3) This protection scheme is fairly simple, and extremely easy to
defeat. Four different methods will be given to break this
title. Choose one and make your changes with the MEMORY command.
A) Place three NOPs at $1324. This will erase the JSR to the
protection routine. The program will never even look for
protection now (our choice).
B) Place an $F0 at $13E9 and $13F0. This will tell the program
to fail if an error IS found.
C) Replace the code at $13E3 with A9 32 EA (LDA 32 EA) and the
code at $13EA with A9 31 EA (LDA 31 EA). This loads the
accumulator with the correct bytes the protection check is
looking for.
D) Change $13E6 from a $32 to a $30 and $13ED from a $31 to a
$30. This tells the program to look for NO error ($30=0 in
decimal). The program will crash if an error is found.
4) After your changes are made, all that is left is to save the
code back to your backup. The disk log tells us the file resides
from $1300 to $1575. Be sure to add one byte to the end address
<> S "@0:SAGA.OBJ",08,1300,1576 <>.
Your backup is now free from the restrictions of copy
protection. It will no longer bang your drive head and can even be
file copied. This scheme can be found in approximately this form in
many different programs. Don't be surprised if you see it again.
SARGON III CHESS : HAYDEN SOFTWARE
Procedure:
Loading the original produces a drive rattle twice at the end of
the load. An error scan shows write errors on the original. A
backup made with the C-64 Fast Copier produces a non-working copy.
Working with your backup:
1) Turn the computer off and insert the reset button assembly into
the cartridge port. Turn the computer back on and from your
utility disk, load the $8000 monitor <> LOAD "32768",8,1 <>. Sys
the monitor in with SYS 32768. Place your backup in the drive
and load the boot file <> L "SARGON III",08 <>. Start your
disassembly of code at $02A7 (D 02A7). The code from $02A7 to
$02F2 loads the COPYRIGHT 1984 file in and jumps to $C000.
K.J. REVEALED TRILOGY PAGE [8] (C)1990 K.J.P.B.
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