Windows 10 Problem Reporting Thread

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Two parameters are necessary for setting resolution.

-CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32

I don't think there is a character version of the game, nor any way of setting it up.

[mrsmartman 200]

Thanks for your help.

[rsc204 21,817]

If you have an appropriate Sim City locale file, there is an easier way than using the registry.

First create an appropriately named folder in the install location, probably "Chinese" and stick your locale file there.

Second add -l:"Chinese" to the target and it'll boot using the new locale file.

The one problem here is that I'm not sure if Chinese is correct or not, report back if it doesn't work and I'll do some digging for you, but in essence any language can be invoked in a similar manner.

[greyveil 37]

Just want to add my "experience"

I have been testing Win10 for about 6 months on several machines. simcity 4 was running fine all the way thru.

When 10 released, I installed a new HD in my main game machine, did a factory reinstall of win7 then a fresh upgrade to win10, then a fresh install of SC4 deluxe for disks, then a restore of my old SC4 files, everything ran great until the last Win10 update.

Then I encountered the current issue with the CD version, I contacted Origin (EA) online support and after verifying my acct, security and CD key for a bit, they added the Digital version of SC4 deluxe to my origin acct for free.

I had to uninstall (after backup) my CD version of SC4, reinstall from Origin, then restore my plugin folders to my old ones, everything works good now.

As much as I hate EA and the damage they have done to the many games I have enjoyed, they did handle this situation very well, and I commend them.

P.S. this is my command line: -intro:off -f -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32 -CPUCount:1 -CPUPriority:high -audio:off

yup cpu priority high, when I play SC4 its do not disturb, lol

  Edited September 2, 2015 by greyveil  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Fine business, old man.  Just one question.  Do you really need the -CPUPriority:high option?  The -CPUCount:1 option should make that somewhat, if not totally, redundant.

Here's my Linux script:

#!/bin/bash
date
echo "Starting SimCity 4 Deluxe - DirectX rendering"
env WINEPREFIX="/home/john/.wine" \
wine "C:/Program Files/Maxis/SimCity 4 Deluxe/Apps/SimCity 4.exe" \
 -intro:off -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32 -d:directx \
 -CPUCount:1 -f &>~/sc4.log
wine --version &>>~/sc4.log
date

 

[zsolt 0]

Update 05 Aug It seems that CD versions of SC4 will not run under Windows 10 - The necessary OS support files for validating SafeDisc2 copy protection simply isn't part of Windows 10. This issue is not unique to SC4 either, SafeDisc and associated technologies were widely used by game discs for such validation.  For now, unless MS decide to retroactively support it, your only option appears to be a digital version of the game which will not have such copy protection. If you put your CD-Key into Origin they will provide you with a free digital copy of the game, so it needn’t cost you any money to resolve.

[...]

Hi everyone!

First of all, thank you for the solution above, I've been struggling to run the game on Win10 for days.

I "downgraded" back to Win 8.1, but earlier today our dear MS decided to add this nasty new "feature" to this version as well. Uninstalling today's updates solved the problem, I attached a screenshot with the list. I don't know which is the guilty one, maybe i'll check them later when I have the time.

Also, if you have some kind of guide on how to get a free digital copy with a CD-key from Origin, that would totally help, it doesn't seem so trivial to me.

Thaks in advance!

Zsolt

Edit: I can confirm that KB3086255 is the problematic one: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3086255

  Edited September 9, 2015 by zsolt  
adding more specific information

[rsc204 21,817]

There is a place you can enter your CD-Key and when/if validated it will unlock the download, if that doesn't work or you can't find it, simply send customer support an e-mail explaining the problem with proof of your original disk (no doubt they would tell you responding what you need to supply). It's not really something that needs a guide.

[zsolt 0]

There is a place you can enter your CD-Key and when/if validated it will unlock the download, if that doesn't work or you can't find it, simply send customer support an e-mail explaining the problem with proof of your original disk (no doubt they would tell you responding what you need to supply). It's not really something that needs a guide.

Yes, I was searching for the unlocking feature on their website, but couldn't find it, and I thought that's the only way. I'll try to e-mail them then.

Thanks!

[Stefan95 2]

Has anyone had luck in obtaining a digital copy of SC4 through origin by using the CD product key. I tried entering it on origin and its says it invalid (I do have a legit product key, its not pirated). I also tried contact EA support through the live chat but at first he gave me instructions for how to run The Sims 4 in compatibility mode. After explaining that I was having issues with SC4 not TS4 he told me to go to origin and right click on SC4 in my games (which obviously wasn't there as it was the CD version of SC4 and was never registered with Origin).

I'm interested in other people's experience with with and whether or not I'm doing something wrong. Plus, what do I state my problem with SC4 is. I tried general technical issues and chose the game won't launch option.

[rsc204 21,817]

Ah, good ol' tech support... in my experience if you get someone that is obviously so good at their job as this, politely end the chat and try to get another support operative. I've not done this personally, I'd rather pay £4 (sale price) for a non-DRM version just to avoid installing Origin on my PC. But there are far to many reports of people who simply asked customer support at Origin and were given a free copy for it not to be true. Perseverance is your friend I suspect.

[Jasoncw 11,841]

I contacted support and the guy was very polite and understood what I wanted and he did it. 

But I could tell that he wasn't very good at speaking English because of the strange way he would phrase things. It's possible that your guy just got really confused. Make sure you clearly say what your problem is, using simple sentences, and using the full terms for everything ("SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition" vs SC4). I don't remember how I initially categorized my problem, I think I picked something like "trouble activating product keys" or something like that. Unless they've recently been instructed to stop adding old serial keys to people's accounts you should be able to get it done.

Good luck!

[Cyclone Boom 16,965]

I'm interested in other people's experience with with and whether or not I'm doing something wrong. Plus, what do I state my problem with SC4 is. I tried general technical issues and chose the game won't launch option.

Maybe try these options:
http://help.ea.com/en/contact-us/new/?product=simcity-4&platform=pc&category=codes&issue=registration-code

In the description box, explain that you've got a CD version of SC4D (with serial number), and would like to request a digital copy. Hopefully you'd then be forwarded to someone who can issue a code. During the conversation, you may need to give evidence that you physically own the game (i.e. images).

Alternatively, I seem to remember some other retailers allowing you to redeem a free digital copy. Although I'm not 100% sure if this is still true.

Hope this helps.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

This thread is now four pages deep on my browser.  Does anyone read it from the top when they encounter this problem?

[es 0]

Simply install NOCD crack and it will work flaweslly.

[Compdude787 916]

Simply install NOCD crack and it will work flaweslly.

Promoting stuff like that is not acceptable and against the site's rules.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Simply install NOCD crack and it will work flaweslly.

Promoting stuff like that is not acceptable and against the site's rules.

Furthermore if you do that you block the necessary patches to fix bugs and allow proper custom content.  Don't be so cheap!  By a digital copy of the game.

[rsc204 21,817]

You know it's just possible not everyone has 20$ to buy a new copy, yes it can be had for 5$, but you might have to wait a long while for a sale. Not to mention that having purchased a legitimate disk, this really is something that should be totally unnecessary. If you really don't want to pay, get Origin to give you the digital version, assuming you do have a legitimate original that is.

 

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

People who pick up illegal things from the net are usually not interested in acquiring title.  The previous poster clearly has an illegitimate version of the game, and if he doesn't have the wherewithal to purchase the game from a legitimate source, then should refrain from advising others.  Software piracy is theft, out and out, and is not neat nor anything other than a blot on his copy book. 

Honesty is always the best policy.  If you commit a little peccadillo now, what might you do later?  This is a good way to get a security clearance denied, for example.

[knojam 0]

I just want to say last night went from win8.1 to 10 and this afternoon after contacting customer support was able to get a free digital version of sc4 deluxe by giving him my disc code. He said something about origin security, asked me my security question answer and within minutes I was playing. I added a few mods and everything runs better than on win8.1 did in software mode. I downloaded the lot editor,bat,plugin manager, and gmax. Of those plugin manager I cannot find and the bat says I dont have sc4 deluxe installed, but gmax and lot editor seemed ok. I was clear with support person that I wanted to convert my cd to digital for free and he was very helpful although not that it matters seemed to be not from the US. I have not seen it play like this since my old acer laptop running win7 or even before that with a desktop running xp. 

[Mr Saturn64 742]

I got a new laptop, and I would like to continue with my SC4 projects, including a Saturnia remake.  However, I am convinced my Windows 10 laptop doesn't take SC4, as the disk does nothing upon being put in the disk drive, while my other games work perfectly.  I read on this very thread that Origin will give you a free copy.  How exactly do I go about doing that?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Did you read the immediately prior post to yours?

[Mr Saturn64 742]

...Apparently not... Sorry...

[Intrepid 20]

I came to this thread because I was confused as to why when trying to install SC4 (CD Version) (as I have done over a hundred times previously with no problems) it didn't even start. That was a couple of days ago while running windows 7. Win 7 had not long been reinstalled (about 2 months) and I started suspecting that I may have had some kind of corrupted registry problem or even a hardware problem. Then yesterday my windows 10 authentication finally came through and I thought, since I would have to reinstall my win 7 I might as well do the Win 10 upgrade.

Well, I'm already not impressed with this "upgrade", it is full of privacy exploitations, and the UI is horrible. I have a desktop PC with a 24" monitor running at 1920x1080 yet it looks like it is designed for a tablet, complete with its childish tiles invading the so called "start menu". So after a full day of trying to customise it to be somewhat usable, I got around to reinstalling SC4. Same problem, I couldn't believe it.

I tried compatibility mode, run as admin etc, and still nothing. So after bingin and reading this thread I now find out that it is Microsoft itself that is to blame.

Unbelievable.

So basically, the best solution for me is to uninstall Windows 10 and upgrade to Windows 7 and make sure that KB3086255 doesn't get installed. I can live with that.

Why I am not going to go the digital copy route is simple, I am what some might define as someone who is set in his ways and with good reason. I refuse to jump on this digital only bandwagon and install that POS "application" origin. All that should be needed to run anything is an executable and a shortcut on the desktop/startmenu/quicklaunch/taskbar.

My computer is my computer and the purpose of an operating system is to give the user a way of operating that computer. An OS is a tool, not a nanny telling me what I should and shouldn't do with it. It is not there to tell me my games are too old or "cause a vulnerability" to be played any more and then kindly direct me to some stupid "app" (I hate that term) store. MS is getting worse, every time they "fix" something that didn't need fixing they break something else.

My advice to anyone is don't bother with windows 10, get win 7 and keep it until support stops and go learn linux. I'm going to do just that I think, Linux mint seems interesting!
 

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I was 'forced' off Microsoft's travesty when Vista was released and it wanted me to buy a new machine.  I switched to Linux and found to my delight that, at that time, I could run the Disk version of SC4 under wine in software mode (only).  That was back in 2007 as I recall with Ubuntu 7.04.  Eventually, I had to put the money out for the digital version (from GamersGate) because my installation from CD finally died of old age and poor storage and I could no longer install it.

During that time, wine improved, I got a newer machine, and it now runs in any mode (DX, software, or OpenGL).  Unfortunately with the current version of Ubuntu (15.10) the drivers for my rather obsolete GPU (AMD RS780) have been dropped, so I've reverted to Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, which will remain in support until 2017.  If I am still around then, I suppose I'll spring for a state of practice machine to replace my existing tower.

There is nothing that I miss in the Microsoft mess.  I especially don't miss the chiseling license fees.  Ubuntu is free for individuals (they do ask for a donation when you download it, but you are not obliged to give).  The distributor doesn't insist on running your machine nor taking it over, nor snooping.  The system can be set up to completely ignore the distributor if you wish.  I have mine set up to be notified of updates, but I install the ones I want.  There are over 75,000 items in the Ubuntu Software Centre available for (mostly) free download.

For people interested in development, the full GNU development package is available free, along with a selection of Integrated Development Environments that should please even the most picky.  In fact, the development software on this system makes Visual Studio look like amateur night at the opera.  Of some interest is that it all can run on Windows, and there are techniques for producing portable code using makefiles.

Since I've retired, I mostly do the usual Mom and Pop things on the Internet (no social networks) and run big simulation games like SC4.  However, at one time just after retirement I also ran a lot of development stuff to a) try it out; and b) understand the operating system.  This operating system is very similar to UNIX which is a lineal descendant of another system on which I was a sub-administrator, Multics.

The best operating software that Microsoft ever produced, by the way, was DOS 6.  All these versions of NT are simply el punko junko.

[Compdude787 916]

My advice to anyone is don't bother with windows 10, get win 7 and keep it until support stops and go learn linux. I'm going to do just that I think, Linux mint seems interesting!
 

That is my plan. Personally, I don't see any compelling reason to upgrade to Windoze 10. Windows 7 was the last good operating system that Microsoft made. It was the last Windows version that I was really excited about. The only software I've been excited to use since then was NAM 33.

[Bandero 5]

Hello.

I am frustrated and this is my final attempt. I had Win 8.1 before and I was playing very well until that stupid patch from Microsoft came in and I couldn't play SC4 again. I Upgraded to Win 10 and I knew that the problem was still going to be present so I swallow my pill and went and bought a digital version of SC4 (which I read that since you don't have to use a CD for that, the problem will go away. NOT!. I install the game and I can't even make it to run at all. I tried the extension for the ,exe (-audio:off -d:soft -intro:off -f -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32) and now it tells me that it is not valid, that I should make sure that the filename and path are correct. What else can I do? I saw Sim City 5 for $7.50 on amazon as a digital download. I'm afraid that I will not be able to play that one as well.

[rsc204 21,817]

Did you uninstall the CD-install of SC4 before installing the digital version? If not you need to remove all instances of SimCity 4 before you install the digital version. Make sure to backup any regions or plugins by moving those folders before uninstalling.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The correct syntax for software mode is -d:software.  You are not allowed to abbreviate any syntax elements.  Unless you have a very strange (Intel) GPU it should work in hardware mode.  FYI, here is my Linux script to start the game with correct syntax for the options:

#!/bin/bash
date
echo "Starting SimCity 4 Deluxe - DirectX rendering"
env WINEPREFIX="/home/john/.wine" \
wine "C:/Program Files (x86)/Maxis/SimCity 4 Deluxe/Apps/SimCity 4.exe" \
 -intro:off -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32 -d:directx \
 -CPUCount:1 -f &>~/sc4.log
wine --version &>>~/sc4.log
date

The main differences here are that the name separator is slash (/) and the line continuation character is backslash (\).  The rest is geek speak.

[smoolly 5]

hi! I downloaded the digital version from Origin today on sale at 2,47€ and IT WORKS!!!!

I couldn't play since the update to Windows 10 but now it runs fine, NAM, BAT and every other program works like before...

no way to make the cd version run on my new pc (I was able to play with WIndows 8.1 anyway)

so I uninstalled it and then installed the downloaded game, saving all my files in another folder

finally!!

[Prophet42 1,502]

So now it's my turn to try to get SC4 to run on a Windows 10 laptop.  I bought a DRM version of SC4 from GOG and installed it on my daughters Windows 10 Laptop (i3 Dual core, 4GB Ram, Windows 10 Home).  I have two accounts on the laptop, both local accounts.  The Parent account is Admin and my daughters account is a Standard account.  I installed the game from the Standard account.  It installed fine and I was able to run the game once fine.  Next time I tried to run the game, the UAC came up and I had to type in the Admin password.  Once I typed in the password, nothing happened.  I checked the task manager and there were no SC4 process running.

I rebooted several times to see if that would work, but same results.  I even tried to run the game from the Admin account.  The UAC still popped up asking for the password.  It still did not run.  I even tried running the shortcut as Administrator, but it still did not run.

The command line switch I have is -CPUCount:1.  I did apply the 4GB patch after I tried running the game several times, but that did not help.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.