Update 1.1.640 won't apply

[bmarl96 18]

Hi all,

I am running version 1.1.638 (EP1) of SC4. Downloaded update 1.1.640 from SC4 Devotion, but no matter what I do, it won't apply and nightlighting therefore doesn't appear on BATs. SimCity4.exe just shows 1.1.638 despite the installer saying the game has been successfully updated. Any suggestions as to what could be wrong?

Not only do I have no issues running the game on my machine (Windows 7) outside of the occasional CTD, but it's a legit CD copy and all files seem to be in the correct location. I'm a bit perplexed really! 

[Fantozzi 4,067]

I'm no expert with this and I can only roughly remember that I had the same problems. It said update was successfull, but it wasn't. But sadly I don't remember what did the trick.

Did you run the updater with administrator privileges (right mouse click on the exe to choose it)? Or maybe you have to set compatibility for the installer (win 97 compatibility)?

Something like that. Sorry for the vague reply.

[rsc204 21,808]

When you run the updater, it will always return "update successful" or words to that effect. However, that just means that the app ran without error . This is misleading, however a text file "patchlog.txt" is created in the directory when the installer was ran from. Open this, it will tell you which, if any of the updates were applied. Copy/Paste the log here and someone should be able to assist further.

Note: If your SC files have been modified in any way, such patches will fail. It's best to run them right after installing SC4. But you can resolve the problem by restoring backups of the originals, don't forget to re-apply any updates such as the I-HT fix. This also applies to non-genuine or no-cd patched versions of SC4, in which case you won't be able to install the patch altogether.

[NCGAIO 562]

11 hours ago, bmarl96 said:

.... but it's a legit CD copy and all files seem to be in the correct location. I'm a bit perplexed really! 

What was the patch that you used to update 1,638?

[bmarl96 18]

Here is the patchlog file. I see that beside "File Patches Applied" it says 0, so the update definitely hasn't been applied. Not sure what "Old Files Invalid" is supposed to mean though. 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   PATCH  Version 6.50 - RTPatch(R) Professional - Software Update System
                    DOS/16-bit Windows/32-bit Windows Edition
       (C) Copyright Pocket Soft, Inc., 1991-2002.  All Rights Reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


----- Processing Patch File -----

Applying MODIFY File Patch for 'DELUXE.exe'

Applying MODIFY File Patch for 'RUSHHOUR.exe'

Applying MODIFY File Patch for 'SimCity_1.dat'

    New Version of File 'SimCity_1.dat' already exists.


----- Patch File Processing Complete -----


-----------------------------------------------------
-        Results of Application of Patch File       -
-----------------------------------------------------
File Patches Applied ......................... (   0)

   Files Modified .................. (   0)
   Files Renamed. .................. (   0)
   Files Added ..................... (   0)
   Files Deleted ................... (   0)
   Temporary Files Processed........ (   0)

File Patches Skipped: New Files Up-To-Date.... (   1)

File Patches Ignored: Old Files Missing....... (   0)
                      Old Files Invalid....... (   2)
-----------------------------------------------------
Total File Patches Processed ................. (   3)
-----------------------------------------------------

[rsc204 21,808]

"New Version of File 'SimCity_1.dat' already exists."

Basically means the patch failed because this file has been modified. The most common reason is updating it for either the I-HT Fix or installation of CAM, which requires you modify the file.

The same could apply to any other game files, if they have been modified in some way, the installer will refuse to patch them.

In order for the patch to run without error, you must re-instate the original version of such files. If you didn't make backups, then you will have to uninstall/re-install SC4 and start over with the EP1 patch, then the 1.1.640 patch thereafter. Only after having applied these Maxis patches should you modify SimCity_1.DAT to include either I-HT or CAM fixes.

[NCGAIO 562]

Let's at start ok!

I asked about the patch used in the upgrade to 1.1638 because you wrote that  was already running this version from " legitimate original CD".

As you not said then  suppose is the distribution of SC4 Deluxe, right?

So assuming that it is an "Original CD" for English language then there are two possibilities for the executable initially installed from the CD; or 1.1610 version for North America distribution or 1.1613 in version for International distribution 

The upgrade patch installed by third-party software (RTPatch) look for different headers for versions so if your "original CD"  installs 1.1610 the correct update will be this   - UPDATE_SKU1_TO_P1_B638.EXE  - but if the version installed by your "Original CD"  is 1.1613 then the correct update will be this -- UPDATE_SKU2_TO_P1_B638.EXE -  ( (Links download of patchs from E.A. original page  )

Note that the presence of EP1.dat file has nothing to do with the success of the update to 1.1638 as it is also present in previous versions. (Confusion maybe caused by "TO_P1" in the patch name for update)
 
So only after upgrading the executable installed by your "Original CD"  successfully is that you should try to upgrade to version 1.1640 only to get night lighting if want this.

Note that here is not observed any details about access privileges or  system settings that you said just be Windows 7.