Random Crashing to desktop

[Andalious 3]

Hello,

I installed SC4 Rush Hour earlier, because I haven't played it in a while. About 2 minutes into the game, it crashes to my desktop.

Here's how it goes:

1. Logos and intro video load fine

2. Goto New Region and load city

3. Goto Mayor Mode

4. Try to zoom in and build a road

5. Instantly crashes to desktop (no freezing)

Here's my system Info:

   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)

   System Manufacturer: NVIDIA

   System Model: AWRDACPI

   BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG

   Processor: AMD Sempron   2800+,  MMX,  3DNow, ~2.0GHz

   Memory: 256MB RAM

   Page File: 254MB used, 364MB available

   DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

My Video Card and Chipset drivers are updated, DirectX is updated, I got the BAT/EP1 updates for SC4. I don't have any plugins (except for a landmark file from Simcity.com)

This has happened everytime I went to play the game.

Can someone help me?

- Andalious

[Constantina 5]

I think you havent got enough page file here. Try setting it to three times the amount of RAM you have, in this case it will be 768MB. The manual also recommended you to re-install the game if it does not work properly. Try not to run any other programs while installing the game.

[jacqulina 162]

maybe to many background programs running

[Andalious 3]

Well, I shut down all other services and programs (the ones that aren't essential to Windows) but it still doesn't help.. I upped my page file, still didn't work. I'll try re-installing

UPDATE:

I re-installed just SC4 Vanilla and turned off all non-essential services/apps, turned up my page file, and now sc4 runs longer but it crashed when I attempted to save....

I checked my Device Manager and my "USB Controller" and "SM Bus Controller" don't have drivers installed... Could that be causing this? What does an SM Bus Controller do?

NOTE:

I used to be able to play SC4 on Windows XP/2003 on this same computer (I haven't updated anything since). I reformatted since the last time I played, though.

UPDATE2:

I got the nForce 2 package from nVidia.com and updated all my drivers (the SM Bus Controller now has a driver but the USB Controller doesn't. Now, when I opened and played my city, I got a blue screen for nvmcp.sys... I checked the package and that  file is apart of the audio driver. I'm gonna grab a seperate package for just the audio driver from nVidia.com. I hope this goes well

UPDATE3: (wow)

I updated my audio driver and it crashed to desktop this time. I also went back to the Device Manager and installed the driver for the USB Controller and now all of the drivers should be working. I'm gonna to turn off all nonessential services and try again. It crashed when I was zoning some Low Density Res. I saved earlier in the game and it didn't crash.

UPDATE4: (good thing there's an edit button)

I turned off the nonessential services and it loaded fine, but 3 minutes into the game, I left my computer and I came back, seeing the desktop. Any idea's?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

How about not enough memory to run the game?  You only have 256MB, and with XP SP2, you are a little thin on the ground there.

Try setting up a separate Userid for the game that has only the game.  No virus check, no network, no nothing.  Just create a new profile will anything not used in the game left out.  I think this is your only chance barring adding some more memory.

[Andalious 3]

Like I said, I turned off all services, that includes the antivirus and network and theming. there is nothing in the task bar except the Norton Antivirus 2005 icon with an X through it. I'm going to buy some more RAM soon, so that will probably help.

[Junimrox 0]

I have the same problem.

this is my first post, and i need help, my computer is reallygood for this game, its a Pentium 4 2.8(overclock at 3.4) an 6800GTw/ 128mb 1,5Gb ram memory a 400W Psu...

the game closes to the desktop after some time, without showing any message of error, like if I had presed the quit game button. I've lost a lot of progress with cities...

[Junimrox 0]

Ok, I think I have fixed it, I just got an non-beta version of the nVidia vga driver and now i think it's working perfectly...

[tacomax4 0]

if thats dont work unplug your internet