Question on SecuROM and Sims 2 installation

[MrMugg]

I've been reading through posts here on this site to get a better understanding of how SecuROM gets installed and how to avoid it.  I know that SecuROM started with H&M Stuff and beyond. 

Do I understand correctly that installing the game doesn't install SecuROM?  It's running the EXE file that installs the SecuROM, is that correct?

So the way to avoid it is to install the games and don't run them off the CD, but rather replace it with a No CD patch?

[Kazzandra]

Seems you have some reading comprehension!

Let's see... correct, correct, correct, and yes, correct. I don't think a new thread was necessary, so I give you a F-- see me after class. You can do better than this, MrMugg.   

[mildlydisguised]

If you are playing with any of the SPs or EPs from H&M onwards already and think you have secuRom on your PC already, there are some programs designed to remove them which have been posted in the secuRom sticky above. 

[MrMugg]

Thank you.  I know I already have SecuROM (the old version, not the new one with the FT Patch).  For the most part, my computer is still working, but I'd like to get it removed and I did see the steps to do it. 

The games that I have which I believe use SecuROM are: 

Sims 2  (everything up to FreeTime, except I did not install patch #2)
Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion - Shivering Isles
Star Wars Best of PC
and I think Age of Empires 3: Asian Dynasties. 

All of them have No CD patches which I use (for convenience), except the ones I have for the Star Wars games don't seem to work and require the DVD.  Either that or SecuRom knows that the "fixed exe" is not valid and asks for the DVD anyway.  I'd like to get Mass Effect, but I read on another site that there isn't a No CD patch that gets around the online validation yet.  Until then, I won't be buying the game.