SimCity 4 Lots/Plugins not viewable with Vista

[Bongo24 0]

Hello,

I am currently trying to download some lot plugins from the SimCity exchange page on the EA website; however, when I download the lots and receive the message stating that the lots have been placed in the My Documents\Simcity4\Plugins\ directory, they infact are not.  I am using Windows Vista and I am able to play the game without issues; however, any lot that I try to download does not appear in the game and the Documents\Simcity 4\Plugins folder contains nothing visible.  I have set my folder options to view all files (hidden or not) to no avail.  I tried to re-download the same lots and the download manager stated that the files were already existing in the directory.

I am wondering where the files are being placed and if I can retrieve them to place them in the proper directory.  Below are my specs:

Windows Vista Home Premium

Using SimCity 4 Deluxe

Last plugin (2003)

Pentium Core2Duo E4400 2.0 GHZ

2 GB DDR2 Ram

Geforce 7300LE 256MB Ram 

Would anyone have any idea why my operating system does not allow for the plugin lots to be placed within the proper folder?  

Thanks in advance

Adam

[BlackStar 0]

Probably because the installers are trying to put the plugins in ~\Documents and Settings\you\My Documents. In Vista, it's ~\Users\you\Documents.

I wouldn't know how to get around this.

Edit:

Though you could try seeing if the installers created any new folders. Check to see if there is a Documents and Settings folder on your C drive, or see if there's a folder called 'My Documents'. Go there by clicking the start menu, then selecting your name at the top of the menu.

Your documents folder should be called 'documents', however the installers may have created 'my documents'

[Bongo24 0]

Hello,

Thank you for your response.  I have searched my entire computer for a "my documents" folder, and there appears to be none.  Could the plugins be stored in a temporary internet file somewhere maybe?

Thanks

[SC4BOY 21]

just do a "search" for files and folders "plugins" on your drives.. only takes a few seconds

[NetPCDoc 1]

Ok - just for clarification - it is when you try to "download" that the files already exist (and NOT when you try to install them)?

Just a quick thought - Has anyone thought of checking under "Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4\Plugins\" to make sure that this is not were you already have the downloads?

Back to the basics - When saving a download - usually windows is fairly nice about giving you a "save" or "save as" window - with the path information (a.k.a. "save in") on where the file is being saved somewhere near what (in XP) is referred to as the "menu bar"; usually with a drop down ActiveX control that will allow you to see the full path (folders above the actual folder) that is being saved to.

Once you can determine where your downloads are being saved to - someone should be able to help you get the plugins into the correct folder.

Hoping that this helps

-NetPCDoc

No detail is too small to be micromanaged.

[Bongo24 0]

I have performed a search for any "*.sc4" file, as well as the plugin name and "plugin".  The search is not finding anything..I have re-downloaded the lot and it states again that the file already exists - again, when I check the folder, nothing is visible, even though its set to view all files and folders - hidden included.  I have tried to create my own "My Documents" folder within the Users\ dir...when i type in the name "My Documents", vista automatically deletes it and tells me that it will copy all files from this Dir to "Documents"...

this is very frustrating...

[Bongo24 0]

The simcity lot download manager within the lot exchange only allows you to use the location of its choosing as a save location.  There is no option to "save as".  When you click to download, a window appears, tells you where it will be downloaded, and tells you to click the "next" button.  When you do this, it will automatically start the download.  This is where it will state that the file downloaded successfully (the first time) or that it already exists in the following Dir:

"C:\Users\Adam\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins\Pz1x1_cc19b34a.sc4lot" 

I have already taken a look at the program files\Maxis\SimCity 4\Plugins\ dir.  There are no lots within this folder.

[NetPCDoc 1]

For your search - searching for folders - remember the name you are searching for is "plugins" with an "s" (NOT "plugin").

Probably a dumb question (as I think this is where you are saying you are not finding anything) - but -

Have you looked in the "C:\Users\Adam\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins" folder to see what may or may not be there?

First, does this (C:\... ...\plugins folder) actually exist?

Second, does it have a file named "Pz1x1_cc19b34a.sc4lot" there?

If the answer to both first and second is yes - then we are making progress;

else if either or both answers are no - then, at least, frustration levels are being shared;

and we need to make sure everyone is using the correct terminology.

-NetPCDoc

No detail is too small to be micromanaged.

[Bongo24 0]

Hi There,

I have searched for both the words "plugin" and "plugins" to no avail.  I have also checked the "C:\Users\Adam\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins" folder, which is empty; however it does exist.

Im not sure what else to check...

[NetPCDoc 1]

Hi Bongo24,

If the folder "C:\Users\Adam\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins" does exist - then searching on/in "C:\" should find at least one folder of the name "Plugins" - the "C:\Users\Adam\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins" folder; there should also be a second "Plugins" folder somewhere under "Program Files".  From your responses it would seem that your searches have not found either of these folders, leaving me to ask - where on/in are you searching for files and/or folders?

'till now - presumption is that you have been downloading an uncompressed/unzipped file ending in ".sc4lot" - which you could search for with either "*.sc4lot" or ".sc4lot" - making sure that you DON'T make your search case sensitive; you want matches regardless of upper or lower case.

Most Downloads however are in Zip (or WinZip, a.k.a. ".zip") files. If you have WinZip installed - there is an option in it to have all downloaded zip files automatically moved to a common download folder. If you do have WinZip installed - you may want to see if this option is active - and if so where it is downloading to, and check to see if you are getting an accumulation of .zip files there. (I had a problem with this - when I first installed WinZip - until I realized that every time I opened a ".zip" file from the internet, WinZip automatically moved it to the common download folder - and told me on subsequent openings that the file already existed; after which - if I wanted the ".zip" file in a particular locatoin - I would do a save/save-as of the ".zip" instead of trying to open it.)

Hope-ing one of the above will help,

-NetPCDoc

No detail is too small to be micromanaged.

[Bongo24 0]

Hi,

As I have stated before, both plugin folders exist on my hard drive.  One in the C:\Users\Adam\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins location and the other in the c:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4\Plugins location.  However, both of these locations are completely empty.

I do not have winzip installed currently.

I will continue to search for these files...thanks for your help so far everyone =)

[NetPCDoc 1]

Thank you, Bongo24, for the clarification - on the plugin folders existance. My apologies for any previous mis-understandings on this point. Did your search for files and/or folders find these two "plugins" locations; and did it find any others?

The simcity lot download manager within the lot exchange only allows you to use the location of its choosing as a save location. There is no option to "save as". When you click to download, a window appears, tells you where it will be downloaded, and tells you to click the "next" button. When you do this, it will automatically start the download. This is where it will state that the file downloaded successfully (the first time) or that it already exists in the following Dir:quote>

Could you post a screen shot of this download window (with the next button). And/or a screen shot of the "download success" or "already exists" window.

And please note - you aren't looiking for a single specific file - as EA's exchange will drop the lot and all depenancies into the "plugins" folder that it chooses.

-NetPCDoc

No detail is too small to be micromanaged.

Edit - P.S. you are downloading "Lots" (not "Buildings")? Am I correct on this?

[Bongo24 0]

Hi there, 

thanks for your help so far.  Attached is a couple of screenshots from the download manager.

[Bongo24 0]

hmm, I used the "attach files" button, but no files seem to be attached, how do i attach screenshots?  I also tried to copy and paste the images into this reply message and that does not work?

thanks

[sklis 10]

I have windows vista and when I download a zip file from the stex, it goes to C:/users/you/documents/my complete documents/software downloads. I then right-click on the zip file and click expand. A folder opens and the exe downloader file and all other needed files are there. When I open the installer exe it sends the sc4 files to C:/users/you/documents/SimCity 4/plugins. the other files such as the jpgs etc wil go to a file called C:/users/you/documents/SimCity 4/stex or lex downloads.

If you do a search you have to search for the downloaded .zip file.

[NetPCDoc 1]

Hello Bongo24,

First, you won't be able to attach or paste using the quick reply window - you will have to open a new reply window.

On the Reply Window - on the tool bar there is an "Insert/Edit Image" button for putting pictures into a reply;

Or at the bottom is the "File/Picture Attachments:" line - where you may click on the "Attach File(s)" button - to get a window that lets you search your local drives for files to be attached; upon succussfully attaching a file - it's path/name will show in the "Attachments:" box.

- Hoping this helps,

-NetPCDoc

No detail is too small to be micromanaged.

[Ash3750 0]

Hey bongo, I've been dealing with the same issue as you. I've tried just about everything that you have done and have also come up short. Maybe the downloaded lot is somehow saved as a tempory internet file and needs to be transported into your plugins file. You've probably done this but also make sure your security levels are all the way down and your cookies are recently deleted. I'll let you know if I figure it out man, good luck !! X

[njcu 0]

I've had the same problem as well (Vista Ultimate). I've tried searching all files on the computer including system and hidden files and folders and nothing. I even tried created a windows XP architecture for Documents and Settings but it automatically removes the folder...

My only solution was to download it to a machine that is running XP then transfer the files over to the appropriate folders in Vista.

This is a matter we should communicate with Maxis as it's apparent the downloader is not functioning properly for Vista machines...

[Bongo24 0]

Hi Guys,

I have tried to contact the company (EA Sports - as this is the company that deals with troubleshooting issues for SimCity 4) and I cannot seem to get through.

I also do not have another machine running windows XP, so I am pretty much just out of luck.

I really hope that someone somewhere working for EA Sports realizes this issue.

Thanks

[istoph 0]

I had this same problem.  Here is a fix.

Close ALL IE windows (or whatever browser you are running).

Now, right click IE (or Firefox) and run the browser "As Administrator" instead of just double-clicking on it.

Vista requires your browser to run in "Admin" mode to run the download-plugin process.

Download all the plugins you want, and they will be in the plug in folder they are supposed to be and load with the game.

Hope this helps.

[thelonghop 0]

Originally posted by: istoph I had this same problem.  Here is a fix.

Close ALL IE windows (or whatever browser you are running).

Now, right click IE (or Firefox) and run the browser "As Administrator" instead of just double-clicking on it.

Vista requires your browser to run in "Admin" mode to run the download-plugin process.

Download all the plugins you want, and they will be in the plug in folder they are supposed to be and load with the game.

Hope this helps.quote>

You rock.  Thanks!

[brian100 0]

Another thank you to Istoph.

This solution will help many vista users. Response also acts as a "bump" for this very important thread

[ShadowRoad 0]

hey, i went to download this ordinance modd, when i click save file it says gathering information for like ages (30 minutes). got any suggestions on how i can download the modds?

[ShadowRoad 0]

bongo i have your solution, run internet explorer as administrator- i did that and it worked. not sure why but this guy posted that tactic on youtube. hoped i helped. soz bout the message i said be4 - didn't relise it was reply...

[yakuza_stream147 0]

where is the download place? I want to download plugins sim city 4 here....please help me!!