Red Alert 3 BETA [Download, Keys and Information]

[Ion]

That "cracked" 'paul.dll' is bullshit. Deleting the original "paul.dll" gives the same response from the game - "Please insert Command and Conquer - Red Alert 3 CD". EA's DRM-protection is too tedious, if not nearly impossible to crack. I would be suprised if any of you actually did it. The "response" from the server is the key used by paul.dll, i.e. the DRM-software, to decrypt the protected application. It would probably be easier to remove or emulate the SecuROM protection on the protected EXE.

 

[Team FORCE]

That "cracked" 'paul.dll' is bullshit. Deleting the original "paul.dll" gives the same response from the game - "Please insert Command and Conquer - Red Alert 3 CD". EA's DRM-protection is too tedious, if not nearly impossible to crack. I would be suprised if any of you actually did it. The "response" from the server is the key used by paul.dll, i.e. the DRM-software, to decrypt the protected application. It would probably be easier to remove or emulate the SecuROM protection on the protected EXE.

You are talking bananas. The paul.dll I have gives an 5252 error or something like that but no Insert Disc error.

 

[dreys]

I am still waiting for a valid key. If someone has a valid key i could install (it can be a "used" key, but only installed 1 or 2 times, because you only install 3 times with one key) please email me at andrei_rom@hotmail.com, or give me a private message, and btw, i wont distribute the key or go online with it.

 

[equazcion]

You are talking bananas. The paul.dll I have gives an 5252 error or something like that but no Insert Disc error.

Ion is right about one thing -- at this point it would be easier to simply remove the SecuROM check from the .exe.

Before we knew SecuROM was a part of the protection scheme, copying registry settings and files seemed viable. But I don't think cracking SecuROM is going to be as simple as copying someone's post-activation game files/SecurROM files over. As I said, you could mess up other software installations that make use of SecuROM if you simply replace the contents of that directory.

Now that SecuROM is involved, this essentially is going to be the same process as creating a NoDVD crack; and that's how we should be approaching this. Removing the SecuROM check from the .exe has always been the cracking method of choice in these situations.

 

[Wohhai]

Ion is right about one thing -- at this point it would be easier to simply remove the SecuROM check from the .exe.

Before we knew SecuROM was a part of the protection scheme, copying registry settings and files seemed viable. But I don't think cracking SecuROM is going to be as simple as copying someone's post-activation game files/SecurROM files over. As I said, you could mess up other software installations that make use of SecuROM if you simply replace the contents of that directory.

Now that SecuROM is involved, this essentially is going to be the same process as creating a NoDVD crack; and that's how we should be approaching this. Removing the SecuROM check from the .exe has always been the cracking method of choice in these situations.

well actually we did know its securom from the begining, just that we have no one who is an expert in cracking secruom, which is why we are searching for this easy... way...
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edit: o and its not the exe u need hacked, but rather the .dat file

 

[dreys]

yeah, but i think we got a little bit of luck here. The cnc3game.dat from tib wars v1.0 is almost the same as ra3game.dat v1.0. Maybe someone can crack ra3game.dat while using the cracked cnc3game.dat v1.0.

 

[Wohhai]

yeah, but i think we got a little bit of luck here. The cnc3game.dat from tib wars v1.0 is almost the same as ra3game.dat v1.0. Maybe someone can crack ra3game.dat while using the cracked cnc3game.dat v1.0.

well.... i dont think its as simple as you make it sound... the version of securom is different. this one is both newer and a bit different since its made for betas...
anyway unless its someone who has experience with cracking securom, it wont be possible.. (probably)
..... example of how its done
http://web.textfiles.com/software/securom.txt

only that one needs a cd/dvd and i dont know how useable it is for this securom

 

[dreys]

this one is both newer and a bit different since its made for betas... (probably)

it's not made for beta's, the online activation is made for beta's, but you can "erase" that, to make it a normal securom protected game. This one is just newer .

 

[klipseracer]

the beta has no install limitations. i've successfully done it over 10 times now on different machines.

 

[Wohhai]

the beta has no install limitations. i've successfully done it over 10 times now on different machines.

is that a fact? i mean you are aware that one of the keys we have is actually real, just that it says that the number of pcs allowed has been reached...

o and for installing you can use fake keys or whatever.. its the activation thats the problem

 

[klipseracer]

is that a fact? i mean you are aware that one of the keys we have is actually real, just that it says that the number of pcs allowed has been reached...

I was not aware of that. But Are you aware that I have 2 beta keys, and I haven't even needed the second one because i've installed with it many times?

EDIT: BTW, i'm at work, and i'm about to do a registry compare on my system before installation, after installation, and after activation.

 

[Wohhai]

have you activated with all of them ? if so then the limit could be to ips rather than machines although they do say that its to machines...

 

[Klott]

Installing is by no means the same as activating. I think the Beta keys can only be activated on 3 different computers.. Someone check me on this.

 

[klipseracer]

have you activated with all of them ? if so then the limit could be to ips rather than machines although they do say that its to machines...

Activation simply means that i've started the game once. And yes, i've done it at least 5 times on a single computer and another 5 or 6 on my laptop. And i'll do this machine here in a second, once i'm done replying to the doubters

 

[klipseracer]

Installing is by no means the same as activating. I think the Beta keys can only be activated on 3 different computers.. Someone check me on this.

Ok. I'll say this again, because I did use the wrong words. I've ACTIVATED the game and started it up MANY times. I was afraid of the limitation as well because I looked into the securom 7 details, but it doesn't affect my key at least, my installations. I'll be installing again right now. I just did a snap shot of my registry.

EDIT: I actually have 2 valid beta keys, please don't say its not possible if you don't have a beta key and tried it yourself.

 

[Wohhai]

well klipseracer. u do make it unclear what your saying... first of all activation on the same pc more than once wont happen since it only activates once, then u can reinstall more than once with no problem, what we needed you to test is to activate the game on as many as possible pcs.. installing it on ur laptop 1000 times and on ur pc 10000000 times still means you activated on 2 pcs, now you said ud install on a third and that would be your three activations (atleast people r saying its 3 per key)
but anyway compare the reg etc, finding a crack/bypass is the important thing right now...

 

[klipseracer]

well klipseracer. u do make it unclear what your saying... first of all activation on the same pc more than once wont happen since it only activates once, then u can reinstall more than once with no problem, what we needed you to test is to activate the game on as many as possible pcs.. installing it on ur laptop 1000 times and on ur pc 10000000 times still means you activated on 2 pcs, now you said ud install on a third and that would be your three activations (atleast people r saying its 3 per key)
but anyway compare the reg etc, finding a crack/bypass is the important thing right now...

OK. I'll Be blunt. I've activated my install MANY TIMES. Period. If you don't believe me, then sorry. Its more than possible to activate an install more than once. You can reinstall the game on your PC as much as you want, at least in the beta. You obviously don't have a beta key to test this yourself. When you install the game, the keys are stored in the registry, and the game is activated when you go online. All you have to do, is wipe your computer, or just revert to a previous system restore date and install again and it makes you activate again. I've said this several times on the forums here.

EDIT: I also successfully have a registry change log and filesystem change log if anyone wants to see it, PM me. Its actually got some very interesting information in it(cryptographically).

EDIT2: I can also confirm that 3pc's is the max machines usable for the Key, however you can reinstall and reactivate on the same 3 pc's as much as you want, contrary to the rules set by securom with bioshock. There is NO activation limit, Unless you install on more than 3 nodes.

 

[klipseracer]

I've made some progress here. I did have to use the new key because I was on my fourth machine. I did a snapshot before installation and after installation. I recorded the filesystem and registry changes there. And then I loaded up the game, and recorded the filesystem and registry changes there as well. [EDIT] The beta key is also in the registry after initial installation and is changeable with no adverse affects.

The results are here: http://i-hacks.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6
Please keep this technical only. Anyone that has anything valuable to add, i'll be storing my data and findings here, as I don't have to worry about it being lost, deleted/moderated or flooded with nonsense replies.

 

[dreys]

I see you have a list of everything that changed during the activation. You can now test it and see if it works if you copy everything on another pc ( including reg.)
Good luck

 

[equazcion]

It would be great if you could also package and upload all those files listed as modified. That way people could try replacing all their files while also modifying their registries accordingly, and then seeing if the game will run on their systems that way.