SimCity 4 on Windows 7

[fballjones 3]

Is SimCity 4 not compatible with Windows 7?

[CorinaMarie 29,866]

1 hour ago, fballjones said:

Is SimCity 4 not compatible with Windows 7?

The short answer is: No, it's not. However, that only means with Win 7 as it is when typically fully patched by MicroSloth. Your question is a bit vague, but I'm assuming you are trying to run the CD version. If so, see this post:

Windows Update KB3086255 blocks SC4 from starting

 

If the MS Update is not your problem, then let us know and we'll go from there. The more details you can provide about what version you have and what you have already tried will help us help you. The game can and will run on Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 with the right setup.

[fballjones 3]

I've tried the Windows EX setup, the administrator setup, every time I try loading the game I get this "color scheme has changed to Windows 7 basic".

 

*Notification.

[CorinaMarie 29,866]

1 hour ago, fballjones said:

"color scheme has changed to Windows 7 basic"

From this linky: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-pictures/windows-7-automatically-switching-to-basic-non/7f4917ff-135d-40e4-866b-ac760642763f?auth=1

Quote

Run menu > sysdm.cpl > Advanced Tab > performance > select adjust for best performance > make sure you do not allow Windows to choose for you because your computer does not know whats best --- Make sure Enable Aero Peek is checked

---- OR ---

Right click my computer > properties > Advanced System settings > performance > select adjust for best performance > make sure you do not allow Windows to choose for you because your computer does not know whats best --- Make sure Enable Aero Peek is checked

Does that help?

 

[fballjones 3]

Thank you.

 

[CorinaMarie 29,866]

You're welcome. I'm guessing that worked then?

[fballjones 3]

I'll let you know.

It didn't work.

[Cool_Z 1,547]

As I'm running a legit SC4 CD on a win7 pc (without even using any compatibility mode), my answer is "no it isn't".

Windows switches to basic color scheme when the graphics drivers fail, or when a program is not compatible with aero (or might not be).

Maybe you're trying to play in windowed mode (and your card doesn't like it), you should try adding -f to the shortcut command line.

 

[fballjones 3]

I'll try that, thank you, Cool_Z.

 

[rsc204 21,863]

If Windows is switching to a basic colour scheme, that's because your video card is low on memory and doing this frees up more for use with the system.

SC4 runs happily on all versions of Windows. The one fly in the ointment here is that Disk-Based versions use SafeDisc DRM to validate your disk is genuine when starting the game. Windows 10 removed completely the drivers for SafeDisc, thus the disk can not be validated. Windows Vista-8.1 systems received an MS update that also removes the SafeDisc DRM drivers, the effect of this is that many games, SC4 included, no longer run. More information on this and possible workaround can be found here.

If you are using a digital version of SC4, then you don't have to worry about any of this. The native code works fine, so if you are still experiencing problems, then almost certainly that's a compatibility issue of your Video Card with SC4.

Open the folder containing SC4's installation, by default this is C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps. Open the file YOURCOMPUTERNAME-config-log.txt. If you copy/paste the first three sections, until the end of Numbers, (please don't include everything) into a post, it will be much easier to diagnose your problem.

[fballjones 3]

I apologize if I'm being a pest, I have the CD version of SimCity 4 and I asked a couple of days ago if it was compatible with Windows 7 and I've been told it's not, I then was told to change the settings on my PC which included "run as administrator" and "set PC to run in Windows XP" and the various disable x,y,z etc, I've done all that and now every time I try starting the game up, I get this "The color scheme has been changed to Windows basic", how do I fix that and if it can't be fixed, should I just (legally) download the game?

[rsc204 21,863]

Note your original post was moved here. I did request for some further information to determine the cause of the problem.

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

@fballjones

To keep discussion contained, I've merged your new question into here.

[fballjones 3]

Thank you.

[Whte_rbt 1,431]

Just to be clear about this problem, have you run fully through the guide to setting up SC4 on modern hardware?

Also if you are using the CD version of the game you will need to disable Windows update number kb3086255. This blocks CD based games from working.

Guides for both of these are pinned to the top of the Bugs and Tech forum.

[rsc204 21,863]

The error message is Windows telling you that your GPU is out of memory. Since SC4 isn't exactly taxing in this regard, it would be useful to get the information I requested from a log file SimCity should be creating when you run it. See a few posts back. If we have this information, we can readily see if your GPU is being properly detected, how much Memory SC4 thinks it has and other useful information.

On the other hand, if no such file has ever been created, that suggests you need to dial back the MS patch, because the game isn't even initialising at a basic level.

[soap94 1]

Really? there is no support? I would rather wait for a new game! In my opinion new Simcity 6 has to blow up a market with some new game features. Honestly, nothing has been changed since the original game imo 

[rsc204 21,863]

8 minutes ago, soap94 said:

Really? there is no support?

Well it depends on what you are talking about. The game code for SimCity 4 is fully compatible with pretty much every Windows release there ever was. However, getting the disk-based version to validate on Vista or newer systems is a problem, which is explained fully here.

As for waiting for v6 of SimCity, don't hold your breath. Maxis is now closed and I seriously doubt EA see a commercial reason to make another game.

[markussaage 762]

Unfortunately rsc204 is right here. There'll never be an all new Simcity at all...