La statuette Maudite de l'oncle Ernest:Incorrect product key

[yhu420]

Hello everyone,
I downloaded the game from here:
http://www.legendsworld.net/site/downlo ... irror=6128

When I ran unpack.bat, it told me it was a success, so I assume there was no issue with the download.

I created a windows XP VM, installed Daemon tools on it, transferred the 3 extracted files to the VM (STATUETTE.ccd, STATUETTE.img, STATUETTE.sub), and mounted STATUETTE.ccd with daemon tools.
The installation went fine. Now when I want to run the game, it asks me to enter the product key, so I used the one provided with the download: LZ2A4V-UHSFLR-EBZETP-PBMWB2.

Yet, the protection system claims this is not the correct key for this disc. Try it yourself if you want, or I can include a screenshot for a proof, but that's what happened on my end .

Was there a typo while copying the key, or is there a way around this?

Thanks

EDIT; If you manage to get a successful installation, can you post the values you have in HKCU/Software/EMME/Keys from regedit, since they're definitely activation-related?

[Molitor]

The problem is, the CD-key is definitely valid. So I guess the problem comes from the CD image, which is not a perfect copy contrarily to what is required to fool the StarForce protection. Back when I created the image, I either managed to get it working, or never bothered to try (most probably the latter). So here comes our second problem: I don't have the disc anymore, it was one that I had borrowed.

[TigerTheGreat]

STARFORCE? Does this game have a NoCD?

[annoyment]

sigh another one to the list. As for the VM's side:

Bastard protection. Workaround.
https://communities.vmware.com/thread/1 ... 0&tstart=0

Luckily this is the only instance of dear uncle Albert being a pushover Which makes me think, could the EXEs be swappable with the ones from the earlier Ernest titles due to seemingly the same engine (as stated by the Abandonsocios Wiki) without (or even with minor) hexing? in advance...
Windows is shutting down

[Molitor]

STARFORCE? Does this game have a NoCD?

I was surprised as well. Why in the world protect a low-budget, kids-oriented game with this. At least it's not a later iteration of SF with driver mess et caetera.
Release DBs and Dox archives show up nothing as for NoCD.

sighLuckily this is the only instance of dear uncle Albert being a pushover Which makes me think, could the EXEs be swappable with the ones from the earlier Ernest titles due to seemingly the same engine (as stated by the Abandonsocios Wiki) without (or even with minor) hexing? in advance...
Windows is shutting down

I've got to try the EXE swapping, though I don't keep my hopes too high. I tried with the English copy of Uncle Albert's Mysterious Island present on AL, and the files/folder structure is different. You know, it's one of these Macromedia Director games.
We have several other uploads to choose from, I guess I will do them all.

[hfric]

WTF this game has starforce ... the lulz factor is the Mac version is DRM free macintoshrepository.org/3424-la-statuette-maudite-de-l-oncle-ernest

[yhu420]

oh ok, I guess if you want to run this you'll want a macOS 9 VM. Nice. Sheepshaver issues forum here we come

[Scaryfun]

I grabbed the hybrid pc/mac iso from our friends who backup some of our uploads that have MAC subsets - http://macintoshgarden.org/games/la-sta ... cle-ernest
I then renamed the toast image to iso, so should be the same as Molitor's upload:

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[Molitor]

Unfortunately, the image above has the same SF protection. Seems like the Win part on the hybrid CD is protected while the Mac one isn't. So unless a proper clone is made from the disc, playing the Mac version is your best bet.
I'll see if I can get hold of this CD again. I had borrowed it from a relative who later threw away most of his collection, though.

[annoyment]

PARTIAL CLOSURE: Uncle Albert can now go fudge himself Made La Statuette Maudite work DRM-free with the unprotected EXE from its predecessor, Le Temple Perdu (here's a working torrent BTW, if anyone wants to mirror it here ). CTD with the successor's EXE (La Boîte à Bidules) FYI (and also the SF list now has a link to this post )...

It even asks for the disc of the installment the EXE is in (jumbled letter 'cause Japanese locale ), nothing hardcoded

After inserting/mounting it hits a snag, but not to worry, use the highlighted file instead and the title starts off with seemingly no further snags

After the audio-only FMV ('cause W10) the title seems to work properly (except dunno if the troll is a'ight)

Code: Select all

https://www.4shared.com/archive/aTTqGMxvei/UNCLE_EVANS.html

Here's the predecessor's EXE itself, no pw, if anyone wants to inject its code into the EXE of the installment in question to create a proper noCD
No need for a proper clone now Molitor, fer providing the ISO demos mon ami
Windows is shutting down

[annoyment]

POSSIBLE FULL CLOSURE: The French are surely effective, eh Molitor are ye in any part on this?
Windows is shutting down

[annoyment]

http://www.legendsworld.net/adventure/game/6928
Another French title with DRM for Windows-only users it seems

[myloch]

Not easy to find a cracker nowadays willing to spend time and patience defeating SF.

Maybe someone should ask those french to try fixing that inspector Gadget protected game.

[annoyment]

Not easy to find a cracker nowadays willing to spend time and patience defeating SF.

Bad news, another StarForce confirmation Good news is that it's another Director title, just like Uncle Albert here (specifically Macromedia Director MX 2004 10.1.0.11), so one can just replace the executable with another - the problem is that the predecessor in this series seems to also be plagued with StarForce (and that I was unable to track it down ), and even though those are Director titles I'll try and keep my fingers crossed that Protect.dll SF-wrapper data extraction is not a stopping factor for Tgames In the meantime, to the list they went

Maybe someone should ask those French to try fixing that Inspector Gadget protected game.

Full 3D, not Director or any other known engine or suite (read: from-scratch reversing) - best one can do is hope

[myloch]

I'll soon have my handz on the first trilogy of Zio Ernesto.
Thanks to a donator who wants to remain secret.