DVD-Rom drive doesn't read the game's DVD...

[DamRho]

Hi there,

I have a very interesting and intriguing problem with Civilization IV.

I play this on my laptop which is below minimum-specs (graphics card) so it's not the most entertaining experience ever (general slowness in late-game, some graphic glitches, sometimes black terrain is all I see, etc etc) and I tried to switch over to the desktop PC because I'm planning on doing some upgrades soon. The problem is, my desktop's DVD-Rom drive doesn't even read the game's DVD (the DVD recorder doesn't seem to like it as well - it recognizes the DVD but it's extremely slow reading it, opening the readme file for example takes a few minutes...), but my laptop's DVD-Rom drive reads it perfectly! Since I'm using the original DVD I don't suppose it's anything wrong with the data itself so it's probably something in the DVD-Rom drive.

Thanks for anyone that might have any insight into this.

 

[Dudy80]

Sounds to me like your another one encountering the safedisk problem. Some drives dont agree with the games copy protection and it just plain wont read. Sorry i cant be of more help, im sure someone will come along and better explain this to you. But im pretty sure this is the problem.

 

[Mikesla]

Hi there,

I have a very interesting and intriguing problem with Civilization IV.

I play this on my laptop which is below minimum-specs (graphics card) so it's not the most entertaining experience ever (general slowness in late-game, some graphic glitches, sometimes black terrain is all I see, etc etc) and I tried to switch over to the desktop PC because I'm planning on doing some upgrades soon. The problem is, my desktop's DVD-Rom drive doesn't even read the game's DVD (the DVD recorder doesn't seem to like it as well - it recognizes the DVD but it's extremely slow reading it, opening the readme file for example takes a few minutes...), but my laptop's DVD-Rom drive reads it perfectly! Since I'm using the original DVD I don't suppose it's anything wrong with the data itself so it's probably something in the DVD-Rom drive.

Thanks for anyone that might have any insight into this.

Hi.

Check out Daemon Tools site. The site below will take you directly too a page where I think a program is called Anti-Securom loader that may help you overcome this problem.

Here is the site.

http://www.daemon-tools.cc/dtcc/download.php?mode=ViewCategory&catid=2

You'll see anti-secrom loader there. I think it loads first, then place your DVD into the drive.

I'm not sure, but check it out anyway, who knows it may work for you.


Later!

 

[DamRho]

Thanks to both for the replies. I haven't tested the daemon tools program yet but as soon as I do I'll let you know if it worked.

Thanks again.

 

[Grant_Hitchcock]

Yeah I have had this same problem. I thought that my dvd drive had packed up because it made a clicking sound when reading it.

 

[Grant_Hitchcock]

Now I have tried that link but I cant get any better result than last time.

 

[DamRho]

SecuROM Loader doesn't work for me as well. I suppose I'll have to keep playing it on my laptop... A bit strange that this doesn't work with some DVD readers though, if I didn't have the laptop basically my money would have been thrown away...

 

[jray]

I have a similar problem in that every couple weeks my DVD-ROM drive simply stops working while I'm playing Civ4 (and also once with another game, Black & White). Afterwards the DVD-ROM drive refuses to work for a couple days, no matter how many times I cold-reboot or warm-reboot or how many other CD's or DVD's I try to put in there. Then after a couple days it resumes working normally for everything.

So what's my deal? Think it's related to the safedisk thing? Or are my cats playing some kind of regular practical joke on me?

 

[gusi]

I get something similar. I have been playing civIV since November but tonight civIV doesn`t see the DVD.

Windows explorer has no problem seeing the DVD. Even when starting the game from DVD the startup section gives me the "please insert DVD in drive" message.

Are there settings on the DVD I can change? I have used EAC since the last time I played and it may have set it in a different mode.

not happy
Gus

 

[Grant_Hitchcock]

I found out that the DVD plaing part of the drive had stopped working but it still played a cd. Try running a DVD to see if it works properly. With mine you would get a picture but no sound. I bought a nev drive from the friday ad for £8 and it works now.

I also got the problem with not reading the disk but the entire drive dissapeared from My Computer so I don't think it is related.

Oh yeah, I also left my civ 3 disk in the drive i took out.

 

[gusi]

Thanks Grant, I'll check it out but frankly, I own about 1000 CDs and have to rip another 800. Buying a new dvd after each ripping session is a very expensive option. Swapping drives each time is clumsy.

Are dvd drives really this fragile?

Played Alien Cross over last night and the game had no problem finding the cd. Had a severe feeling of deja vu though.

 

[gusi]

I dug out an old dvd rom from the back and installed it in a spare slot and a different drive letter. Suddenly civ4 plays again. Weird but happy to have it going again.

 

[Grant_Hitchcock]

Apparently they are very fragile. My brother-in-law says he had a brand new one that only lasted 6 months

 

[Wyz_sub10]

I had problems reading *CDs* with some drives (Phillips is far and away the worst). Recently, my GTA:SA DVD just stopped working - in both of my DVD drives.

 

[gusi]

But my windows PC recognized the dvd without any problems ! Just they game didn't recognize it in that drive.

It seems all very strange to me.