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So my parents bought me a new machine.
Awesome, eh? Except I'm not allowed to game on it. Still am of course...
So far I'm going to.... obvious delete it from the Start menu, and quickstart. Also delete it from the Games folder that Windows keeps updated. For the StarCraft II folder inside of Documents I'll make it hidden. For the main StarCraft folder I'll install it in some obscure place and make it hidden. Is there any way to make it resistant to Searches? Nothing I can do about the registry I think....
Any tips and hints to hide your games? Any stories about hiding games?
 
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Canada7170 Posts
Something about Twilight Utilities?
A different thread on TL a long time ago suggested it, I told my younger cousin and he says it's amazing. Try at your own risk.
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If your parents are Luddites why even bother doing all this? Are they going to be combing over it over certain time periods so that they know 100% you aren't having games on it?
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well, if you want to, you also have a choice of having he games in an external harddisk..
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Put it in a folder called 'Porn'. You parents will never open that folder, so it's perfectly safe.
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I would personally hide it in a folder named "School Work" or something like that. Make folders for each class and put legit assignments in them. Keep on making subfolders and hid your games in one of them. Unless you parents are that crazy and search and click on every single folder you will have in there or in your computer.
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You can disable the Windows Search feature entirely, though that will make it so that you can't search for anything.
Alternatively, you can manually exclude specific folders from Windows Searches using the technique shown in this guide here.
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Regardless of how you hide it hopefully they won't notice the hard drive space shrinking. I can't think of too many easy ways that you could hide that.
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What kind of perverted parents would buy you a brand new computer and expect you NOT to put any games on it?
(just kidding!)
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Well my parents basically HATE games...
They think they rot the brain and they would actually pay money to keep me from paying games
The thought of them buying me a new machine and me playing games on it is unbearable for them
On March 12 2011 11:25 neSix wrote:
What kind of perverted parents would buy you a brand new computer and expect you NOT to put any games on it?
(just kidding!)
They're Asian. Enough said?
On March 12 2011 11:18 Trowabarton756 wrote:
If your parents are Luddites why even bother doing all this? Are they going to be combing over it over certain time periods so that they know 100% you aren't having games on it?
It's going to be a software development system so my dad will be using it occasionally. He might stumble across games and rage at me about it. The thing is he'll be running it in Linux. Would he be able to see my Windows stuff if he's running Linux?
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Don't forget that it appears in add/remove programs, use some utility program to remove the entry.
You can also put the whole game in a rar file using "store only" compression with password. "store only" does not compress at all so its fast.
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Vatican City State2594 Posts
Hide it in the windows/system folder. Or make your own, like windows/system64/
He should still be able to see your folders while running Linux and then the invisible folder option will be more or less useless. Your best option is to rename the folder something else and put some decoy folders/files into that system64/ folder like copy+pasting some real windows files into that folder then renaming the sc folder inside that folder like h23874f298f28, like some folders are named in the real system folder.
EDIT: Also remove it from the Program list in Control Panel
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Additionally it'll show up in the windows firewall permission list. You could just not add it to the safelist and disable windows firewall whenever you want to play.
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How computer savvy are your parents?
I remember in high school I hid World of Warcraft in a folder labeled "xerox" in program files, relabeled the .exe and any other file that came up on a "World of Warcraft" search, and removed it from the start bar and programs tab and they never found it.
Then I just deleted all the shortcuts a few years later and they still never found it.
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hahaha i remember several years back, we hid a version of doom in a folder we called "stereo3d" because we were not old enough to play this x)
so much for story, now for practical solutions: This is obviously not applicable for starcraft, but if you install small indie games or such, just put put the files onto a USB stick. This works best of course with games that don't need to be installed, like spelunky, within a deep forest or dwarf fortress, these things. But that works for some "real" games too. Some (at least older) games should work on any computer if you simply install them on the usb drive using a different computer. They won't be registered with windows at all, all start menu and uninstall links are not present, but that is what you want in that case anyways - so as long as they execute and don't crash - perfect solution!
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The best story i ever heard about about hiding shit on a computer came from a friend in college. One of his high school friends apparently hid his pr0n in folder by burying it within a chain of other folders, and named it "Bacon Bacon Go!"
He even designed a special icon for it that was a piece of bacon in a superman costume.
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On March 12 2011 11:32 frogmelter wrote:Well my parents basically HATE games... They think they rot the brain and they would actually pay money to keep me from paying games The thought of them buying me a new machine and me playing games on it is unbearable for them Show nested quote +On March 12 2011 11:25 neSix wrote:
What kind of perverted parents would buy you a brand new computer and expect you NOT to put any games on it?
(just kidding!) They're Asian. Enough said? Show nested quote +On March 12 2011 11:18 Trowabarton756 wrote:
If your parents are Luddites why even bother doing all this? Are they going to be combing over it over certain time periods so that they know 100% you aren't having games on it? It's going to be a software development system so my dad will be using it occasionally. He might stumble across games and rage at me about it. The thing is he'll be running it in Linux. Would he be able to see my Windows stuff if he's running Linux?
Haha my parents were the same when I was younger (middle schoolish). But it was them versus me and both my brothers. It took a while but they live with it now 
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Linux can see Windows files.
If your dad is a linux user/programmer the chances of him outplay you are pretty big. Play carefully
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On March 12 2011 12:26 Rokusha wrote:
It's going to be a software development system so my dad will be using it occasionally. He might stumble across games and rage at me about it. The thing is he'll be running it in Linux. Would he be able to see my Windows stuff if he's running Linux?
Sorry but if your dad is in software development and will actually be checking up on you then unless you're using some spiffy program(not even sure if one exists) he's going to catch you. He could just run a search on your drive for recently modified files and your game will come up.
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External HD would be the easiest way to go.
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TrueCrypt
make an encrypted container, put all the game files in it, and delete them from the main hard drive. then, when you want to play, mount the container and copy the files back into the proper spots. You can name the file anything, even "winSys32_x64.dll" or something and place it in the system32 folder. I doubt your parents will ever look in the system32 folder or even know that the file is bogus.
Hell, you could probably put it in your Documents folder and call it MySecretPornVideoGameStash.virus.exe and just make it hidden and they wouldn't notice
While you're at it, you could use the truecrypt container to hide your porn collection (or start one). That's what it was made for 
alternatively, just make all the game files hidden if your parents are really computer-illiterate
On March 12 2011 11:23 Rokusha wrote:
I would personally hide it in a folder named "School Work" or something like that. Make folders for each class and put legit assignments in them. Keep on making subfolders and hid your games in one of them. Unless you parents are that crazy and search and click on every single folder you will have in there or in your computer.
that's what i used to do before i learned how to actually protect things 
i remember having Encarta installed (the one where you could play that game where you move around rooms answering trivia, ow the nostalgia) and i had an elaborate maze of subfolders in there that looked legit to my young, naive brain (in retrospect i remember them being really, really bad. I think i had like 2 layers of subfolders (with like 5 folder in each layer) and empty text documents in each one)
this way really isn't secure though and is hardly any less trouble than copying them to a truecrypt container and back
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On March 12 2011 12:32 fabiano wrote:
Linux can see Windows files.
If your dad is a linux user/programmer the chances of him outplay you are pretty big. Play carefully
Hahaha, this.
I would actually recommend that you talk with your parents about this. Unless they're incredibly Asian, it at least can't hurt.
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BW .iso image and program files fit on a 2gb flash drive.
Of course, the iso mounting software can be awfully suspicious...
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If he ever goes to uninstall something under the program function under the control panel, you're fucked.
But uh, goodluck!
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BW would be no problem at all. BW is 100 megs total [the iccup version].
SC2 on the other hand is the real problem. My dad is pretty much a genius in programming but he's not /too/ tech savvy. I don't think he'll go searching for games.
Hiding it in the windows folder seems to be my best option so far... TrueCrypt might work but copying 7gb of files might take a while every time. Small price to pay though...
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On March 12 2011 17:11 frogmelter wrote:
BW would be no problem at all. BW is 100 megs total [the iccup version].
SC2 on the other hand is the real problem. My dad is pretty much a genius in programming but he's not /too/ tech savvy. I don't think he'll go searching for games.
Hiding it in the windows folder seems to be my best option so far... TrueCrypt might work but copying 7gb of files might take a while every time. Small price to pay though...
You don't need to copy the files over every time... just create a virtual volume that's big enough and then install it on the virtual volume. Every time you mount the volume StarCraft will be there instantly.
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One suggestion just for brainstorming is playing off a thumb drive or external. I know BW can fit on the smallest of thumb drives, and you can probably install SC2 on the larger ones... problem is many newer games put other files on your computer like your Documents folder or whatnot...
Good luck regardless.
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Just talk to your parents about video games, try and convince them that starcraft is a game of thought and won't melt your brain when you play it.
Don't go behind your parents back, they don't deserve it.
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On March 12 2011 17:29 Chesner wrote:
Just talk to your parents about video games, try and convince them that starcraft is a game of thought and won't melt your brain when you play it.
Don't go behind your parents back, they don't deserve it.
They're not rational at all when it comes to games. They compare me to people who only study and never play video games. "If they can do it, why can't you?" They say they'll be more liberal when I get better grades but I got straight A's last semester and they still aren't letting up in the slightest.
I don't see StarCraft hurting the family or anything in the slightest. If it did, then I would stop. They just have an irrational fear against video games. My mom literally told me that if I played over a hour of video games a day, I would drop dead.
If they can give me legitimate reasons besides "not liking it", or "waste of time", [nearly every form of entertainment is] then sure I might listen.
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On March 12 2011 18:24 frogmelter wrote:
They're not rational at all when it comes to games. They compare me to people who only study and never play video games. "If they can do it, why can't you?" They say they'll be more liberal when I get better grades but I got straight A's last semester and they still aren't letting up in the slightest.
I don't see StarCraft hurting the family or anything in the slightest. If it did, then I would stop. They just have an irrational fear against video games. My mom literally told me that if I played over a hour of video games a day, I would drop dead.
If they can give me legitimate reasons besides "not liking it", or "waste of time", [nearly every form of entertainment is] then sure I might listen.
my parents were very similar. they let me play games but were always very outspoken with their dissaproval. They also completely forbid me from playing certain types of games like fighters, first person shooters, and pretty much anything with violence so i had to hide those which was a pain in the ass.
Don't go behind your parents back, they don't deserve it.
I understand that its bad to go behind your parents backs especially for important stuff like drugs and partying but sometimes parents can be completely irrational when it comes to things they don't understand. They are human after all. I know most are trying to do what they think is best for their kids but a lot of them (older ones especially) need to open their eyes and notice how rapidly the world is changing into a technological juggernaut.
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Hmmm... If your parents don't know the name of games, perhaps you can install them in the default "Games" folder (with minesweeper, solitaire, etc.). Then when your parents ask about it, you can say it cam with the computer and that you don't play it.
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install it under C:\Windows and name the folder something obscure like SYSx86
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On March 12 2011 18:24 frogmelter wrote:Show nested quote +On March 12 2011 17:29 Chesner wrote:
Just talk to your parents about video games, try and convince them that starcraft is a game of thought and won't melt your brain when you play it.
Don't go behind your parents back, they don't deserve it. They're not rational at all when it comes to games. They compare me to people who only study and never play video games. "If they can do it, why can't you?" They say they'll be more liberal when I get better grades but I got straight A's last semester and they still aren't letting up in the slightest. I don't see StarCraft hurting the family or anything in the slightest. If it did, then I would stop. They just have an irrational fear against video games. My mom literally told me that if I played over a hour of video games a day, I would drop dead. If they can give me legitimate reasons besides "not liking it", or "waste of time", [nearly every form of entertainment is] then sure I might listen.
Your best bet is just to talk to them. At this day and age I read somewhere that males between 15-20 main past time is playing games. As long as you are mature in your discussion they might ease up.
Also nobody I know has not played a video game in their life. Everybody has tried it, if you are able to get straight A's and moderate your time while playing you'll maintain your marks. Everybody needs a way to relax and to you its gaming.
Good luck if you follow my advice!
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Create an encrypted(truecrypt) partition, just big enough so no one will notice the space missing. and install an os with all your games and naughty stuff there. 100% impossible to find
On March 12 2011 13:06 Yotta wrote:TrueCryptmake an encrypted container, put all the game files in it, and delete them from the main hard drive. then, when you want to play, mount the container and copy the files back into the proper spots. You can name the file anything, even "winSys32_x64.dll" or something and place it in the system32 folder. I doubt your parents will ever look in the system32 folder or even know that the file is bogus. Hell, you could probably put it in your Documents folder and call it MySecret PornVideoGameStash.virus.exe and just make it hidden and they wouldn't notice While you're at it, you could use the truecrypt container to hide your porn collection (or start one). That's what it was made for alternatively, just make all the game files hidden if your parents are really computer-illiterate Show nested quote +On March 12 2011 11:23 Rokusha wrote:
I would personally hide it in a folder named "School Work" or something like that. Make folders for each class and put legit assignments in them. Keep on making subfolders and hid your games in one of them. Unless you parents are that crazy and search and click on every single folder you will have in there or in your computer. that's what i used to do before i learned how to actually protect things i remember having Encarta installed (the one where you could play that game where you move around rooms answering trivia, ow the nostalgia) and i had an elaborate maze of subfolders in there that looked legit to my young, naive brain (in retrospect i remember them being really, really bad. I think i had like 2 layers of subfolders (with like 5 folder in each layer) and empty text documents in each one) this way really isn't secure though and is hardly any less trouble than copying them to a truecrypt container and back A simple bogus container is easy to find, this is not so reliable
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EPT
