Just had this question pop into my head today while installing a bunch of games on CDs. I remember Starforce having killed two of my DVD drives. Having not installed a game via CD/DVD for some time already, I have to ask, does SecuROM harm your DVD drive or the DVDs themselves? There seems to be a mixed reaction to this question on the Internet. Thanks!

I've heard of a few rare cases of Securom being involved in forcing CD drives into PIO mode (this is what Starforce did that caused problems), but in these reports there were also other DRM drivers involved (e.g. Tages, Safedisc, etc). There was also little confirmation of the reports and they were from a while back. At the moment I personally wouldn't consider drive damage from the Securom drivers to be a credible concern.

To my knowledge, the (likely factual) reports of Securom's drivers causing issues are VERY VERY rare. Even rarer than Starforce (which was pretty rare in the first place, if you remove the people who broke it while trying to bypass Starforce). That is not to say they are non-existent (I doubt they are), but I myself don't recall ever hearing of a problem that actually caused damage (heard of a few problems that caused no gaming though :p).
As I am sure you have realized, much of the "Securom will kill your computer" come from idiots (that is the polite way of saying things :p). That is not to say that it is 100% safe, but I would bet that it is close to 99.9% safe.
That being said, if you are concerned, I would do a bit of research and figure out which versions of Securom use drivers (do any of the non-activation model ones do?) and then steer clear of those. That should keep you as safe as it gets.
To figure out which version of Securom (or any DRM, for that matter) a game uses, go find a good warez site that lists the .nfo files. Those generally say what DRM is used, and are usually pretty accurate (the Scene WOULD know, since they are the ones cracking it :p).

1)though I have heard about Starforce damaging drives, I have never met any person who had his drive damaged by it, including myself who from time to time would install games with Starforce.
2)I have never even heard of Securom "causing" such an issue. The only problems with that that I know of, is with games not running properly on newer OSes due to older version of it installed by the game, where you have to install a certain type of software to bypass securom or if you are very lucky, have Securom provide you with said, official this time, exe.

I've installed games with every DRM under the sun, from Starforce to SecuROM to Ubisoft's new deal, and not one of them have ever given me any problems of any kind.
Which is not to say I approve of them mind you, but all my complaints are purely in principle.

Securom sucks, but it is a software issue not a hard ware issue.
About the only way a software program can damage something physical is if it give it dangerous orders to obey. There is an issue that Starcraft 2 is causing some video cards (and not just low end ones by any means) to short out because it has no limit on FPS, and sometimes the video cards short themselves trying to process as fast as the game is telling tome to do.
I have not heard of Securom doing something like that.

The last DVD my dad's computer's DVD drive had in it was a SecuROM.
2 years on, the drive still does not function.

The problem is, these stories never take into account other factors. It is just "I had a Securom game in there, that is what killed it!". Maybe yours is 100% because of that, but I doubt it. If there was a problem (that should concern anyone), it would be reproducible, at the very least.

I've heard of Starforce causing damage to hardware, but not SecuROM. What I HAVE heard about SecuROM is that some versions of it install ring 0 drivers on your machine, and interfere with other software you may have installed, e.g. firewalls, antivirus, virtual drives and process monitors. Oh, and is not uninstalled along with the game. This may (or may not) cause security issues, as well as annoyance. Only some versions, mind you.

I had an old quad speed CDrom that would spin up violently to read the CD data when it verified.... along with that Ive had "Burn Rings" in my CD's when i would play them in the drive.

Well i'm not a Noob when it comes to computing i keep it clean virus & malware wise and though it might not of killed my dvd player it DOES stuff up my computer by making it run slow over time with various registry crap that is completely unnecessary. half the games don't like my old dvd player that i use and refuse to acknowledge my legitimately purchased discs (thankfully i've been able to return these under 7 day satisfaction garuntee's), but the most annoying shitter is things like bioshock not liking my tablet software.
Why the hell should i have to dig around my services after deleting my tablet drivers to tell winblows fistya to go to hell with it's tablet services just because i want to play a legally purchased game?
Yes you may purchase this game, but every time you play it after doing serious work you must jump through this flaming hoop of doom.
~>:(

I haven't had any hardware problems with whatever copy protection... Although last year I did have some driver issues with Tages, but that was fixed by updating the crap.

I have had Starforce brick a pair of identical CD drives in the past, but I've never experienced any hardware-breaking problems with any other copy protection.

I'd consider that a defect in the graphics cards in question. Unlimited FPS is a standard use-case (although games should almost always limit framerate - it makes the game faster and the computer run cooler and more quietly)

Anyway, regarding the original question: I have never heard of SecuROM damaging hardware. I've had a combo drive die after catching StarForce (which may or may not be a coincidence) but the worst that SecuROM has ever done is refuse to let me play my games unless make an Alcohol image and play from that (I love my Alcohol :). From my experience SecuROM's probably the least-terrible of the major disc-checks.

I never had any sure sign of drive or disc damage steaming from SecuRom, actually no damage at all. I once had a problem of SecuRom complaining, its not the right disc. Fortunately I had another CD drive and later found a no-CD update. However, discs will probably not last forever.