Installing Simcity 4 Issues

[Jack³ 291]

I have been having trouble installing Simcity 4 to a computer that I don't usually use, because mine is being fixed right now. I have installed Simcity to this computer before and it worked fine. But the computer had problems so we had someone completely wipe out the whole thing. So I installed it but later it starting giving me messages about retrying or canceling the installation.

I pressed retry of course and it went on as usual. The message came a few more times after that. Then when it got to 100% the message came one more time. And now it is just sitting at 100% doing nothing.

And I'm sure you will want my computer stats but just to let you know Simcity has worked on this computer before.

System:

Microsoft Windows XP

Home Edition

Version 2002

Service Pack 3

Computer:

Mobile AMD Sempron

Processor 3000+

1.79 GHz, 640 MB of RAM(Not much compared to my 3 GB of RAM on my regular laptop)

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

[cxt214 0]

Something similar happened to me with another game. Once it reaches 100%, try killing the process via the task manager and start the game (via the .exe in Program Files)

If that works and you want a desktop shortcut then just make one manually and off you go!

That's how I fixed the problem for me with Flight Simulator... but I make no guarantees.

Hope it helps

[Jack³ 291]

I'll try that. I also found on another forum that some people copies the files from both discs and put the files in the program files directory but that didn't work. But I will try that right now.

[Jack³ 291]

Well I did try it and still it didn't work. It showed the bridge and the screen went black for a minute but nothing happened. I still can't play Simcity. Does anyone know what to do?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well I did try it and still it didn't work. It showed the bridge and the screen went black for a minute but nothing happened. I still can't play Simcity. Does anyone know what to do?

Check your disks for damage. If there are light scratches try polishing them out with a soft cloth moving from the center hole to the edge along with radius of the disk. Do not scrub, but press gently and only go one way.

If your disks are more than five years old, they may have deteriorated to the point where you will need to get a new copy of the game. The claim that CDs are archival is turning out to be false.

You can try the copy to desktop technique you have heard about, but to run the game you will still have to have the second disk in the cd drive.

If you have to get the game again, try Gamers Gate. The steam version wants to control your game operations on-line.

[Jack³ 291]

Check your disks for damage. If there are light scratches try polishing them out with a soft cloth moving from the center hole to the edge along with radius of the disk. Do not scrub, but press gently and only go one way.

If your disks are more than five years old, they may have deteriorated to the point where you will need to get a new copy of the game. The claim that CDs are archival is turning out to be false.

You can try the copy to desktop technique you have heard about, but to run the game you will still have to have the second disk in the cd drive.

The discs are both in good condition. They are not more than a year old. But after I cleaned them the message didn't come until it was doing the sound.dat at 80% but now it still says

[code]A problem occured when trying to transfer the file D:\Sound.dat from the media. Do you want to retry to copy the file or cancel the installation?[/code]

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Try gently cleaning that particular disk again.

This could be an alignment problem on the laptop's CD drive as well. If the heads have drifted a little, this can happen.

Are you able to copy the disk contents on to folders on your desktop? You can run a disk check on the media by right clicking on the disk image after you mount it, and asking the O/S to verify it.

[Jack³ 291]

I can copy the files onto the desktop but it gives me some kind of error message. I'll find something better to clean it with. I know I have some disc cleaning wipes somewhere. I'll let you know if it works.

[Jack³ 291]

Well the message came up again. Then it wouldn't let me exit or click anything else. The computer stopped responding to the point that I had to do a hard shut-down. I'll just have to get a new disc then .

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well the message came up again. Then it wouldn't let me exit or click anything else. The computer stopped responding to the point that I had to do a hard shut-down. I'll just have to get a new disc then .

'fraid so. This time, think about how you store them.

[Jack³ 291]

Well the message came up again. Then it wouldn't let me exit or click anything else. The computer stopped responding to the point that I had to do a hard shut-down. I'll just have to get a new disc then .

'fraid so. This time, think about how you store them.

Well they were both in the case the whole time I have no idea how they were scratched ugh...

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well the message came up again. Then it wouldn't let me exit or click anything else. The computer stopped responding to the point that I had to do a hard shut-down. I'll just have to get a new disc then .

'fraid so. This time, think about how you store them.

Well they were both in the case the whole time I have no idea how they were scratched ugh...

The surfaces are delicate. CD's should be handled only by the center hole and the edge without touching the grooved surface. They should be stored horizontally to avoid gravity effects on the recording substrate, in a cool place. This also applies to DVDs. As a medium, these disks are a bust when it comes to archiving, but since they "rot" they are ideal for people who sell them.

The disk drive should have a slide out tray so that the disk can be deposited carefully. Insertion slots are the curse of the media.

Frankly, I think floppy disks were better except for the small space on them.

I hope modern technology will soon arrive at crystal media where the data are recorded in the crystalline matrix, perhaps by using the quantum states of the atoms. Let's hear it for the mighty qubit.

  Edited October 2, 2011 by A Nonny Moose  

[Gringamuyloca 47]

I notice in your screenshot you have more than just SC4 running... have you tried installing with only the SC4 installer running? ie: Turn off all other programs and unnecessary processes.... I've had background stuff mess up my install more than once...

Just a thought

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

^ a very good thought. Be sure to go off line and stop your firewall and virus scan as well. Do the install stand alone as much as you can. When you are finished, boot your machine to restore your operating environment.

[Jack³ 291]

Good idea. I just checked my best buy repair status and my main laptop is done being repaired and being shipped. But I will try installing with no other programs running.