Windowed Mode Problem

[DPMorse 2]

You have to run the game in a mode that your video card supports. So check what your particular card supports. Do not confuse what your video card supports with what your computer (as in motherboard and other non-video related hardware) supports.

You can not run the game in both windowed and full screen modes. You can, however, run the game in windowed mode at your full desktop resolution. It will seem like it is doing both, but it isn't.

I don't have W7, but if the shortcut has a 'Run Fullscreen' (or similar) checkbox or option, and it is selected - it will always (or at least try to) run in Fullscreen mode no matter the resolution set in the game options or command line.

[ed_diaz 10]

nevermind.. i figured it out. my native screen is 1366x768, no higher. i was running the game 1280x1024, that would explain why it couldnt do window mode. i'm just gonna try a customer resolution. now that i remember too, it was working before when i had it set to 1024x768.. it all makes sense now lol

[spawnaside 0]

Does anyone know a way to open the full screen mode on my second monitor? Currently it always opens on my main monitor. Any help?

[MOREOPTIONS 4]

THank you Guys, "FYI, am running delux, and using the switch, it alows my SC$ to still run and I can do other app's. also with the res setting -introff -w -r1024x768x32

all is well.. no intro vid and only have to wait for all the program to load about 1min 15 sec. thank you for all the help/ God Bless

[bahamut285 0]

I'm also having the same problem as ed_diaz...I'm running WIn7 64 bit and nothing works, my target right now is:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -w

Am I doing something wrong? It always opens up in fullscreen mode

[tungston 19]

It's hard to tell, but it doesn't appear that there is a space after the quotation marks.

[jds_1980 0]

I have a slight question reguarding this. I have a dual process processor which was causing SMC4 to min. to the desktop after 30-60 mins of play and I could maximize it, I had to end process, lof off just to restart the game. I did some searching and found that I had to put this in the target C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "SimCity 4" /high /affinity 1 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe and change the affinity to only one processor, Now can I also add  the -w or am I stuck with only one adjustment per shortcut?

[kolnikov inc 1]

..bahamut..i had the same problem, then i used -introff -w -r800x600x32 and poof....sc4 in a window.

[jim 546 43]

Originally posted by: jds_1980

I have a slight question reguarding this. I have a dual process processor which was causing SMC4 to min. to the desktop after 30-60 mins of play and I could maximize it, I had to end process, lof off just to restart the game. I did some searching and found that I had to put this in the target C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "SimCity 4" /high /affinity 1 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe and change the affinity to only one processor, Now can I also add  the -w or am I stuck with only one adjustment per shortcut?

quote>

Yes, you can add the " -w " extension.  Using your example, you should have:

C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "SimCity 4" /high /affinity 1 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -w

You can also add a custom resolution and turn off the intro at the end of this line.

[jds_1980 0]

JIM546 ->Thank you very much!!!!! I also had an issue with it not wanting to load right after my PC had been running for awhile and this seems to have fixed that as well; I can actually enjoy the game again.

[zeedosh 2]

You guys are my heroes! I've been trying forever to get my game to run both windowed and smoothly, and this thread has been amazing I currently run Windows 7 with a quad-core processor, and this is what my shortcut looks like:

C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "SimCity 4" /affinity 2 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -w -r1440x900 -CustomResolution:enabled

Works like a dream.

[joshriddle 29]

Affinity 2? I hear the game doesn't like running on multicores, but I never seemed to have an issue with it, but I had all the patches and all the other whatnots, without custom content.

I also hear that running Windowed mode affects performance. Didn't seem to lag no worse no better to me.

[zeedosh 2]

Originally posted by: joshriddle

Affinity 2? I hear the game doesn't like running on multicores, but I never seemed to have an issue with it, but I had all the patches and all the other whatnots, without custom content.

I also hear that running Windowed mode affects performance. Didn't seem to lag no worse no better to me.

quote>

Yup, affinity 2. With my quad core, I find that if I run it on one, it's quite laggy. If I run it on all four, it  crashes constantly. But if I run it on two, it works great. As for windowed mode, it really seems to speed up my game. Windowed mode is honestly a whole lot better than fullscreen.

[joshriddle 29]

My new computer is going to have a dual core, I'll have to see how it works.

Speaking of Windowed mode, my screen resolution currently is 1024x768, I run the game in 1024x768, and almost any of you who run in Windowed mode probably have the Raise the UI mod.....

[Sr. burns 0]

Since I do that my skyscraper unloaded they light?

[CaptCity 4,753]

Since I do that my skyscraper unloaded they light?

If you mean the night lights don't appear on items you have downloaded, you might need the game patches. See for more information.

Also, it is better to start a new topic for new problems rather than post in topics that are almost two years old.

[Zodicus 34]

Originally posted by: gundamfan

It's been a while, but I'm looking to play SimCity 4 again. However, none of these things works. I copy-pasted the exact commands into my shortcut and they don't work. When I enable windowed mode, the splash screen shows up, but the game never runs. When I disable windowed mode but enable a custom resolution and set it to widescreen, the game still runs the usual 1024x768.

I have Vista 64 bit. I installed the latest patch (according the SimCity 4 website) and two NAM updates. What could be wrong?

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -w -r1440x900x32 -CustomResolution:enabled

This should be the path you installed it to if you are running 64-bit vista. change the -r1440x900x32 to a resolution of your choice. for example, -r1600x1200x32.

note, the x32 is not required, but doesn't hurt to add.

I've been trying to figure that out for weeks. Now it works since I found out you had to do it differently for an x86 system (go figure) Thx a bunch! (yea I know the post is older than Methusula)