Please login with administrator privileges and try again

If you uninstall the KB3086255 update make sure you make a recovery point first and disable auto install of updates. I was foolish and did not. Now the computer wants to install that update every time i reboot even though it is already installed.
The secdrv fix works so I don't think it was needed anyway.
I reinstalled civ from the discs and vanilla and warlords is working. BTS does not launch though. I must have messed with one of the game files and broke it.
 
Calibar said:
Finally found the issue, which is to say I found which update (KB3086255) from the latest Windows update has caused the issue. The issue is that the secdrv service had been disabled, which incidentally is the same reason Civ4 doesn't work on Windows 10 (I am using Windows 8).

I found the information here (I hope it's okay for me to post this link - it wasn't easy to find via Google):
http://myonlinesecurity.co.uk/september-2015-windows-updates-kb3086255-breaks-many-games/

I ran the two commands listed from a command prompt with admin privs and was then able to run Civ4:

sc config secdrv start= demand
sc start secdrv

I assume that to be safe it should be stopped and then again disabled after running the game. Probably a good candidate for a couple of batch files.
Click to expand...

This will be the most quoted post this year :goodjob:
 
Isn't it ironic that after years of not using no-cd cracks out of fear for viruses, the copy protection itself turns out to be a security threat?:hammer:
Also, I'm surprised Microsoft can just shut down a 3rd party driver in a Windows update. I must have missed the "all your software are belong to us" clause in the Windows EULA.:dubious:
On the plus side: this little bit of nonsense has brought me back to CivFanatics after more than 3 years of absence :)
 
I am with Contempted on this. I am not a techy, do not want to even think about messing with programming. And it is the only game I play. Gutted. I tried uninstalling and reinstally when it failed to launch yesterday, then encountered the same problems as above. Surely Firaxis can provide a patch? I'd happily buy the game again if necessary!!
 
ALL HAIL CALIBAR!!!!!!!!!
CALIBAR CALIBAR CALIBAR CALIBAR!!!!!!

My old CoD1 stopped working after the update along wit other games...
Many thanks comrade :D
 
I agree M3dge!

It is the only game I play and I miss it! Please, Firaxis, sell a version of CIV 4 that will work for all of us - I'll joyfully buy it!
 
You don't have a separate disk for each - Vanilla, Warlords and BTS?
 
Calibar said:
I didn't uninstall the update because it appears that secdrv is a real security concern so it's not necessarily a bad idea to have it disabled when you're not in need of it.

To reduce the pain of having to enable and start the service to run Civ and then stop and disable it so that the service isn't left running (it only needs to be running to launch Civ), I created two batch files. Each must be ran as an administrator.

start-secdrv.bat:
start cmd.exe /k "sc config secdrv start=demand"
start cmd.exe /k "sc start secdrv"

stop-secdrv.bat
start cmd.exe /k "sc stop secdrv"
start cmd.exe /k "sc config secdrv start=disabled"

The /k is to keep the windows open, so that you can initially see the results. Eventually, you'll probably want to change it to /c, to close the windows automatically for a cleaner process.
Click to expand...

Ok, so I'm not entirely tech-savvy, so please bear with me here...

I right-click on the windows icon (bottom left)?
Click on "Command Prompt (Admin)"?
In the box that pops up it says "C:\WINDOWS\system32" and has a flashing cursor...is this where I copy and paste the
start cmd.exe /k "sc config secdrv start=demand"
start cmd.exe /k "sc start secdrv" ?

And then the same but with the "stop" lines when I'm done?

Thanks for your help
 
Look in post #6, typing this in an admin-cmd window should be enough:

Code: 
sc config secdrv start=demand
sc start secdrv


Also, i think the above will enable that service to autostart on demand, so you would only have to do that once (unless windows-update interferes again). Not sure because i only play BTS, and thankfully don't have to deal with that crap.
 
"To reduce the pain of having to enable and start the service to run Civ and then stop and disable it so that the service isn't left running (it only needs to be running to launch Civ), I created two batch files. Each must be ran as an administrator.

start-secdrv.bat:
start cmd.exe /k "sc config secdrv start=demand"
start cmd.exe /k "sc start secdrv"

stop-secdrv.bat
start cmd.exe /k "sc stop secdrv"
start cmd.exe /k "sc config secdrv start=disabled"
End quote

If I remember my batch files from long ago correctly, you might be even neater with:

"BtS.bat"
start cmd.exe /k "sc config secdrv start=demand"
start cmd.exe /k "sc start secdrv"

rem put here the path to BtS (modify as required)
c:\programfiles\2Kgames\...\Beyond the Sword\Civ4BeyondSword.exe

start cmd.exe /k "sc stop secdrv"
start cmd.exe /k "sc config secdrv start=disabled"
rem end BtS.bat


That way you first enable secdrv, then start the game, and when you have finished the game it should disable secdrv.
I have not looked at batch files for qute a time, so I will stand corrected by more knowledgable user.

NB
 
I solved it!

OK to all you non-tech folk out there who are getting frustrated.

I am not the brightest crayon in the box and am nervous about fiddling with the programming.

So, finally, I uninstalled Civ IV.

Then, I bought in on steam. $20.

I run it without a disk and I can play happily!

OK, not the smartest or cheapest solution, but hey, it worked and I'm happy :)
 
Calibar said:
I didn't uninstall the update because it appears that secdrv is a real security concern so it's not necessarily a bad idea to have it disabled when you're not in need of it.

To reduce the pain of having to enable and start the service to run Civ and then stop and disable it so that the service isn't left running (it only needs to be running to launch Civ), I created two batch files. Each must be ran as an administrator.

start-secdrv.bat:
start cmd.exe /k "sc config secdrv start=demand"
start cmd.exe /k "sc start secdrv"

stop-secdrv.bat
start cmd.exe /k "sc stop secdrv"
start cmd.exe /k "sc config secdrv start=disabled"

The /k is to keep the windows open, so that you can initially see the results. Eventually, you'll probably want to change it to /c, to close the windows automatically for a cleaner process.
Click to expand...

The first part worked, I am playing again, (awesome, thank you) but the stop command doesn't keep the game from working, which makes me nervous that I am vulnerable. A similar window pops up that says secdrv has stopped, but the game still works. Maybe this is a good thing?
 
Caliber, thank you. I had been struggling for a couple weeks off and on trying to find a solution for this. Like others here, this is the only game I play.

When I first tried the fix, I had installed only up to patch 1.61 (I was in the middle of one of my troubleshooting attempts and had not installed patch 1.74 yet). I'm pretty sure I simply have the vanilla version. Your fix worked and I was able to run the game.

I then noticed that I was not at 1.74. I downloaded the 1.74 patch and installed it. Now, the game starts to boot and gets to the "Init Engine" phase of startup. I get an "Error loading shader libraries" error. This is something new that I have not seen before. I have tried starting the .exe with and without "running as administrator". Same result.

Anyone have any suggestions.

Thanks :)
 
Calibar said:
Finally found the issue, which is to say I found which update (KB3086255) from the latest Windows update has caused the issue. The issue is that the secdrv service had been disabled, which incidentally is the same reason Civ4 doesn't work on Windows 10 (I am using Windows 8).

I found the information here (I hope it's okay for me to post this link - it wasn't easy to find via Google):
http://myonlinesecurity.co.uk/september-2015-windows-updates-kb3086255-breaks-many-games/

I ran the two commands listed from a command prompt with admin privs and was then able to run Civ4:

sc config secdrv start= demand
sc start secdrv

I assume that to be safe it should be stopped and then again disabled after running the game. Probably a good candidate for a couple of batch files.
Click to expand...

Thanks Calibar! How do I disable after running the game? Thanks in advance
 
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