I had a similar problem with 1946, earlier IL-2 sims. In my case after installation, it would simply not launch. A spinning disk icon would appear then nothing. I took advice from the IL-2 website downloaded the 1946 patch, which I applied. Then it ran. To restate it would not run with out the patch. This may not help with the "secricom" failure to recognise disk. (I had that problem, (failing to recognise the damn disk I just bought!) with IL-2 Pacific Fighters. I used a patch to run sims with the CD rom. I don't think this is an option with 1946. )
I suspect with my problems with IL-2 Pac Fighters were caused by having a CD DVD cloning program on my PC.... the Sim detected it I guess, because it installed ran ok after I did a lot of work removing the copying software (things like CD-Clone, Alcohol etc). ( "Shrink" is OK) .
I thought it a bit rough that out of the box software needed a download update ... pity any one on a dial up line.
Good luck, and I understand your frustration!! But it is a great sim.