Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour - Windows 10

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@padywan1 wrote:

After spending 2 - 3 days on and off (and most of today) i got the game running on Windows 10 x64.

After playing around with the driver, and it signature, enabling / disabling signature enforcement, i had the thought that the secdrv driver is actually related to the secure rom which is used to validate the disk and lock the game down (don't know how accurate that statement is.)

Anyway, it occured to me that if that was the case, the game might work with a no-cd patch, and indeed it does. And it plays very well. The no-cd patch is not something i would normally use, but in this case it seems like it is the only way to make the game work.

Recap:

1. Clean install of Windows 10
2. Clean install of C&C Generals (non-origin install, original CD)
3. Install Zero Hour
4. Updated to latest patch
5. Used no-cd patch to bypass the secdrv driver error
6. Game works!

Let me know if this works (or doesn't) for anyone else, or if you have other solutions.

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Could you provide the link to the no-cd patch you used?

I like to know how to find this "no cd patch" and you have to reinstall it again for it? 

The issue is that Windows 10 (not sure about Windows 8.1) no longer has support for the SafeDisc copy protection mechanism. It is trying to make this check and the driver is not being loaded on the system. There are many Event Viewer logs that show this.

Microsoft has not yet come out with an official statement on the matter that I know of, so there is not an official way to fix this.

See this Microsoft forum message for more information:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/games_windows_10/secdrvsys-not-loading-in-windows-10-this-will/65a6fe83-08df-4760-b2ad-6b1ce61d40d4?auth=1

As another user has already mentioned, you can get past the SafeDisc check with no-cd patches, and this is actually why that works. So, if you can live with that solution, then that might be the only way until a Windows Update comes out that restores this copy protection method. It is possible that Microsoft has chosen to drop support for it. We shall see.

this is the same error that I am getting. 

Someone fixes this without using a no-cd crack?

For obvious reasons i didn't post a link to the no-cd patch. Aside from this being an official EA forum, most sites that allow you to download such patches are riddled with fake download links, and potential malware etc... Unless you navigate skillfully it's hard to avoid such things.

I will tell you that the file name for the no-cd patch that i used is: ZH104Ign.rar

Again, i would advise caution in searching for a no-cd patch.

As for a solution without a no-cd patch i don't believe there is one. Windows 10 doesn't support the driver that is used by C&C generals to lock down the game. Until EA or Microsoft makes a patch / releases a fix for it i think this is your only bet.

I will also sum up my resolution again real quick leaving out no detail for those who may have gotten stuck:

My set up is as follows:

Part 1 - install (Non origin install, original CDs):

1. Clean install of C&C Generals updated to latest patch

2. Clean install of C&C Generals Zero Hour updated to latest patch (1.04)

3. Install no-cd patch (game.dat + generals.exe copied over top of existing files in install directory)

Part 2 - Compatibility:

1. Compatibility mode for Windows XP (Service Pack 3)

2. Disable display scaling on high DPI settings (this fixed an issue with my mouse jumping all over the screen)

3. Run this program as administrator

Other notes:

I did try all of the things noted in the Windows 8.1 proposed thread before i tried anything on my own. I don't believe those changes had any bearing on making it work in Windows 10, but i can't be sure because i wen't through those processes earlier to no avail. If you do what's above and still have issues it would be worth looking at the thread for Windows 8.1 and adding the options.ini as specified.

Good luck!

Meanwhile I've got it working without a no-cd crack, all information can be found here: http://gathering.tweakers.net/forum/list_message/44821700. It's in Dutch but use Google Translate or something and you guys can figure this out.

Good luck

I have been playing it through 8.1 with no problems, but same issue with install of 10, won't finish the install correctly if you can actually uninstall it completely and try and re-install which I did, still just more ms shiQ to have to fuqk with.

Did that, now will not complete the install of just Generals