Help! CD 2 scratched

[hotwheels73093 0]

Haven't played SC4/RH for a while now, and have decided to mess around with it some more, however during installation it gets to the point where it is nearly finished, and then I get an error message telling me that it cannot copy SimCity_4.dat, and asks if I want to retry, cancal or ignore the error.

All of the other game files installed perfectly, its just the one .dat file that its having problems with. I checked out the CD and theres a small scratch on it. I've attempted to simply copy the single file into my SC4 folder, however it again will not copy.

So I'm wondering if anyone would be kind enough to upload the file "SimCity_4.dat" file for me, so I can actually play the game.

Thanks

[prince_of_sims 0]

Well, first of all, Maxis file sharing is illegal on this site. So don't ask for it unless you're also asking for a ban.

Now moving on to this issue. You can try copying the files from the CDs onto your hard drive. If that works, the installation will work from your hard drive. Just make a folder called SC4 with two subfolders called Disc 1 and Disc 2. Now copy the contents of the respective discs into the folders and run the installation from your hard drive.

If your CD is really scratched bad, there are ways you can buffer it to fix it. Wait for N_O_Body, as he seems to know more about things like that than me and can probably guide you in a better direction.

[hotwheels73093 0]

Meep - ban would be bad. So nvm on that.

Everything else during install works fine, its just the one file it has an error with. And when I attempt to copy the file onto my comp, I get this error "Cannot Copy SimCity_4: Invalid MS-DOS function".

Grrr.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

If the scratch isn't too deep, you can try polishing it out.  First try with a dry, soft cloth moving from the center to the edge.  Be quite gentle and take several strokes.

Failing that a fine polish like Brasso can be used.  This will erode the surface, so be very careful.  If you can eradicate the scratch, use prince_of_sims hard disk solution.  You will have to run from disk 2 on the hard disk or burn a new copy from the hard disk copy. 

If you reach the foil substrate on the disk while polishing, the disk becomes a coaster.  At that point, I would go and buy a copy of deluxe.  It is cheap enough if you look around, but get a real copy.

[hotwheels73093 0]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body If the scratch isn't too deep, you can try polishing it out.  First try with a dry, soft cloth moving from the center to the edge.  Be quite gentle and take several strokes.

Failing that a fine polish like Brasso can be used.  This will erode the surface, so be very careful.  If you can eradicate the scratch, use prince_of_sims hard disk solution.  You will have to run from disk 2 on the hard disk or burn a new copy from the hard disk copy. 

If you reach the foil substrate on the disk while polishing, the disk becomes a coaster.  At that point, I would go and buy a copy of deluxe.  It is cheap enough if you look around, but get a real copy.quote>

Thanks for the replys. I've attempted to remove the scratches using various types of solutions I have laying around, excluding Brasso, because I don't have any right now. Sigh.

Bah.

[coolotter88 2]

If you want to use toothpaste, (not gel) which has abrasives in it. don't wipe in circles wipe perpendicularly to the tracks. or try filling it in with vasoline. one should always make a backup copy of disks with daemon tools or alcohol. (its perfectly legal if you don't use it)

[SC4BOY 21]

Stores also sell "polishing kits" which are basically hand or motor powered polishers with a polishing paste (or even several stepped pastes) that are specifically make for what you want. Don't know prices, but I'm sure you could look it up on the net... These would be handy if you use a lot of CD's as it works on all types. If SC4 is the only one, I'd try the hand method.. it really isn't very sensitive as there is a pretty thick layer of plastic and the "data" is actually on the back of the other side..

[hotwheels73093 0]

Wewt \o/ after about 2 days of trying the disk doctor I have (didn't work by itself), toothpaste, hair spray, vasoline, and even car wax, the file finally copied.

[coolotter88 2]

lol! be sure to make an image and burn a copy.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Originally posted by: coolotter88 lol! be sure to make an image and burn a copy.quote>

Amen.  Also, when you are playing, save your regions off-line about twice a week.

[SC4BOY 21]

Originally posted by: coolotter88 lol! be sure to make an image and burn a copy.quote>

 

Don't lose that original disk tho!! ... You'll still have to have it in the drive to allow SC4's copy protection to work.. hope that part doesn't get scratched..

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Originally posted by: SC4BOY

Originally posted by: coolotter88 lol! be sure to make an image and burn a copy.quote>

 

Don't lose that original disk tho!! ... You'll still have to have it in the drive to allow SC4's copy protection to work.. hope that part doesn't get scratched..

quote>

The game runs fine if you clone the second CD using a good virtual disk maker.  You have to copy the entire disk, errors(?) and all using a full geometry copy.  With my machine and Virtual CD 7 this takes about three hours.  You then run with this CD mounted (it is on HD)

[prince_of_sims 0]

Maybe the software can manage it, but some hardware cannot make 1:1 copies of protected discs. I tried making 1:1 copies of many of my game discs so I wouldn't have to use them, but I just ended up with an unreadable CD.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

The trick here is to find software that can do it.  Copy protection can be compromised by some programs.  If you want to know, PM me.

One of the things I absolutely am against is copy protected disks I own.  I should be able to make a viable backup of any disk I have paid good money for.  Most people are honest, so why go to all this trouble to make life difficult?  Greed, greed, greed.  It is one of the seven deadly sins.

[dadyrghluv 8]

there are several "cd crack" avalible on the internet, with some digging u can find one. all it is, is a replacment for a file from your HDD to fool the game into thinking the cd is in the drive. nothing illegal about that. and if u read your eula u got in the instructions, u are allowed to create one(1) back-up copy for archive purposes or for scratches/replacment and that is all. not for copying or any piracy of any kind as it IS illegal. (like we all didnt already know that)

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

The problem with the CD cracks is that they often overlay parts of the program that, while origiinally empty, are now used by some of the legitimate fixes from the official site.  This either invalidates the crack or causes the update to fail.

[dadyrghluv 8]

good call N_O_body, i never really thought of that. i did have the crack to SC4 vanilla before the updates and RH happened and it did work though. i havent used it since actually and i dont think i'm gonna now either after u bring that up. thanx for the heads up on it, and i geuss this rules out that suggestion hotwheels, sorry i tried gl though.