The dvd-driver isn´t able to read the civ4 disk.

[Forester]

I have just purchased civ 4 but the DVD doesn´t run (it dosen´t even begin to install). I have exchanged it at the store but it still dosen´t work. The driver (a LG DVD-ROM Drive, model GDR 8161B) works fine with other disks and my computer fulfills all (and exceeds most) of the minimum system requirements.

Anyone who knows how to solve this

 

[warpstorm]

It's probably a conflict with the copy protection scheme that Take2 put on it.

 

[Forester]

Ahh, thanks for the tip, do you know any way around it?

 

[aronk76]

I have been reading several posts on this forum and noticed that a ton of people been having problems with the DVD version of this game.

 

[SLM]

Updating the firmware will probably solve that problem. I had the same kind of problem installing another game. The DVD disc couldn't be read by Windows explorer so installing was also out the question. Look for LG GDR 8161B firmware or LG GDR 8161B flash on google and you'll probably find the latest firmware for your DVD drive.

 

[Koyaanisqatsi]

I recently asked about dvd vs cd problems in the General Discussions... there apparently hasn't been serious consideration or investigation whether there are correlations (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=150475).

Can you browse the dvd with Windows Explorer? If you can read the dvd manually, have you tried to install without using autorun? Autoruns can sometimes cause problems with install programs. (If you suspect your drive can't read part of the dvd, then you could always try to copy some files to a temp directory, and see if that fails... it wouldn't help with installation but could narrow down what the problem is.)

I doubt that an install program would have copy protection code (but what do I know)... more likely the dvd format exceeds some dvd drives' specs in order to support the newer copy protection methods. Not sure where to get information on compatibility problems caused by copy protection or dvd formats... it would be helpful if game companies included such info in their support.

Pretty sure I am going to buy the two CD version... just because there's a lot less finesse in good old cdrom formats... (now if these pre-Christmas high prices would turn into sale prices!)

 

[Forester]

Thanks SLM, I will try that.

 

[Forester]

Can´t browse the dvd, Will try to install new firmware as SLM suggested. If that dosen´t work I might have to buy the CD-version.

Thanks for all helpful information and happy newyear!

 

[Commander Bello]

I have a similar problem with my IBM T41 laptop. The DVD spins and spins, yet is not recognized by the drive.
Of course, no access to it will be possible.
Although I understand the necessity of having copy protections, this is most annoying, as I am abroad 3 of 4 weeks a month.

 

[Briareos]

I have a similar problem with my IBM T41 laptop. The DVD spins and spins, yet is not recognized by the drive.
Of course, no access to it will be possible.
Although I understand the necessity of having copy protections, this is most annoying, as I am abroad 3 of 4 weeks a month.

Do you mean that you can't even see the files in explorer, or that the copy protection doesn't recognize the DVD?

If it's the first, it can't be the copy protection as it doesn't mess with the file system itself, but only with some sectors of the disc that are inside actual files. Audio CD and DVD movie "protections", of course, might do something like that. But in the case of Civ IV, I'd say it's a crappy laptop drive. (Mat[su]shita, perhaps?)

Of course, if it's the second, it's probably drive-related also, but of course it would easily be solved by no copy protection at all...

np: Pass Into Silence - Iceblink (Pop Ambient 2006)

 

[Commander Bello]

I mean that the DVD is not recognized at all. I even have no access to it via the Windows Explorer.

About the "crapiness" of the drive: I don't think so as it very well recognizes everything else I put in ( I have to swap a lot of CDs and DVDs for professional reasons). Never faced that kind of problem before or after.

 

[SLM]

Do you mean that you can't even see the files in explorer, or that the copy protection doesn't recognize the DVD?

If it's the first, it can't be the copy protection as it doesn't mess with the file system itself, but only with some sectors of the disc that are inside actual files. Audio CD and DVD movie "protections", of course, might do something like that. But in the case of Civ IV, I'd say it's a crappy laptop drive. (Mat[su]shita, perhaps?)

Of course, if it's the second, it's probably drive-related also, but of course it would easily be solved by no copy protection at all...

np: Pass Into Silence - Iceblink (Pop Ambient 2006)

It IS the copy protection that makes the disc unreadable for some drives without a firmware upgrade. It spins very slowly in the drive but that keeps on going forever and ever so you can't access the drive (and thus the disc) until you pull it out or upgrade the firmware.

I think it's an outrage that copy protection makes a lot of older drives useless. Most people don't even know what a firmware upgrade is, let alone know how to do it. If this sort of thing continues, PC gaming will be over and out in a few years. As it turns out, you'll have to buy a new pc with every new badly coded PC game. Game manufacturers should look at completely new ways to secure their rights (i.e. hardware).

 

[civiloser]

okay, I know this is a really really old thread and so I'll probably be banned for bringing it back up from the depths but it was the most relevant problem I could find to mine and I didn't want to start a new topic for no reason but anyway. I have the same problem in that the drive will not even recognize the DVD and I cannot even view it in explorer. My laptop isn't very good but I'm not that bothered. the drive I have is a Sony crx - 830E JPK4 but when I lookd for firmware updates I found a topic on a different site that said there were none. So I'm stumped as to what to do

 

[crunch]

1. buy a new drive...
2. install from another drive (an external drive, or a network drive). but you'll have to bypass the copy protection to run the game...

 

[enchanter100]

I had the same problem.. It was fixed on my TDK dvd burner by updating the firmware..

 

[Peldie]

I had the same problem, although my DVD worked at first, then I had a pause playing the game. Now when I tried to use my DVD again, it didn't work. The DVD works on my other computer (with autorun) and other DVD's work fine with my computer.
I have to try the tricks suggested above and get back to report