Issues Installing NAM34

[Dave3009 0]

Hi All,

I downloaded the most recent NAM version and tried to install it.  During the installation it requests that I update to SC4 version 1.1.638, which I do.  When I continue the installation it requests that I do this again.  When I look at the patch log it's skipped files as they are up to date, I'm sure I updated to this version so I could install the old NAM v32.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Dave

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

1.  Look at your SimCity 4.exe file and see what the version really is.  If it is not 1,1,638 then the patch was not installed no matter what the log says.

2.  If 1 is the case, your patch has failed and the usual cause is a checksum failure because you have a prior illegal patch in the game.

3.  If you are running any version of Windows later than XP, it can never be run from the CDs unless you ignore Microsoft's patch system.

4.  The simplest solution, if expensive, it to acquire the digital version of the game from an on-line vendor.  This will give you version 1,1,641 full patched and no disks required.  This will run on any version of Windows after Windows 3.1

[spiritualfire 138]

Hey everyone. Tried loading NAM 34 Complete Standard, and after selecting Next to begin install a window pops up claiming "The file SimCity 4.exe cannot be found in its installation directory" followed by a window titled SimCity4 Folder Dialog that lists all of my file locations, which I am assuming is asking me to find it. It highlights Programs x86 and lists all subfolders............... Here, I am stumped. The file in question is actually just named SimCity4 and it is located in the Apps folder of the Program Files. I tried copying the file and pasting it in the x86 under the Maxis folder but that didn't help.

I originally installed SimCity4 Deluxe to my computer, then transferred all files to an external hard drive and have since been playing the game with all plugins/content from there. For example: I extract the files from a downloaded BAT into my Plugins folder on the drive. I've done the same with the last two NAM versions with no issues. Any ideas?

 

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The file name for the executable in the release I have is SimCity 4.exe.  That's with a space after the 'y'.  It doesn't matter how many spaces there are in a pathname, but if there are any, it must be enclosed in double quotes "".  If you have changed the name, you should change it back.

My complete pathname is: "C:/Program Files (x86)/Maxis/SimCity 4 Deluxe/Apps/SimCity 4.exe"

Now this pathname is full of shell delimiters, hence the quotes.  Not only does it have four spaces in it, it also has a set of parentheses.  Funny thing about computer syntax, it is usually pretty invariant, like it or not.

[spiritualfire 138]

Hey Nonny. In my external drive where the game files are, when I click on the Apps folder under Program Files it shows the game file as an application and calls it SimCity4 and hints to the original ".exe" when I hover over it. I don't recall changing anything when I transferred the files over to the external drive. Also I can't start the game without double clicking that application icon....... I wonder if that's what it means. If it's looking in x86 does that mean I need to reinstall it to my C:drive, or is there a way to keep it on the external drive and point to the original .exe so NAM can see it? If that is what you were suggesting/

[citycowboy 183]

A side note, you can get SC4 Deluxe Edition from Amazon for $19.99 and download it, then you have a 'cloud' version of the game, which you can download on any computer you desire as many times as you desire. 

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

10 hours ago, spiritualfire said:

Hey Nonny. In my external drive where the game files are, when I click on the Apps folder under Program Files it shows the game file as an application and calls it SimCity4 and hints to the original ".exe" when I hover over it. I don't recall changing anything when I transferred the files over to the external drive. Also I can't start the game without double clicking that application icon....... I wonder if that's what it means. If it's looking in x86 does that mean I need to reinstall it to my C:drive, or is there a way to keep it on the external drive and point to the original .exe so NAM can see it? If that is what you were suggesting/

What operating system are you running?  This might be the Aspyr version.  I am running the Windows version I got some years back from Gamer's gate.  Here is the tree for my Apps folder:

john@14-04-lts $:~/.wine/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Maxis/SimCity 4 Deluxe$ tree Apps
Apps
├── 14-04-lts $-config-log.txt
├── dbghelp.dll
├── John-13-10-Beta-config-log.txt
├── SimCity 4.exe
├── SimCity 4.exe.Backup
└── SimCity 4.ini

0 directories, 6 files

 

[rsc204 21,804]

On ‎16‎/‎01‎/‎2016 at 10:01 PM, spiritualfire said:

I originally installed SimCity4 Deluxe to my computer, then transferred all files to an external hard drive and have since been playing the game with all plugins/content from there. For example: I extract the files from a downloaded BAT into my Plugins folder on the drive. I've done the same with the last two NAM versions with no issues. Any ideas?

Windows applications can not simply be moved from the installed location, even if they appear to function, often you will break something. In this case the NAM is reading your registry to find the location of your SimCity.exe. If that registry string is incorrect (note this check may rely on other files being present), then it will fail at this point.

Whilst registry strings are not always required for an application to function, they are an important part of Windows. In short, you shouldn't move installed programs around for the most part. If you want SC4 installed on an external hard drive, run the installer and install it there. I wouldn't recommend this. Really you should put SC4 somewhere inside Program Files (x86). - 64-bit Windows versions split applications into two folders for 32bit [Program Files (x86)] and 64bit [Program Files] versions - Now your plugins can go wherever you like, but the application should stay on an internal drive.

If you re-install SimCity, the NAM installer should work, so long as you don't move the installed files first. You'll likely find the uninstaller for SC4 will fail, causing you problems, that's because this too relies upon the registry.

I must ask why you feel the need to run it from external storage? Has your computer got very little storage space? Even if that's a USB 3.0 drive you are using, it will run slower than internal storage. Given that modern PC's rarely came with less than 500GB storage for some time now, I can't help but think you'd have a better playing experience. Faster loading times and a more responsive game should result. My plugins folder is about 4-5GB, I've found enough space on a 240GB drive (SSD) to keep everything installed there. If you are not really short of space, you'd be much better off this way.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

True.  In the past I have had occasion to run with my user area files on an external hard drive because I had more than one account with differing setups (two versions of the O/S) and this allowed switching systems without having to duplicate my user area (regions, plugins, etc).

Because executables are usually global from the Windows C: drive, I don't see any reason to move them.  In my current case, I run with only one Linux/wine prefix (folder, directory) containing the system residency, but my user area remains separate.