I have a big problem (damaged DVD?)

[Agent Smith]

Ok, so I downloaded the new patch, and I wanted to do a clean install to make sure everything went right. I uninstalled, rebooted.

When I went to reinstall the game, everytime it gets through about halfway in installing data_1.pack, I get a "Data Error: Cyclic Redundancy Check." I know it's not my hardware, so does that mean my DVD is damaged?

I'm going to be royally ticked if that's the case. I'm not going to spend another $50 to buy a new copy...

[Forward Observer]

Ok, so I downloaded the new patch, and I wanted to do a clean install to make sure everything went right. I uninstalled, rebooted.

When I went to reinstall the game, everytime it gets through about halfway in installing data_1.pack, I get a "Data Error: Cyclic Redundancy Check." I know it's not my hardware, so does that mean my DVD is damaged?

I'm going to be royally ticked if that's the case. I'm not going to spend another $50 to buy a new copy...

I am assuming you looked to make sure there were no major scratches, marks, boogers, or whatever on the "read" side of your set of disks.

You might want to do a search through your system using terms like "Sega"
or MTW2 to make sure there are no old files left over.

If you suspect your disk is damaged, you might try this. It's a freeware program that will check both CD's and DVD's for errors.

http://www.softwarepatch.com/software/cd-recovery.html

If you do have a damaged disk, usually game publishers will replace them if you contact them and explain the situation. If they know you have bought the game then the material cost of the actual disks is almost nothing.

Cheers

[Budwise]

Besides all the taboo topics I will not mention here, you can try a disk doctor repair kit that "fixes" the bottom of a cd. Cyclic Redundancy Error is due to a damaged disk but I would suggest cleaning the bottom with water first because often its due to dirt. Some A-hole will probably PM you and tell you about something taboo but your inner self has to decide to follow certain gray area activities or not.

[sapi]

Just a quick note: a CRC does not necessarily indicate a damaged disc; it can also be a symptom of a damaged drive (I know at one stage, for example, that one of my DVDs would refuse to run on one drive, throwing up a CRC, but work perfectly on others)

So trying another drive might be worth a shot; though considering that you probably installed the game from the same drive that is unlikely to work...

[Foz]

Wow, so many good legal topics are coming up lately on here. In this case, I have to ask: is it illegal to get a game through a normally-illegal channel, if you in fact have purchased the game legitimately and simply cannot get your game media to work? I mean, you're granted the right to have and use 1 copy of the game files on your PC, so might a user in Smith's position be in the clear if he decided to obtain the game from a source other than his apparently broken DVD that came from the box? Certainly there'd be no reason to feel morally wrong for doing so, as you've paid for the game... I'm just less certain of the legal details of the situation.

[Furious Mental]

Well as with every law it will might depend on where you live, but I strongly suspect the answer in your jurisdiction is no. It is definitely no where I live (Australia). Basically when it comes to copyright of electronic materials ask yourself whether something is
A) Fair; or
B) Realistic

If it is either fair or corresponds to what everyone does in reality, then the law most likely prohibits it.

[Generals_Bodyguard]

I have the same problem...So i either have to buy a new copy or a new DVD drive...believe it or not a DVD drive in my place is slightly cheaper then the copy of M2TW...i was so looking forward to playing with the official patch...I cant return the disc since i bought it last year!!!If only i didnt uninstall the game...SIGH...

[Whacker]

Well as with every law it will might depend on where you live, but I strongly suspect the answer in your jurisdiction is no. It is definitely no where I live (Australia). Basically when it comes to copyright of electronic materials ask yourself whether something is
A) Fair; or
B) Realistic

If it is either fair or corresponds to what everyone does in reality, then the law most likely prohibits it.

QFT

@ the OP

If you've cleaned off your disc and there are no bad scratches, and have tried it in another machine just to be safe, then it's probably not your disc. Try some of your other discs in the same computer and see if you get some random crc errors. This is really hit or miss, some discs that are known good could work fine in your drive, others may not. If you start to see that a few discs have problems, read on.

As sapi suggests, it could also be your drive going bad, and/or some crippleware installed by some other apps/games that is interfering with your drive's normal operation. The main culprit and strawman that many of us have dealt with before is Starforce. If you have any games that use Starforce, I strongly suggest you remove them and the crippleware itself, here's a link to a site with some games listed to see if you have on on there, and some removal tools http://www.glop.org/starforce/ . My current DVD drive is on it's last legs because of this, I didnt' know that the expansion to Lock-on had this "protection" scheme installed, and next thing I know I go from a perfectly good, relatively new drive to one that's starting to show it's age mechanically and not reading discs at random. Feh. Of course there are a few other "protection" schemes, apps, and drivers that can cause you headaches, but this one by far seems to be one of the worst as it forces your machine into a mode of operation that can harm your hardware.

Good luck. Yer gonna need it.

[Quickening]

Ok, so I downloaded the new patch, and I wanted to do a clean install to make sure everything went right. I uninstalled, rebooted.

When I went to reinstall the game, everytime it gets through about halfway in installing data_1.pack, I get a "Data Error: Cyclic Redundancy Check." I know it's not my hardware, so does that mean my DVD is damaged?

I'm going to be royally ticked if that's the case. I'm not going to spend another $50 to buy a new copy...

I had the exact same thing except in my case there were obvious problem markings on the DvD and it arrived like that so I was able to get a replacement.

This could be a good excuse to buy the Collectors Edition.

[Tyrac]

I had this exact problem. I had several minor scratches on the disc. I bought one of those disk fixer things. Basically what it does is removes a thin layer of the disk. If the scratch is shallow it will dissapear. It will not fix really deep scratches.

I ran mine through twice and it worked after that. Cheaper then buying a new game and I have used it to fix a few CD's that skipped too. :)

[Agent Smith]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

After looking at everything, I really think it's the DVD that's the problem. I downloaded a trial version of this program called CD Check, which checks for errors on the DVD. It pops up with an error at the same spot every time, just like the installation gives me an error at the same place every time. Everything esle seems to be working ok. Also, my DVD drive isn't making any hard noises when it's reading (I heard it can make a "grinding" noise if there is a problem).

I guess this kind of stuff happens when you live in a small house with two small children. I leave the DVD out every now and then because I use it so often, and my two year old could've been chewing on it for all I know. It doesn't look scratched to me, but there is obviously something going on.

As to the legal aspect of getting another copy of the game, I think it all comes down to the end user license agreement. Taking US copyright law at face value might give you some options to make a copy, such as the fair use doctrine, but I guarantee the license agreement doesn't allow you to take any such action.

I'm just oh so very frustrated...

[Agent Smith]

Just as a reference, here are some pertinent parts of the license agreement, emphasis added:

Sega grants to you the non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited right and license to install and use one copy of the Game Software solely for your personal use. All rights not specifically transferred by this License remain with Sega. The Game Software is licensed to you and not sold.

2. Ownership of the Game Software

You agree and acknowledge that all title, ownership rights, and intellectual property rights connected with the Game Software and any and all copies (in particular any titles, computer code, themes, objects, characters, character names, stories, dialogues, catch phrases, places, concepts, artwork, animation, sounds, music, audio-visual effects, text, methods of operation, moral rights and any related documentation) are owned by Sega or its licensors. The Game Software contains certain licensed materials and Sega's licensors may protect their rights in the event of any violation of this Agreement.

3. Use of the Game Software

You agree to only use the Game Software or any part of it in a manner which is consistent with this License and you SHALL NOT:

(a) without the permission of Sega use the Game Software or any part of it for commercial use, for example use at a Internet cafe, computer gaming center or any other location-based site;

(b) without a further license, use the Game Software, or permit the use of the Game Software, on more than one computer, game console, handheld device or PDA at the same time;

(c) make copies of the Game Software or any part thereof;

(d) use the Game Software, or permit use of the Game Software, in a network, multi-user arrangement or remote access arrangement, including any online use, except as otherwise explicitly provided by Sega and subject to acceptance of the terms and conditions of use;

(e) sell, rent, lease, license, distribute or otherwise transfer this Game Software or any copies without the express prior written consent of Sega;

(f) reverse engineer, derive source code, modify, decompile, disassemble, or create derivative works of the Game Software, in whole or in part unless provided for in section (j) below;

(g) remove, disable or circumvent any proprietary notices or labels contained on or within the Game Software;

(h) export or re-export the Game Software or any copy or adaptation in violation of any applicable laws or regulations; and

(i) create data or executable programs which mimic data or functionality in the Game Software unless provided for in section (j) below.

(j) use the part of the Game Software which allows you to construct new variations ("Editor") to create new levels which (i) can be used otherwise in connection with the Game Software; (ii) to modify any executable file; (iii) to produce any libelous, defamatory or other illegal material or material that is scandalous or invades the rights of privacy or publicity of a third party; (iv) to use the trademarks, copyright or intellectual property rights of any third party; (v) are then commercially exploited by you (through pay-per-play or timesharing services or otherwise). For the avoidance of doubt you are solely liable and responsible for any claims by a third party resulting from your use of the Editor.

You agree to read and abide by the Game Disc Precautions and Maintenance Instructions and the Safety Information which is set out in the documentation accompanying the Game Software.

Based upon all of that gobbledeguck, I'm essentially "legally" stuck with jsut the disk they give me and I would essentially have to go through them to get the problem fixed.

[Whacker]

IANAL, and this is a very grey area... but some parts of EULAs are not enforceable (illegal, hence 'void') in some states/nations/planets/universes. There is such a thing as "fair use", and your rights as an end user/consumer do extend to certain areas. I can't cite you any specific cases, but there have been instances where a person has gone to trial for making personal backups of software (in violation of the specific EULA) and won the case.

I'm not suggesting you do anything here, other than take this with a grain of salt. You DO have rights, some of which cannot be taken away by a EULA.

[Forward Observer]

How long have you had the game?

If you bought the game as many of us did when it came out you may be out of luck on a replacement from Sega or the retailer.

Sega has a 90day warranty--here it is copied from their site:

SOFTWARE WARRANTY
SEGA of America, Inc. provides a 90-day warranty from the original date of purchase. This warranty only covers defects in material and workmanship. If a defect covered by this limited warranty occurs during this 90-day warranty period, the defective game disc or cartridge will be replaced free of charge. This limited warranty does not apply to software purchased as used or to software acquired through private transactions between individuals or purchased from online auction web sites. It does not cover defects caused by negligence, accident, unreasonable use, modification, tampering, or any other causes not related to defective materials or manufacturing workmanship. For replacement within 90-days of the date of purchase, return the product, with its original packaging and receipt, to the retailer from which it was purchased.

In the event that you cannot obtain a replacement from the retailer, return the product with its original packaging and the receipt showing date of purchase to:

Sega of America
Attention Consumer Services
650 Townsend St., Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94103
IMPORTANT: Include a note with the reason for the return along with your name and mailing address. Sega is not responsible for returning any game software that is not covered by the warranty.

You say that you see no scratches, but if you do find them there are a couple of alternatives

I have one of the diskRX systems that several have mentioned, and it has recovered a couple of disks for me. I have used it more for audio CD's than anything else since they tend to get abused more, but those gadgets sell for about $30 to $40. It kind of scary when you first look at your disk after the process because they actually use a fine sandpaper wheel and will give your disk a brushed metal look

However, I have two alternative that are much cheaper plus with these methods you can concentrate on individual areas of the disk rather than sanding off the entire disk.

The first is automotive rubbing compound. This is basically automotive car wax with a very fine abrasive in it. It is used to restore oxidized or lightly scratched paint finishes on cars or trucks, but it also works on plastic surfaces.

The first disk repair kit I ever bought for like $12 or more came with a one ounce bottle of the stuff, and I realized immediately that I had been snookered. It's like those LCD screen cleaning kits that give you 4 ounces of ispropyl alcohol for $10, when you can buy a half quart of the stuff at the grocery for 89 cents.

Rubbing compound comes in several strengths, and of course you want the lightest duty. Many discount stores will have it, if they have an automotive department, but any automotive parts store will carry it, and they most likely will have the various grades.

It will work any plastic surface such as CD's and DVD's. You just apply a thin coat, let it dry and buff it off with a soft rag. There is no chemical action, but the dried wax has a very fine grit in it. It will probably run you about $5 to $10 for a bottle. It may take several applications based on how deep any scratches are.

A friend told me about this and it is even cheaper, but harder to find---it is a jeweler's rouge impregnated polishing cloth. The nice thing about this is you can polish up all your jewelry afterwards. Jewelry and gem polishing supply stores will carry them. You have to be careful with these because you can actually polish scratches out of glass with a enough elbow grease. Jewler's rouge actually contains ferric oxide (iron rust) and is one of the finest abrasives known.


Here is an on line source:
http://www.firemountaingems.com/deta...p?PN=H201536TL

Edit: I have not used this last method, but we used these cloths in the army to polish our belt buckles, so I see no reason that it wouldn't work. If nothing else you can alway polish up all your rings and such.

Cheers

[Generals_Bodyguard]

Dude, as i said i have this same problem...however in my case it was more of a case of both...DVD1 is a lil smudgy now(arrrgghhh copy protection...why do we need to insert the CD everytime) and my DVD drive is a lil rusty...However with a lil luck i managed to create an image of DVD1 on my harddisk...What helps for me is doing this the first thing when u turn on the computer(no idea y)...

Managed to install the game from this DVD1 image(no problem with DVD2)...but had problem with patching 1.2 error localised.pack missing or something...so i uninstalled again and this time installed 1.1 first then 1.2...worked like a charm...Now i will not delete this image for backup....

[Didz]

In the past when this sort of thing has happened I've merely contacted the software company and arranged for the supply of a replacement disk. Some companies make a nominal handling charge but others just send one.

As for disk care, I usually find washing a DVD in washing up liquid cures most problems. I've never had to bother with disk repair kits.

[HoreTore]

I'll just say one word: Backups....

[Caliburn]

A bit off topic, but I can't resist... My M2 DVD wouldn't run on my brand new DVD drive for something like 3 months, until I got my third DVD Firmware update. Usually the computer just throws up on you, but at times you get something sweet.

I hope you'll get your problems fixed.

[Agent Smith]

Just as an update:

My buddy at school had one of those DVD cleaning machines (the guy's got everything in this electronics shop of his...including a freakin' borescope, but that's beside the point). It ended up doing the trick.

Needless to say, I've back up both DVDs and kept all patch .exe files as backup. I am NOT having this problem again!

[TinCow]

Since we're talking about fixing damaged disks, I figured I'd toss in this budget solution.

I had a game disc (Sid Meier's Gettysburg) that would not play due to a scratch. The scratch in question was very deep, caused the install to fail, and made the disc generally unreadable. I had tried everything possible to fix it and had no luck. I was about to throw it away as a lost cause, when I figured I would try to remove the scratch manually. Since I was going to toss it anyway, there wasn't anything to be lost by ruining the disc further.

I eventually came upon the idea of using a soft abrasive to sand down the disc until the scratch was gone. For reasons I cannot remember, I decided to try using Soft Scrub on a soft cloth of the type you use to clean glasses (spectacles). It worked well and soon the scratch was gone, but the process left the entire area of the CD covered in a lightly cloudy blur of nearly microscopic abrasion scratches. As it turned out, these tiny scratches were not large enough to interfere with the laser, and the CD become fully readable again.

So, if you've got a disc that won't play because of scratches, you don't have one of these fancy commercial CD repair devices, and you're about to throw the disc out anyway, check under your sink for a soft abrasive cleaning liquid. You might save yourself a few bucks.