Please help with the hook error!

[hyperstork]

I'm getting the "hook process" error and can't start the game (demo worked fine for me). I hjave the new US release of Knights of Honor, 1.3 patch. I've tried just about everything to turn off any software that could be irritating the copy protection, with no luck. I sent an email in with my dxdiag and msinfo a few days back but haven't heard anything. Please help! I can't even play this game!

I tried turning off almost everything in the with the services command suggested on this forum, still no dice. I have two firewalls both turned off now, and have not activated my "NoAdware" and "System Mechanic" before playing, but still no dice. Suggestions?

[Da Bomb]

Are you using a copy? You said you are trying to get past the copy protection. If so, it won't work.

If not, try to find whatever changed between you getting the demo and the full game.

[hyperstork]

No, no no, this is a regular release of the game bought from GameStop in the USA. I can't return it, so I'm a bit frantic here. I only want to play the darn thing! But the hook process error comes up despite all I turned off. I'm hoping it doesn't expect me to uninstall my firewalls, NoAdware and anything else.

I have logs of the dxdiag, the services running on my machine, etc if they would do anyone any good. I haven't posted them as they are quite lengthy.

[Angryminer]

Yes, the NoAdware, AntiSpyware and Anti-Virus-Software should be shut down. They don't need to be uninstalled, but they shouldn't be started.

Angryminer

[hyperstork]

Tried that. All shut down, all firewalls disabled, hell of a lot of other things shut off in services (which may screw up my computer eventually). No dice.

Any help from tech support here? I just want to play this game. I can send files (dxdiag, etc) to someone if they'll actually respond.

[Webmaster]

please open a support ticket under http://support.sunflowers.de. they will later also request dxdiag logs e.g.

[hyperstork]

Well, I submitted my info and got told to "contact EA Games" since they are distributors, etc. Punt!

Now, to try to go about that. Back to square one...

[HCode]

What background programs are your running exactly? Some tools still have active hooks even when you close their GUI applications (i.e. a service still running etc). Spy Sweeper, older versions of Tiny Firewall Pro, Panda Antivirus are known for this.

[hyperstork]

EA games UK punted me to the US division. Funny thing is, the US division has no listing for Knights of Honor for their tech support. This is like dealing with the department of motor vehicles, and I'm ready to climb a clock tower...

I have Windows firewall, and the Outpost Firewall I usually use both disabled. I do have NoAdware on my system, as well as System Mechanic. They are not activated. I see no reason to uninstall them for one paranoid game. At this point I want money or blood if the game won't work... I'm tired of being punted around by bureaucrats. I'd even consider a crack for 1.3 to get it to run, I'm so desperate. This kind of cd muckup thing is making me consider nasty practices for the first time, and that's the thing it was written to stop- but is only harming the average user instead.

[iammadatgamemakers]

I have just the same problem as you have. I spent hours trying to get the game running by doing what they suggested. I even uninstalled every antivirus programs on my pc but that hook process message still displays. I am starting to get annoyed with those idiots who released this game without some kind of patch to fix this issue. Have you gotten your money back? Because I would like to know whom to talk with for my refund since they seem to make only feeble attempts to help us.

[Demolition]

how can you tell a process is a hook process and is nortion aniviruw one?

[Angryminer]

Yes, Norton Antivirus will cause KoH to not start. You should disable Norton before running KoH.

Angryminer

[Demolition]

but it worked before whit norton

[Angryminer]

The demo is free and thus has no copy-protection-mechanism that could be disturbed by Norton.

Angryminer

[Demolition]

but i'm still playing the demo. and how do i shut norton off

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omfg I just putted A² back on (a mall and adaware scanner) back on and the game worked this is creepy

[Ludis]

I don't use Norton, I use V3Pro. And even when I shut it down the game gives me the hook error. Are they going to fix this? I wish they had simply done as the manual indicates and included serial numbers to load. The system they are using is ridiculous.

[Kylemmie]

Greets all,

Just joined, so the application process is first on my mind - minor nag - Why does the question begin "If you choose to" at the B-day part, when if I choose not too...it slaps me an error and makes me redo the application until I do enter a B-day ? (yes, I know this is pointless, since I could just take the low road and lie, just seemed silly to appear to offer me a choice)

Main issue - I have to admit being a complete novice at understanding how programs interact on my PC.....but I have installed many, many games and programs which do not put my machine at risk....so why do I have to drop all my Virus protections to play this one ??? Does the Game provide a friendly notice when I exit reminding me that I am naked to the world of Hackers and Virus Villains should I forget to restart my PC ?

I often will 'window' out of a game I am playing to check my email in case a customer has contacted me for service or with a question.....As I understand it, that is not an option while running this software ? (a safe option I mean)

__Edited__ Okay, I spoke too soon. I was worried after reading about possible issues with Norton etc....but it only took disabling spyware to allow the game to run.

[Angryminer]

The general problem is that KoH checks the enviroment for running threats against it's copy protection. For example a crack that simulates a original CD.
Various anti-virus programs use very similar methods to cracks to find out wether a program is malicious or not. They poke around other program's bits and bytes.
KoH can not distinguish between crack or Anti-Virus/Anti-Spyware-programs because both use the same methods and will stop working as soon someone tries to look into it's internal work.
I hope this enlightens the problem a bit and makes the inconveniences at least partially understandable. :go:

Angryminer

[Rolf]

Will this be addressed in a patch or a workaround? I shut off my firewall, my virus program, and didn't start up my anti-spyware programs, but still I receive the "hook" message. I'm no technological genius, but I sure as heck can't figure what else to do to get this game running. It's very frustrating to know you have a perfectly good game and a perfectly good computer system, both separated by a copy protection system. If I can't get this fixed soon, I'll see about getting my money back.

[Doux]

Did you kill every other progam? Spyware or other malicious programs can cause harms too.

cntrl+alt+del and kill programs that aren't necessary (check the net for these, win xp differs with 98).

Have your pc cleaned and checked by ad-aware www.lavasoft.de and spybot www.spybot.info to be sure that those aren't problems.