"Copy-proof" CDs cracked with 99-cent marker pen

Reuters via digitalMASS.com ^ | 5/20/02 | Bernhard Warner

[steve-b]

that's the real fear..that musicians wil start doing it all themselves...the technology exists.....

***DING DING DING*** That's it precisely -- which is why the industry is attempting to cripple the technology under the guise of "piracy" prevention.

[Nataku X]

Well, do a search on the Internet, you can find programs that will copy those games with a CD-R. Most regular CD-R programs will not do that. But I have plenty of copied PSX games, done by a friend who used a hacked version of the Adaptec application.

Getting it to play is tougher. I don't like mod chips in general--they are risky, especially for the newer Playstations. Unless you are a whiz at soldering, I don't recommend them. Plus mod chips don't work with the newer copy protection schemes.

If you have a SCPH-7XXX series or lower (You can see the number on the bottom of your Playstation...) you can buy a Goldfinger or a Pro Action Replay. Goldfinger is easier to get. Goldfinger for the PSX search results

Beware though, you may have to remove the spring when the game prompts you to change discs.

The most simple method, though... my boyfriend says that his roommates have perfected timing perfectly enough that they can put in an original and start up the PSX, then while the PSX is starting up (the CD is spinning), they then open the CD cover during bootup and replace the spinning CD with the copied CD.

Goldfinger and PAR work the same way, except they do the "timing" for you... you put an original game in, then it will start up and stop spinning, then you replace the CD with a copied CD... that method works for ALL PSOne games.

[Aeronaut]

Just play the CD rerecord it analog and burn myself another CD, or email it etc. Will sound 99% as good as a digital copy.

I have a portable mini-disk recorder. If the CD will send a signal to headphones I can record it digitally. Heck, you could probably send a signal from a portable CD player to the mic input of the computer and digitally record it that way.

[remaininlight]

http://www.modchip.com/

[calvin sun]

This story reminds me of an old "Dennis the Menace" TV show episode. In it, Mr. Wilson just bought a home safe, and challenges anyone to open it. Of course, Dennis does, using the numbers from his football plays. Then Mr. Wilson tries to hypnotize Dennis into forgetting the combination, but ends up hypnotizing HIMSELF. LOL

[Nataku X]

Apparently I am behind the h@xx0r times.

If you have one of those white PSOnes or a grey SCPH-9XXX series, get this. The PS-X-Change2

This will work just as well as a Goldfinger or PAR, and better than an expensive wreck-your-PSX modchip.

I have the originals of all copies I own, though... I just am such a collector that I haven't opened the shrinkwrap. ;)

[Petronski]

So, all a hacker has to do is change the initial default of a CD-ROM to search for Audio first, and if audio isn't found on the disk, revert to data mode. Or, enable the user to determine whether the CD-ROM should even look for data. Make the medium selectable between Data, Audio, or both (like in games).

You must be sitting in your thinking chair...(Great idea!)

[Dimensio]

The funniest thing about this story is that Valve software already used the same copy protection for a game called Halflife.

Half-Life was copy-protected? Funny, I had no problems making...uh, er, "backups" of my original game CD (that I entrusted to friends for "safekeeping").

[Dimensio]

The most simple method, though... my boyfriend says that his roommates have perfected timing perfectly enough that they can put in an original and start up the PSX, then while the PSX is starting up (the CD is spinning), they then open the CD cover during bootup and replace the spinning CD with the copied CD.

I never could get that method down. I have an old-style PSX (the very first model) that allowed a disc-swap method from the CD audio menu (a simple disc swap when the motor wasn't even spinning) but I still purchased and installed a modchip. Easy to install even if you have no soldering experience.

[Dimensio]

Then Mr. Wilson tries to hypnotize Dennis into forgetting the combination, but ends up hypnotizing HIMSELF

Fortunately he was able to hypnotize Dennis into remembering the combination, including the "HIKE" at the end.

Now I really feel old.

[Bella_Bru]

I've always found it odd that CDs have not dropped in price. Pre-recorded VHS tapes took a plunge in price a few years after they came out, and DVDs are getting cheaper too.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Yes. As it became more popular, they added the "protection". I had to use the "fix" to make a "backup" from a friends copy of the game.

[SauronOfMordor]

..that's the real fear..that musicians wil start doing it all themselves...the technology exists.....

I've seen small bands perform, and sell their own CDs at the performance. Selling their music direct over the internet would be the next logical step. The real threat of the download servers to the music industry was that they allowed little-known bands to have their music widely distributed. That would lead to music being distributed for free, as a promo item to get people to show up for the band's live performances