Odd crash to desktop problem (Fixed)

[shwabonka 0]

Edit: Thanks for all your help! I just had to switch off the sound since AFAIK I didn't have any speakers for the game to output to.

Game crashes either on the EA splash screen, or if I use the SC4 Launcher and skip the intro, after exactly six seconds. Anyone had the same problem and/or know a fix?

More detail: all the Exception Reports state "ACCESS_VIOLATION" in the Exception Code and that ".pdb files appear to be absent" in the call stack/debug information. The game seems to recreate the SimCity 4 folder in My Documents on occasion, but yet, in-game, seems to be finding Regions from the SimCity 4 folder in the Steam directory. 
It crashes exactly the same way in all events - a very short time into the EA splash screen or after exactly the same span of time (around 6 seconds) if I skip the intro using a Launcher.
Tried running in various compatibility modes, with a Launcher, without, on one core, on software renderer, on different resolutions. All no luck. 

Here's a copy/paste of the latest Exception Report:
 

Spoiler

Exception time: 07/04/2017, at 01:32:56.
Exception code: 0xC0000005 (-1073741819) ACCESS_VIOLATION.
Current thread ID: 1252 (0x000004e4).
Version information:
Application/module path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe
Application/module version name: SimCity 4
Application/module version: 1.1.641.0
System version: Windows 4.10
System memory: 256 Megabytes total, 224 Megabytes free.

Exception module: C:\PROGRA~2\Steam\STEAMA~1\common\SIMCIT~1\Apps\SIMCIT~1.EXE.
Exception address: 0x00876c03. Section:Offset: 0x01:0x0046fc03.

Registers
EAX: 00000000
EBX: 00000000
ECX: 01158114
EDX: 000004e4
ESI: 01159414
EDI: 01159414
CS:EIP: 0023:00876c03
SS:ESP: 002b:0018f9e4 EBP:0018fa3c
DS:002b ES:002b FS:0053 GS:002b
Flags: 00210202

Loaded Modules
Address Size Module Path
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0x00400000 8511488 SimCity 4.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe
0x77420000 1572864 ntdll.dll C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ntdll.dll
0x76580000 1114112 kernel32.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\kernel32.dll
0x68500000 192512 aswhookx.dll C:\Program Files (x86)\AVG\Antivirus\aswhookx.dll
0x754e0000 290816 KERNELBASE.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\KERNELBASE.dll
0x764d0000 659456 ADVAPI32.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\ADVAPI32.dll
0x75000000 704512 msvcrt.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\msvcrt.dll
0x75590000 102400 sechost.dll C:\Windows\SysWOW64\sechost.dll
0x76330000 983040 RPCRT4.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\RPCRT4.dll
0x74cc0000 393216 SspiCli.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\SspiCli.dll
0x74cb0000 49152 CRYPTBASE.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\CRYPTBASE.dll
0x73390000 28672 WSOCK32.dll C:\Windows\system32\WSOCK32.dll
0x76e20000 217088 WS2_32.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\WS2_32.dll
0x76690000 24576 NSI.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\NSI.dll
0x750d0000 2797568 WININET.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\WININET.dll
0x750b0000 16384 api-ms-win-downlev C:\Windows\syswow64\api-ms-win-downlevel-user32-l1-1-0.dll
0x753e0000 1048576 user32.DLL C:\Windows\syswow64\user32.DLL
0x74f60000 589824 GDI32.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\GDI32.dll
0x76d80000 40960 LPK.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\LPK.dll
0x76420000 643072 USP10.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\USP10.dll
0x750c0000 16384 api-ms-win-downlev C:\Windows\syswow64\api-ms-win-downlevel-shlwapi-l1-1-0.dll
0x75380000 356352 shlwapi.DLL C:\Windows\syswow64\shlwapi.DLL
0x76f00000 16384 api-ms-win-downlev C:\Windows\syswow64\api-ms-win-downlevel-version-l1-1-0.dll
0x72e60000 36864 version.DLL C:\Windows\system32\version.DLL
0x77010000 12288 api-ms-win-downlev C:\Windows\syswow64\api-ms-win-downlevel-normaliz-l1-1-0.dll
0x76b80000 12288 normaliz.DLL C:\Windows\syswow64\normaliz.DLL
0x766a0000 2314240 iertutil.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\iertutil.dll
0x773f0000 20480 api-ms-win-downlev C:\Windows\syswow64\api-ms-win-downlevel-advapi32-l1-1-0.dll
0x76a30000 94208 USERENV.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\USERENV.dll
0x76e60000 45056 profapi.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\profapi.dll
0x756e0000 12894208 SHELL32.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\SHELL32.dll
0x6db80000 466944 DSOUND.dll C:\Windows\system32\DSOUND.dll
0x74d20000 1429504 ole32.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\ole32.dll
0x71000000 204800 WINMM.dll C:\Windows\system32\WINMM.dll
0x6f050000 151552 POWRPROF.dll C:\Windows\system32\POWRPROF.dll
0x76be0000 1691648 SETUPAPI.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\SETUPAPI.dll
0x76e70000 159744 CF♥♥♥♥32.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\CF♥♥♥♥32.dll
0x76ae0000 593920 OLEAUT32.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\OLEAUT32.dll
0x76bc0000 73728 DEVOBJ.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\DEVOBJ.dll
0x65560000 819200 OPENGL32.dll C:\Windows\system32\OPENGL32.dll
0x65530000 139264 GLU32.dll C:\Windows\system32\GLU32.dll
0x65440000 946176 DDRAW.dll C:\Windows\system32\DDRAW.dll
0x65430000 24576 DCIMAN32.dll C:\Windows\system32\DCIMAN32.dll
0x74000000 77824 dwmapi.dll C:\Windows\system32\dwmapi.dll
0x50870000 135168 MSVFW32.dll C:\Windows\system32\MSVFW32.dll
0x6e240000 540672 COMCTL32.dll C:\Windows\WinSxS\x86_microsoft.windows.common-controls_6595b64144ccf1df_5.82.7601.18837_none_ec86b8d6858ec0bc\COMCTL32.dll
0x76ea0000 393216 IMM32.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\IMM32.dll
0x76f40000 839680 MSCTF.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\MSCTF.dll
0x6e5d0000 311296 apphelp.dll C:\Windows\system32\apphelp.dll
0x50510000 2199552 AcGenral.DLL C:\Windows\AppPatch\AcGenral.DLL
0x6e4c0000 524288 UxTheme.dll C:\Windows\system32\UxTheme.dll
0x73ab0000 61440 samcli.dll C:\Windows\system32\samcli.dll
0x50850000 81920 MSACM32.dll C:\Windows\system32\MSACM32.dll
0x73930000 12288 sfc.dll C:\Windows\system32\sfc.dll
0x6d290000 53248 sfc_os.DLL C:\Windows\system32\sfc_os.DLL
0x768e0000 1355776 urlmon.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\urlmon.dll
0x74ff0000 16384 api-ms-win-downlev C:\Windows\syswow64\api-ms-win-downlevel-ole32-l1-1-0.dll
0x6e440000 73728 MPR.dll C:\Windows\system32\MPR.dll
0x6e540000 577536 AcLayers.DLL C:\Windows\AppPatch\AcLayers.DLL
0x6e460000 331776 WINSPOOL.DRV C:\Windows\system32\WINSPOOL.DRV
0x510a0000 24576 SHUNIMPL.DLL C:\Windows\system32\SHUNIMPL.DLL
0x51090000 53248 SortServer2003Comp C:\Windows\system32\SortServer2003Compat.dll
0x75580000 20480 PSAPI.DLL C:\Windows\syswow64\PSAPI.DLL
0x6e620000 1695744 comctl32.dll C:\Windows\WinSxS\x86_microsoft.windows.common-controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.7601.18837_none_41e855142bd5705d\comctl32.dll
0x76d90000 536576 CLBCatQ.DLL C:\Windows\syswow64\CLBCatQ.DLL
0x6d780000 1003520 propsys.dll C:\Windows\system32\propsys.dll
0x60580000 135168 ntmarta.dll C:\Windows\system32\ntmarta.dll
0x75530000 282624 WLDAP32.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\WLDAP32.dll
0x50790000 335872 rasapi32.dll C:\Windows\system32\rasapi32.dll
0x50830000 86016 rasman.dll C:\Windows\system32\rasman.dll
0x5b2d0000 1495040 nvspcap.dll C:\Windows\system32\nvspcap.dll
0x73200000 360448 WINHTTP.dll C:\Windows\system32\WINHTTP.dll
0x731b0000 327680 webio.dll C:\Windows\system32\webio.dll
0x72970000 53248 WTSAPI32.dll C:\Windows\system32\WTSAPI32.dll
0x56dd0000 3866624 nvapi.dll C:\Windows\system32\nvapi.dll
0x72c90000 94208 CRYPTSP.dll C:\Windows\system32\CRYPTSP.dll
0x72c50000 241664 rsaenh.dll C:\Windows\system32\rsaenh.dll
0x72080000 57344 RpcRtRemote.dll C:\Windows\system32\RpcRtRemote.dll
0x5a950000 389120 SXS.DLL C:\Windows\system32\SXS.DLL
0x76f10000 192512 WINTRUST.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\WINTRUST.dll
0x755b0000 1183744 CRYPT32.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\CRYPT32.dll
0x764c0000 49152 MSASN1.dll C:\Windows\syswow64\MSASN1.dll
0x6d270000 94208 bcrypt.dll C:\Windows\system32\bcrypt.dll
0x5b7c0000 249856 bcryptprimitives.d C:\Windows\SysWOW64\bcryptprimitives.dll
0x67560000 233472 ncrypt.dll C:\Windows\system32\ncrypt.dll
0x5b7a0000 90112 GPAPI.dll C:\Windows\system32\GPAPI.dll
0x6dcb0000 118784 cryptnet.dll C:\Windows\system32\cryptnet.dll
0x5b5a0000 24576 SensApi.dll C:\Windows\system32\SensApi.dll
0x070b0000 14659584 nvd3dum.dll C:\Windows\system32\nvd3dum.dll
0x50370000 835584 D3DIM700.DLL C:\Windows\system32\D3DIM700.DLL
0x6d880000 233472 MMDevApi.dll C:\Windows\System32\MMDevApi.dll
0x6fb60000 32768 Secur32.dll C:\Windows\system32\Secur32.dll
0x6fb50000 16384 api-ms-win-downlev C:\Windows\system32\api-ms-win-downlevel-advapi32-l2-1-0.dll
0x6fb10000 245760 mswsock.dll C:\Windows\system32\mswsock.dll
0x6fb00000 24576 wship6.dll C:\Windows\System32\wship6.dll
0x72ea0000 114688 IPHLPAPI.DLL C:\Windows\system32\IPHLPAPI.DLL
0x72e90000 28672 WINNSI.DLL C:\Windows\system32\WINNSI.DLL
0x6d510000 507904 DbgHelp.dll C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\DbgHelp.dll

Call stack:
(Debug information (.pdb files) appears to be absent).
0x0001:0x0046fc03 C:\PROGRA~2\Steam\STEAMA~1\common\SIMCIT~1\Apps\SIMCIT~1.EXE.
0x0001:0x0040a0ee C:\PROGRA~2\Steam\STEAMA~1\common\SIMCIT~1\Apps\SIMCIT~1.EXE.
0x0000:0x00000000 .

Stack data: (ESP is 0x0018f9e4)
0x0018f864 0058dc09 e0f91800 00000000 0058dc09 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 
0x0018f884 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 
0x0018f8a4 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 
0x0018f8c4 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 15f94377 95de4e75 a0060000 
0x0018f8e4 00000000 00000000 00000000 1cf91800 14a4f306 00020000 00000000 e7de4e75 
0x0018f904 c5f98322 ccf91800 a0060000 00000000 00000000 44f91800 00000000 00020000 
0x0018f924 04f91800 3c692d0a 74f91800 70725175 618aca57 feffffff e7de4e75 c73e5976 
0x0018f944 a0060000 14a4f306 00020000 ccf91800 cc3e5976 74f98322 14a4f306 54161601 
0x0018f964 00000000 08000000 58f91800 a1175976 04fe1800 f3486376 203ec254 feffffff 
0x0018f984 cc3e5976 c6cb576e a0060000 14a4f306 00020000 ccf91800 14941501 200cc903 
0x0018f9a4 d4f91800 a28f9100 a0060000 dcf91800 400b9300 01000000 dcf91800 876c8700 
0x0018f9c4 14941501 00000000 00000000 f0f91800 7e0b9300 3cfa1800 fd6b8700 01000000 
0x0018f9e4 00000000 14941501 667c8700 00000000 01000000 14941501 ac091701 01fe020d 
0x0018fa04 ac091701 561a8100 14081701 ac091701 14180d0d 01fe020d 30ffffff 88010000 
0x0018fa24 12000000 24ffffff 00000000 20230d0d c4091701 13000000 14180d0d ee108100 
0x0018fa44 00040000 00000000 01000000 30000000 01081701 14081701 38fe020d 01081700 
0x0018fa64 380a1701 02000000 02000000 38fe020d b0050000 34060000 14081701 14000c00 
0x0018fa84 00000000 10030000 20060000 e9118100 34fb1800 14081701 00000100 14081701 
0x0018faa4 38148100 00d93000 00000000 40148100 5343446c 00000100 148c1501 34fb1800 
0x0018fac4 14081701 bd1e8800 a1d93000 00000000 00000100 cd229900 340a1601 53e89900 
0x0018fae4 e4c6030d 14081701 146a1601 7fa43950 d82c8800 80ed0208 00000000 16000000 
0x0018fb04 00000000 00000000 00000000 8344a600 488c1501 28fb1800 148c1501 00040000 
0x0018fb24 146a1601 00000000 00000000 00040000 98fb1800 13ba9900 14081701 146a1601 
0x0018fb44 b9e99900 54c6030d 146a1601 14681601 2f91302e 02000000 14681601 1c691601 

Instruction data: (EIP is 0x00876c03)
0x00876b83 ff 50 0c 5e b0 01 5b 59 c3 8b 41 18 85 c0 74 09 8b 10 8b c8 ff 52 28 eb 0a 83 c1 34 51 e8 3d 38 
0x00876ba3 0a 00 59 3b 05 d8 1d b1 00 1a c0 fe c0 c3 56 8b f1 8b 8e d0 00 00 00 8b 01 ff 50 48 84 c0 75 07 
0x00876bc3 fe c0 e9 a5 00 00 00 53 33 db 38 5c 24 0c 74 04 c6 46 48 01 83 7e 5c 01 75 0a 8b 06 8b ce ff 90 
0x00876be3 bc 00 00 00 38 9e bc 00 00 00 75 0e ff 74 24 10 8b 06 8b ce ff 90 b0 00 00 00 8b 86 b8 00 00 00 
0x00876c03 c7 40 30 01 00 00 00 8b 86 80 00 00 00 3b c3 75 04 32 c0 eb 56 8b 08 53 50 ff 51 34 85 c0 74 0e 
0x00876c23 8b 8e b8 00 00 00 53 e8 6b 24 0d 00 eb e3 8b 46 50 3d 00 04 00 00 74 08 8b 16 50 8b ce ff 52 54 
0x00876c43 8b 86 b8 00 00 00 39 58 34 8b 86 80 00 00 00 8b 08 74 04 6a 01 eb 01 53 53 53 50 ff 51 30 8b ce 
0x00876c63 c6 46 4a 01 e8 57 f4 ff ff b0 01 5b 5e c2 08 00 55 8b ec 83 ec 10 56 8b f1 8b 8e d4 00 00 00 8b 

 

[CorinaMarie 29,899]

For a quick test, add  -audio:off to your start up parameters. The reason I suggest this is we had an Aussie with a similar problem and after multiple other trials and errors we discovered there was some quirk with the DirectX access for sound. (You do definitely always want to run the game on one single core.)

And, btw, I put the whole Exception Report into a spoiler box in your post to save our mouse scroll wheels.

[f3cs 1,063]

I had a same problem when I didn't have something that could play the SC4 sounds, so @CorinaMarie would be right. Or you can just plug an earphone.

[Fantozzi 4,068]

3 hours ago, shwabonka said:

System memory: 256 Megabytes total, 224 Megabytes free.

IMHO - this doesn't make the system requirements for SC4 as to my knowledge minimum 512 MB are required.

[CorinaMarie 29,899]

6 minutes ago, Fantozzi said:

... to my knowledge 2GB are required.

^ That would be correct for SimCity^TM aka SC2013.

 

The Can You Run It site shows this for SC4 Deluxe:

CPU:	Pentium III or Athlon equivalent

CPU Speed:

500 MHz

RAM:	128 MB (256 MB for Windows XP/ME)

OS:	Windows 98/2000/XP (NT & 95 not supported)

Video Card:

Direct3D 32 MB DirectX 7 capable video card

[Fantozzi 4,068]

@CorinaMarie - now you made me search for the original box of my game. And they say you are right, it's 128MB. So sorry for false info above.

[rsc204 21,867]

The exception report doesn't really help us to diagnose the problem, but it might be more useful to get a copy of the Configuration Log, to do that, find the file:

MYCOMPUTERNAME-config-log.txt

Located inside the Apps subfolder of the Installation folder of SC4. By default that would be:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\

Copy/Paste the first few sections down to the end of the "Numbers" section into a post here. Please also let us know which version of Windows you are using.

[shwabonka 0]

Hi, thanks for all the prompt replies and all of your help! Turns out the simplest solution worked: just switch off the sound. Won't pretend to understand how the nuts and bolts of any of this works, but how odd!

Also strange that system memory is "256 Megabytes total, 224 Megabytes free", considering I have 8GB of RAM hiding somewhere in my computer. Hey ho.

Whilst people are here, in a heavily populated old region of ours with around 4m residents the residential demand suddenly went all the way down in every city. Can anyone tell me why or maybe how to fix this?

Thank you all!