I had similar issues with direct route software.  They are more worried about their copy protection than making the software work.  Nothing like spending $100 on software that won't even let you use the original disc.  I finally had to resort to hex editing the .exe, which made it work without even having the cd in the tray, but that was with an early version of direct route and it will no longer work with updated versions.  I haven't used it in a long time so I don't know what the deal is with it anymore.  It seemed to ticked off a lot of people though including myself.