Well, what about the online authentications? From what I gathered, there are two types: the obligatory first time after install authentication, and the authentication you get when you connect online for patches/content. I'm not sure, but judging by Mass Effect's system, it seems that only the obligatory authentication will check the installation limits, meaning that even if you exhaust all 3 installs by changing hardware/drivers then you'll still be able to play the game AS LONG AS YOU DON'T REINSTALL.
Therefore, the solution seems quite simple: install the game, and make a solemn vow to NEVER get rid of it. EVER. I've done that with The Sims 2, I've had it installed on my PC since early December even though I haven't played it for months. If you need to format/reinstall OS, then just copy the game directory and registry entries to a different drive. The game only takes up 6gb, you can fit it on a single DVD-DL disk, and I'm sure some internet guerrilla will put up a guide for copying the game like that.
Unless you guys are running XP (haha, sucks to be you) then you shouldn't need to install a brand new OS for some time.
Again, it would be nice if we didn't have to do this, but I've had to do worse things to get a game to run, I'm used to getting my hands dirty. Fingers crossed that we'll never need to do something like this.
|