Freeze, Crash To Desktop (CTD), Dual Core?

[Slashback 136]

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<h3><span style="font-family: Tahoma"><span style="font-family: Arial">Game freezing? Game crashing? Dual Core Processor? This thread is made to help you with your technical issues in SimCity4 Deluxe.</span></span></h3>

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<p><span style="color: #ff0000"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana">CTD = Crash To Desktop.

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<span style="font-size: x-small"><span style="font-family: Verdana"><strong>1.</strong> <strong>Game freezing and/or CTD.

</strong>If your game (SimCity 4 Deluxe) freezes or jumps out of the game in the intro (my game jumped out half way in the "EA Games (Challenge everything)" splash), there are two options. You will maybe have to use both.

 

<strong>1st</strong> of all, try running it in a window instead of running it in full screen mode.

</span><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana">Here is how you do it:</span></strong></span><span style="font-size: x-small">

<em><span style="font-family: Verdana">Make a shortcut to SimCity 4 Deluxe on the desktop.

Right-click on the shortcut.

Press the lowest button (I don't know what it's called in English, but in Danish it's called; Egenskaber).

There is a textline (destination). The line should say something like:

"C:Program Files (x86)MaxisSimCity 4 DeluxeAppsSimCity 4.exe"

Add a -w to the line, and it should look like this:

"C:Program Files (x86)MaxisSimCity 4 DeluxeAppsSimCity 4.exe" -w

Press "OK"

Now SimCity Deluxe is runned in a small window - it should work.

If you don't like it in a small window, you should go to the in-game settings and change the resolution.

</span></em><span style="font-family: Verdana">This is maybe a solution if you have a widescreen lap- or desktop.

<strong>- But if that doesn't work</strong>, try <strong><em>Downloading a sound driver</em></strong><em>.

If downloading a sound driver doesn't do it, be sure that there is either speakers or a headset plugged in. I don't know why, but the game can't start if there is no connection from pc to speakers or headset (at least not on my pc). Look in your PC's instructions to find out how you download a sound driver.

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<strong>2. Game CTD.

</strong>If your game crashes when you are playing, run the game in compatibility mode (Windows </span>XP Service Pack 2). <span style="font-family: Verdana"><strong>Here is how you do it:</strong></span><strong>

</strong><em><span style="font-family: Verdana">Make a shortcut to SimCity 4 Deluxe on the desktop.

Right-click on the shortcut

Press the lowest button, "Properties"

Press the "Compatibility" button

Select "Windows XP (Service Pack 2)"

Press "OK"</span></em><span style="font-family: Verdana">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana"><span style="font-size: x-small">- By the way, running the game in compatibility mode is always recommended (it just makes the game run better).

<strong>3. Make your Dual Core go Single Core.

</strong></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana"><span style="font-size: x-small">If you have got a Dual Core processor, the game CTD's more often than if you've got single core. I don't know why SimCity 4 is likely to conflict with this type of processor, but if you<strong> run the game (and only SimCity 4) with only one processor running</strong>, CTD's happens a lot less.  

<strong>Here is how you do it:</strong>

<em>Make sure SimCity 4 is running!

Press the windows button, to go to your desktop</em>

<em>Press "Ctrl+Shift+Esc"

Go to "Processes"

Right-click on "simcity4"

Select "Set Affinity"

Uncheck one of the processors.

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</strong>I also recommend everyone to read <a href="https://www.simtropolis.com/omnibus/index.cfm/Main.SimCity_4.Keep_Sim_City_4_Running_Smoothly"><strong>this</strong></a> thread, about making SimCity 4 running smoothly.</span></span></span><hr />

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</span><span style="font-size: x-small"><span style="font-family: Verdana">I hope this was helpful, replies are welcome.

Thread will be updated when i have something to add.

All that i have written above works for me, and i am 90% sure that it will work for you.

Greetings from <span style="background-color: #ffcc00">ImVhOzzi</span> </span></span><img alt="" src="https://community.simtropolis.com/assets/emoticons/44.gif" /></p>

  Edited May 16, 2011 by ImVhOzzi  

[Lurch 0]

Doesn't work for me. I've tried everything I've found online and so far nothing works. I got about 5 minutes of game play after installing, but then it crashed and now it crashes as soon as the city loads. Everything freezes and you can't click on anything.

I give up.

[Slashback 136]

I'm sorry to hear that, but it sounds to me that your computer is simply too "bad" to run the game

[ed_diaz 10]

i have had zero problems running SC4 on my new gateway laptop . running windows 7 64bit version. maybe it had to do with the process i took to install it?

updated EVERYTHING on the laptop first including any and all possible drivers and windows update.

installed SC4

reboot

put SC4 in compatiblity mode for windows XP service pack 3 and also put a check for "run as administrator"

installed SC4 update

reboot

installed rush hour

reboot

installed rush hour update

then finally SC4RH. runs flawless.

if for whatever reason after installing anything if a pop up comes up afterwards from windows saying "this program did not install correctly. reinstall using recommending settings" make sure to always select this.

i did put it in window mode and i did like it that way but i had to change the resolution of the game cause my taskbar was over lapping the bottom portion of the game so i couldnt see nor click the options button on the bottom when your in your city. so far i've played the game about 3 times for about 10mins each, just to test it out. now i finally got the essential mods i needed so im going to test it again, but so far so good.

[Slashback 136]

It won't work on my pc if i'm not running it in windowed mode.

[ed_diaz 10]

does anyone know how to get simcity 4 to be optimized and utilize just 1 core on a dual core laptop?

[SimFox 804]

There is NO inherent conflicts of SC4 with Windows7. Any of the problems described are more likely be the result of some hardware problem - most probably inferior memory (particularly for systems with DDR3). Both game and W7 tax memory more then normal use situations.

Anyway when ever you have some strange freezes or crashes it is good to run Prime95 burn test to see if your system is really working, or just sort of working. With drive to lower prices there is more and more "sort of working" systems on the market...

[Slashback 136]

Originally posted by: SimFox

There is NO inherent conflicts of SC4 with Windows7. Any of the problems described are more likely be the result of some hardware problem - most probably inferior memory (particularly for systems with DDR3). Both game and W7 tax memory more then normal use situations.

Anyway when ever you have some strange freezes or crashes it is good to run Prime95 burn test to see if your system is really working, or just sort of working. With drive to lower prices there is more and more "sort of working" systems on the market...quote>

There is conflicts with Windows 7, the EA helpcenter actually states, that the game isn't compitable with the game.

- Which obviously is wrong. It just needs some other settings, than the standard settings (compatibility, etc.).

 My game runs fine with 2 processors running, so that is not the problem on all computers.

[tungston 19]

Here is a list of the Windows versions, and the processors that I have successfully run SC4 Deluxe.  I have about 2GB of plugins.  I have not needed to set the processor to run on a single core, or under any compatibility.

Windows:

XP Pro

Vista Home Premium

7 32 bit

7 64 bit

Processors, Intel Core2Duo, and Intel Core2Quad.

If you have issues running the game, I suggest looking at the hardware, drivers, and especially the custom content.  Faulty, and conflicting custom content is the major issue with SC4.

[Slashback 136]

Originally posted by: tungston

Here is a list of the Windows versions, and the processors that I have successfully run SC4 Deluxe.  I have about 2GB of plugins.  I have not needed to set the processor to run on a single core, or under any compatibility.

Windows:

XP Pro

Vista Home Premium

7 32 bit

7 64 bit

Processors, Intel Core2Duo, and Intel Core2Quad.

If you have issues running the game, I suggest looking at the hardware, drivers, and especially the custom content.  Faulty, and conflicting custom content is the major issue with SC4.

quote>

You are right, my computer can't run the game if my headset or speakers are not turned on an plugged in.

- And i don't know why...

[tungston 19]

That's strange, I have never tried to play the game without sound.

[kingdiz_55 12]

tungston: how many GB of Ram have you used on your Vista and 7 machines?

[tungston 19]

Originally posted by: kingdiz_55

tungston: how many GB of Ram have you used on your Vista and 7 machines?quote>

4GB with the 64 bit, the same with the 32 bit, but only 3.5GB is used by Windows.

[akafredo 0]

I can run the game fin on Windows 7 Ultimate, but the graphics glitch constantly... Cars and other transport patrialy turn transparent, and if the camera is left in the same position for a few seconds strange coloured triangles shoot across the screen!

[Slashback 136]

Originally posted by: akafredo

I can run the game fin on Windows 7 Ultimate, but the graphics glitch constantly... Cars and other transport patrialy turn transparent, and if the camera is left in the same position for a few seconds strange coloured triangles shoot across the screen!quote>

This sounds like a problem with your video card, check the game requirements, or ask someone who knows about video cards (i don't!). It sounds very strange, have scanned your computer lately? It could be a virus

[rooster1655 0]

The one processor technique works but after, you need to go into the process manager and turn the game off to restart play the next time. I run an AMD dual core phenom 2 550 black ed. 3 gigs of ram and Windows 7.

[Slashback 136]

Never heard of the process manager, but i'm glad it works

[ryan1cf 0]

I use Win 7 Ultimate x64 Edition, with 8 GB of RAM and run SC4RH fine. I was looking to see if there was a way to speed up SC4 as I have a quad core but it seem's that SC4 only ever uses 25% of the CPU regardless of how I setup my affinities. I did find a thread that shows command lines to add when launching SC4, got rid of that intro. Here it is: BTW, I'm still trying to find out how to set SC4 to use more than 25% CPU usage and so far nothing....

Command line parameters: run in a window, skip intro, use single CPU core, etc.

From searching the Internet, I discovered that there are some command line toggles for SimCity that can be added to one's shortcut that starts SimCity. They are (in order of usefulness):

-CPUCount:X (where X is the number of CPU cores to use) This is an important option on multi-core systems, especially if you are having crashing to desktop issues with Windows Vista or Win7. Setting to one core (-CPUCount:1) could resolve your issues. Also this can keep SimCity on one core while other processes use your other cores. This can be especially useful if you have dual monitors and want to run SimCity on one monitor while you do other stuff on your other monitor.

-introff This will cause SimCity to skip the long and noisy intro sequence SimCity goes through every time it starts. I think after the twentieth of starting this game we know it is by Maxis a division of EA Arts.

-w This causes SimCity to run as a window instead of full scree, which can allow one to quickly switch to other tasks. My advise when using this toggle is to make sure the task bar automatically hides itself or it will cover up part of the SimCity window as SC does not run as a complete resizable window as other Windows programs.

-rXXXxYYYxBB Controls the resolution and color bit mode SC runs at. Valid values for XXXxYYY are 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024 and 1600x1200. Valid choices for BB are either 16 or 32. This can be handy if SimCity won't start because you set its resolution too high.

-CustomResolution:enabled Allows the use of Aspect ratios other than 4:3 to be used with the -r command above (e.g. 1360x768).

-CPUPriority:low This sets SimCity's process priority to low, which is useful when used in conjunction with window mode and custom resolutions if you want to run SimCity while still being able to do other things on your computer.

-UserDir:[path] (e.g. -UserDir:\SimCity\OtherRegions\) This is useful if you want to play different regions and have a shortcut that automatically takes you to the other regions. Basically you create an alternate regions folder and put the other region in this folder. If there are spaces in the file path you need to wrap the file path in quote marks. The trailing slash must be on the path name.

-f switches SimCity back to full screen mode. I'm not sure of the purpose of this switch as SC starts in full screen mode normally.

To use these switches you would modify the "Target" of you shortcut for SimCity as follows:

Quote:

"C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -w -introff -r800x600x16

Notice how the path to the SimCity executable is wrapped in quotes and the toggles are outside of the quotes. This is really important.

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[ryan1cf 0]

I see the smileys are killing my post! I hope there is a way to turn those off because I couldn't find a setting in the actual post itself.....

[Slashback 136]

There is a limit of how fast you can run games, and if your computer only uses 25% CPU, you must have a really good computer.

[SC4BOY 21]

Originally posted by: ryan1cf

I see the smileys are killing my post! I hope there is a way to turn those off because I couldn't find a setting in the actual post itself.....

quote>

There is a checkmark at the end of your "reply window" to "Do not parse emoticons" .. that is your problem

You can go back and edit your post and check that box and you'll not see that issue

[packersfan 667]

I just started running the game in Windows XP SP2 compatibility in my Windows 7 64-bit system and so far haven't had any of the usual graphic glitches that I had been having when Alt+Tab to the desktop. I did have this issue before and it stuck....so I just had to restart the tile...either that or rerender the entire region and then replace all the "new" cities with copies of the old ones except that one tile...but we'll see on that. When ever I would hover over the tile the whole glitched picture glowed.

[Geliboy 0]

I have some trouble too with Sim City 4 deluxe, it return to windows desktop without any message

my computer is

AMD Phenom II 6 cores 3.2 Ghz

nVidia Quadro FX-1800

also tried my other video card nVidia GeForce GTS 250 with no difference

8 gig RAM DDR3

Windows 7 x64 Enterprise

Mother Board Asus M4N98TD EVO

also tried to start SC4 in window mode etc and always the same. it stop after a few minutes et return to the desktop

thanks for your help !

[Sc4Playar 8]

I have the CTD Problem and its killing me!

[Slashback 136]

Ok, everyone, sorry for being posting so late...

@Geliboy: Have you tried doing everything the guide tells you to? If it returns to your desktop immidiately, plug some headphones or a loudspeakers in.

@Sc4Playar: CTD?

[tjh876 31]

CTD means crash to desktop. Now I have had issues with SC4 when I went to the desktop (save pic or check something) then being unable to go back to SC4. I have issues with windowed mode too, because it isn't in a window. Any ideas?

[Tigger_1979 0]

hmmmm is there an issue with DDR3 memory and Sim City 4???

My Graphics card has DDR3 and Motherboard uses DDR2, Hardware mode usese the graphics card and Software uses Motherboard.

Currently I have found that Sim City 4 regularly crashes when I use Hardware mode and has crashed yet when I use Software mode.

Are people finding similar results?

[SC4BOY 21]

Actually software and hardware both use the memory on your graphics card. If you have an installed graphics card, the system "sees" that memory as a part of the system memory where your "monitor memory image" is stored and addressed. Only if you have no graphics memory (such as an integrated gpu on the motherboard using "shared" memory) will "system" memory be used for your graphics manipulation. Even then it is dedicated graphics memory, but is allocated out of your "system" memory to a different assignment.

[MilkCiklon 0]

Hello All!

Can you help me? My problem is crash to desktop too. But I observed something. So I use NAM, and when I want to build "ground light rail" namely tram, the game has crashed to desktop. I don't nkow what I can do, but I tried everything what you wrote here.

I have Asus M4N78-Se motherboard, AMD Athlon64 X2 7750 processor, MSI 8400GS 512 MB DDR2 video card and 2 Gb DDR2 memory card and of course Win 7 64 bit.

I'm out of ideas. Please help me.

Thank you.

[Slashback 136]

Your problem occours from time to time, try reading this thread, the 4th FAQ will give you the answer.