Windows 10 Problem Reporting Thread

[apeek 190]

I'm sorry to have upset you, but you have me completely wrong. Everything I've said is genuine and sincere. I don't pirate software. I purchased the game, Windows 10, and ST discs 2-4 (but I haven't gotten around to 5 yet). From what I learned here, there is only one existing way to play the game on Windows 10, but I'm not exactly sure how to do it except that it involves contacting Origin. I thought you would approve of posting both procedures together, so users could first try the current way. I'm sorry Man. Please forgive me.

[CorinaMarie 29,569]

@apeek

I'm not sure what you have in mind, but if it's all above board then we (Simtropolis) will endorse it. If it isn't, then @rsc204 is correctly stating our view. I'm quite willing to wait for what you put together before judging it.

[rsc204 21,805]

The process of digitally signing a driver for use with Windows is clearly outlined here by Microsoft themselves, it's no big secret. Take the existing SecDrv.sys driver from the SC4 disks, totally legal, since the licence for the game extends to the driver provided, sign them using that process. Then as with the Windows Vista to 8.1 workaround, manually start the driver service, run the game and then stop it again.

All legal, all acceptable, just a security risk that needs a clear and frank disclaimer.

Having bought and paid for the software, does not exempt you or anyone else from an offence under the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act). Bypassing the DRM is an offence under said act and various similar laws which exist in almost all territories. Use of a NoCD crack or other circumvention techniques is against the law. But, by using the method in the first paragraph of this post, you are not bypassing the DRM, merely restoring it's functionality to Windows 10, which otherwise has no means to validate it.

[apeek 190]

This time of year is nuts for me, but I'm going to roll out my procedure asap to clear the waters. In the meantime, ask me anything (specific) you want. FWIW, I perceive you and the others as way out of my league. You're all heros in the one and only video game I've ever cared for. I won't even attempt to produce the content you've shared. 

I've NEVER suggested or endorsed anything illegal. To be accused of this is disheartening and offensive. One individual has been completely preoccupied with such things from the start. I came forward because I saw a need and I stand to gain nothing. I won't apologize again. 

[Tarkus 6,932]

Speaking here from the SC4 Devotion side (thanks for the heads up, @CorinaMarie), we generally try to keep a unified front with our counterparts at ST with respect to legal matters relating to the game.  Provided whatever is being proposed here meets the SC4D Site Rules, generally speaking, I would not foresee any issue on our end.  Based on the discussion here so far, the two rules that would most likely come into play would be #8 and #11, which I have quoted below:

8.  The discussion and promotion of piracy is prohibited.  This includes any sort of cracks or "warez". If it looks like a violation of the game’s EULA, it probably is, so don’t go there.

11.  SC4 Devotion seeks to uphold the End User License Agreement (EULA) of EA Maxis, for SimCity 4 and any first-party tools or patches.  Discussion of any sort of modification or project that would use first or third-party SC4 content in a manner that is contraindicated by the EULA, and/or could potentially damage the salability of SimCity 4 and expose SimCity 4 Devotion and its staff to financial and legal liabilities, is prohibited.
 

Provided it stays clear of that territory--which, based on the further details, it sounds like it will--then it would be welcome.

As is the case with the STEX, there is no requirement that creators who upload to the LEX do so to the exclusion of uploading elsewhere.  While there are some creators who may be "LEXclusive" or "STEXclusive", if you will, that is a decision made of that individual creator's own volition, and not the result any policy at either site.

Beyond the rule and legal-related matters, having worked with @rsc204 for quite some time, I would absolutely trust his technical advice regarding the security issues that pertain to secdrv.sys.  If the solution does indeed entail manually signing that file to operate as a driver in Windows 10, then I would second the need for prominent disclaimers to that effect.

-Tarkus

[Cyclone Boom 16,851]

2 hours ago, apeek said:

I came forward because I saw a need and I stand to gain nothing.

Indeed. We hear you, and please be assured there is a need for you to post your tutorial as proposed.

What you will gain from this is the knowledge of helping countless others from around the world. Believe me, those who've been eternally frustrated by SC4 not working on Windows 10 will be ever so thankful. You've absolutely done nothing wrong. Due to some slight confusion, we just needed to establish how using methods to circumvent DRM would technically be a no-go zone. As you're well aware, that wouldn't be permissible to post here or at SC4Devotion (based on the rules Tarkus quoted above).

Take your time with testing and compiling the info as needed, in whichever format you feel would be most suitable for the presentation. There's no deadline, so no rush at all. Keep at it, and we look forward to seeing the process documented once you've documented it.

[apeek 190]

Cyclone Boom, you are a natural class act, a technical wizard, and a kind soul.

 

rsc204's outburst was an opportunistic attack on my personal character with a hostile resolve that confounds me. I vow to stand mute in the face of such bitterness going forward, and carry on in good spirits exactly as you outlined. Despite the general upswing in tempo, this is still my favorite time of year. Best wishes to you and yours.

[Dracoceros 33]

Hello, I downloaded SimCity 4 from Amazon.com after purchase, but I've come across the dreaded Crash to Desktop as described many times in this thread. Even when inserting the command line to the shortcut's target lines, it still crashes. I don't really know what to do now. Is there a problem with amazon's version of the game? It looks to me like a copy of the game from the original CD, but I can't be quite sure.

I want to use mods and such, but the problem is that I cannot do this with Origin's version of the game, since they completely deny that the BAT tool even exists, thus inhibiting modding.

Simply put, what other options do I have?

Also, I tried compatibility mode as well, no dice.

I'm on Windows 10 Pro, 64bit. My game is installed on my external hard drive, though, I originally installed it on my internal hard drive, which failed to work with all the above mentioned as well.

EDIT: So, I downloaded the program from Amazon Downloader, but apparently, it wouldn't install as normal. when I click install after download, it redirects me to the folder. I tried to use the setup program (exe), but it does nothing after double clicking it. I also tried to uninstall the game, but the uninstall exe files are non-responsive, and the game does not appear in my programs and features. I installed it to my external hard drive, so, SC4 Launcher won't work with it.

  Edited December 16, 2018 by Gondracorn  

[peterpibson 45]

Hey guys.

Run into an issue I can't seem to fix, I've been running the game since January on my HP Windows 10 laptop and suddenly after updating last night the game will not run, but simply minimise in the taskbar, at any other screen resolution than 1920x1080. This makes things absurdly small for me and isn't exactly conducive to good gameplay.

I've tried adding -CustomResolution:Enabled -r1920x1080x32 at the end of the shortcut target line with other resolutions, as well as limiting the CPU count to 1, but to no avail, and only that resolution will work. Bizarre how this has sprung up overnight with one update, but I'm used to Windows screwing us over on a random whim. Wondering if anyone has encountered the same issue and may be able to suggest a fix?

[rsc204 21,805]

Any update which affects your graphics/display could potentially alter how it works. To me it seems far more likely such an update would have come from the graphics card manufacturer or HP themselves, but Windows simply provided it to you. Although it is also possible there was a change to the graphics system in Windows. Without knowing what you updated though, I can't be absolute.

In conjunction with the Custom Resolution, try both -f or -w commands and see if either helps. -f sets full screen mode, whereas -w sets windowed mode. On some systems you may find that certain resolutions may only work with one of those two options.

[twalsh102 1,601]

@peterpibson, I read your post before I had a chance to install the Windows 10 updates.  After taking precautions, I went ahead and installed the updates.  After the PC rebooted, I started SC4.  I use SC4Launcher to start SC4 as it allows me change any of the normal command-line parameters by just checking / unchecking a box, or choosing an option from a pull down menu.  I normally start SC4 with a resolution of 1680x1050x32, full screen mode.  I didn't experience the issue you experienced.  I also tried launching in windowed mode, but again didn't experience any issues.

As @rsc204 suggests, your issue sounds like it is probably a Graphics driver issue.  Check what updates were installed and see if a new graphics driver, or any other HP-specific updates were installed.  It's well known that sometimes SC4 just doesn't work correctly with newer Graphics Drivers.  If what rsc204 suggests doesn't work, you may need to roll back to an older driver.

[danielgreenfield0 0]

I'm not sure if it is just me, but I seem to having intermittant problems starting SimCity 4. I am running a 4th gen intel 4500u with hd4400 graphics and a nvidia 750m graphics processor.

when i install the stoc dell drivers for hd graphics it runs fine. witout my doing anything, and this is with the stock drivers, the game fails on the intro video and the loading screen. i can recover by reinstallimg the stock drivers. drivers with a later revision number also make the game crash. not sure if this is a windows problem or something else.

[CorinaMarie 29,569]

@danielgreenfield0

It sure sounds like it's graphic driver related and often times later driver versions drop support for older versions of Direct X and such older version is what SC4 uses.

[danielgreenfield0 0]

I find it strange though that it also intermittantly crashes with the stock drivers as well. I've got another laptop that is the same hardware but without the nvidia card. i may try running windows 7 for a while to test whether 10 is causing the issues.

[rsc204 21,805]

I'd also start by checking which GPU is actually being used by the game. Laptop setups like yours default to using the in-built (Intel) graphics. The idea being to conserve energy, they only switch to the dedicated GPU (NVidia), when the system detects a game/app needs the extra power.

This is all fine, except SC4 doesn't actually need much by way of GPU power. As such, often the automatic switching to the dedicated card doesn't happen. Check through the information here:

It should enable you to force the dedicated GPU, ideally running in "Hardware" (DirectX) Rendering. This is important, because the NVida card is far more likely to be compatible with the legacy DirectX 9.0c commands needed for SC4.

[jeffryfisher 2,176]

20 hours ago, danielgreenfield0 said:

the game fails on the intro video

I've seen that complaint before. Use a command-line switch to turn off the intro. I think it's "-IntroOff", but I can't recall exactly (might be case-sensitive).

[rsc204 21,805]

3 minutes ago, jeffryfisher said:

I think it's "-IntroOff"

It needs a colon, making the command:

-intro:off

[peterpibson 45]

On 24/06/2019 at 12:25 AM, rsc204 said:

It should enable you to force the dedicated GPU, ideally running in "Hardware" (DirectX) Rendering. This is important, because the NVida card is far more likely to be compatible with the legacy DirectX 9.0c commands needed for SC4.

It's working now! I'm not quite sure what I did, it was one of those trial and error sessions, but I do believe this is the solution for anyone facing the same problems. Switching to NVIDIA seems to fix it. Thanks guys!

[_Michael 2,681]

Hello!

Now I am finished with school, I thought I would try SC4 again, and when I last turned on my VM in April, the game loaded and worked fine. Now I. turned on my VM for the first time since then and SC4 won't open, either through the steam shortcut (it's a GOG copy, but with a shortcut in steam for Launch options) or directly as a .exe from Explorer. There have been no installed updates since it worked in April.

Any ideas?

[jeffryfisher 2,176]

Idea 1: Recap your config-log.txt (found in ~Program Files(x86)\sc4\apps).

Idea 2: Don't mix GoG and Steam

Idea 3: check all permissions.

[twalsh102 1,601]

To add to what @jeffryfisher recommends:

Idea 4:  If you haven't already, try starting the game with an empty Plugins folder to verify there isn't something wrong with your game installation.

[Prophet42 1,500]

What VM software are you using?  Have there been any changes to the VM software itself.  What are the symptoms of SC4 not starting?  Does it show the splash screen then not start?  Does nothing a happen?  Have you checked any of the processes to see if the SC4 process at least starts but then closes?  What version of Windows 10 are you using in the VM?  Do other programs run fine in the VM or are having issues with other programs?  I hope we can help solve this issue because not being able to play SC4 would really suck.

[_Michael 2,681]

11 hours ago, Prophet42 said:

What VM software are you using?  Have there been any changes to the VM software itself.  What are the symptoms of SC4 not starting?  Does it show the splash screen then not start?  Does nothing a happen?  Have you checked any of the processes to see if the SC4 process at least starts but then closes?  What version of Windows 10 are you using in the VM?  Do other programs run fine in the VM or are having issues with other programs?  I hope we can help solve this issue because not being able to play SC4 would really suck.

Using Parallels, it's not the latest version (I have not paid to upgrade) but it is as up to date as it can be. Everything else seems to work -  OMSI, Steam, Edge; anything I would otherwise do works.

When launching, SC4 doesn't appear to even appear in the task manager - simply nothing happens, even when opening from Explorer.

21 hours ago, twalsh102 said:

To add to what @jeffryfisher recommends:

Idea 4:  If you haven't already, try starting the game with an empty Plugins folder to verify there isn't something wrong with your game installation.

I haven't changed the plugins folder since I last used SC4 (when it worked) so can't see how that would be the cause.

On 19/07/2019 at 4:52 AM, jeffryfisher said:

Idea 1: Recap your config-log.txt (found in ~Program Files(x86)\SC4\apps).

Idea 2: Don't mix GoG and Steam

Idea 3: check all permissions.

I will recap the config file, see if that helps and report back.

It is launching with admin privileges, so should be fine.

Neither the Steam shortcut or the .exe works.

 

 

Thank you all for your suggestions.

 

EDIT: Reviewing task manager, opening either the steam shortcut or the .exe, the SimCity 4 process does appear, but very quickly drops off, without any visual sign that it ever ran (no window, launch screen etc)

The log file is also generated in April (when i last used the game and it worked), and not from today.

 

EDIT 2: These are my launch options. Anything wrong here?

Quote

"C:\GOG Games\SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -w -CustomResolution:enabled -r1600x900x32 -intro:off - CPUCount:1 -CPUPriority:high

 

EDIT 3: 

It is down to resolution. I bought a new monitor which rather than 1920x1080 like the old one is 2304x1296. The VM is running on the same resolution. Removing the "-w" code allows SC4 to launch, but my custom resolution is ignored and it launches in a 4:3 aspect ratio. So good news - SC4 opens; bad news, it is 4:3 and not full resolution. Any ideas?

[Cyclone Boom 16,851]

7 hours ago, _Michael said:

I bought a new monitor which rather than 1920x1080 like the old one is 2304x1296. The VM is running on the same resolution. Removing the "-w" code allows SC4 to launch, but my custom resolution is ignored and it launches in a 4:3 aspect ratio.

Glad to hear SC4 starts for you now.

There are only limited custom resolutions which are supported by the game as per this article (which is only on the Internet Archive). I suspect this means how there's code which recognises any of these as defined, and that fits in with how the scaling can occur from the passed launch option parameter. Then if setting to a width and height which isn't recognised, the game then defaults back to 800 x 600 (4:3 ratio) because it doesn't know what to do.

Copying over the list here:

16:9 Aspect Ratio

• 1024 x 576
• 1024 x 600
• 1360 x 768
• 1366 x 768
• 1600 x 900
• 1920 x 1080
• 2048 x 1152

16:10 Aspect Ratio

• 1280 x 800
• 1440 x 900
• 1680 x 1050
• 1920 x 1200

----------

So I guess it'll be worth trying some of the higher-end options here. With 2304 x 1296 being an 16:9 aspect ratio and perhaps the 2048 x 1152 would be the one which is the closest to the size of your monitor. This scales down from checking (I created a blank image and resized it maintaining the ratio). The only thing might be how it'll appear slightly stretched, but it's not a huge difference and so it may not be too noticeable.

Your launch options look fine to me. One thing you may wish to set is the rendering mode to hardware by adding -d:DirectX as a new parameter. This is also necessary to use HD content as opposed to using software rendering (-d:Software). The CPU priority isn't something I've personally used, but that should be all good also.

Hopefully with a supported resolution and SC4 can work properly again for you. It must be great getting back to mayoral duties.

[_Michael 2,681]

@Cyclone Boom Thank you for that - I was probably aware of that requirement when I first set launch options but it slipped my mind now - thank you.  2048 x 1152 works just fine, though still not in window mode (I'll investigate that in the next week). The important thing is SC4 is working. Thank you all!

[9gruntsand1hammer 3,193]

Not sure were to put this but I copied all my plugins and regions to my new computer and I get this message pop-up. I don't know how to find what I'm missing with this message. The game crashes whenever I open the landmarks menu. Also for some odd reason the maxis medium green parks have a brown box in the middle of them. I fixed the maxis prop issue by changing my settings to high in the game and they reappeared at least.

 

[jeffryfisher 2,176]

10 hours ago, 9gruntsand1hammer said:

I copied all my plugins and regions to my new computer

Apparently you did not get all of them. Did you know that you have two plugins folders? The one we're supposed to use for user-generated content is under user documents. There's another under the SC4 install dir in program files (which may have an x86 in the folder name). Go back to your old computer and look in both locations for any plugins you could have missed.

[Xerjin 11]

On 12/14/2018 at 1:58 AM, rsc204 said:

The process of digitally signing a driver for use with Windows is clearly outlined here by Microsoft themselves, it's no big secret. Take the existing SecDrv.sys driver from the SC4 disks, totally legal, since the licence for the game extends to the driver provided, sign them using that process. Then as with the Windows Vista to 8.1 workaround, manually start the driver service, run the game and then stop it again.

All legal, all acceptable, just a security risk that needs a clear and frank disclaimer.

Having bought and paid for the software, does not exempt you or anyone else from an offence under the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act). Bypassing the DRM is an offence under said act and various similar laws which exist in almost all territories. Use of a NoCD crack or other circumvention techniques is against the law. But, by using the method in the first paragraph of this post, you are not bypassing the DRM, merely restoring it's functionality to Windows 10, which otherwise has no means to validate it.

HI

After 24 hours of investigation this is my issue. I have just updated to Windows 1909 1 month ago and this update deleted SecDrv.sys. I have re download the file and completed manual signing, however my system, due to windows 10, still wont accept the file.

Are there any other options open to me, with a 10 year old CD game version?

[rsc204 21,805]

1 hour ago, Xerjin said:

I have re download the file and completed manual signing, however my system, due to windows 10, still wont accept the file.

It wouldn't surprise me to find out MS blocked such files in Windows Defender. Usually there should always be a way to force the system to accept a driver one way or another. But if not, your only solution is to re-purchase a digital edition or use an older version of Windows.

[Xerjin 11]

4 minutes ago, rsc204 said:

It wouldn't surprise me to find out MS blocked such files in Windows Defender. Usually there should always be a way to force the system to accept a driver one way or another. But if not, your only solution is to re-purchase a digital edition or use an older version of Windows.

In total agreement. After my independent research it becomes clear the only way to digitally sign the driver is to use un-trusted 3rd party software or contact Microsoft direct via Documentation.

Either way my research on various forums is they are likely to decline the request due to a potential security flaw to Windows of enabling this service.

So I have to buy the game AGAIN!!

Might be worth pinning this issues somewhere on the forums as I had to dig to find this??