Game Start-Up Reports

post here if you have a problem

from PolMach Forums

There have been some reports that the Ubi Soft Safe Disc CD protection mechanism causes the game to crash on some systems where it cannot detect a CD-ROM drive.

If that is the case:

(1) Make sure you download 1.01

(2) Contact [email protected] about this.

(3) Post here so that we also know about it.

(4) In a pinch, you can email me at [email protected] if you are interested in trying out an unofficial version that may resolve it.

20,917 views 27 replies
Reply #1 from PolMach Forums Top
I tried the Political Machine 1.01 update, but that changed nothing.

This is the message I get:

Cannot locate the CD-ROM
CD/DVD emulation software has been detected. Please disable all CD/DVD emulation software and re-start the game

This is my system information:

Pentium III 866 MHz
512 MB SD-RAM
Windows ME 4.90.3000
NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4400 AGP 64 MB
SAMSUNG CD-R/RW SW-240B 40X
CREATIVE DVD-ROM DVD1242E (Encore PC-DVD 12X)
CREATIVE SoundBlaster Audigy 5.1
Reply #2 from PolMach Forums Top
I had this problem also. I have it no more since Jake sent me a link to download a nocd patch for version 1.01. The game starts up fine now.
DeskScapes - Bring your desktop background to life.
Reply #3 from PolMach Forums Top
Reply #2 By: Citizen korweill - 8/21/2004 8:18:57 AM
I had this problem also. I have it no more since Jake sent me a link to download a nocd patch for version 1.01. The game starts up fine now.


That would be good, but I hope the problem will be solved, to avoid it in the future. It can be fustrating to people when they can't run a purchased copy of the game because of copy protection, especially a game as great as this one is for political strategy. I know why those protections are there, but with the good price and good product, I think this game should sell well regardless. I'm willing to do some trouble shooting if I can help solve the problem, or maybe narow down the possibilities. So far, I think it's not Windows ME, since I got it running on another computer, but I don't know why it would fail to detect on both my CD-ROM drives unless it was an OS issue.
Reply #4 from PolMach Forums Top
I am having a similar problem as well, even with the 1.01 patch. The intro will play, but once it is completed or I skip it, the game exits and I am stuck with veiwing the desktop once again. Here are all my specs:

AMD Athlon XP 1700+ (1.4 gHz)
693 M DDR 333 RAM
Geforce 4 FX 5800 128M vid
ASUS motherboard
XP Prof with all current updates

I think the unique copy protection is making certian hardware unable to use the product...might need to look into your side of the software/hardware as well as ours. I don't believe I have ever had a single program crash on me, or still not work after a patch update.
Reply #5 from PolMach Forums Top
Forgot the Plextor 40X24X40 CD-R/CD-RW and the Pioneer DVD reader (I think it is also 40X)
Reply #6 from PolMach Forums Top
My story is the same as Citizen BloodyHeap. After the intro plays, it crashes right to the desktop. I'm really beginning to get frustrated and will be happy with ANY help at all.
Reply #7 from PolMach Forums Top
Send an e-mail to the above link I think that will work...I checked into the crash after the intro and the problem is the game no reconizing the CD-ROM...the intro was installed with the files on the computer, but the start up after the intro requires the CD...I think it is the copy protection having trouble communicating with certian hardware.
Reply #9 from PolMach Forums Top
I'm also getting this. I didn't get it before I patched to 1.01 though.

Great game. Horrible bug.

Someone has a nocd? Who is this Jake person or do you still have it?
Reply #10 from PolMach Forums Top

We have sent Ubi Soft a build that should resolve the problem on CDs but you have to contact them to receive it. 

Reply #11 from PolMach Forums Top
Reply #10 By: Moderator Frogboy - 8/22/2004 7:00:20 PM
We have sent Ubi Soft a build that should resolve the problem on CDs but you have to contact them to receive it.


I have attempted to email them 5 times at the correct address, but each time recieved an undeliverable message. This is what I got:
Your message

To: Ubisoft Support
Subject: Political Machine start-up problem
Sent: Sun, 22 Aug 2004 21:01:15 -0400

did not reach the following recipient(s):

Ubisoft Support on Sun, 22 Aug 2004 21:01:30 -0400
The recipient was unavailable to take delivery of the message
The MTS-ID of the original message is: c=ca;a= =ubi
soft;l=SRVMAIL2-MTL0408230101QW85AKK1
MSEXCH:MSExchangeMTA:San Francisco:SRVMAIL-SF


Any help?
Reply #12 from PolMach Forums Top
CAN ANYONE HERE GIVE ME INFORMATION ON HOW TO MAKE THIS GAME WORK!

I too bought the game on the first day it came out, eager to play but instead watching it crash shortly after the intro.
Lets save time on system specs because this is apparently a problem with a cd security program?
I have emailed everyone: ubisoft, stardock and even Frogboy... to date, no response.

I would appreciate any help that anyone is able to offer.

[email protected]
Reply #13 from PolMach Forums Top
Biggyfred, I've still got the file. Email me at [email protected] and I will send you the link. If the link doesn't work I can send you the file assuming your isp will let you store it. It is about 3 and a half megs.
Reply #14 from PolMach Forums Top
BloodyHeap and biggyfred,

Try running the game in a window. This may help. Edit the political machine shortcut. Add the "w" parameter to the startup.

ex:

PolMachine.exe w

Joe
Reply #15 from PolMach Forums Top
Reply #13 By: Citizen korweill - 8/23/2004 8:23:53 AM
Biggyfred, I've still got the file. Email me at [email protected] and I will send you the link. If the link doesn't work I can send you the file assuming your isp will let you store it. It is about 3 and a half megs.


I emailed you. Could you send me the link as well?
Reply #16 from PolMach Forums Top
Jim, I've received no email from you.  YOu sure you're sending it to [email protected]?
Reply #17 from PolMach Forums Top
Ditto here. Game crashes my comp upon startup. SEEMS TO ME THIS GAME WAS A TAD RUSHED TO RETAIL.
Reply #18 from PolMach Forums Top
Just bought the game, installed it and the 1.01 update and am getting the crash after the intro movie. I had sent an e-mail to [email protected] but got an undeliverable message. Sending an e-mail to Brad now...
Reply #19 from PolMach Forums Top
Yep same here. Something seems fishy about this whole thing. Email support links are dead for a game barely out? People with all different kinds of computers are getting the same crashes? Yet they say its the customers fault? Well maybe they shouldnt have been greedy and tried to capitalize on something if the end results would be hit or miss. I have a Invidia GeForce 400 64 mb yet it still crashes. It states and i quote "GeForce 2/3/4/FX/6 families of graphics" From frogboys own mouth he said its a problem with the cd protection crap.

Game Start-Up Reports

By: Moderator Frogboy
Posted: Thursday, August 19, 2004
Message Board: Political Machine

There have been some reports that the Ubi Soft Safe Disc CD protection mechanism causes the game to crash on some systems where it cannot detect a CD-ROM drive.


he also posted that bogus email address for suport. Then there was the always adorable comment of "i suggest you return it" Well considering just about every computer software retailer doesnt allow you to get you money back if a game is a piece of crap or malfunctioning like this one WE CANT GET OUT MONEY BACK. ALL THEY WILL DO IS EXCHANGE FOR THE SAME TITLE WHICH DOES ME ALOT OF GOOD. They still got their money.

I think i already have accepted the fact this game was a rush job and Ill just use my disc as a coaster for my soft drinks as thats all that it is worth.
Reply #20 from PolMach Forums Top

Let me make sure i get this "logic" straight:

The game was a "rush" job because the Safe-Disc copy protection, added AFTER the game was completed and having nothing to do with the game itself causes the game to crash?  The game could have been tested for 20 years and it would still have this same problem.  That's why I hate CD copy protection because it inconveniences legitimate owners.

You can also email [email protected] (development support) to get an EXE that doesn't have the Safedisc protection on it.  If we had our way, there'd be no Safedisc on it.  That is a decision of the publisher, not us.  So please stop shooting the messenger.

Reply #21 from PolMach Forums Top
SafeDisc is the devil. I've had friends who have run into the same problem with Farcry, another Ubisoft title as well as with some Atari titles.

Hopefully you can talk the publisher into having the next update not require Safedisc.
Reply #22 from PolMach Forums Top
SafeDisc is the devil. I've had friends who have run into the same problem with Farcry, another Ubisoft title as well as with some Atari titles.

Hopefully you can talk the publisher into having the next update not require Safedisc.


The main problem there is actually the emulation software that everyone install on their computer. You need to uninstall cloneCD, daemon tools, iso buster and any other dvd/cd emulation software. Simply disabling them won't work. Hence why you get the "CD/DVD emulation software has been detected. Please disable all CD/DVD emulation software and re-start the game"

Same goes for Farcry.
Reply #23 from PolMach Forums Top
The intro will play, but once it is completed or I skip it, the game exits and I am stuck with veiwing the desktop once again.

Here are all my specs:
Processor: 1.80 GHz Intel Celeron
RAM: 256 MB DDR SDRAM
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition
Hard Drive Size: 30 GB
CD-RW: 24x (read), 8x (write), 8x (rewrite)
DVD-ROM: 8x
(Combo Drive)
Graphics Card: ATI MOBILITY RADEON
Graphics RAM: 64 MB
Display Diagonal Size: 15.0 inches

To my knowledge, I do not have any CD/DVD emulation software installed on my machine.

I can get the program to work on my computer at work...but even there the cusor doesn't look right.

Please help.
Reply #24 from PolMach Forums Top
I was having the crash after intro vid problem as well. I tried all of the fixes listed here but with no luck. I finally fixed it by turning off the intro vid. Now when I start the game it goes directly to the main menu with no vid and more importantly, no crash.

You can turn off the intro vid by opening the game folder and editing the prefs.cfg file with notepad (default location is C:\Program Files\Ubisoft\Stardock\PolMachine\Data\prefs.cfg). About half way down the page you'll see a line that says skipintro=0. Change the 0 to 1 and save then launch the game.
Reply #25 from PolMach Forums Top
"You can turn off the intro vid by opening the game folder and editing the prefs.cfg file with notepad (default location is C:\Program Files\Ubisoft\Stardock\PolMachine\Data\prefs.cfg). About half way down the page you'll see a line that says skipintro=0. Change the 0 to 1 and save then launch the game."

My data folder does not have this file.

Does anyone have a link or something for me to fix this?

I find it unbelievable, that a company would not post the patch to a known problem on their website.

I can't return the game because it is open. This is an anti piracy coding problem, and really the only thieves involved here is Ubisoft. They have my 20 bucks, and have absolutely no accountablity. Just post the stupid patch. This isn't an operating system or server software this is a game. A game with a highly niche market at that, so piracy is going to cost you less than this horrible customer service and PR. If you search google, for Nocd and Ubisoft Potical Machine, you get a lot of harsh blogs and software reviews based on this problem, BUT NO SOLUTION.

I emailed Stardock who ever that is, and of course haven't heard back.