German site Chip is running a little guide which shows you how to defeat current copy protection systems like Cactus Data Shield 100/200 and Key2Audio by the usage of a permanent marker pen!
How it works: With the use of copy protection a corrupt data track is added behind the audio tracks. This confuses CD-ROM drives in such a way that they refuse playing. Normal audio CD player are not sa smart as PC drives and therefore play them without taking note of the data track at the outside edge. If one now simply covers the data track then the PC drive cannot find anything at the place indicated in the TOC (Table Of Contents) and treats the medium like a normal audio CD. How it is done: With the permanent marker pen you need to cover the dividing line and parts of the outside track without affecting the last audio track. Now try playing the CD in your drive. If it didn't work you probably touched the last audio track. Try again... Source: Chip.de
How it works: With the use of copy protection a corrupt data track is added behind the audio tracks. This confuses CD-ROM drives in such a way that they refuse playing. Normal audio CD player are not sa smart as PC drives and therefore play them without taking note of the data track at the outside edge. If one now simply covers the data track then the PC drive cannot find anything at the place indicated in the TOC (Table Of Contents) and treats the medium like a normal audio CD. How it is done: With the permanent marker pen you need to cover the dividing line and parts of the outside track without affecting the last audio track. Now try playing the CD in your drive. If it didn't work you probably touched the last audio track. Try again... Source: Chip.de
