Maximus VIII Gene: This Program Cannot Be Executed - Error 8016 (How to fix)

[Barbara917]

I encountered this error installing Spore on my new Windows 10 Maximus VIII Gene based PC. After much Googling I found these links.

https://support.rockstargames.com/hc/communities/public/questions/205359867-A-required-security-modu...

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/windows/how-play-safedisc-securom-drm-games-in-windows-10-3623760/

The bottom line appears to be that I must downgrade to Windows 7 to run my game. This is an issue for me as this PC has a new installation of Windows 10 and is not an upgrade so I would actually have to purchase a copy of Windows 7 and set up some sort of dual-boot. All quite doable but expensive particularly if it does not resolve the issue. Before taking that step I have a couple of concerns related to the motherboard. In the Rockstar thread (first link above) they seem to think that Z170 Pro Gaming BIOS needed to be updated to resolve the issue because it was also blocking those Securom games. My question here is if the Maximus VIII Bios would also be blocking these games? Is there a particular version of the BIOS I should be using to avoid the 8016 error? My second concern is if the Maximus motherboards are compatible with Windows 7?


/edit: Solution to the Problem. Updating the BIOS to 1202 fixes this problem on the Maximus VIII Gene without the need to downgrade to Windows 7. It will work on Windows 10 64bit with the 1202 BIOS.

[Nate152]

Hello Barbara917

Yes they are compatible with windows 7 and you can update the bios it to rule that out.

Have you tried running spore in compatibility mode?

http://www.windows10forums.com/articles/compatibility-mode.7/

[Chino]

No, I don't think the BIOS can block a game. And yes, the Maximus motherboards are compatible with Windows 7 but you must perform some extra steps to get Windows 7 installed.

[Barbara917]

Chino wrote:
No, I don't think the BIOS can block a game. And yes, the Maximus motherboards are compatible with Windows 7 but you must perform some extra steps to get Windows 7 installed.

OK. Well, this was the post in the Rockstar thread which lead me to question the BIOS.

Oh 🙂 That is good news that Asus brought finaly also an update for the Asus Z170 Pro Gaming. Now I have to flash my BIOS again from 703 to 802. Well, it took a while to solve this but now it seems be solved. So all of you, update your BIOS to 802 to fix 8016 error. To all users with Windows 10: Even if you have done the update, you have only solved half of the problem. Windows 10 blocks the signature of securom and safedisc games like Crysis 1, Crysis Warhead, Lego Star Wars, GTA 4, Mirrors Edge etc. So the only way to solve it is 1) downgrading on Windows 7 or 8-8.1 . 2) is to do a Dual Boot with Windows 10 and Windows 7. Than run your securom games on Windows 7 and the newer ones on Windows 10. Resume: Mainboard BIOS AND Win 10 OS cause this problem. But now, with the help of many people we solved all. Thanks to everyone 😉

He has a funny definition of solved. I would call downgrading to Windows 7 a workaround at best that might not be feasible for everyone.

I guess this is going to be a matter of trial and error. Install Windows 7 and see what happens after that.

[Barbara917]

Nate152 wrote:
Hello Barbara917

Yes they are compatible with windows 7 and you can update the bios it to rule that out.

Have you tried running spore in compatibility mode?

http://www.windows10forums.com/articles/compatibility-mode.7/

Thank you for the suggestion but compatibility mode does not resolve this.

Chino wrote:
No, I don't think the BIOS can block a game. And yes, the Maximus motherboards are compatible with Windows 7 but you must perform some extra steps to get Windows 7 installed.

OK. Well, this was the post in the Rockstar thread which lead me to question the BIOS.

Oh 🙂 That is good news that Asus brought finaly also an update for the Asus Z170 Pro Gaming. Now I have to flash my BIOS again from 703 to 802. Well, it took a while to solve this but now it seems be solved. So all of you, update your BIOS to 802 to fix 8016 error. To all users with Windows 10: Even if you have done the update, you have only solved half of the problem. Windows 10 blocks the signature of securom and safedisc games like Crysis 1, Crysis Warhead, Lego Star Wars, GTA 4, Mirrors Edge etc. So the only way to solve it is 1) downgrading on Windows 7 or 8-8.1 . 2) is to do a Dual Boot with Windows 10 and Windows 7. Than run your securom games on Windows 7 and the newer ones on Windows 10. Resume: Mainboard BIOS AND Win 10 OS cause this problem. But now, with the help of many people we solved all. Thanks to everyone 😉

He has a funny definition of solved. I would call downgrading to Windows 7 a workaround at best that might not be feasible for everyone. Through googling I also found threads discussing Gigabyte motherboards that needed a BIOS update for this. But I am going to assume you would have heard of this issue by now if it were an issue on the Maximus motherboards.

I guess this is going to be a matter of trial and error. Install Windows 7 and see what happens after that.