SC4 used to work - but not anymore?

[Somnolence 81]

I have a laptop with Windows 8.1 on it, and I've played SC4 on it with no difficulties. Now, I've reinstalled Windows (I have a 64bit machine but the OS was 32bit), I've installed SC4 again, but now it doesn't work for some reason. I wish I could give more details, but all that happens is:

1. I click on the icon
2. If I don't run it with admin privileges, it requests them
3. If I do run it with admin privileges, it does nothing.

And by nothing I mean, literally nothing. No process running, nothing. I've tried running it without plugins, I've tried reinstalling it, but neither of those worked.

I have SC4 Deluxe, CD version.

Any help would be appreciated.

[CorinaMarie 29,923]

35 minutes ago, FOSC tule00 said:

I have SC4 Deluxe, CD version.

And therein lies the problem. See Windows Update KB3086255 blocks SC4 from starting.

 

Some peeps have used this method and got the disc version to run on 7 and it might work for 8.1 also. (Be sure to use your own SC4 command launch line in place of the sample shown.)

[Propfam 2,311]

More better, try to redeem your CD key on Origin. Remember, don't buy SC4 on Origin, just redeem it. If you redeem, you'll get the patched version unlike buying. Unpatched version from buying SC4 on Origin can't be patched due to proprietary DRM. Stay away from buying SC4 on Origin.

Thanks.

[Cyclone Boom 17,032]

Indeed, it sounds likely the issue here relates to the copy protection used by the CD version (SafeDisc). Microsoft released a patch back in 2015 which disabled the system level driver required for this to run. As a result the disc based version of SC4 along with many older games of this era will simply not load. The workaround is to either enable it on demand prior to starting the game, or uninstall the hotfix completely (assuming KB3086255 hasn't been bundled into one of the new monthly security rollups).

Then all being well, it should load as normal.

 

1 hour ago, chfzdn said:

More better, try to redeem your CD key on Origin. Remember, don't buy SC4 on Origin, just redeem it.

While this is potentially a viable option, it might be worth being careful with Origin even if the redeemed version is fully updated. As @Tarkus explained in this article, there have been a few reports of previously patched versions being reverted back to without EP1 installed.

Out of all the digital versions, I'd personally recommend picking up the GOG edition when on sale. This comes DRM free and runs standalone including all published patches.

[Somnolence 81]

On 17/03/2018 at 11:31 PM, CorinaMarie said:

And therein lies the problem. See Windows Update KB3086255 blocks SC4 from starting.

 

Some peeps have used this method and got the disc version to run on 7 and it might work for 8.1 also. (Be sure to use your own SC4 command launch line in place of the sample shown.)

I've seen this identical reply on another thread, but it didn't seem to work.

 

23 hours ago, chfzdn said:

More better, try to redeem your CD key on Origin. Remember, don't buy SC4 on Origin, just redeem it. If you redeem, you'll get the patched version unlike buying. Unpatched version from buying SC4 on Origin can't be patched due to proprietary DRM. Stay away from buying SC4 on Origin.

Thanks.

Okay, I would definitely not buy SC4 or any other non-Origin game on Origin, but how can I redeem it without buying it?

 

22 hours ago, Cyclone Boom said:

Indeed, it sounds likely the issue here relates to the copy protection used by the CD version (SafeDisc). Microsoft released a patch back in 2015 which disabled the system level driver required for this to run. As a result the disc based version of SC4 along with many older games of this era will simply not load. The workaround is to either enable it on demand prior to starting the game, or uninstall the hotfix completely (assuming KB3086255 hasn't been bundled into one of the new monthly security rollups).

Then all being well, it should load as normal.

 

While this is potentially a viable option, it might be worth being careful with Origin even if the redeemed version is fully updated. As @Tarkus explained in this article, there have been a few reports of previously patched versions being reverted back to without EP1 installed.

Out of all the digital versions, I'd personally recommend picking up the GOG edition when on sale. This comes DRM free and runs standalone including all published patches.

How can I exactly enable it?

[CorinaMarie 29,923]

12 hours ago, FOSC tule00 said:

I've seen this identical reply on another thread, but it didn't seem to work.

In what way didn't it work? Did it give any error messages?

If your game is installed in the default location on Drive C you can try this: Run SC4 Disc Based Game.cmd

[Somnolence 81]

3 hours ago, CorinaMarie said:

In what way didn't it work? Did it give any error messages?

If your game is installed in the default location on Drive C you can try this: Run SC4 Disc Based Game.cmd

I use this SC4 launcher thingy. It allows for additional launch parameters to be added, so I added "-IgnoreMissingModelDataBugs:on". Although, I see what may have been the problem. The Reddit thread mentions something about "secdrv". After googling it, I see that it's exactly the SafeDisc process that is supposed to solve the problem. (now I see that the parameter I added doesn't have anything to do with this, lol).

So I opened the command prompt, started the SafeDisc service, and now it does work.

Thanks for the help. It'd be a shame if one of the best games ever, stopped working.

[CorinaMarie 29,923]

6 hours ago, FOSC tule00 said:

So I opened the command prompt, started the SafeDisc service, and now it does work.

Woot!

Now, to be on the safe side, I'd suggest stopping the SafeDisc (secdrv.sys) once the game is running so you'll have minimal exposure to whatever potential loophole it creates whilst running.

 

6 hours ago, FOSC tule00 said:

I added "-IgnoreMissingModelDataBugs:on".

Personally, I'd recommend against adding this parameter. With it on you won't see any missing models as brown boxes. Therefore you might not know a plugin is not present that some custom content needs.

[Somnolence 81]

5 hours ago, CorinaMarie said:

Woot!

Now, to be on the safe side, I'd suggest stopping the SafeDisc (secdrv.sys) once the game is running so you'll have minimal exposure to whatever potential loophole it creates whilst running.

Yes, I've made a bat file that turns it on, launches the game, then turns it off. (bat is essentially the same as cmd, right?)

 

5 hours ago, CorinaMarie said:

Personally, I'd recommend against adding this parameter. With it on you won't see any missing models as brown boxes. Therefore you might not know a plugin is not present that some custom content needs.

Ah, that's what it's for. Yeah, I think I should remove it.

Thanks again and best regards!

[CorinaMarie 29,923]

1 hour ago, FOSC tule00 said:

(bat is essentially the same as cmd, right?)

(Yep. I believe they are identical in function.)

[adsii1970 85]

 

Oh...

1 hour ago, FOSC tule00 said:

Yes, I've made a bat file that turns it on, launches the game, then turns it off. (bat is essentially the same as cmd, right?)

I'd so like a copy of this... I have another game besides SC4 that no longer works thanks to Microshock...

[CorinaMarie 29,923]

15 minutes ago, adsii1970 said:

I'd so like a copy of this...

If you don't mind the one I made it's attached to this post above.

[Somnolence 81]

On 3/20/2018 at 12:44 AM, adsii1970 said:

 

Oh...

I'd so like a copy of this... I have another game besides SC4 that no longer works thanks to Microshock...

Basically what I did was:

@echo off
sc start secdrv
start SC4Launcher.exe
sc stop secdrv

The first line prevents the command prompt from opening (not necessary, but convenient).

The second line runs the process, so the game could work.

The third line launches the actual game (depending on where your bat file is stored, and whether or not you run the game without the launcher, it could look something like: start "C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe").

The last line kills the process, just in case.