Game Error

[jascrs 0]

Hi. I organized my plugins folder in the best way that i could, but i think that something is going on, cause when i start the game, and begin a new city, the crashes down sometimes. It could happen 10, 20, 30, 1h30min after i started the city. Normally, it happens when i put some plop buildings or when i use the zoom of the game.

I don't know if someone can help me, or if someone can "read" the exceptions reports (one time that i can't understand what that group of numbers can be, that is a non-sense thing to me... hehehe). I'll try to put the report here, if a "helper" appear i'll stay grateful.

Exception time: 10/20/2009, at 13:59:35.
Exception code: 0xC0000005 (-1073741819) ACCESS_VIOLATION.
Current thread ID: 2608 (0x00000a30).
Version information:
Application/module path: C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4\SIMCITY_.EXE
Application/module version name: SimCity 4
Application/module version: 1.1.613.0
System version: Windows NT 6.0
System memory: 2048 Megabytes total, 1332 Megabytes free.

Exception module:  C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4\SIMCITY_.EXE.
Exception address: 0x0096d289. Sectionffset: 0x01:0x00566289.

[heitomat 156]

Hi.

I'm not an expert, but I'm always willing to help.

From your exception report, I can tell that you are running SC4 on Vista (System version: Windows NT 6.0). It seems to me that this combination sometimes causes errors like your own (Exception code: 0xC0000005 (-1073741819) ACCESS_VIOLATION). The cause of the error is related to the computer's hardware, in most cases the graphics card.

If I understand you correctly, the error occurs when heavy workloads are put on your graphics card (e.g. heavy rendering of buildings when plopped or when you are zooming). It's not necessarily because your card is too slow (most likely, it's not), but has to do with the "communication" between the software and the hardware.

SimCity 4 does have issues with some graphics cards. Running SC4 on Vista may also cause headaches. Please refer to the "Bugs and technical issues" thread for more information on this.

Given the error is caused by your graphics card, you might want to try this:

When I encountered a similar issue as yours (running Windows XP), I changed the game's rendering settings from hardware to software. This "bypassed" my graphics card in some kind of way. The result is slightly slower rendering and somewhat different colour contrasts, but nothing annoying or worth mentioning. Now the game runs smooth as silk.

Keep in mind that even though communities like Simtropolis contributes immensely to keep SC4 alive, it's actually quite an old game. That's why our new monster machines might be too fancy for this old woman..

As stated above: I'm not an expert. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

[tungston 19]

Until you install the game update patch to 638, it would be hard to tell if it was corrected with the patch.

Moved to the Bugs & Technical Issues forum.

[jascrs 0]

heitomat

thanks for the anwer.

I'll try to change the rendering setting as you said. I think that it can be the problem, as i play the game in a notebook, the onboard graphic card could crash out when a 3D game is running.

About the "old game" hehehe, i always will keep the simcity alive! i'm a fan of this maxis' series... i play SC since the 2000 version, i'm addicted on it!

tungston

i'll try installing the 638 update after testing the heitomat tip, cause i was searching for this update a few days ago and i heard that some problems can occur if i put it. So, lets see!

thanks for the answer!

[tungston 19]

The only problem I know of with the update patch is if you have an altered exe, i.e. "no-CD crack", or for any other reason.

[heitomat 156]

Originally posted by: jascrs

i'll try installing the 638 update after testing the heitomat tip, cause i was searching for this update a few days ago and i heard that some problems can occur if i put it. So, lets see! 

quote>

I'm always happy to help, and I hope it works out for you. Please let me know.

Even if your problem is solved by changing the rendering settings, you should get the 638 update. It also fixes other bugs. If you do have the original game, the easiest way to get the update is via the official SC4 site. (If you do not have the original game, and consider yourself a true "fan of this Maxis' series", you should buy it, though.) 

The update can also be found at SimCityKurier (German site). Left menu @ bottom -> Offizielle Downloads.

Another reason for problems with the update patch (aka "SKU"), might be related to users trying to install the wrong "SKU" version. As I recall, I think there are different versions of the update based on different versions of the game, e.g. US version, European version, Asian version etc.

Also, there is one version for users of SC4, and another version for users of SC4 Rush Hour or Deluxe.