Sudden incompatible problems

[Bdub01 201]

I played SC4 for years with no major problems outside of crashing to desktop from time to time. But I haven’t played in like 7-8 months and I decided to play again. But the game won’t load. When I try the ‘trouble shooting ‘ fix it says there is a compatibility issue. There hasn’t been one before. Now there is and I want my SC4 fix stat!!!!!

[rsc204 21,804]

Sounds like you maybe came across this problem very late in the day:

Just to be sure, to encounter that issue, you'd be using the original disk-version of SC4. Also on a Windows system running Vista or Later.

Incidently, the occasional CTD is totally fixable, but one thing at a time lest we confuse the issue at hand.

[Bdub01 201]

Thank you so much. That was it. I deleted the update and it started right up!!!

[rsc204 21,804]

Glad to hear that was a simple fix.

As for the CTD issue, there are two things you may need to fix that, don't listen to the nay-sayers, SC4 setup correctly is rock solid stable.

#1 running on modern multi-core CPU is not something SC4 was designed for. So disabling the use of more than one prevents instability. To do this, right click the shortcut for SC4, select Properties and add the following into the target line:

-CPUCount:1
Don't forget the preceding space though .

#2, if you use a lot of NAM pieces, there is a bug in the original game that triggers a CTD when you hover a Puzzle Piece (like the original highway interchanges, starters or other various items) over a TE or Transit Enabled lot. There is a fix now for this, just install this .DLL into the installation directories Plugins folder (not the one in Documents) and that will be gone too.

For most users, that's enough to prevent such problems. But if you do see them, feel free to come back if you want to troubleshoot them.

[Bdub01 201]

I must have screwed something up cause now I can’t get to windows, SC4, or even the power button to turn off my computer. 

[Bdub01 201]

Ok so as a follow up I just went old school and turned off the computer manually. When it restarted there was no problem to the computer but the command CPU count1 or whatever is still there so I’m hoping that will help with the desk top crashing!!!

[rsc204 21,804]

A system lock-up shouldn't occur from adding a command line switch, so I'm pretty sure they are unrelated.

If you ever get such lock-ups, assuming your PC has one, look at the HDD activity LED. If it is flashing, leave your PC alone for a bit (30m is usually sufficient) and be certain it isn't just busy before turning it off. Providing the PC isn't writing data (when the HDD LED is flashing it is), there is usually minimal risk to a hard reset (i.e. cycling the power). If the Power button seems not to work, press and hold it and the PC should power down within 10 seconds. Otherwise you have to resort to more drastic methods like removing the power cord.

[Bdub01 201]

So my game still crashes about every 30 mi utes or so. That is most annoying. I did the 1 CPU thing but obviously there is something else. And I rarely use NAM pieces much. Also I have the disc version of the game and to my knowledge everything is patched like it is suppose to be. It’s like the game will ‘catch’ for a second then resume for a second then crash. Any ideas?

[rsc204 21,804]

27 minutes ago, Bdub01 said:

Also I have the disc version of the game and to my knowledge everything is patched like it is suppose to be.

That may be so, but since Maxis never fixed the PP over TE lot bug, it wouldn't make a lick of difference. This remained unfixed until relatively recently. If you are not using PPs when the crash happens, that tells you this is not the cause.

So I'd go back to the CPU:Count switch, because the syntax is explicit, meaning if it's not 100% correct, it won't work. The sort of CTDs that are caused by this usually happen when zooming in/out, but could happen randomly. Anyhow, the Target line should look exactly like this:

If that doesn't work, run SimCity 4 until you get to the region view screen.

1. Press CTRL + ALT + DEL together.
2. From the options that appear, select Task Manager.
3. Select the "Processes" tab then find and highlight "SimCity 4.exe".
4. Right click that and select Set Affinity.
   If only one CPU is "ticked"/selected, usually CPU 0, you know the command line switch is correctly setup. If more than one is selected, something isn't working as it should.

The other potential but less plausible possibility here is that you are running out of RAM. When you installed the NAM, assuming you have a 64-bit edition of Windows, it would have offered to install a "4GB Patch". If you didn't allow this, you should, because it can help tremendously with a modern PC. It simply sets a flag that tells Windows the application can utilise more of your available RAM, which it won't do otherwise.

[Bdub01 201]

I realized I didn’t have the - in there. So let me try it now. 

[rsc204 21,804]

No worries, sometimes a picture = 1,000 words.

[jeffryfisher 2,176]

On 10/10/2017 at 9:50 PM, rsc204 said:

Otherwise you have to resort to more drastic methods like removing the power cord.

Ow! Before yanking the cord, see if there's a little switch on the power supply itself. If you have one, then it's like the power switch of old, actually cutting power. Alternatively, if your PS does not have a hard switch: If your PC is the only critical device powered through a UPS, then you can cut the power at its switch. If that's not an option, then press and hold a soft switch for 10 seconds.

Never pull a cord; the transients, even internal ones from spinning motors, could kill your CPU or other fragile circuitry. You want your machine to at least remain grounded (and preferably be surge-protected) during any power drop.

 

2 hours ago, Bdub01 said:

So my game still crashes

Look into ~Documents\SimCity 4\Exception Reports and read the most recent log file for clues.