Did someone test playing SimCity 4 on Windows 10?

[Titanicbuff 1,262]

I have been watching posts before updating and I am convinced updating to 10 may not be worth the hassle- as a NAM Associate I need SC to run, not crash.

[JP Schriefer 5,591]

Nice to know, Timmie. I can run SC4 on Windows 8.1 without bugs only in software mode. I'll install Windows 10 later to see if I'll have good news

[timmie 988]

Hardware mode works good here. You might be interested to know that you can upgrade to Windows 10, but if you don't like it for some reason, you have one month time to return to Windows 8.1 (it's somewhere in the Win 10 settings).

[JP Schriefer 5,591]

Yea, I read about it. My only concern at the moment is really losing files during the transition, I'm thinking about make a back up before.

[timmie 988]

Always back up your stuff before an upgrade. You never know what can go wrong. The Windows 10 upgrade is probably the smoothest there has ever been, but still.

[JP Schriefer 5,591]

You're right. I'll do a back up tomorrow morning and install it.

[Ramona Brie 121]

This is getting very frustrating for me too given that I upgraded my SC4 setup from 8.1 to 10 and now SC4 won't run. It will run for a split second but then quit immediately.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

From early reports it seems that things are OK at the moment except, perhaps, for some hardware peculiarities for some systems.

[Calvss 27]

I'm pleased to report that SimCity 4 works fine on Windows 10 Pro with the following specs:

• Lenovo y410p
• Intel i7-4700MQ
• GeForce GT 750m
• 5Gb RAM (long story)

with the following software settings: 

• nVidia 353.62 driver
• SimCity 4 Deluxe edition (from the old CD), patched to 1.1.640.0 with ~1GB of mods
• SimCiy 4 launcher with -CustomResolution:enabled -r1366x768x32 -f -d:DirectX -CustomCursors:enabled -Cursors:fullcolor -Intro:off -gp -CPUPriority:high -CPUCount:1 -ExceptionHandling:off
• no compatibility mode

most of the tags might not be required, but your mileage may vary.

I've tested the following and they work fine: region view, opening existing city, data views, playing the city.

PS: it's so smooth running on hardware!

[Ramona Brie 121]

From early reports it seems that things are OK at the moment except, perhaps, for some hardware peculiarities for some systems.

Well, I'm trying everything I can and SC4 just quits instantly.

[rsc204 21,866]

I think it's probably best to start from scratch and work through the problem one step at a time. Once one person has made SC4 work with Windows 10, it's proved the point that the code is compatible with Windows 10, no more, no less.

The problem with computers, even two identical systems will be totally unique after users get hold of them. Everyone installs different applications, some will change hardware, perhaps one gets meticulously updated, the other languishes for years without them. What this means is that the problem needs a personal touch to aid in solving it. In that regard, it would be better to open a dedicated support thread in the Bugs & Technical issues forums so that we can try to help you resolve the issue.

[Hellken 1,658]

From early reports it seems that things are OK at the moment except, perhaps, for some hardware peculiarities for some systems.

Well, I'm trying everything I can and SC4 just quits instantly.

Did you try opening Graphics Rules.sgr with Administration Permissions on Notepad (I highly suggest Notepad++. Download here: https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ )? Edit that file and make sure to include your appropriate Graphics Card String. Do the same with Video Cards.sgr and input correct the video card ID. More info here: https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/33931-how-to-configure-sc4-to-work-with-your-new-hardware/?page=1

[timmie 988]

There's also an app that can add the information to Graphics Rules.sgr. Graphics Rules Maker, you can download it here (launch the app as admin or it won't be able to save changes to the file).

[Ramona Brie 121]

There's also an app that can add the information to Graphics Rules.sgr. Graphics Rules Maker, you can download it here (launch the app as admin or it won't be able to save changes to the file).

Thanks for the recommendation but it seems to be crashing every time I try and get it to see the SC4 directory.

[NCGAIO 562]

 

• SimCiy 4 launcher with  .... -ExceptionHandling: off

Leave a suggest you seek information about the need to "Exception Handling" in applications.

Certainly not received more CTDs but the consequences proceeding after the error can be much more damaging.

[KiethMarkus2014 14]

My copy which is retail SimCity 4 Deluxe will not run, double click icon and nothing happens.

[SharkSark 397]

 I am very pleased to announce that Simcity 4 runs flawlessly on Windows 10 Pro edition (build 10240). I have so far clocked more than 5+ hours of game play with 4.52 GB of mods and a custom map and so far suffered zero CTDs. I am running Windows 10 on a pretty low-end PC. My specs are -

Processor - Intel Dual core Pentium G Clocked at 2.7 GHz (Factory clocked)
RAM - 4 GB of transcend Single stick
GPU - Nvidia Geforce 210 (1 gb )

  Edited July 31, 2015 by Sexysark:P  

[KiethMarkus2014 14]

Which version of the game are you running? Deluxe retail, Deluxe digital?

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Just a reminder to everyone about some "hidden" requirements:

• The game will quit immediately if it doesn't find connected accelerated sound (speakers or headset);
• Is designed for DirectX 7 but best results have been obtained with DirectX 9.0c and it has been known to run on DirectX 10.

 

[KiethMarkus2014 14]

I think we need to set up a dedicated Windows 10 support thread and work as a group to see if we can get the game running on the new OS.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

I think we need to set up a dedicated Windows 10 support thread and work as a group to see if we can get the game running on the new OS.

Probably not a bad idea.  However, if you read this thread you'll find that some do, some don't get it running right out of the box.  If you are having a problem with it, start your own thread with:

1. Your machine configuration
2. Your game build level from the properties windows of the *.exe of the game
3. What you see when you try to start the game.

Remember, this is an international forum with thousands of members.  We need to know details of your set up, and we are not telepathic.

 

[rsc204 21,866]

I think we need to set up a dedicated Windows 10 support thread and work as a group to see if we can get the game running on the new OS.

My thoughts exactly, so I've started one here.

 

[madhatter106 3,931]

This thread makes me wonder if gmax will run on Windows 10....

[JP Schriefer 5,591]

Yeah, I was thinking about that to 3ds Max, Plugin Manager and Lot Editor as well.

[timmie 988]

Region Census, SC4Tool, and SC4 Terraformer all work for me, by the way.

[KiethMarkus2014 14]

Gmax does run on windows 10 with no problems

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

So far, fo good.  it appears that MS did not block legacy programs, or fixed any blockages that existed in the previous versions.  Maybe they were listening, after all.

[rsc204 21,866]

It would appear anecdotally that CD users are having problems, did anyone get a CD version running without troubles at all? I curse myself for being too lazy to take the disks to my friend instead of a USB stick now, but I'll see if I can check into this in the next few weeks.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

^ Seems that the CD problem may be generic with this version of windows.  Many machines these days are being delivered without an optical drive thanks to the popularity of streaming and the desire by manufacturers to reduce costs yet again.  I've yet to see any material distributed on a thumb drive, and so don't believe that optical drives and media are as obsolete as some may believe.  Vintage CDs may be difficult to recognize with the newer software.

The answer, of course, is to further enrich EA by purchasing the digital edition.  If you watch the sites (GOG, GamersGate, Amazon) you may even find a sale on the package.  As kicks at the cat go, this one makes some serious sense.

Oh!  And before some one yells at me, I strongly discourage the Origin and Steam distributions as being overcomplicated for a non-DRM package.

  Edited August 2, 2015 by A Nonny Moose  

[Gray_Lensman 3]

 

Oh!  And before some one yells at me, I strongly discourage the Origin and Steam distributions as being overcomplicated for a non-DRM package.

Don't know about the Origin installation but you have a mistaken misconception about Steam DRM. You can now download any of their games and play any them ON or OFF line no complications at all and I don't have to worry about where the original disk went. I almost always start my games with Steam in Offline mode. SimCity 4 Deluxe works almost flawlessly with the installation in the /Steam/Steamapps... folder and the My Documents/SimCity4/plugin folder is identical in use to a non Steam installation. The ONLY negative I'm finding with a Steam installation is the diversion of Shift-Tab for Steam purposes interferes with reverse tabbing thru some long menu selection if you accidentally TAB thru the menu selection you were looking for.

p.s. I'm an old timer that started with manual game installations under DOS 3.0 and was hesitant about Steam usage myself until they perfected the online/offline play choice.