SafeDisc

One of the logos used by SafeDisc

General Information

SafeDisc was the name of a copy protection jointly developed by the US based Macrovision Corporation and UK based C-Dilla (later bought by Macrovision, themselves later bought by Rovi). Used between 1998 to 2009 it was one of the most popular forms of disc-based DRM of its era and is found on discs from all over the world. Including Some Macintosh ones.

For Redump.info purposes the DRM comes in 3 versions. SafeDisc (Standard), SafeDisc Lite and SafeDisc DVD. Covered on this page is also SafeCast, an online activation-based DRM from the same people.

Identification

Standard SafeDisc with active protection always have C2 errors in the first 10000 (approximately) sectors, The number varying slightly between ~500-800 and the errors always carry a bit count of 312. Discs themselves also carry dummy files corresponding to the errors called ".tmp" and sometimes they will have other associated files loose on disc such as "SECDRV", "DrvMgt" and "CLCD". Discs will also carry data in the Pregap though the reason is unknown, and metadata related to the DRM can be found in the PVD sector of a disc.

SafeDisc Lite meanwhile has just ~50-100 errors. Dummy files here are called ".lt1" and the version has been almost exclusively found in Microsoft games from the early 2000s. Note that BoS will sometimes have a hard time telling the difference between Lite and early versions of standard SafeDisc.

SafeDisc DVD have no errors at all as the protection is instead based on DMI data. Mac DVDs with SafeDisc can be hard to identify and using BoS or checking the PVD sector for Metadata is often the easiest way.

SafeCast - Has no associated files. Using BoS or PID is the best way to identify the DRM.

Dumping

Standard SafeDisc and Lite: Dump it like a normal disc as Redumper has built in support for the errors.

SafeDisc DVD: For Redump dump it like a normal disc. For a working dump follow the MDS dumping guide as the dumps will not contain the DMI data.

SafeCast: Dump it like a normal disc. Note that the servers are long since dead so the only way to play SafeCast games is through a crack.

Additional Information

Being such a common DRM means a lot of games later got rerelease with it removed. Sometimes remnant files will still be present on disc on such occasions. So if no errors are present. Don't add SafeDisc to the protection field, instead note in comments that its remnant. This also applies if if errors are present but no SafeDisc files (A "Disc is mastered like a SafeDisc-protected disc, but executables are not protected" line is often added to comments).

Sometimes BoS might report SafeDisc version as "expunged". Only way to get version on these discs is to check the authserv string in one of the .tmp files.

While not to common, Plextors will sometimes add extra errors with the same bit count within the SafeDisc range. These are not picked up as wrong be Redumper and can be hard to spot. But if you suspect this might be the case (often based on other dumps of the same game) in a submission, ask the dumper to provide a second set of logs.