Up until recently I used to justify such things as, well, because all the game files for the full version can be encrypted, it is probably much easier just to bung the same encrypted files into the demo, thus needing StarForce to decrypt them. That was up until TrackMania Nations was released - a 100% full and freely downloadable game - and it does of course have StarForce. It just makes no sense.
Sure thing, Tony. Thanks, never thought of that.
On a similar note, here's a snippet from the 'debug' log for X3 (the "technical data" regarding the crash that they ask you to send "to assess the root of the problem"...
((I've only edited it because it's bloomin' massive and I wanted to show the 'interesting' bits'))
Dear User! This file contains detailed information on the problem occurred. Save the file and forward it to your product Customer Support. ------------------------------ Information ------------------------------ [Protected Product Information] CompanyName = EGOSOFT ProductName = X3 Reunion [Report Information] ReportDate = Wednesday, March 22, 2006 ReportTime = 11:19 AM ClientTimeZone = GMT Standard Time ClientTimeBias = 0 [System Information] System Information report written at: 03/22/06 11:19:28 System Name: GAMES [System Summary] sfdrv01 StarForce Protection Environment Driver (version 1.x) c:\windows\system32\drivers\sfdrv01.sys Kernel Driver Yes Boot Running OK Normal No Yes sfhlp02 StarForce Protection Helper Driver (version 2.x) c:\windows\system32\drivers\sfhlp02.sys Kernel Driver Yes Boot Running OK Normal No Yes [Program Groups] Group Name Name User Name Administrative Tools All Users:Administrative Tools All Users Administrative Tools\Accessories All Users:Administrative Tools\Accessories All Users Administrative Tools\Accessories\Accessibility All Users:Administrative Tools\Accessories\Accessibility All Users Administrative Tools\Accessories\Animated Desktop V1.2 All Users:Administrative Tools\Accessories\Animated Desktop V1.2 All Users Administrative Tools\Accessories\BC Wipe All Users:Administrative Tools\Accessories\BC Wipe All Users Administrative Tools\Accessories\Inno Setup 5 All Users:Administrative Tools\Accessories\Inno Setup 5 All Users Administrative Tools\Accessories\Security All Users:Administrative Tools\Accessories\Security All Users Administrative Tools\Accessories\Security\Spy Sweeper All Users:Administrative Tools\Accessories\Security\Spy Sweeper All Users Administrative Tools\Accessories\Security\Trend Micro Anti-Spyware All Users:Administrative Tools\Accessories\Security\Trend Micro Anti-Spyware All Users Administrative Tools\System Tools All Users:Administrative Tools\System Tools All Users Administrative Tools\System Tools\CFi ShellToys XPress All Users:Administrative Tools\System Tools\CFi ShellToys XPress All Users Administrative Tools\System Tools\Debugging Tools for Windows All Users:Administrative Tools\System Tools\Debugging Tools for Windows All Users Administrative Tools\System Tools\PerformanceTest All Users:Administrative Tools\System Tools\PerformanceTest All Users Administrative Tools\System Tools\PowerQuest PartitionMagic 8.0 All Users:Administrative Tools\System Tools\PowerQuest PartitionMagic 8.0 All Users Administrative Tools\System Tools\Powertoys for Windows XP All Users:Administrative Tools\System Tools\Powertoys for Windows XP All Users Administrative Tools\System Tools\Software Shelf All Users:Administrative Tools\System Tools\Software Shelf All Users Administrative Tools\System Tools\VIA All Users:Administrative Tools\System Tools\VIA All Users Administrative Tools\System Tools\VIA\RAID All Users:Administrative Tools\System Tools\VIA\RAID All Users Blitz3D All Users:Blitz3D All Users Entertainment All Users:Entertainment All Users Entertainment\Games All Users:Entertainment\Games All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Daikatana All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Daikatana All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Daikatana\Daikatana Mplayer Community All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Daikatana\Daikatana Mplayer Community All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Daikatana\Internet Links All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Daikatana\Internet Links All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Daikatana\Mplayer.com All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Daikatana\Mplayer.com All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Legacy of Kain - Defiance All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Legacy of Kain - Defiance All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Legacy of Kain - Defiance\Web Sites All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Legacy of Kain - Defiance\Web Sites All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\Tomb Raider Chronicles All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\Tomb Raider Chronicles All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\Tomb Raider Chronicles\Web Links All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\Tomb Raider Chronicles\Web Links All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\Tomb Raider Level Editor All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\Tomb Raider Level Editor All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\Tomb Raider Level Editor\Documentation All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\Tomb Raider Level Editor\Documentation All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\Tomb Raider Level Editor\Tools All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\Tomb Raider Level Editor\Tools All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\Tomb Raider Level Editor\Web Links All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\Tomb Raider Level Editor\Web Links All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\TRAOD All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\TRAOD All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\TRAOD\TRAOD SCU All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\TRAOD\TRAOD SCU All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\TRAOD\TRAOD SCU\Extras All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\TRAOD\TRAOD SCU\Extras All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\TRAOD\TRAOD SCU\Web Support All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Eidos\Tomb Raider\TRAOD\TRAOD SCU\Web Support All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Valve All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Valve All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Valve\Half-Life 2 All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Valve\Half-Life 2 All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Valve\Steam All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\Valve\Steam All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\X All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\X All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\X\X Script Manager All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\X\X Script Manager All Users Entertainment\Games\Arcade\X\X Script Manager\Help All Users:Entertainment\Games\Arcade\X\X Script Manager\Help All Users Entertainment\Games\Cards All Users:Entertainment\Games\Cards All Users Entertainment\Games\Cards\MtG Editor All Users:Entertainment\Games\Cards\MtG Editor All Users Entertainment\Games\Demo Beta Retro All Users:Entertainment\Games\Demo Beta Retro All Users Entertainment\Games\Demo Beta Retro\Doom 3 Demo All Users:Entertainment\Games\Demo Beta Retro\Doom 3 Demo All Users Entertainment\Games\Demo Beta Retro\Playstation All Users:Entertainment\Games\Demo Beta Retro\Playstation All Users Entertainment\Games\Demo Beta Retro\qoob DEMO All Users:Entertainment\Games\Demo Beta Retro\qoob DEMO All Users Entertainment\Games\Demo Beta Retro\RetroSphere DEMO All Users:Entertainment\Games\Demo Beta Retro\RetroSphere DEMO All Users Entertainment\Games\Demo Beta Retro\Tile Cascade All Users:Entertainment\Games\Demo Beta Retro\Tile Cascade All Users Entertainment\Games\Demo Beta Retro\X3 Reunion Playable DEMO All Users:Entertainment\Games\Demo Beta Retro\X3 Reunion Playable DEMO All Users Entertainment\Games\GameSpy Arcade All Users:Entertainment\Games\GameSpy Arcade All Users Entertainment\Games\Misc All Users:Entertainment\Games\Misc All Users Entertainment\Games\Misc\CountDown All Users:Entertainment\Games\Misc\CountDown All Users Entertainment\Games\Misc\JSW and MM All Users:Entertainment\Games\Misc\JSW and MM All Users Entertainment\Games\Misc\JSW and MM\JSW All Users:Entertainment\Games\Misc\JSW and MM\JSW All Users Entertainment\Games\Misc\JSW and MM\MM All Users:Entertainment\Games\Misc\JSW and MM\MM All Users Entertainment\Games\Real All Users:Entertainment\Games\Real All Users Entertainment\Games\Real\RealOne Arcade All Users:Entertainment\Games\Real\RealOne Arcade All Users Entertainment\Games\RPG All Users:Entertainment\Games\RPG All Users Entertainment\Games\RPG\ADOM All Users:Entertainment\Games\RPG\ADOM All Users Entertainment\Games\RPG\EVE All Users:Entertainment\Games\RPG\EVE All Users Entertainment\Games\RPG\NWN All Users:Entertainment\Games\RPG\NWN All Users Entertainment\Games\RPG\NWN\Docs All Users:Entertainment\Games\RPG\NWN\Docs All Users Entertainment\Games\RPG\NWN\Docs\DMFI docs All Users:Entertainment\Games\RPG\NWN\Docs\DMFI docs All Users Entertainment\Games\RPG\NWN\Utils All Users:Entertainment\Games\RPG\NWN\Utils All Users Entertainment\Games\Strategy All Users:Entertainment\Games\Strategy All Users Entertainment\Games\Strategy\Rome - Total War All Users:Entertainment\Games\Strategy\Rome - Total War All Users Entertainment\Games\Strategy\Rome - Total War\Mods All Users:Entertainment\Games\Strategy\Rome - Total War\Mods All Users Entertainment\Games\Strategy\Rome - Total War\Rome - Total War Help All Users:Entertainment\Games\Strategy\Rome - Total War\Rome - Total War Help All Users Entertainment\Games\Strategy\Rome - Total War\Tools All Users:Entertainment\Games\Strategy\Rome - Total War\Tools All Users Entertainment\Multimedia All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\2nd Speech Center All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\2nd Speech Center All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\2nd Speech Center\Toolbar for Internet Explorer All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\2nd Speech Center\Toolbar for Internet Explorer All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\C-Media 3D Audio All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\C-Media 3D Audio All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\Easy MP3 Recorder All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\Easy MP3 Recorder All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\GoldWave All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\GoldWave All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\iTunes All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\iTunes All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\Music 2000 All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\Music 2000 All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\Power MP3 WMA Converter All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\Power MP3 WMA Converter All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\Skype All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Audio\Skype All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\AV Edit All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\AV Edit All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\QuickTime All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\QuickTime All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Real All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Real All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Real\RealPlayer All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Real\RealPlayer All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\3D Object Converter All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\3D Object Converter All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\Advanced Batch Converter All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\Advanced Batch Converter All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\Amabilis All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\Amabilis All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\ArcSoft Camera Suite All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\ArcSoft Camera Suite All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\DarkMATTER Collection All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\DarkMATTER Collection All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\DivX All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\DivX All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\DivX\DivX Codec All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\DivX\DivX Codec All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\DivX\DivX Player 2.1 All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\DivX\DivX Player 2.1 All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\FHG-Radium Codec All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\FHG-Radium Codec All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\Fraps All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\Fraps All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\GIMP All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\GIMP All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\InterActual All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\InterActual All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\InterActual\InterActual Player All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\InterActual\InterActual Player All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\Power DVD All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\Power DVD All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\Quick 3D All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\Quick 3D All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\Terragen All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\Terragen All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\Universe All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Video\Universe All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Windows Media Bonus Pack for Windows XP All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Windows Media Bonus Pack for Windows XP All Users Entertainment\Multimedia\Windows Media Bonus Pack for Windows XP\Movie Maker Creativity Kit All Users:Entertainment\Multimedia\Windows Media Bonus Pack for Windows XP\Movie Maker Creativity Kit All Users Office Suite All Users:Office Suite All Users Office Suite\Microsoft Office Small Business Tools All Users:Office Suite\Microsoft Office Small Business Tools All Users Office Suite\Microsoft Office Tools All Users:Office Suite\Microsoft Office Tools All Users Startup All Users:Startup All Users [Startup Programs] Program Command User Name Location CTFMON.EXE c:\windows\system32\ctfmon.exe NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM HKU\S-1-5-18\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run AVG7_Run c:\progra~1\grisoft\avgfre~1\avgw.exe /runonce NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM HKU\S-1-5-18\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run CTFMON.EXE c:\windows\system32\ctfmon.exe NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE HKU\S-1-5-19\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run AVG7_Run c:\progra~1\grisoft\avgfre~1\avgw.exe /runonce NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE HKU\S-1-5-19\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run CTFMON.EXE c:\windows\system32\ctfmon.exe NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE HKU\S-1-5-20\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run AVG7_Run c:\progra~1\grisoft\avgfre~1\avgw.exe /runonce NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE HKU\S-1-5-20\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Trend Micro Anti-Spyware c:\progra~1\trendm~1\tmas\tmas.exe -autostart GAMES\PJ Startup CTFMON.EXE c:\windows\system32\ctfmon.exe .DEFAULT HKU\.DEFAULT\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run AVG7_Run c:\progra~1\grisoft\avgfre~1\avgw.exe /runonce .DEFAULT HKU\.DEFAULT\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Trend Micro Anti-Spyware c:\progra~1\trendm~1\tmas\tmas.exe -autostart All Users Common Startup C-Media Mixer mixer.exe /startup All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run AVG7_CC c:\progra~1\grisoft\avgfre~1\avgcc.exe /startup All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run AVG7_EMC c:\progra~1\grisoft\avgfre~1\avgemc.exe All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run CookieWall c:\program files\analogx\cookiewall\cookie.exe All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run ATICCC "c:\program files\ati technologies\ati.ace\cli.exe" runtime -delay All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Cmaudio rundll32 cmicnfg.cpl,cmictrlwnd All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run zBrowser Launcher c:\program files\logitech\itouch\itouch.exe All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run SpySweeper "c:\program files\webroot\spy sweeper\spysweeper.exe" /startintray All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run SmcService c:\progra~1\sygate\spf\smc.exe -startgui All Users HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run [OLE Registration] Object Local Server Microsoft Graph 2000 Chart c:\progra~1\micros~2\office\graph9.exe Microsoft Excel Worksheet Not Available Microsoft Excel Chart Not Available Microsoft Excel Worksheet c:\progra~1\micros~2\office\excel.exe Microsoft Excel Chart c:\progra~1\micros~2\office\excel.exe Microsoft Word 6.0 - 7.0 Document Not Available Microsoft Word 6.0 - 7.0 Picture Not Available Microsoft Word Document c:\progra~1\micros~2\office\winword.exe Microsoft Word Picture c:\progra~1\micros~2\office\winword.exe Sound (OLE2) sndrec32.exe Microsoft Clip Gallery c:\progra~1\common~1\micros~1\artgalry\artgalry.exe Microsoft WordArt 3.2 c:\progra~1\common~1\micros~1\wordart\wrdart32.exe Media Clip mplay32.exe Video Clip mplay32.exe /avi MIDI Sequence mplay32.exe /mid Microsoft Excel Chart Not Available Microsoft Excel 4.0 Macro Not Available Sound Not Available Media Clip Not Available Microsoft Draw 98 Drawing c:\progra~1\micros~2\office\msdraw82.exe InterActual Skin c:\progra~1\intera~1\intera~1\iplayer.exe Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation c:\progra~1\micros~2\office\powerpnt.exe Microsoft PowerPoint Slide c:\progra~1\micros~2\office\powerpnt.exe WordPad Document "%programfiles%\windows nt\accessories\wordpad.exe" Windows Media Services DRM Storage object Not Available Preview Document c:\progra~1\active~1\active~1\preview.exe Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Document "c:\program files\adobe\acrobat 7.0\reader\acrord32.exe" Bitmap Image mspaint.exe Snapshot File c:\progra~1\snapsh~1\snapview.exe [Internet Explorer] [Connectivity] Item Value Connection Preference Dial when no network connection LAN Settings AutoConfigProxy wininet.dll AutoProxyDetectMode Disabled AutoConfigURL Proxy Disabled ProxyServer ProxyOverride [Cache] [ Following are sub-categories of this main category ] [Summary] Item Value Page Refresh Type Automatic Temporary Internet Files Folder C:\Documents and Settings\PJ\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files [List of Objects] [Content] [ Following are sub-categories of this main category ] [Summary] [Security] Zone Security Level My Computer Custom Local intranet Custom Trusted sites Custom Internet Custom Restricted sites Custom [Applications] [Microsoft Word 2000] [Summary] Can't Collect Information [Active Document] Can't Collect Information [Fields] Can't Collect Information [File Converters] Can't Collect Information [Fonts] Can't Collect Information [Headers and Footers] Can't Collect Information [Hyperlinks] Can't Collect Information [Mail Merge] Can't Collect Information [Page Numbers] Can't Collect Information [Page Setup] Can't Collect Information [Styles] Can't Collect Information [Settings] Can't Collect Information [Tables] Can't Collect Information [Microsoft Excel 2000] [Summary] Can't Collect Information [Active Workbook] Can't Collect Information [Add-Ins] Can't Collect Information [Charts in Active Workbook] Can't Collect Information [Microsoft PowerPoint 2000] [Summary] Can't Collect Information [Active Presentation] Can't Collect Information [Microsoft Outlook 2000] [Summary] Can't Collect Information [Microsoft Access 2000] [Summary] Can't Collect Information [Microsoft Publisher 2000] [Summary] Can't Collect Information [Microsoft FrontPage 2000] [Summary] Can't Collect Information [Active Web] Can't Collect Information [Active Page] Can't Collect Information [COM Add-Ins] Can't Collect Information [Themes] Can't Collect Information [Microsoft Office Environment] [Last Web Connection Error] Can't Collect Information [Local Web Server Extensions] Can't Collect Information [Transport] Can't Collect Information [ODBC Drivers] [Core Components] Can't Collect Information [Drivers] Can't Collect Information [OLE DB Providers] Can't Collect Information