A newb needs help!!!

[Wustmann 174]

Ok, so i downloaded SimCity 4 on my vista and it works fine. When i want to download a lot what do i do? I download it into the plugins folder but then what? What do I open the files with, simcity or something else? Help me please! I know its a really stupid question but some help would be nice

[Aro0w 1]

if it's already in the plugins folder it should work...

unless I'm misunderstanding you...

but then again I don't have vista?

[Follarch 326]

Are you forgetting to unzip the folder and its contents so the game can use the files? It's tiresome unzipping (extracting) the folder and then putting them in the plugins, but it's what has to be done. Try that.

And once they're in your plugins, they show up in the menu's in game, be it parks, or landmarks, power ect.

[sklis 10]

Although you downloaded your lot (or building, etc.) it is probably stil in a zip or exe setup. You need to unzip the zip file with winzip or something similar, or run the exe file, and usually the file or files that are unzipped or run will be installed in the proper folder or folders within the C: \my documents\simcity4\plugins folder. If your downloaded file or files are not zipped and were downloaded into the C: \my documents\simcity4\plugins folder they should be ready to use as they are. Most zip files will come with a readme file which will tell you about your downloads and what to do with them. You will then find the lot (or building etc) in one of the menus once the game is started.

[Deathcat001 8]

With self installers do NOT install right away as it might not work. You must extract files and then install...  

[LironTheChick 20]

Ok, so i downloaded SimCity 4 on my vista and it works fine. quote>

Uh, where did you download it? Did you download it for free? If so...

[Vahr 341]

deathcat: that is not true. Installers can be run from inside the zip.

Information about installing plugins can be found here

EDIT: Did you download the game itself or do you mean downloaded custom content for it?

[Wustmann 174]

ok...yes i understand all of this but when i click "download" and a window pops up and i click "save file" it saves it but i can't open the file. When i open the file it runs SimCity. Sooooooo...thats why i can't unzip the folders.

[JakeMD 107]

You don't need to open the file, let simcity do that. Just download the file and unzip it. Install if need-be.

You may want to check out this guide or this more comprehensive guide on downloading.

[Wustmann 174]

I know that. I can't unzip it because when i save it to the plugin folder im not able to open the folder to unzip it. It automatically loads SimCity.

[CaptCity 4,673]

To be honest, I'm not that familiar with Vista, but... You're saying that when you try to open a zip folder (any zip folder), SimCity starts to run? Have you somehow set your zips to be associated with your SimCity icon? Just a thought... And please forgive if it's totally off-target...

[bluemoose 223]

ok, DO-click the zip folder to get to sub folders DO NOT-click the actual files(white paper icon usually)

There should be a button in the windows directory thingy that says EXTRACT ALL click it ad extract to your plugin folder/subfolders.

hope this helps

[Wustmann 174]

there no folder, all that's there is the white paper icon with the SimCity icon.

[jim 546 43]

you say that you save the zip file to the plugin folder. why not save to the desktop, then extract it and copy the files to plugins. tedious i know, but i do this as it helps me remember to delete the zips after.

[Wustmann 174]

that would help if i could open the folder to extract them

[bluemoose 223]

try right clicking the files and if extract doesnt show up, youve baffled me(which isnt hard!!!!)

[paroxysm 2]

If the advice offered by a certain cerulean moose did not pan out, I suggest downloading the freeware program IZarc. It unzips/extracts/ties your shoes/cures cancer and I use it for all of my SC4 stuff. Download, install, and right-click on the .zip archive. A menu will pop up. Go to the option called "IZarc", but DON'T click! A sub-menu will pop up and select "Extract Here". The files (whatever is in the archive) will be in the same folder as the archive. Copy those files into My Documents/SimCity 4/Plugins, close all open windows, and start the game. The plugins you downloaded should be in your game, under whatever menu is relevant. Best of luck to you and your future city-building career.

Cheers

Paroxysm