ok, after reading alot of posts and struggle most of my day with backing up my x3 reunion dvd.

tools used:
IsoBuster 1.9
DeamonTools 403
coffee

i hope this works for more than one person tho but seems perfect for my box.

1 - use IsoBuster to Extract the CD image. it makes a .Toa and .Cue file.
2 - in the device manager, show hidden devices and look for all the starforce ones. uninstall (i also did the starfore cure thing too).
3 - reboot into bios, disable onboard IDE controller and IDE drivers (i have Sata hdd)
4 - use deamon tools with all the emulation options on to mount the cue file

interisting note here that IsoBuster shows red circled with white crosses in it next to certion files but not other images ive created in alcohol, blindwrite and magicISO.

cheers,
Ryu

Hi,

What about image creating options? Any pronblem with different drives?

bye

hi,

theres only one option in isobuster and thats "extract dvdr image, user data (*.tao *.iso) when you right click on DVD-R.

could only test on one drive :/

but you must sure before u make the image that theres no starforce in the device manager. let it install, reboot, remove it, reboot and create image. ive also find that when i copy the image to different dir it doesnt want to work any more - maybe it was because i used that dir to install from a mdf/mds cant really remember it was like 3am in morn allready

anywhays it also works with all emulation off mounted in deamon tools.
this is not perfect manner yet i'll say its 50/50 to be correct

anywhays i hope something helps,
Ryu

revisiting x3 reunion take 2

[making the image]
firstly clean out any and all starforce things. starforceclean looks ok
also make sure that there is no starforce device drivers still in the device manager under non plug and play (view/show hidden devices)
reboot after cleaning and then make the image. for that ive used IsoBuster to extract the image to a tao with cue file. also MagicISO works by choosing make ISO from dvd/cd, then use ISO (not test .Bin or cue sheet thing there)

[using the image]
ive disabled my onboard ide in the bios and all ide drives (starforce nightmare might work- disable node -> disable cd -> disable 2ch / 1ch)

install x3 if its not allready installed. run it and let it reinstall starforce stuff, reboot. then remove all starforce things in device manaber under non plug and play (show hidden devices) - uninstall not disable. then sfcure. run the !setup so that it installs. reboot pc.

now make a bat file with following in it:
net stop sfdrv01
net stop sfhlp02
net stop sfsync02
pause

(kills off sf protective drivers)

start sfcure.
now (if not disabled ide onboard use starforce night mare here). mount the image in deamon tools 4.03 with all emulation on. run the bat file to disable the driver and execute the x3.exe file. hold thumbs. if it works or not works remember to re-run the bat file to kill the drivers again.


[findings]
after ive made the image from my original. if i copy it to another folder or hdd it wont work anymore strange tho not sure why that is yet.
giving this method a 50/50 chance

hope this works for more than just x3 tho

cheers,
ryu

Hopefully all this unplugging of IDE cables, etc. won't be necessary for too much longer for X3.

I say this, because they have just released a Starforce protected playable Demo. It's almost inevitable that someone will soon make a working No CD patch from this that will work with the retail game patched up to v1.3 (the Demo version).

I don't like having the Starforce protection on my system, but I'd be willing to give it a try, if I could run the game without all the wear and tear on my DVD burner.

Anyway, just consider this an FYI.