Game crashes to desktop when I try to load a certain city, please help

[NCGAIO 562]

 

Have you tried setting the game to software graphics?

I tried putting the game on lower graphic quality, but what do you mean with 'software graphics'?

 

 

see message

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

For general readers who are not on the PM list, I guess that means a reference to one of two things:

 

The switch in the game parameters in region mode that sets software mode (needs a restart) or

 

The option -d:software on the command line replacing any other -d:<option>

 

Where:

<option> ::= [directx|opengl|software]

 

In effect this option causes the game to use the GPU as a simple frame buffer.

[rsc204 21,866]

Whilst I understand most people are trying to help you with this problem there is a simple fact here. Based on what you have said that you never installed any mods for your game (and you must know if you have or not) then changing other things will not help you. I've tested the save file on two machines, it's simply kaput and there is nothing you can do. If you start playing with all the settings of SC4 to try and fix a problem that doesn't exist, all you risk doing is mucking up something else (you can't fix something that isn't wrong). I understand a lot of work must have gone into a large tile that has been developed from nothing into a city of that size, but the fact is unless you have changed something to cause this problem, why would the settings suddenly be wrong? Also why are your other cities are still working just fine if the settings are incorrect for the main one?

 

All I can do is state that things like this are the reason why every user should take backups seriously for any data they care about, but that's shutting the door and the horse is sadly gone.

[Compdude787 916]

 

Have you tried setting the game to software graphics?

I tried putting the game on lower graphic quality, but what do you mean with 'software graphics'?

 

Change the rendering option from "Hardware" to "Software" in the in-game graphics options dialog box. Then restart the game and see if that fixes your problem.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

The penultimate post from here indicates a corrupted city.  It is not worth considering it further.  Sorry about that.  The game can do this if a save is done improperly.

[NCGAIO 562]

For general readers who are not on the PM list,....

Hmm! exactly what that means?

Friends ... that the city archive is corrupted it's clear everyone already knows.

Anyone else?

[The Happy Bomber 1]

 

 

Have you tried setting the game to software graphics?

I tried putting the game on lower graphic quality, but what do you mean with 'software graphics'?

 

Change the rendering option from "Hardware" to "Software" in the in-game graphics options dialog box. Then restart the game and see if that fixes your problem.

 

I've already tried that

Whilst I understand most people are trying to help you with this problem there is a simple fact here. Based on what you have said that you never installed any mods for your game (and you must know if you have or not) then changing other things will not help you. I've tested the save file on two machines, it's simply kaput and there is nothing you can do. If you start playing with all the settings of SC4 to try and fix a problem that doesn't exist, all you risk doing is mucking up something else (you can't fix something that isn't wrong). I understand a lot of work must have gone into a large tile that has been developed from nothing into a city of that size, but the fact is unless you have changed something to cause this problem, why would the settings suddenly be wrong? Also why are your other cities are still working just fine if the settings are incorrect for the main one?

 

All I can do is state that things like this are the reason why every user should take backups seriously for any data they care about, but that's shutting the door and the horse is sadly gone.

You're absolutely right. Thanks everyone for all the help and suggestions, but I'm afraid the only thing that could help me is some computer specialist that somehow is able to fix corrupted files. And since I don't know such a person, there's nothing more I can do.

[Indiana Joe 1,752]

You're absolutely right. Thanks everyone for all the help and suggestions, but I'm afraid the only thing that could help me is some computer specialist that somehow is able to fix corrupted files. And since I don't know such a person, there's nothing more I can do.

 

Such a person doesn't really exist anyway.  I mean, they do, but they would have to know about SimCity 4 save files specifically.  If there was an expert at fixing SC4 files, we'd know about him here.  

 

One *last* thing you could try:  depending on what version of Windows you have, sometimes it automatically backs up files.  I'm going to assume, from your rather dated specs, that you're running Windows XP.  Unfortunately I don't think this has a backup feature that's automatically turned on.

 

If it did, you would see it by going into the Region folder, right-clicking on the city file, going to "Properties," and clicking on the "Previous Versions" tab.  If such a tab isn't there, you're out of luck.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

It is an ill wind that doesn't blow some good.  Take this reverse as a reminder to make frequent backups of your regions.  It is not difficult to copy an entire region folder to another area on your disk or, preferably, on a disk that is separate from the one you are playing on.  I have a separate HDD connected over a USB port for this purpose, and a backup automatically fires once a week.

[NCGAIO 562]

Well ... Hope is the last to die!

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

"People who live on hope will starve to death"

-- Benjamin Franklin

[The Happy Bomber 1]

 

You're absolutely right. Thanks everyone for all the help and suggestions, but I'm afraid the only thing that could help me is some computer specialist that somehow is able to fix corrupted files. And since I don't know such a person, there's nothing more I can do.

 

Such a person doesn't really exist anyway.  I mean, they do, but they would have to know about SimCity 4 save files specifically.  If there was an expert at fixing SC4 files, we'd know about him here.  

 

One *last* thing you could try:  depending on what version of Windows you have, sometimes it automatically backs up files.  I'm going to assume, from your rather dated specs, that you're running Windows XP.  Unfortunately I don't think this has a backup feature that's automatically turned on.

 

If it did, you would see it by going into the Region folder, right-clicking on the city file, going to "Properties," and clicking on the "Previous Versions" tab.  If such a tab isn't there, you're out of luck.

 

I have Windows 7

It does show a previous versions tab, but it says that no previous versions are available.

UPDATE: It was the zipped map containing my city which had a previous versions tab, the city itself doesn't even show a previous versions tab.

[rsc204 21,866]

Windows 7 does not not automatically create backups, unless you tell it too, although it would have advised you at some point in the activity center to set it up.

 

Frankly I'm not sure I'd trust Windows Backup, but it's probably better than nothing if you want a set and forget solution. For SC4 copying the regions/plugins folders to an external hard drive regularly would be sufficient, although I would recommend any external drive that has important data on it should not be moved around more than necessary, they are more fragile than most people realise.

[The Happy Bomber 1]

Looks like I forgot to tell one thing to you (not sure if it's important). Shortly before the city file became corrupted and started crashing, I had troubles with the garbage of Rosery. I had a big rubbish dump in Rouch, just for being able to import the garbage of Rosery. Suddenly, I wasn't able anymore to import garbage from Rosery to Rouch, so I started importing it in Mosing; this eventually seemed to be a bad idea because it wouldn't be good for Mosing, since I use Mosing only for high-tech industry; so I made Fallwere, north to Rosery, just to use it as a rubbish dump for Rosery. But again, I wasn't able to move garbage from Rosery to Fallwere. So I made a rubbish dump in the northwest corner of Rosery. Mosing was the only city where in I was able to import garbage from Rosery.

 

Could this error in garbage transport have something to do with CTD's when trying to enter a city?

I also forgot to tell that I use Cheat Engine to get infinite money (which feels a bit like a confession on a site with a lot of 'fair' SimCity 4 players, actually)

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Looks like a separate problem.  I think the corrupt city was caused by an improper save.  Garbage deals only fail if there is not enough money between the two cities to sustain them or the garbage site fills up.  You need to find an alternative to dumps.  There are many on the STEX.

[NCGAIO 562]

I use Cheat Engine to get infinite money (which feels a bit like a confession on a site with a lot of 'fair' SimCity 4 players, actually)

 Wait ... i'm confused! you had not said that never used mod cheats for the game?

 

Friend when will send the file?

[The Happy Bomber 1]

 

I use Cheat Engine to get infinite money (which feels a bit like a confession on a site with a lot of 'fair' SimCity 4 players, actually)

 Wait ... i'm confused! you had not said that never used mod cheats for the game?

 

Friend when will send the file?

 

I never used cheats to lower sea level, yes. But I do use the ctrl+x cheat bar and CheatEngine for infinite money. I forgot to mention that, sorry

[The Happy Bomber 1]

If you delete that file you will have a hole in your region that will be very difficult to recover if at all.  If the tile is corrupt, there are methods to replace it with a fresh copy (not used), but that is a decision you have to make.  Essentially everything except your neighbour connections will be lost.

 

Do you feel confident enough to render that map again with a new name?

I think I'm going to do this, should I make changes in the region files to prevent this from ever happening again? And how can I reset Rosery?

[rsc204 21,866]

So long as you didn't do too much terraforming, especially around the tile edges then you should find replacing the one tile and keeping everything else is not too troublesome.

 

Before you start, make sure you take a backup of your region so you can recover just in case something goes wrong.

 

Firstly create a new region, being a Maxis map, we can copy the backup files from the SC4 install directory "C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Regions". Copy the folder Berlin from here into the SC4 Regions folder in My Documents. If the old region's folder name is also Berlin you will have to rename this folder before copying it, if you're old region had the name Berlin, you need to edit the Region Name in the Region.ini file - Both of these should match.

 

Start SC4 and you should now have both the new and old regions available. Now in the old region open every city tile that bordered the broken city, delete any neighbour connections you have and cancel all neighbour deals then save and exit. This step is very important, so that the old cities are not linked to a city that is soon to cease to exist which can cause undesirable effects. One you've done this, highlight the old broken city and select the option Import City, browse to the same city in the newly created region and let SC4 do it's thing. After all this your old region will have at least the terrain of the old city back and you can start to rebuild.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

If you are using the default region of Berlin, it is much simpler to copy the affected tile (a file) from the backup in C:\program files ...\Maxis\Regions to the C:\Documents\SimCity 4\Regions\Downloads folder then simply import the tile from there into the damaged region.

 

Some cautions:

• Backup your entire region first
• The operation between the game repository in Program Files and the Downloads folder should be a copy
• The game operation to replace the damaged city title is a move.  The file will be removed from the Downloads folder.

 

If you have trouble picking out the file from the repository, copy the whole default Berlin region to a new location in your user Region with a new region name, say 'NewBerlin', edit the name in the region.ini file, then open this region and name the tile in question by opening it.  This will allow you to find it so that you can copy it to the Downloads folder.

 

The net effect of this is that you will get a pristine copy of the city and can then rebuild it.

[rsc204 21,866]

Sorry I think you've just repeated exactly what I said, when I say "create a new region" I clearly explained to do it by copying the very same files. You can not import (or move) a region where the folder is not currently in the My Documents regions folder, it will not let you browse any location elsewhere to import a city. If you somehow managed to move the file from the Program Files folder, you'd probably need to re-install the game to recover them, they are stored as a backup copy there so SC4 can recover the default regions (including the tutorial) and should under no circumstances be modified, edited or changed.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

I think we are slightly at cross purposes here.  I merely wanted to simplify your instruction and make it clearer.  Many users these days do not understand the manipulation of files, and it becomes difficult to get a handle on their understanding of the file system(s).  Microsoft did not help by changing the terminology from directory to folder a few years back.  I don't know about you, but I still think directory and have to edit my writing.

 

The trend these days to treat a computer like a home appliance is pervading the marketplace, and fewer people know anything at all about what's 'under the hood'.  They are like the guy who doesn't know how to refill his windshield anti-freeze bottle.  Among other things, people like this will fill up their disk space with junk and never clean it up.  This shortens the useful life of their systems.  As long as NTFS exists systems will need a little maintenance.  One good thing is that, apparently, NTFS cleanup services have been automated with Windows 8, but I have no feel for when (or if) this gets scheduled.

[The Happy Bomber 1]

If you are using the default region of Berlin, it is much simpler to copy the affected tile (a file) from the backup in C:\program files ...\Maxis\Regions to the C:\Documents\SimCity 4\Regions\Downloads folder then simply import the tile from there into the damaged region.

 

Some cautions:

• Backup your entire region first
• The operation between the game repository in Program Files and the Downloads folder should be a copy
• The game operation to replace the damaged city title is a move.  The file will be removed from the Downloads folder.

 

If you have trouble picking out the file from the repository, copy the whole default Berlin region to a new location in your user Region with a new region name, say 'NewBerlin', edit the name in the region.ini file, then open this region and name the tile in question by opening it.  This will allow you to find it so that you can copy it to the Downloads folder.

 

The net effect of this is that you will get a pristine copy of the city and can then rebuild it.

What should I do with the Rosery file? Where should I place it? Should I place it in the  C:\program files ...\Maxis\Regions folder?

I also don't know which of all the "new city" files is the tile that now contains Rosery

 

also, I once heard of a trick using Paint, where you could see a coloured plan of the city, with colours that show where residential, commercial and industrial zones are, and where highways are, etc.. Maybe there is a way using paint to get back the exact structure of the city minus the buildings built on the res. comm. and indus. zones? Any ideas?

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

If Rosery is the affected file, it should go to the great bit bucket in the sky (delete it).

 

If you don't know which of the "New City" files it is, copy the default region with a new name into your user area, open the correct city and name it.  Close the game, and now you can find the city file to move to the Downloads folder.

 

You will have to rebuild this city from scratch, and maybe in the process you'll find out what went wrong.  I truly suspect a bad save.  These are not unknown, and the save mechanism in the game is very delicate.  Under no circumstances should you switch away from the game when a save, even a save and quit, is in progress.

 

If the region is one that you built from a download, then create a copy of it a new name, and re-render it, then proceed as above to name the city so you can find it, and continue.

 

When you have inserted the new tile in your region, reconcile the edges to recover the neighbour connections first thing.

[The Happy Bomber 1]

If Rosery is the affected file, it should go to the great bit bucket in the sky (delete it).

 

If you don't know which of the "New City" files it is, copy the default region with a new name into your user area, open the correct city and name it.  Close the game, and now you can find the city file to move to the Downloads folder.

 

You will have to rebuild this city from scratch, and maybe in the process you'll find out what went wrong.  I truly suspect a bad save.  These are not unknown, and the save mechanism in the game is very delicate.  Under no circumstances should you switch away from the game when a save, even a save and quit, is in progress.

 

If the region is one that you built from a download, then create a copy of it a new name, and re-render it, then proceed as above to name the city so you can find it, and continue.

 

When you have inserted the new tile in your region, reconcile the edges to recover the neighbour connections first thing.

the file new city(30) is the tile that takes the most space (1260 kb) can I assume that this is the biggest tile of the region? (Rosery was built on the biggest tile of the region)

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

If it is the only large tile, you could take that chance, otherwise what you want to do is a direct mapping from the new region to the old. 

 

The general rule is that only city tiles of the same size (small, medium, large) can replace an existing area.  If the old city that doesn't load was a large tile, any large tile can be on the Downloads folder and used to replace it.  However, what everyone has been trying to do is to give you the same tile to preserve the terraforming from the original render.

 

If you have ever done any projective geometry, what you need here is to project the original unsullied region on to the new one and select the damaged city.  This visualization is pretty easy, and you should be able to see this in your mind's eye.

[rsc204 21,866]

So the tile you want to replace should be obvious from the old map, but perhaps the file name is NEW CITY XX when you are trying to import? To resolve this you could just enter that tile in the new region, start the city by entering Mayor Mode which will require you to name the tile, do this then save and exit. Now when you return to the old region to import the tile the name will be there to make it obvious which tile you need.

[Sandis_van_Great 346]

Since you said your city worked fine before, im guessing your save is corrupted. Ive had it before as well and the reason i had it was, I normally play sc on windowed mode so a lot of times i have something ells open in the one side of the screen to witch i switch time to time, what sometimes make my saves corrupted is if i switch to something whail the game is saving. Have you done anything like that? Like minimize the game whail it saves or smth?

[The Happy Bomber 1]

Since you said your city worked fine before, im guessing your save is corrupted. Ive had it before as well and the reason i had it was, I normally play sc on windowed mode so a lot of times i have something ells open in the one side of the screen to witch i switch time to time, what sometimes make my saves corrupted is if i switch to something whail the game is saving. Have you done anything like that? Like minimize the game whail it saves or smth?

I must say it could be the reason, but I don't remember. Anyway, I have successfully copied the Berlin region, with a new tile, where I have set up a new Rosery. The old Berlin region also still exists, with the corrupted Rosery (just in case a solution will appear later). For now, I want to thank everyone who tried to help me with solving this problem.