Simcity 4 deluxe crash and patch problems

[Athywen 0]

Hi all,

I have two problems which may or may not be related.

Crashing

I have searched the forums and tried: changing compatability to XP, setting affinity to one CPU, stopping dwm.exe, all at the same time and separately, yet I still crash to the desktop after a black screen. It seems to happen the more complex my city gets as I have not had problems on the smallest of maps, but cannot develop the medium sized map past like 10k pop before crashing becomes too often to try to keep going.

Patch

I have downloaded the patch from the simcity website and also another website which was recommended here somewhere but I cannot remember the name. I have downloaded them more than twice from each location, yet each time I try to install them, a message pops up saying "Old file not found. However, a file of the same name was found. No update done since file contents do not match." There was a suggestion here that said to move the patch file into the different game folders and run it again there, but that did not work.

I'm at my wits end here. I yearn to play simcity, but it has become too much effort. Can anyone help me?

My hardware specifications:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz

4 GB DDR2 RAM

NVidia GeForce 8600GT 512 MB

Vista SP2 32-bit

[SC4BOY 21]

Your patches are not succeeding because you are using a modified exe.. either a CD crack, a version with a mod applied such as affinity, etc. Until you solve that problem you will not get it to patch. If you right-click the simcity exe file, and select "properties", then "version" what does it say?

[Athywen 0]

File version: 1.1.613.0

Product version: 1.1.0.0

I brought this game from a store and have not applied any mods. It is a straight install from the cd. If it was a cracked version, I would accept problems like this as the norm, but its not, so I'm a little frustrated.

[SC4BOY 21]

Are you sure you are following the proper patching instructions? The patch you choose must match the version of the game you have. I have never had the patch fail when done right after install and before applying ANY "custom" material.. NO ANYTHING.. Perhaps someone who is familiar with the different versions of the game will see this and post. My "install" version (on the 1st of the 2 disks on the Deluxe version CD) is 1.1.610.0. This tells me that you have one originally sold outside the US, so you need a different patch, I'm guessing. (not sure what the 613 version is by origin as they are sold world-wide) I see your "heading" says DELUXE so I assume you have that 2 CD version, and not just plain SC4? (so called "vanilla")

[Athywen 0]

I'm Australian, but the website says to download the sku_1 patch same as North America. And yeah, it is the 2CD deluxe version.

[SC4BOY 21]

hmmm.. well I'm out of ideas.. sorry.. did you install the game in all the "standard" places where the patches are finding the install? (I assume you are since it is finding them..perhaps your patchlog will give some hints? You might take a look at it) Hopefully someone from Australia will see this and post.. Will you post the folder names where your game is installed... I use XP and it seems someone said something about maybe Vista has a slightly different problem,. I'm sure your problem is minor if someone just happens to know the issue.

[tungston 19]

Originally posted by: Athywen

I'm Australian, but the website says to download the sku_1 patch same as North America. And yeah, it is the 2CD deluxe version.

quote>

You can look in the program folders for the game, there is a SKU folder with the number you need.

[184072_1434460402 0]

I have the same problem with a European version. Not a fixed .exe and doesn't work on a clean install, the SKU folder confirms that I'm using the right patch.

[Athywen 0]

Thanks tungston! I Didn't know about the SKU folder. Turns out I needed sku_2 which is odd, but I downloaded it and it installed perfectly!! I'm playing as I write for 30 mins now with no crash which is making me hopeful again.

Thankyou too SC4BOY for replying and trying Its always the simple things that are the most confusing Although at least I can say I didn't have an "ID 10 T" fault Why, when I brought an official copy from a game store, I would have a European copy when I'm in Australia...

If I don't report back, everything is working fine