Music CD with no Music? New copyright approach?

[Snafu]

Anyone run into a music CD that doesn't play on their computer and does not appear to have any music on it?

I like to throw in a CD and listen while I surf. I picked up a new CD today (Godsmack - faceless) and popped it into one of the optical drives. It did not autostart so I ran media player and it does not see any media files on the disk.

There is an icon folder, autorun and godsmack.exe. Autorun only contains a string of code to run the exe file. Running the exe file opens a webpage (http://www.voodootribe.com/faceless/cdaccess.htm?code=XXXXXXX). Seems it needs to be activated? The page does not load and neither does the site.

Maybe this is a way to protect copyright material or I pooched something on my system.

[sodface]

Have you tried pressing and holding the "shift" key when inserting the CD?

[Snafu]

Just did and nope. It spins but nothing happens.

While looking at the surface it seems there are two sections where the surface appears different. I'm guessing there are two separate sections on the disk and I am seeing the TOC for each section. Now why I can't see both sections is a head scratcher.

[sodface]

That was a tip from this post: (http://www.canadian-tv.com/forums/showflat.php?Board=Offtopic&Number=190373)


I bought a CD from Columbia House a few months back. Godsmack's "Faceless" CD. This thing appears to have copy protection on it. When I close my CD drawer on my laptop, it fires up the web browser and tries to go to a non-existant site.. I hadn't been able to get this darn thing to play until I read that the copy protection could by defeated by holding down the SHIFT key while inserting the CD. That stopped the autorun program from going, and today for the first time I have been able to listen to Godsmack's CD on my laptop using Windows Media Player - finally after months of having this CD in my desk drawer.. If I had known that I would have had such a hard time with that CD, I never would have bought it.

I remember the shift key "crack" to a music copy protection scheme from this post (http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1119&highlight=copy+protection)
Did you try to browse contents after inserting and disabling autorun with the shift key?

Tried it in any other computers? It didn't install anything the first time you ran it did it? Like some kind of buddy program that detects when the disk is inserted and prevents it from playing? Maybe once it runs once you're toast until you get rid of it...

[Snafu]

I tried browsing the contests but there were only 3 files - icon, autorun and the exe.

These guys are getting a little wacko with the copyright :coocoo: - I can sympathise with the hacks.

Could have installed something when it ran - probably means I'm pooched.

[DrPino]

extract to WAVs with ISOBuster ;) or try Slysoft.com's AnyDVD (which gets around CD copy protections as well as DVD ones)...

[Android Vageta]

If nothing works then just download the album...its not illegal as you own the album.

[Snafu]

I can rip a copy if need be but I was not trying to copy the disk. I just wanted to listen to it while I was surfing. This was the first time that it would not autoplay. When exploring the disk the autorun file would point me to a link that would not load.

I wondered if anyone has seen this as yet and whether this is the new security feature.

The disk plays fine in the car or on my stereo.

[Android Vageta]

New idea? Rip the CD then burn it to a blank CD. You still get the CD to pop in and out but it doesnt have the .exe prog.

I experienced this with the latest Breaking Benjamin album...so I just did what I said above. Rip and burn. Its all still a CD.

[joeMan]

I had a Beastie Boys CD do that to me Snafu. The weird thing is I could only get Windows Media Player to play it. Winamp or other players wouldn't touch it. And it also had an auto-launch .exe affiliated with it. Grrrrr...totally uncool coming from such a cool group as the Beasties. :irk:

[Snafu]

I tried Media Player and it sees nothing on the disk.

There are two distinct sections on the disk like two separate TOC's.

Sneaky PITA's

[DrPino]

it's definitely a form of copy-protection...generally disabling auto-play gets around these annoyances (it could have possibly installed something surreptitiously when you first inserted it though - try and find that and uninstall it if that's the case)... as i mentioned, go to www.slysoft.com and download the trial of AnyDVD which gets around CD copy protections...if you like it, it's well worth the price...

these types of copy-protections are what turn off the consumer even more from the major labels...bunch of morons IMHO...

[Android Vageta]

Hey Snafu, give VLC Media player a go...completely free and plays 99% of media formats out there, that might work.

[Snafu]

Thanks :wave:


(it could have possibly installed something surreptitiously when you first inserted it though - try and find that and uninstall it if that's the case)
That's possible when I clicked on autorun. It's not in the list of add/remove programs. Possibly hiding in the registry, perhaps?

[Android Vageta]

Heh, if this stuff really ****es you off and you do find software of some sort...I would wholeheartedly sue the pants off the company that put it on there. Did you ever see any Agreement? No. Therefor if software is found they have ILLEGALLY invaded your PC and your privacy. But on a lighter note, give VLC MP a run for its money (which is none cause its completely free).

[joeMan]

True, VLC media player might see it - you never know. That thing is crazy versitile man.

[Android Vageta]

True dat :yup:

[darin12]

I had the same problem. Luckily I have anydvd. I was able to rip to wma with media player then convert to mp3 with soundforge.

[sodface]

Nice thread revival darin12 - glad you found a work around. Did going to wma and then to mp3 hurt the sound quality much?

Now Snafu, how about posting your resolution? :hide:

[NINaudio]

Nice thread revival darin12 - glad you found a work around. Did going to wma and then to mp3 hurt the sound quality much?

Now Snafu, how about posting your resolution? :hide:


That's a relatively subjective matter. I know some people who can't tell the difference bettween 64 kbps mp3's and 320 kbps mp3's! It also depends on the speakers you're playing them through... Better speakers will allow to hear the degradation in quality sooner. (I sometimes find myself d*mning my ears for having expensive tastes! :beat: :lol: )

[Just Learnin']

That's a relatively subjective matter. I know some people who can't tell the difference bettween 64 kbps mp3's and 320 kbps mp3's! It also depends on the speakers you're playing them through... Better speakers will allow to hear the degradation in quality sooner. (I sometimes find myself d*mning my ears for having expensive tastes! :beat: :lol: )


I have elf ears and am practically deaf but can still tell good from bad in the sound of music! :rock:

"The hills are alive....." shoot me please :o

[NINaudio]

I have elf ears and am practically deaf but can still tell good from bad in the sound of music! :rock:

"The hills are alive....." shoot me please :o

can't say I recognize the quote... :scratch:

but can you tell good from almost but not quite good? that's the real question here... :lol:

[Just Learnin']

can't say I recognize the quote... :scratch:

Movie/Musical:The Sound of Music (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059742/)

Also Known As (AKA)

Novicia rebelde, La Argentina / Mexico / Peru
Mélodie du bonheur, La Canada (French title) / France
Meine Lieder, meine Träume Austria / West Germany
Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music UK (complete title) / USA (complete title)
A Muzsika hangja Hungary
A Noviça Rebelde Brazil
Música no Coração Portugal
Neseli günler Turkey (Turkish title)
Somriures i llàgrimes Spain (Catalan title)
Sonrisas y lágrimas Spain
Sound of music - Laulava Trappin perhe Finland
The Sound of Music Denmark
Tutti insieme appassionatamente Italy



...but can you tell good from almost but not quite good? that's the real question here... :lol:

I can't hear a thing when my wife asks me to do something, but I can hear my pay stub rustle in my supervisors pocket at the other end of a 1/5 of a mile long transit shop on pay day. :yup:

I seem to like songs that become classics when they first hit the air waves as well. From the above you can plainly see I have the age to qualify that opinion. :o

[NINaudio]

I can't hear a thing when my wife asks me to do something, but I can hear my pay stub rustle in my supervisors pocket at the other end of a 1/5 of a mile long transit shop on pay day. :yup:

I seem to like songs that become classics when they first hit the air waves as well. From the above you can plainly see I have the age to qualify that opinion. :o

Ahh, selective hearing at it's best. :)

I seem to like music that most people haven't heard of or consider fringe. If I find someone who even recognizes more than say 1/3 of my cd collection it's quite amazing. Those who know me and what I listen to often wonder about it because I'm so mellow and my music is so not mellow... :lol:

[sodface]

Ahh, selective hearing at it's best. :)

I seem to like music that most people haven't heard of or consider fringe. If I find someone who even recognizes more than say 1/3 of my cd collection it's quite amazing. Those who know me and what I listen to often wonder about it because I'm so mellow and my music is so not mellow... :lol:

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say there's probably some Nine Inch Nails in your collection somewhere :p

[NINaudio]

lol....that's no limb. :)

[harleybro]

Now Snafu, how about posting your resolution?

I think he gave up and is using it as a coaster. :p I have had CD's start to autoload but would hit esc then open them in media player. Guess I am now forced to dig out my godsmack cd. :thumbs:

[NINaudio]

yeah I'm wondering if I would have the same problem... maybe I hsould og dig mine out as well...