Microsoft has confirmed in a security update that the SafeDisc DRM that has been utilized by the company since Windows Vista will no longer be supported by Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8.
According to the bulletin by Microsoft:
“In addition to the changes that are listed for the vulnerabilities that are described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS15-097, this security bulletin addresses a defense-in-depth update for the secdrv.sys driver, a third-party driver. The update turns off the service for the secdrv.sys driver. This may affect the ability to run some older games.”
Those affected by games using secdrv.sys driver have been given some workarounds, either by temporarily turning on the service for the secdrv.sys driver by running certain commands, or by editing the registry.
Microsoft had removed the DRM from Windows 10 earlier, causing some CD-based games using SafeDisc dating from 2003 to 2008 from working. The company had stated that No CD patches or re-purchasing the games from GOG.com were a viable fix.
