Patch 2 causing trouble

[Bano 0]

Hello.  I am a newbie to this forum and on the newer side of Sim City Players, but I am starting to get the hang of it and I enjoy it very much.  I have talked to a few people in the chat about my problem and they all suggested that buying RH is the best alternative, but perhaps you can help.  I have the orginal Sim City 4, and it works fine, but I'd like to see the arrows on the residential layouts and turn off the auto-streets and such things like that.  Therefore I downloaded Patch 2.  I immedieately began having problems.  I uninstalled and reinstalled SC4 multiple times, each time installed Patch 2 after I made sure SC4 worked properly.  Each time I had the same problems.  Here they are:

First, during the update, I recieved a message: "Old File not found. However, a file of the same name was  found. No update done since file contents do not match."  After it sucessfully downloaded, I checked the patch log and saw this at the bottom:

File Patches Ignored: Old Files Missing....... (   6)

                      Old Files Invalid....... (   4)

I have attached the log to the post for viewing.  Next, when I run Sim City 4, I get a black screen.  I use alt-tab to minimize this screen and I see another window with an error message.  "The configuration file (Graphics Rules.sgr) cannot be parsed. Using built-in rules."  I click ok to this message, then I click on the Sim City 4 window, and the game begins normally.

Next, I start playing the game.  Everything apears ok.  The arrows show up on residential and commercial lots.  But if I hold down shift, the auto streets do not disapear If I hold down alt, the layout does not re-arrange.  (I am using a normal wired keyboard and trying both the left and the right shift and alt buttons). 

So, although the only real problem is the autostreets, I feel there is a bigger problem at hand, due to do the 'invalid' and 'missing old files,' not to mention the graphics rules.sgr error.  If you have any idea why these problems are occuring, please let me know.  I have provided you with as much detail as possible and I own a legal copy of SC4.  Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

One last thing, my computer specs are as follows:

Tower: Dell Dimension 2400

Processor: 2.66 ghz Intel Pentium IV

RAM: 512 mb

OS: Windos XP Home Edition SP2

Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500

Sound Card: I believe it is integrated sound

If there is anything else you need to know, ask.  I will be glad to give you anymore information to help you understand my problem.  Thanks again.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Welcome to the forum, Bano.  Thanks for following my suggestion in chat.

There is only one patch for SC4 (various versions).  If you are not running Rush Hour/Deluxe, what Patch 2 are you referencing?

If you are trying to get something like night-lighting to work on downloaded buildings, Rush Hour/Deluxe is a prerequisite.

[Bano 0]

Thanks for replying.  The main thing I am trying to do is get rid of the auto streets.

The patch I am referring to is the one that is downloaded straight from simcity.ea.com for Oringal Sim City 4.  I think people refer to it as the "vanilla" version...not quite sure if it's the same thing, but I think it is.

What confuses me the most is the patch log...there were some errors but I don't know why.  Thanks for looking into it.

[Ramona Brie 121]

I suggest you upgrade to Rush Hour quick: that's the only way to use BATs off this site and others.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Originally posted by: Bano Thanks for replying.  The main thing I am trying to do is get rid of the auto streets.

The patch I am referring to is the one that is downloaded straight from simcity.ea.com for Oringal Sim City 4.  I think people refer to it as the "vanilla" version...not quite sure if it's the same thing, but I think it is.

What confuses me the most is the patch log...there were some errors but I don't know why.  Thanks for looking into it.quote>

Whether you noticed it or not in my previous post, I suspect you pulled the wrong patch, which would explain the patch log problems.

Take a look at disk 1 of your set, and set what's in the folder called SKU.  If it is not SKU1 you have a foreign edition.

Meanwhile, you will need to uninstall and reinstall.  I'd get Rush Hour and do it this way:

1. Save any regions and plugins you want to keep to the desktop
2. Uninstall the game
3. Clean up any left over folders and their contents
4. Do a disk clean up
5. Do a disk defragmentation
6. Install SC4 - No patching
7. Install RH
8. Install Update 1 (The correct one if not U.S. SKU)
9. Install the night textures fix from the BAT download page
10. Put any saved regions or plugin back

At this point, everything should be A-OK.

[Bano 0]

Wow...I looked inside the SKU folder in Disk 1 and you were absolutely correct.  It was the Europe version!  I'm very happy you found the answer!

Now I will be buying RH in the next few days and then following your directions step by step so everything works.  I just have one quick question.

I assume that I will be buying a U.S. version of Rush Hour (does that make sense?), yet I should still use the SKU 2 Europe patch...correct?

Thanks again, you have been a GREAT help!

[tchaos713 5]

If possible, you should buy the Europe version of Rush Hour (SKU2, I think). Someone more learned than I can tell you which patch to use if you have conflicting SKUs... I think you should continue to use the Europe patch, but I could be wrong...

[prince_of_sims 0]

it's not a matter of should you buy the European version of Rush Hour, but a matter of compatibility. European and US versions don't mix. absolutely not. you'll get wierd graphical errors and anomalies with the game engine. so if possible, buy the same version of Rush Hour as the original SC4.

[Bano 0]

Hey everybody.  Instead of searching for a European version of Rush Hour and continuing to watch the cars drive on the left side of the road, I left my house and bought Sim City Deluxe (American Version)  I followed N_O_Body's instructions for uninstalling, cleaning, installing, and patching.  Everything worked just fine.  Then I downloaded most of the mods that were reccomended by greyveil in his guide.  I'm glad that everything works perfectly.

I can't wait to enjoy everything this vast site has to offer.  Thanks for the help...you are all very nice people.

- Bano