Crash before game even starts?

[JLAAPRTM 12]

Hi all! I have this little problem with my SimCity4 game. It crashes before the game even starts. This is the process: *clicks SC4 icon*/ bridge picture appears/ screen goes black (it does that when it's loading the game)/ I wait around 2 minutes/ exits and shoots me back to my desktop. I have windows Vista Home Basic, with deleuxe edition. Recently, I downloaded the sku 1 update, SC4Update4BAT, bldgprop_vol1.dat and the bldgprop_vol2.dat, thinking that it would make my game better. But instead, it made it much much worse!  I have many plugins (around 3,175 files[ and I know compared to others, thats basically an atom in there plugins]), NAM included. I tried to delete all of those files mentioned above, but the game still didn't work! I even moved out the plugins folder, and guess what, it still didn't work! I have run out of ideas. And don't say "uninstall and then reinstall" because then I will........... well, you don't really want to know. Any ideas? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Off topic: Does the bldgprop_vol1.dat and the bldgprop_vol2.dat clear out your LotEditor lots/props/flora tabs except for custom content? Because that's what happened when I downloaded the bldgprop_vol1.dat and the bldgprop_vol2.dat files. It also turns the buttons red and green and a totally different shape. It kinda looks cool, but not when I'm trying to make a lot.

Thanks!

[Mootilda 76]

Has the game ever worked on this machine (without any plugins, etc)?

Have you tried setting the processor affinity, running in a window, lowering the screen resolution, turning off the sound, etc, to try to reduce what the game is attempting to do?

[CaptCity 4,788]

If your game has worked on the same computer, there are a few things that could be happening...

Have you ever used a terrain mod? Removing or changing one may cause something like you describe if not done correctly. Also, if you've used any custom airports or seaports and then removed them. As a final possibility, occassionally, removing plugins being used in a city and then saving the city might cause the crashes the next time it's opened. If either one sounds like something you've done, let us know...

Originally posted by: JLAAPRTM

Recently, I downloaded the sku 1 update, SC4Update4BAT, bldgprop_vol1.dat and the bldgprop_vol2.dat, thinking that it would make my game better. But instead, it made it much much worse!quote>

How has it become worse?

Does the bldgprop_vol1.dat and the bldgprop_vol2.dat clear out your LotEditor lots/props/flora tabs except for custom content? quote>

Never heard of that.

[JLAAPRTM 12]

@ mootilda: yes, the game worked before I had plugins and mods, things like that. But how can I change the settings if I can't even get to them ingame?

@CaptCity: I do not use a terrain mod. But I have downloaded custom airports (mostly ploppable pieces from ace_bovenopdeberg ) and one custom seaport (I don't remember which one it was), and the game worked fine after those downloads. The game has become worse by crashing ALOT. Soon it wouldn't even try to play the game (crashes before the game even shows the animation), and thats my problem here. I might get a picture of the LE going crazy soon. : D

Thanks for your help!