to the cd. Now not to insult anyone, but if you lose all proof of ownership, i.e. you don't keep the original receipt/box, you're accepting the fact that you may not be able to claim ownership if the original CD is lost. In the case of high-end programs like 3d modelling or CAD, you should have backups and/or proof of ownership off-site. Simply put: most EULA's provision for replacement copies or allow you to make a "Fair Use" personal backup. If in doubt, read the EULA or contact the manufacturer.
Well with respect to USA copyright law, ANYTHING can be copied. Period. There are perfectly legal ways a copyrighted work can be copied and publicly even used or distributed, such as Fair Use, or Parody. Of course there are certain limiting factors. Aren't there always. There's a significant body of legal argument to suggest one can even copy say a music CD and give it privately to a friend. The big distinction is copying a work and then selling it as your own. That's obviously not going to work. But, USA copyright law does not prevent me from laying a book I've purchased across my scanner and printing copies of it so I can read it in my upstairs bathroom while I leave the book downstairs on my bookcase. It's simply not defined that way. The same would go for copying CD's. Regardless of what the EULA states. It's a common practice to put restrictions and limits on rights in a EULA to the advantage of the owner that are NOT legally enforcable in the hopes that the unwary consumer toes the line. I have small children, my smallest is now 2 and she used the computer by herself. But being 2 yrs old, I MUST give her COPIES of her games and activity programs. I date the copied disks and sometimes I'm making one I just made a month ago. You gotta accept this when allowing 2 yr olds to discover and learn. Spin Out
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 06 Feb 02 22:08
First of all, Macrovision_rules doesn't know his head from his ass. Secondly, I'd like to say that I have the right to copy any game that I own. I'm the one who goes to work and works hard for the money that I spend on these games and If I want to copy those games I can. Thank you for the insight, CD Freaks. I now have working backups of all 4 Sims cd's.
I recently had my half-life CD scratched, and fortunately made a backup from a friend. In a much worse incident, I had put all my favorite game CDs into a travel case to take to a LAN party. The case came home with me and was sat by my phone. A few days later when I went to play Diablo2, I couldn't find the case. After searching multiple times over the next 3 weeks, I finally decided that my kids must have knocked it off of my desk and into my little trash can. I check with Blizzard about getting replacement disk, and (if I remember right) $15 to replace a disk, plus $5 for each additional disk. (Recall that Diablo2 comes with 3 disks, all of which I lost) They also would require me to sent my CD case as verification that I actually owned the game. Since the case was the only thing I had a proof of owning the game, I'd have to insure the shipment and ask for delivery confirmation, because if it got lost in the mail... Anyway, going this route was going to cost me about $30 after all three disk + shipping , so I decided to go the cheaper route. I just made copies of my lost CD from friends, which cost me about $2 in CD-Rs for all the disks I lost. If Blizzard or any of the other companies who's original disks I lost only wanted to charge me $1 and maybe $5 shipping, then I'd probably have done it, just to have the original CDs again, but at $30, yikes! I could just buy the game again for probably cheaper, since they've been out a while. Needless to say, I'm happy that things like cloneCD and my plextor 12/10/32 are available to make my life easier. (and even a little cheaper) :7 -Skier
In a much worse incident, I had put all my favorite game CDs into a travel case to take to a LAN party. The case came home with me and was sat by my phone. A few days later when I went to play Diablo2, I couldn't find the case. After searching multiple times over the next 3 weeks, I finally decided that my kids must have knocked it off of my desk and into my little trash can. I check with Blizzard about getting replacement disk, and (if I remember right) $15 to replace a disk, plus $5 for each additional disk. (Recall that Diablo2 comes with 3 disks, all of which I lost) They also would require me to sent my CD case as verification that I actually owned the game. Since the case was the only thing I had a proof of owning the game, I'd have to insure the shipment and ask for delivery confirmation, because if it got lost in the mail... Anyway, going this route was going to cost me about $30 after all three disk + shipping , so I decided to go the cheaper route. I just made copies of my lost CD from friends, which cost me about $2 in CD-Rs for all the disks I lost. If Blizzard or any of the other companies who's original disks I lost only wanted to charge me $1 and maybe $5 shipping, then I'd probably have done it, just to have the original CDs again, but at $30, yikes! I could just buy the game again for probably cheaper, since they've been out a while. Needless to say, I'm happy that things like cloneCD and my plextor 12/10/32 are available to make my life easier. (and even a little cheaper) :7 -Skier
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 05 Mar 02 09:17
I tried to copy Red Alert 2:Yuris revenge expansion pack and it didnt work. The image was created and patched successfully. And it burned onto the cd fine but the disc kep saying it was full but enreadable?
i hate not being allowed to copy games. i have a game i installed a while back, it takes up about 600 mb (and with my pc - lowest of the low/crapiest of the crap - its a lot of space). my cd (which was original - i didnt make a copy) is now messed up 4 some reason. the data on my pc is also messed up for some reason; i cant uninstall it cause somethings wrong with the installed data on my pc, i cant reinstall it to uninstall because my cd is messed up. all of this was in the days when i didnt do anything illeagal - which includes copying cd's. if i did copy the cd, i would have no problem.
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 11 Apr 02 23:26
backing up safedisk v2 i had problems but found that it was o.k.on a rewritable disk on cdr's it was no good any explanations of why?
I have 3 kids a wife and 6 computers. And I am not about to buy 6 copies at anywhere from 40 to 60 bucks a pop for newer games. I spent the hard earned cash to buy the product so if I want to copy it for my OWN home use, then I have the right to. Thanks CD Freaks. Got all of my games copied with your help.
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 12 Feb 03 12:57
I hate to have someone do my work, but I have encountered the uncopiable disk. If anyone has the Game Stronghold, and can make a copy of it, PLEASE tell me how. My brother, in college, wants the game, but I'm not done with it. I tried every given solution, it just wouldn't work, the closest thing was insektors, but that failed in the end. Help me CD Freaks you are my only hope
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 02 Mar 03 11:19
The newest versions of SafeDisk2 check the CD player for whether a CDR is in the drive. CDROMs dont report the CDR, but CD-R/W DO!! Daemon Tools SafeDisk Emulation and CloneCD's 'Hide CDR Media' Defeat this check. :9
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 13 Jun 07 23:16
yo
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 20 Aug 07 09:35
How can you declare this freeware, when it is nothing more then a trial, and one in which they want my email addy so they can hound me to buy it....No Thanks!!
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 01 Oct 07 16:46
PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH THE PRICE OF SAFEDISC ADVANCE AND HOW TO OBTAIN A COPY THANX TRACEY ROUX
The hypocrisy that lives in the human mind is evident when someone pays $250.00 for a CD of some program, drops it on the floor and when it won't load in his/her drive secretly says to themself, shoot I wish I had made a back-up copy, when just a day or so they had said somethig about some EULA. I can say with the utmost confidence,that anyone & EVERYone who pays a thousand times more than what a cd is actually worth and knows how fragile it is and it's ease of distruction as well, is saying one thing in a forum and behind closed doors is obviously doing another. I would bet my life that each and every person who has said just a small sentence about how we should not copy, has a stack of blank CD's at his/her desk. We are all human and and work hard for our money, so no matter who you are or what you advocate, we all cheat at something. It's in our blood.
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 13 Feb 09 17:41
This software keeps trying to reinstall itself on my computer despite multiple uninstallations. I had to edit the registry to remove program on my disk to get rid of it. It behaves like spyware in my opinion. 
- guest
- Posts: 15284
- Posted on: 21 Apr 09 07:14
Re: "Cheating" We all do it? Sure. . . . :-D Most everyone has ripped an audio-CD at one time or another. But there is "cheating" and "cheating" I have ripped copies of many CD"s I own. I also have ripped copies of many CD's my brother owns. He also has ripped copies of many CD's *I* own, etc. In the music world, this is called "Music Piracy". However, in the IT and computer security world it's called "off-site backups" - and we do this for just that reason. Aditionally - I own a copy of Rosetta Stone's Russian Level-1 language learning tool - and you don't want to even THINK about what it cost me to buy! Honest - I have bought *automobiles* - that worked like a champ! - for less than I spent for these two CD-ROM's. If I loose them, or they get damaged, I'm screwed... So - yes, I like to make backups. And I like to have backups (images) that are storable on my file-servers so that I can re-copy a file and re-use it if I need to. AND place the multi-$$$ CD in a safe (fire-safe) place. Final point. USA copyright law permits "fair use" (backups, etc). (however, the EULA - which superseeds copyright law - may not.) In any event, any time a manufacturer wants to make a disk available to me at a multi-hundred, or multi-thousand, dollar price I'm going to darn-sure want to back it up - permitted or otherwise. Manufacturers who fail to realize this are only kidding themselves. What say ye?