Help.

Just tring the demo, and it installs fine, when i clik play to begin the error

"A required security module can not be actived. the program can not be executed."

It appears as if Myst V NO_cd_dvd

any ideas?

thanks in advance

Myst V and the Demo both use SecuROM copy protection. What you're getting sounds like a SecuROM generic error.
-- a. Delete the SecuROM folders under \Windows\Application Data\SecuRom\UserData or \Documents and Settings/<username>\Application Data\SecuRom\UserData. Delete any SecuROM folders. If you're using a game update service like Steam (for Valve apps) that uses SecuROM, this will probably kill it, so you'll need to re-install it later.
----- 1. Since \UserData has a hidden file, set Windows Explorer to view hidden files. Click on the View tab > Folder Options > View > Files and Folders, Hidden files > Show all files, then click on Apply > OK.
----- 2. The files in \UserData are also read-only, which you may need to change. Right-click on a file, select Properties in the resulting drop-down menu, and clear the Read-only check box.
-- b. Use Regedit to delete all SecuROM entries in your Registry. (See How to back up, edit, and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 for details.) Again, if you're using an update service like Steam....
-- c. Myst V and the Demo won't play on a remote server, that is, over a network.

If playing footsie with SecuROM doesn't help, try re-installing the Demo. Do *all* of the following in the order shown:

1. Use Control Panel's Add or Remove Programs to uninstall the Demo.
-- a. Click on Start > Control Panel, then double-click Add or Remove Programs.
-- b. In the Currently installed programs box, click on the Myst V Demo entry.
-- c. Click on Change (or Change/Remove).
-- d. If prompted to confirm the removal of the program, click Yes.
-- e. Close Control Panel back to the Desktop
-- f. Reboot.

2. Use your anti-virus software to do a complete scan of your hard drive(s). This is the "start it and let it crank" type of scan, not the bootup quickie!

Do complete spyware and adware scans of the drive(s). I regularly use, and recommend:
-- Spybot - Search & Destroy
-- Ad-aware SE Personal Edition

Both have free versions!

3. Clear your Internet Explorer caches:
-- a. Close all open applications.
-- b. Open a single Internet Explorer session.
-- c. Click on Tools > Internet Options.
-- d. Click on Delete Cookies > OK.
-- e. Click on Delete Files (check the 'Delete all offline content' box) > OK.
-- f. Click on Clear History > Yes.
-- g. Click on OK to exit.

Use Windows Explorer to search your hard drive(s) for \temp, \tmp, and \temporary folders, and delete any files in these folders that aren't currently in use. If Windows complains when you try to delete a file, leave that file alone!
-- a. Click on Tools > Find > Files or Folders.
-- b. Type temp or tmp or temporary in the Named: box.
-- c. Click on the arrow at the right end of the Look in: box and then click on the disk drive to be searched.
-- d. Click on Find Now to start the search.
-- e. Click on the temp (or tmp or temporary) folders found to open them.
-- f. Delete any files in these folders that aren't currently in use.
-- g. Close Windows Explorer.

4. Re-install the Demo. (Be certain that you're logged into Windows with full Administrator privileges. Do not install to a limited User Account.)
-- a. Disable your anti-virus software.
-- b. Click on Start > Run and Browse... to the Demo installer (Mystvdemo.exe).
-- c. Double-click on the file to put it in the Open: box.
-- d. Click on OK to start the installation process.
-- e. Reboot when installation is complete. Make certain that your anti-virus software is re-enabled!
-- f. Start the Demo.

If the Demo still won't run:
-- a. If you're overclocking, set everything back to OEM specs.
-- b. Uninstall PlayBackup, Daemon Tools, and Insektors. Reboot.
-- c. Using Device Manager (right-click on My Computer icon > Properties > Hardware > Device Manager), remove all virtual disks installed by CD/DVD burning or copying programs, like Easy CD/DVD Creator, Nero Burning ROM, CloneCD, et al. Do NOT reboot before starting the Demo.
-- d. Disable (or stop from loading at bootup) all programs that enable drag-and-drop-file-transfer CD/DVD burning, aka packet writing software. For example, Direct CD, InCD, DLA/Sonic DLA, Instant-Write, Packet CD, Drag to Disc, FileCD, and abCD. After disabling, do NOT reboot before starting the Demo.
-- e. You may have a corrupted Demo download. If so, you'll need to re-download and re-install. A good download site is gamershell.com. (DO NOT use a "download accelerator" or "download helper" utility!)
-- f. Create a new User Account with all the rights/privileges you can give it, reboot, then install the Demo to the new account. See How To Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP for details.

Heimdall

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Heimdall G,