[NEEDS REVIEW] [IBM PC] Land Land der Hoffnung (Germany) (Rerelease)

[HeroponRikiBestest]

The following submission is being posted here and not the new disc form, as the protection, DiscGuard, poses some issues when it comes to reproducible hashes. It uses weak sectors, or something close to them, produced by scrambled 0x00. I'm waiting for Deterous' response before this is processed, as we've been discussing the proper way to handle these dumps, and this current dump will need some modification as-is.

Code: Select all

Common Disc Info:
    Title: Land der Hoffnung
    System: IBM PC compatible
    Media Type: CD-ROM
    Category: Games
    Region: Germany
    Languages: German

    Ringcode Information:

Data Side Mastering Code (laser branded/etched): Sono press XAM Z-3476-1/ HOFFNUNG D
Data Side Mastering SID Code: IFPI LB 47
Data Side Mould SID Code: IFPI 0774
Write Offset: -12

    Error Count: 0
    Comments:

[T:VOL] LDH

Version and Editions:
    Edition/Release: Rerelease

Extras:
    Primary Volume Descriptor (PVD):

0320 : 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20  20 20 20 20 20 31 39 39                199
0330 : 39 30 35 31 30 32 31 35  30 30 30 30 30 08 31 39   9051021500000.19
0340 : 39 39 30 35 31 30 32 31  35 30 30 30 30 30 08 30   99051021500000.0
0350 : 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30  30 30 30 30 30 30 30 00   000000000000000.
0360 : 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30  30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30   0000000000000000
0370 : 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   ................

Copy Protection:
    Copy Protection: DiscGuard 1.0.2.127
    SubIntention Data (SecuROM/LibCrypt): 

Tracks and Write Offsets:
    DAT:

<rom name="land (Track 01).bin" size="314655264" crc="b629a226" md5="5bcec66e6024ded3c677780fb6cf6208" sha1="58d18bfd0d4bd69220d3f1d5da38c5f8fb73880e" />
<rom name="land (Track 02).bin" size="44372832" crc="e53e419c" md5="878cccabd7f2e11164685247fca3780e" sha1="38ab721b90e213b102225cd6245e7887a52406a1" />
<rom name="land (Track 03).bin" size="14608272" crc="5e8815e7" md5="83e5985d1d40529c291b780b159572fa" sha1="b6259a99f4c94b79c5920b9499aba9a42425f89c" />
<rom name="land (Track 04).bin" size="22122912" crc="02f8699e" md5="a4243f6c42cca4244416e95f651f73d1" sha1="39150d2b6741ced8b85d4c37cc16be483e52e834" />
<rom name="land (Track 05).bin" size="20036688" crc="9776b45d" md5="23733aadb703d343ae2701f35599981d" sha1="a72a219dee8c11b7b2854fba51f94641c4fbc217" />
<rom name="land (Track 06).bin" size="20370672" crc="7e10bfd6" md5="e234558da84d997b28e8efb3d415d909" sha1="63547ab85b29ae414a681393c6c3fcb8bae39a73" />
<rom name="land (Track 07).bin" size="35482272" crc="5f71bc1e" md5="6a2f4d38be8781afcb9b0656d774a340" sha1="4bc9e8bfe69146c22f17ce3a948be9d216b5683f" />
<rom name="land (Track 08).bin" size="10388784" crc="10a05871" md5="4fee593cc8d98a1aa65320d2e483cf26" sha1="07ad1d86492e685e83f1176d0da4d9450c2f80dc" />
<rom name="land (Track 09).bin" size="28666176" crc="2e7e45a3" md5="4ac511e68e47507741800f9fc6a97c39" sha1="5c5aae947324693f32729f88ee6dad99317d8e66" />
<rom name="land (Track 10).bin" size="34191024" crc="0b4b1746" md5="67c92c2fbf0556a7da568440e212d56d" sha1="92d506e4ebee189f9a90a1e06441d67473ee4cda" />
<rom name="land (Track 11).bin" size="37248624" crc="0c340e2c" md5="50b74351ad88c788359edd6e0bff7859" sha1="e1c04f8a3363bfa45bc5f12dece5bdb41c8d399d" />
<rom name="land (Track 12).bin" size="41531616" crc="787a4259" md5="b6ca95020703779a2cf7f7978fcdda6c" sha1="8343a9f01840263cdf52caa0825810e083349b94" />
<rom name="land (Track 13).bin" size="15716064" crc="427bfd9b" md5="ad3cd62bd3521f29d7a45e0c2b55636a" sha1="af7fedbbcc4439cf63736366e9986d9dbb4ec94d" />
<rom name="land (Track 14).bin" size="22882608" crc="5adb9870" md5="98c149c74581943811cc93bcb74d24ca" sha1="26dc4d410b6b0fbcf8230a1f1de43394d0e971e5" />
<rom name="land (Track 15).bin" size="31307472" crc="b1ade9c2" md5="b72983f64915d6e00c8b36f4dd311628" sha1="755db3e294b4c8592492ff47cc4b62fdc61c5a1a" />
<rom name="land (Track 16).bin" size="35752752" crc="71b68a5e" md5="71e6a7c2e47e090041e04be6be9f4a14" sha1="d29ee890c0d655ce39c8be82be0e6c8ec6016f55" />
<rom name="land (Track 17).bin" size="33532464" crc="102e5032" md5="68bee01e0d961c4cc56b04cbc371504f" sha1="d6723bcdfee928c38f0a018eaf169c505981cf14" />
<rom name="land (Track 18).bin" size="23131920" crc="ae493bfa" md5="b6b7c06a2b5cf41b449e458c03df3b35" sha1="052e91176ef4cc6e972e47b4ebfd048008812755" />

    Cuesheet:

FILE "land (Track 01).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 01 MODE2/2352
    INDEX 01 00:00:00
    INDEX 02 00:06:00
FILE "land (Track 02).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 02 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00
FILE "land (Track 03).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 03 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00
FILE "land (Track 04).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 04 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00
FILE "land (Track 05).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 05 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00
FILE "land (Track 06).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 06 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00
FILE "land (Track 07).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 07 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00
FILE "land (Track 08).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 08 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00
FILE "land (Track 09).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 09 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00
FILE "land (Track 10).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 10 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00
FILE "land (Track 11).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 11 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00
FILE "land (Track 12).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 12 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00
FILE "land (Track 13).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 13 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00
FILE "land (Track 14).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 14 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00
FILE "land (Track 15).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 15 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00
FILE "land (Track 16).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 16 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00
FILE "land (Track 17).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 17 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00
FILE "land (Track 18).bin" BINARY
  TRACK 18 AUDIO
    INDEX 00 00:00:00
    INDEX 01 00:02:00

    Write Offset: -12

Dumping Info:
    Frontend Version: 3.3.0-679b40de7c089c3705ef008fbb720f6a4eabc6f1
    Dumping Program: Redumper v2024.11.03 build_438
    Date: 2025-01-21 19:29:28
    Parameters: --verbose --force-cdtext-reading --speed=8 --retries=0 --drive=/dev/sg1 --image-name=land
    Manufacturer: PLEXTOR
    Model: DVDR PX-716A
    Firmware: 1.11 (03/23/07 15:10)
    Reported Disc Type: CD-ROM
    C2 Error Count: 16

[Deterous]

This specific version of this specific DRM seems to intentionally set the user data of sectors 299-1498 such that the scrambled data physically on the disc is all 0x00. During reading with a plextor, 16 sectors in that range give C2 errors, and additional non-C2 sectors in that range provide inconsistent data (non-reproducible hashes). The ASUS dumps also return those 16 C2 errors, as well as an additional 16 C2 errors (covering the locations of inconsistent sectors for the plextor).

[TECHNICAL DETAILS]
In the absence of better dumping hardware (EFM dumps, etc), I can only speculate as to the cause. My best guess is that the DRM is designed to make creating CD-Rs difficult, or make CD-Rs unplayable due to how burners at the time would have dealt with this intentional mastering 'error'. From the reading perspective, the drives may be getting invalid Digital Sum Values from all the 0x00 (similar to safedisc weak sectors), or something like that, resulting in C2 errors and inconsistencies.
[/TECHNICAL DETAILS]

I suggest for this protection scheme that the sectors in the 299-1198 range should be manually fixed to have valid sync headers, linearly incrementing MSF and scrambled 0x00 user data (Mode 2 Form 2), with 0x00 EDC, as it seems that is what is actually on the disc (but our drives are unable to read it). Based on prior inspection there are likely 20 or so sectors that need fixing, around LBA 300-370 (location differs for each dump on Plextors), or in the case of the ASUS dumps, the 32ish C2 errors need fixing in the way I described.

This can all be accomplished automatically by dumping with an ASUS drive and modified redumper that fills in C2 errors with fixed MSF and scrambled 0x00, rather than the default 0x55

[HeroponRikiBestest]

I have manually made the fix requested. The new/fixed hashes for track 1 are:

Code: Select all

<rom name="land (Track 01).bin" size="314655264" crc="01bbb831" md5="94f183773c716704bd671341d40db00f" sha1="e1db45db8d6fd1a478f3fc657b6c280a24c24ebc" />

[superg]

So,  sectors in the range 299-1498 are zeroes when scrambled?
That would explain C2 errors in that range as drive is constantly losing traction reading monotone data sequences like that. Actually that's why scrambling was invented in the first place - to shuffle data around.
I've seen similar issues when trying to read leadout of session 1 of Dreamcast discs. Leadout contains unscrambled data that is printing sega text art on the disc.

C2's is an outcome of a drive not being able to read it.

Is that sector range used in any way by the game?

If not, we could prefill the whole range with 0x55 like we do with pretty much any other case.
To keep things consistent for the time being, let's not change our pattern for a particular protection because it will makes things more complicated. We will have a conversation on what and how we fill in the future.

[Deterous]

So,  sectors in the range 299-1498 are zeroes when scrambled?

Yes, exactly like weak sectors, intended to prevent cheap CD burners from burning a backup of the disc.
Unlike with other DRM, these sectors are not used by the game.

If not, we could prefill the whole range with 0x55 like we do with pretty much any other case.

As we know what is on the disc (majority of the range is read fine, number of errors differ depending on drive), I don't see why we wouldn't fix the dump to what it should be. They are not consistent C2 errors so a pure C2 -> 0x55 wouldn't mean other dumps match anyway.