StarForce

From Redump Wiki

"If Protect.exe and other relevant files have a size of 0 kb, they are just dummies and protection is inactive"

Beware installing older versions of SF on Windows 7+, it can break the operating system and cause a boot loop.

DPM-based protection, requires .MDS to function. "Use Alcohol v1.9.6 or latest BlindWrite for DVD9 in case of problems, or DT Pro, SF Crypto and SF ProActive does not require mds"

StarForce on Vmware: add to .vmx -> monitor_control.restrict_backdoor = "true" (Be sure to change back to false after testing or else some VM functions won't work as intended.)

key formats:

• StarForce 1.x~3.03: xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxx, i.e. 4*6 (24)
• StarForce 3.04~3.07: yyyyy-yyyyy-yyyyy-yyyyy-yyyyy, i.e 5*5 (25)
• StarForce 4.00+: zzzz-zzzzzz-zzzzzz-zzzzzz-zzzzzz, i.e 4+4*6 (28)
• Activation: ww-wwwwww-wwwwww-wwwwww-wwwwww, i.e. 2+4*6 (24+2)

OS Compatibility Table

OS	1.0 – 3.0*	3.0 – 3.04.062*	3.04.062 – 3.05*	3.05 – 3.07*	3.07.018 – 4.00.000*	4.00.000 – 4.00.013*	4.00.013 – 4.50*	4.50 – 4.50.007.005*	4.50.007.005 – 5.00*	5.00 – 5.50*	5.50 – 5.60*	5.60 – 5.70.014.001*	5.70.014.001 – 5.70.046.004*	5.70.046.004 – 5.91*	5.91+
Windows XP SP3	-	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+
Windows XP SP3 (x64)	-	-	-	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+
Windows Server 2003	-	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+
Windows Server 2003 (x64)	-	-	-	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+
Windows Vista	-	-	1	1	1	2	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+
Windows Vista (x64)	-	-	-	5	5	5	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+
Windows Server 2008	-	-	1	1	1	2	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+
Windows Server 2008 (x64)	-	-	-	5	5	5	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+
Windows 7	-	-	-	-	3	3	3	3	3	3	4	+	+	+	+
Windows Server 2008 R2	-	-	-	-	3	3	3	3	3	3	4	+	+	+	+
Windows 8	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	3	4	+	+	+	+
Windows Server 2012	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	3	4	+	+	+	+
Windows 8.1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	3	4	4	6	+	+
Windows Server 2012 R2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	3	4	4	6	+	+
Windows 10+	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	3	4	4	4	4	+
Windows Server 2016+	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	3	4	4	4	4	+
*up to and not including

1. Driver update is required, admin priviledges, 3.04.079, 3.05.012, 3.06.013, 3.07.019 include Vista compatible drivers.

2. Driver update (in case of problems), otherwise not required.

3. Driver update (sfupdate.exe) or game patch is required.

4. Driver update (protect.exe) or game patch is required.

5. Problem with unsigned drivers, solution:

• Launch the protected application with the rights of administrator
• Allow driver installation
• Reject reboot (otherwise the OS will not load in Normal mode)
• Update drivers
• Reboot the OS

6. Install the Windows update KB2930157 from Microsoft or else game patch is required.