A silly bug

[andygee33 2]

My game has been really annoying me since my girl downloaded some bits off the stex. 

It worked perfectly before, but now the colour cursor(always ticked but didn't work)works! I can't see radius when placing school, can't see ghost road(before placing) nor zoning until placed.

Wat?

I've took plugins out folder to no avail, system restore is useless(never works!), uninstalled NAM and the just added NWM. I have lost my sc4 disk to make matters worse.

 

I'm not expecting miracles but could you tell where the conflict is from the exception file? I'll post it anyway.

 

Any help is greatly appreciated, cheers 

 

Exception time: 03/03/2013, at 17:50:23.

Exception code: 0xC0000005 (-1073741819) ACCESS_VIOLATION.

Current thread ID: 2012 (0x000007dc).

Version information:

Application/module path: C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe

Application/module version name: SimCity 4

Application/module version: 1.1.638.0

System version: Windows NT 5.1

System memory: 256 Megabytes total, 60 Megabytes free.

 

Exception module:  C:\WINDOWS.0\system32\ntdll.dll.

Exception address: 0x7c92a3cd. Section:Offset: 0x01:0x000293cd.

 

Registers

   EAX: 13366da0

   EBX: 00000000

   ECX: 49484300

   EDX: 003f0608

   ESI: 13366de0

   EDI: 003f0000

   CS:EIP: 001b:7c92a3cd

   SS:ESP: 0023:0012e778  EBP:0012e834

   DS:0023  ES:0023  FS:003b  GS:0000

   Flags: 00210213

edit : I haven't installed anything that should effect the game in this way - the closest excluding the nam and IHfix would be my farming x5 multiplier I've had for ages.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

First let's check to see if your game is still OK.  Rename your plugin folder to Plugins.old, then start the game.  Ignoring brown boxes and other problems related to removing your plugins, is the game OK now? 

 

If so, you need to sort your plugins by date created or date modified, and move all the ones at or after the date of the adds you are suspicious of to a folder on your desktop.  Put the Plugins folder back and try again.  If it is now back to what you had, then it is up to you what you do with the other plugins.

 

If you've lost your media, then consider repurchasing a digital download copy from either Amazon or GamersGate.  You will get version 1,1,641 that runs without a disk in the drive and is fully up to date.  Keep the installation folder, back it up, and you have this version forever.

[andygee33 2]

First let's check to see if your game is still OK.  Rename your plugin folder to Plugins.old, then start the game.  Ignoring brown boxes and other problems related to removing your plugins, is the game OK now? 

 

If so, you need to sort your plugins by date created or date modified, and move all the ones at or after the date of the adds you are suspicious of to a folder on your desktop.  Put the Plugins folder back and try again.  If it is now back to what you had, then it is up to you what you do with the other plugins.

 

If you've lost your media, then consider repurchasing a digital download copy from either Amazon or GamersGate.  You will get version 1,1,641 that runs without a disk in the drive and is fully up to date.  Keep the installation folder, back it up, and you have this version forever.

 

I've removed all within plugin folder after uninstalling nam with no effect, still weird cursor stuff. It may be written into simcity data files

I'm just gonna get digi version from steam. Least I don't have to find all the updates, though!

 

..Do any mods\plugins affect registry? I never even thought of copying folder *facepalm

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

If it is not too late, I'd suggest not using a DRM supplier.  How about Amazon or Garmersgate?

[Cyclone Boom 16,838]

Only installers (such as from the NAM) will create an installation path registry entry. This can later be used for uninstallation purposes. The plugins themselves are self dependant, meaning they don't use other system or application files. Plugins that are copied directly will not create an installation entry.

Also, do you have any content in your Maxis plugins folder? Usually located in "C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Plugins". Try removing any content in this folder (leave the bitmap images used for backgrounds). I'm not sure if the renaming technique will work for this location.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The only way to move the files from the system area to the user area is cut/paste as far as I know.  This can be done on a sort of wholesale basis if you understand windows explorer well enough.

[andygee33 2]

Only installers (such as from the NAM) will create an installation path registry entry. This can later be used for uninstallation purposes. The plugins themselves are self dependant, meaning they don't use other system or application files. Plugins that are copied directly will not create an installation entry.

Also, do you have any content in your Maxis plugins folder? Usually located in "C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Plugins". Try removing any content in this folder (leave the bitmap images used for backgrounds). I'm not sure if the renaming technique will work for this location.

I definately had a couple .exe files for small files, dude. Surely corrupt plugins(copied + pasted) can lead to working dat files and such being unstable?

I kept the main plugin folder clear, just to be sure

Re-installed anyway

.. and I'm sure re-naming should work, but I prefer making a backup folder with working plugins, just in case

If it is not too late, I'd suggest not using a DRM supplier.  How about Amazon or Garmersgate?

.. too late, steam it was

Why not DRM? I don't know much about downloading except utorrent

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

DRM sites often insert a snooper in your machine.  EA explicitly does
it on Origin.  This is an invasion of privacy.  I simply don't give any
opportunity for any site to do this, especially not a gaming site.

 

I am glad I won't be around many more years.  If this is the way of the future then stop the world, I want to get off.

[andygee33 2]

DRM sites often insert a snooper in your machine.  EA explicitly does

it on Origin.  This is an invasion of privacy.  I simply don't give any

opportunity for any site to do this, especially not a gaming site.

 

I am glad I won't be around many more years.  If this is the way of the future then stop the world, I want to get off.

Anything can be saved.. the future is in our hands especially with the likes of you about >D

As long as the public is informed of what goes on behind scenes, we can boycot any exploits before they're serious threats.

Look at norton a few years ago.. or the mighty Kaspersky afer their recent fail.. or google update.. All rely on reputation, wich we are no longer giving after all the bull.

 

It's true that if we are to survive, we must change. It's also true that if we are to be free, we must be ourselves. It's not a decision, it's a balance

[lhrob 213]

System memory: 256 Megabytes total, 60 Megabytes free.

 

I have to wonder how you're even able to get the game to run at all with such a low amount of RAM.  The game requirements alone are for 256MB...and it's bad enough the game runs slow even with 1GB of RAM.  But it really boggles my mind that you are trying to play it with only 256MB on your system, particularly when you're showing only 60MB free.  Your OS alone is going to require a significant portion of your RAM to run.  I'm really scratching my head on this.  Or else I'm totally missing something.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

There is something wrong with those memory stats.  If he is running SC4 1,1,638, it should read higher.  I don't think NT 5.1 (XP) would even load in that little bit of memory.  (heh, heh - 256MB is 64M words in 32-bit and only 32M in 64-bit words.  You'd be amazed what we used to get done in small memories like that.  First machine I ever used has 12 K, 12-bit words.)

[libellibicus 396]

256mb RAM? I think even the Sinclair ZX81 had more than that:-)

[lhrob 213]

256mb RAM? I think even the Sinclair ZX81 had more than that:-)

 

Nah...I think you're exaggerating just a tad.      Have a look...only expandable to 16K of RAM: http://steveffisher.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/zx81ad.jpg

[libellibicus 396]

Okay then......maybe a Casio scientific calculator:-)

[lhrob 213]

It's funny....the first computer I bought, in 1999, had only 32MB of RAM.  I bought it primarily because I wanted to play Rollercoaster Tycoon.  But I found the game ran so much better when I doubled my RAM to 64MB.  After that, I had no problems playing the game.  Comparatively speaking, that would be like playing SC4 on a computer which only has 512MB of RAM, and I think we all know how slow the game runs with such a low amount of memory.  I really highly recommend the OP to upgrade his RAM, otherwise this game just isn't going to play well.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The game is fine in the memory prescribed on the box until, that is, you add any custom content.  The problem with minimum specifications is that they are just that.

[andygee33 2]

It's funny....the first computer I bought, in 1999, had only 32MB of RAM.  I bought it primarily because I wanted to play Rollercoaster Tycoon.  But I found the game ran so much better when I doubled my RAM to 64MB.  After that, I had no problems playing the game.  Comparatively speaking, that would be like playing SC4 on a computer which only has 512MB of RAM, and I think we all know how slow the game runs with such a low amount of memory.  I really highly recommend the OP to upgrade his RAM, otherwise this game just isn't going to play well.

Same bro, I got this computer out a skip 10 years ago and paid £20 to a friend to fix it(re-ram). I've had no hardware changes(seriously.. except an update or two) and my game worked perfect while mounted on virtual drive with NAM 30. It only bugged down when I updated the NAM. Re-installing version 30 made no difference.

 

I think the problem may be my old Nvidia grapics card - after I upgrade I'll let you guys know how it went. I can't wait to get the game working again just to show how well it does. If my processor keeps up, I plan to get more ram and start helping SimMars on transport.

Put it this way - I was running Win98 until last year - no problems! Tried Simcity4 from torrent file, and it worked! Bought it off steam and it didn't work! Got my old CD back from a friend in the end and installed it on the misses's laptop to try new nam. 

 

And to answer your origional question - this PC is from the stone age when FAT 16 was dope, and hard disk errors happened every time you re-started. It is made to last because it 'had' to(and will)! New stuff is made to be repaired.

The game is fine in the memory prescribed on the box until, that is, you add any custom content.  The problem with minimum specifications is that they are just that.

do you think I should try ram or graphics? for science!

[lhrob 213]

The game is fine in the memory prescribed on the box until, that is, you add any custom content.  The problem with minimum specifications is that they are just that.

 

I agree, minimum specs are just that...the bare minimum required for a program to run.  But he's not only trying to run a game that has, as a minimum, the amount of RAM he has on his system, but is also running his OS on the same amount of RAM.  I just don't see how he's even able to get the game to load.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Oh, it loads alright, and I think XP will even page part of it if need be.

[andygee33 2]

Well, I updated the Nvidia driver and it's helped a bit. Considering my pc's age(but reliability), do you think it would be worth upgrading or buying new? 200 bucks isn't much to go on these days.

 

Quite like the sounds of AMD's new 8 core bulldozer cpu, needs a certain motherboard socket though. Might be time for a new motherboard.. and probably power supply by the sounds of it

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I was thinking my next upgrade will be one of those octopussies.  I don't need it, but I'd like to see if I could get anything happening in CPU #7.  Studies I participated in years ago showed that with a multiprocessor you get less and less out of each additional processor.  With four processors we found that CPU #3 was only in use at the busiest times and we only got 20% out of it at peak.  Most of the time it was idle.

 

I think with that many processors, some kind of shadow mode should be possible to guarantee that if a processor failed, another would pick up the load seamlessly.

 

Everything old is new again.  In the 1950s, the Atlas machine had 8 processors.  In the 1960s the Honeywell 800 had 8 as well.  Ho hum.  What comes around has been around.