[GUIDE] Removing S/SSProtect [MPQ Rebuild]

[devoltz]

Tools required:

MPQ Editor
MPQ Master
Bulk Rename Utility (Or any other multi-file rename program like Massive file renamer)
Blank .w3x map
Listfile

Step 1

The first step is to open your map in MPQ Editor. If it's protected, it will have '[Read Only]' next to the map name at the top of the program.

Spoiler:

Step 2

The next step is to extract the war3map.j (although any file works I would imagine) to bypass the hiccup that MPQ Editor has when attempting to scan through the map for filenames.

Spoiler:

Step 3

Now, you want to scan the map to try and get as many filenames as possible before we take everything out.
Use the 'Map File Scanner' option to internally search every file for filenames. When the process finishes, you want to 'Merge with ...' a copy of your listfile (because it cannot merge with the text file you used to open the map), then 'Apply List.'
If there are still a lot of unknown filenames, then the next step is to 'Live Game Scanner' the map in a Korean version of Warcraft III (hopefully you have one). This will most likely give you the remaining few filenames that you're missing, and if not, then the map is probably using a newer type of protection that I don't know how to break yet.

Spoiler:

Step 4

Next, select all of the files (including the folders) and extract them to whatever folder you want so that we can get ready to make the new map.

Spoiler:

Step 5

Chances are that if the map is using SProtect or SSProtect, then it uses a weird naming scheme for the files, and this is where we use Bulk Renaming Utility to rename all of the files.
Select the 'Hidden' and 'Subfolders' checkboxes at the bottom, and then type in '#0412' in the 'Replace (3)' section near the top.
Once you do this, then select all of the files and folders, and then hit the 'Rename' button in the bottom right.

Spoiler:

Step 6

Now, once you're done renaming the files, open up MPQMaster, open the blank map that you downloaded, remove the '(attributes)' and '(listfile)' files, then right click: 'Add Directory', navigate to the folder where you had the files, select it, then hit 'Ok.'

Spoiler:

After all this process, you will able to play the map without a Korean W3.

All credits for Fintan and you can find the source here.

[Regno]

Thanks for the guide, holy damn needed this.

Oh, nice profile picture. (: XD

[Durge]

I didn't even realize you posted this lol

[Vegas]

Great Guide!

[BlacklightsC]

hello, i heard successfully remove s/ssprotect.
i came from korea forum.
i want to give my more information about s/ssprotect.
(Completely deprotect S/SSProtect guide)
maybe it will need few times.
if many people want this guide, i will try to upload to guide.

Ps. My national languauge isn't english, sry for my poor english.

Ps2. Mark of helpful, i uploaded my listfile.
this maybe more helpful by find a names.

[Google drive] listfile

[XD!]

Thanks, and sorry but how do I know if it's SSProtected?

http://www.epicwar.com/maps/272248/
I tried deprotecting the said map, using xdep, but it says can't open w3i at the end and wont generate the deprotected.w3x file.

[devoltz]

Thanks, and sorry but how do I know if it's SSProtected?

http://www.epicwar.com/maps/272248/
I tried deprotecting the said map, using xdep, but it says can't open w3i at the end and wont generate the deprotected.w3x file.

If the map is not playable on non-korean w3, it have S/SSP;
If you extract a file and it comes with "#0412" it's SSProtected;
You can always look in MPQ with a Hex Editor.
The map you linked above is only protected with Vexorian, but xdep can crash when a map is bigger than 8.159mb, if you rebuild it first and after put it on xdep, should work.
But if you only need is open that map on MPQ Ed, you can try with a older version (non read-only force).

Spoiler:

[XD!]

Yeah I figured it out on hive :S Thanks nevertheless.

Hey, uhm... is this for korean only?

How about Chinese maps:
NCD latest version
https://www.sendspace.com/file/6xh3gr
Didn't try but the original poster says it can't be played on typical Warcraft 3 Program, & needs some kind of chinese pvpgn or chinese rgc, not exactly sure the name.

[devoltz]

Yeah I figured it out on hive :S Thanks nevertheless.

Hey, uhm... is this for korean only?

How about Chinese maps:
NCD latest version
https://www.sendspace.com/file/6xh3gr
Didn't try but the original poster says it can't be played on typical Warcraft 3 Program, & needs some kind of chinese pvpgn or chinese rgc, not exactly sure the name.

It's working for me (Patch 1.28.4.7608)
Pic

Spoiler:

[XD!]

Yeah, worked for me before you replied using the other map on their main website (not on sendspace w/c wont allow accelerated DL)

I'm mad at how busy life is... I wish I have all the time to do reply in realtime >.<

Back to my real question, how could I open NCD in WE? Even W3MMASTER.EXE cant open it D: