SimCity 4 Exchange Problem

[vinces 0]

I am unable to download any files from the official EA SC4 exchange. I press download, and everything goes through, and it says that it was successful. When I go to my Plugins folder, however, the files never make it there. If I try to download the file again, it will say that it already exists, but it doesn't. If I search my computer for the file, it doesn't come up anywhere.

I am running Windows Vista Business and am downloading with the newest edition of Internet Explorer 7. I have searched, but cannot find any solutions to this problem. Anyone know what the problem is? Thanks.

[tungston 19]

vinces: 

If it is the landmarks, etc. that you are downloading, then they default to the "Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4\Plugins.

[mistershnerples 0]

my unzipped files usually download to the desktop for me. its usually wherever you want it to go. isnt there an option for you to select where you want to save it as and where to when you click the link? i have XP, so maybe vista has changed all of that. i also have IE 7. try firefox, they definitely have an option to "open" or "remove" the file. maybe you can open or at least figure out where the zipped file is that way.

[tungston 19]

mistershnerples:

The files I refered to are self extracting exe's, that don't give you the option to select where they are copied.

[ssc4k 1]

mabye there downloading into the my documents plugin folder?

[vinces 0]

If it is the landmarks, etc. that you are downloading, then they default to the "Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4\Plugins.quote>

I have tried downloading many types of files, none of them can be found anywhere on the computer. None of them show up in Documents/SimCity 4/Plugins nor in Program Files.

my unzipped files usually download to the desktop for me. its usually wherever you want it to go. isnt there an option for you to select where you want to save it as and where to when you click the link? i have XP, so maybe vista has changed all of that. i also have IE 7. try firefox, they definitely have an option to "open" or "remove" the file. maybe you can open or at least figure out where the zipped file is that way.quote>

None of the files in the exchange give you an option of where to download, they download by default to the Plugins folder. I use Firefox as my main browser, but the exchange requires Internet Explorer. I think you may be talking about the Exchange at this site, I'm talking about the official SC4 exchange.

mabye there downloading into the my documents plugin folder?quote>

That's where I want them to download to, but that's not where they're downloading to. If I try to download a file for the second time, it says it already exists and shows the path of where it supposedly already exists, and its the correct location in Documents/SimCity 4/Plugins, but they don't exist there, nor anywhere else on the computer.

[ssc4k 1]

try opening instead of downloading and copying the files.

[Jazzmaster 716]

ssc4k is right, it's easier to click "open" or "run" instead of "save". I've heard websites that download things to your machine can sometimes have the reputation of putting the files in a place where it's very difficult to find them, so they may not download to your plugins but somewhere else.

[ssc4k 1]

also if you use open you dont have to delete installersP: the simple things are annyoping sometimes

[vinces 0]

I don't think that you guys understand, it doesn't give you that option. It makes you install an ActiveX control, which checks if SC4 is installed and automatically downloads it into the proper folder. It doesn't let you directly download the file. I'll post a couple of screenshots soon showing the process.

[Rymac91 15]

@vinces: by any chance, have you tryed looking for a My Documents Folder in your User folder to see if it was thinking you were using a older version of windows?

It may be saving to the my documents when it should be saving to the documents folder.

Check for a My Documents folder under C:\users\(your computer username)\

If you see a my documents folder, open it, then look for a simcity 4 folder, then a plugins folder.

[vinces 0]

@vinces: by any chance, have you tryed looking for a My Documents Folder in your User folder to see if it was thinking you were using a older version of windows?

It may be saving to the my documents when it should be saving to the documents folder.

Check for a My Documents folder under C:\users\(your computer username)\

If you see a my documents folder, open it, then look for a simcity 4 folder, then a plugins folder.quote>

I've already checked all of that out. There's nothing.

[ssc4k 1]

try reinstallign ie7 or try firefox

[vinces 0]

Originally posted by: ssc4k try reinstallign ie7 or try firefoxquote>

As I've already said, you have to use IE. It requires an ActiveX control and IE. When I try with Firefox, which I use primarily, it tells me to use IE.

Nonetheless, here are the screenshots.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

You can only use IE on the Maxis site because they are in love with the ActiveX methods.

However, if you download stuff from them onto Vista, it is anyone's guess where they put the files, even temporarily.

Try creating a dummy structure:

C:\Documents and Settings\<your user name>\My Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins

and try again.  You can try to fool it into using the old decor this way.  If it works, the files will be in the Plugins folder, or in the Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4\Plugins folder.

Don't you just love operating system programmers who change the names of structures just for the hell of it?  Grrrrrr.

For other downloads, be sure to set your browser to ask where to put saved files.

[vinces 0]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body You can only use IE on the Maxis site because they are in love with the ActiveX methods.

However, if you download stuff from them onto Vista, it is anyone's guess where they put the files, even temporarily.

Try creating a dummy structure:

C:\Documents and Settings\<your user name>\My Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins

and try again.  You can try to fool it into using the old decor this way.  If it works, the files will be in the Plugins folder, or in the Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4\Plugins folder.

Don't you just love operating system programmers who change the names of structures just for the hell of it?  Grrrrrr.

For other downloads, be sure to set your browser to ask where to put saved files.quote>

I've tried that too, when I try to create "Documents and Settings" it won't let me, it says that anything in the folder will be moved into the Users directory. Vista prevents you from creating a "Documents and Settings" directory.

I may have to install SC4 on an XP computer, download the lots I want, burn to CD, and then download from the CD into my Plugins folder.

If the EA exchange is incompatible with Vista, you'd think there'd be a lot more complaints here. Because of this I'm thinking that it must just be my problem.

[tungston 19]

Vista has pretty strong security features, you would need to be logged in as administrator, and then take ownership of the user folder.

You should already have "My documents" folder, but it works as a shortcut to the "Documents" folder. That may only exsist if you did a file transfer from an earlier Windows version.

Edit:  I downloaded the pz1x1 lot by stardog, it went into the documents\simcity 4\plugins.

It showed up in a search with just the "pz1x1".

I don't know why you are having a problem, unless your firewall, or antivirus is stoping it, or quarantining it.

[mattatut 0]

Vinces, 

I am right there with you buddy. I have had ZERO luck downloading anything from the exchange. Mine does EXACTLY what you said yours did. Have you had any luck since you last posted?

[tungston 19]

Vinces:

mattatut:

Have either of you fired up the game to see if the lots show up on the menu?

[vinces 0]

Originally posted by: tungston Vinces:

mattatut:

Have either of you fired up the game to see if the lots show up on the menu?quote>

They don't show up.

[vinces 0]

Originally posted by: tungston Vista has pretty strong security features, you would need to be logged in as administrator, and then take ownership of the user folder.

You should already have "My documents" folder, but it works as a shortcut to the "Documents" folder. That may only exsist if you did a file transfer from an earlier Windows version.

Edit:  I downloaded the pz1x1 lot by stardog, it went into the documents\simcity 4\plugins.

It showed up in a search with just the "pz1x1".

I don't know why you are having a problem, unless your firewall, or antivirus is stoping it, or quarantining it.

quote>

I have disabled my firewall and antivirus to no avail. I don't think that its a security "feature" that's preventing me from creating Documents and Settings. When I create a new folder and name it that, it automatically brings up a Move Folder dialog and says "The files in New Folder will be moved  to C:\Users."

[tungston 19]

I don't think N O Body intended for you to create a new "Documents and Settings" folder, but a "My Documents" folder within the other.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Originally posted by: tungston I don't think N O Body intended for you to create a new "Documents and Settings" folder, but a "My Documents" folder within the other.quote>

Sure did!  I wanted him to create the full structure for XP on his boot drive.  If you fool it completely it might do it.  You might also have to use the XP system variable for the root.  I don't have that right now.

[tungston 19]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body

Originally posted by: tungston I don't think N O Body intended for you to create a new "Documents and Settings" folder, but a "My Documents" folder within the other.quote>

Sure did!  I wanted him to create the full structure for XP on his boot drive.  If you fool it completely it might do it.  You might also have to use the XP system variable for the root.  I don't have that right now.quote>

 

What's you thinking then, since that folder alread exsist?  How does the XP system variable work in Vista?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

No idea.  I am guessing based on 40 years experience with operating systems.  I am not running Vista, but the Documents and Settings directory, as far as I know in Vista, is called User.  You can try and outfox that obsolete download system at SC4.com.

So, I am suggesting what i would try in the same circumstances.

[tungston 19]

Actually it is no different than XP. The difference is the labeling of the "documents" folder. It is no longer labeled "My Documents". They dropped the "My" from the personal folders, except that they use the "My ????" folders as shortcuts, mainly for transfering files over from earlier versions of Windows.

Anyway, I had no problem downloading the files from simcity.ea.com. I am using Windows Live One Care for the firewall, and antivirus, I don't know if that has any thing to do with it.

[Stefan38 0]

Anybody cracked this yet - exactly the same result here - files are downloading - god knows where too! - but not to my document/simcity4/plugins

[vinces 0]

Originally posted by: Stefan38 Anybody cracked this yet - exactly the same result here - files are downloading - god knows where too! - but not to my document/simcity4/pluginsquote>

I haven't figured it out yet either.

[MayorTim 16]

Why would anyone use the official exchange? Its a lot of (annoying) work, for extremely low quality lots. Try the STEX, PLEX, or BEX

[jonas3333 3]

I'm positive this is a Vista thing here.  It's happening to me as well.  Don't mess with the folders or internet explorer.  Vista doesn't allow programs like the plug-in to download things into your system for security reasons.  It's a very annoying aspect but at the same time, it does provide good security so you really shouldn't mess with the UAC(user account control) feature as it could jeapordize your system.  I'm hoping they will come up with a way to get around this and allow us to give a kind of priority to certain programs but even doing that, they jeapordize the security feature.  It's kind of a no-win right now - you wouldn't believe the hassle for downloading my Sims 2 stuff now. 

In the meantime, what I plan to do is check out these other sites for downloads and since I still have the plugin files in my older XP computer, I am going to copy them to a zip drive and transfer them into the plugin folder that way.  Perhaps you have a similar option. 

Good luck!