A city doesn't appear in my region

[Busta -CASE- 140]

Hello, people, this morning I was planning on starting a city on the Berlin Region where I have other cities, but one of them just vanished :/ "Centro" or Downtown, a city completely finished a while ago but that had subway connections to the new city I was planning on developing today. The tile that's marked on the image used to be Downtown :/ the last thing I did on Downtown, yesterday, was extend a couple of other subway connections and saved it with Ctrl+S (I never use the save button but this is the first time this happens), download a few plugins after and early today before launching the game. 

I have closed and re opened the game at least three times and nothing... it's really frustrating  I spent a lot of time in that city. I searched in My Documents and the file is still there... I must add that I thought at first that it was only a graphic glitch cause a few weeks ago I downloaded a NVIDIA update and the city named "St. Benito" vanished too but when I put the cursor over it the name appeared as if the city was only invisible, opened it and everything was fixed, but this time I'm really afraid that if a open the city it will come out as a completely new space... please help me recover the poor people of Downtown   and forgive me if my english makes the problem more difficult. If one of the plugins I downloaded was the problem then  I could put the list later or any other tech info that could help. Thanks in advance!

[Cyclone Boom 16,875]

Hi buzzoff67,

This must be both alarming and frustrating.

First of all as an initial step, it'd be a good idea to create a complete backup copy of your Berlin region folder. That way it could always be restored to how it is currently if anything else goes wrong. Once you've done this (store it someplace outside of Regions), try entering the city and see how it looks when loaded.

From your folder preview there, I see the "Centro" city is 24 MB in size which is fairly large indeed. What I'm wondering is if perhaps the preview snapshot hasn't saved correctly, and the actual city data might still be intact. This would mean it appears blank from the region view, when in actual fact it isn't. Each city has a preview image stored within the file, and this is usually updated upon saving. Though it can be known to not do this properly, and the file size might be a factor here.

If you can get inside the tile, try saving it again using the Ctrl+S method, which is the recommended means of doing so to minimise risk of data corruption. Based on the Date Modified being 23:24 there, it suggests how the "SAN SALVADOR" city and "New City (30)" are the adjacent tiles. Interestingly however, either the north or south tile hasn't been saved or isn't developed, because there appears to be a neighbouring city also.

If re-saving doesn't update the snapshot, and it's not functioning when loaded, it might be worth trying an import into a new test region.

To do this...

Importing a Medium City Tile

1. Create one with land-based tiles.
2. Exit the game.
3. Copy City - Centro.sc4 into your "SimCity 4\Regions\Downloads" folder.
4. Load the game and your test region again.
5. Next select a medium sized tile. It must be a medium city because that's the same size as Centro is (and otherwise couldn't be imported).
6. Click the Import City option, as follows:
   
   
    
7. A popup navigation list will open. Browse for the Downloads folder and then select your Centro city.
8. Click the button to confirm the import.

Then try entering and saving the tile from there, again using the direct Ctrl+S method (which is the same as the Save button).

If this works, I recommend trying to import Centro into your Berlin region after deleting the current occupied city. Just remember to have made that full backup beforehand though, as it's very important nothing else gets lost here with trying to get it working again.

I hope this helps for starters.

[Busta -CASE- 140]

First of all, thanks so much for the quick reply @Cyclone Boom. I opened the tile and there was nothing so I moved to the import solution. I followed every step and everything seemed fine until I discover this:

There was no Centro to import  I checked every folder and nothing. I even found another city I thought it was lost for good... What could be causing this? Is it my city? Can the file be corrupted?

[jeffryfisher 2,176]

Did you recently copy files from a backup folder? What can happen is that you end up with two versions of the same city -- each with a different name. Usually, one of them is a numbered "New City", and the other has a name that you gave it. One version will mask the other. The solution is to identify the obsolete version (the empty numbered "New City") and remove it so it no longer hides the one where your work is.

Run SC4, go back into the Berlin region, open the "Nueva Ciudad" and find out what number it is. Then use file explorer (or the equivalent) to hunt it down and remove it from your region folder.

BTW, from the looks of your picture, you have several of these empty cities (see all of the flattened sectors?). You may have more than one to clean-up.

Good luck!

[Busta -CASE- 140]

46 minutes ago, jeffryfisher said:

Did you recently copy files from a backup folder? What can happen is that you end up with two versions of the same city -- each with a different name. Usually, one of them is a numbered "New City", and the other has a name that you gave it. One version will mask the other. The solution is to identify the obsolete version (the empty numbered "New City") and remove it so it no longer hides the one where your work is.

Run SC4, go back into the Berlin region, open the "Nueva Ciudad" and find out what number it is. Then use file explorer (or the equivalent) to hunt it down and remove it from your region folder.

BTW, from the looks of your picture, you have several of these empty cities (see all of the flattened sectors?). You may have more than one to clean-up.

Good luck!

Thank you, I'll give it a try!

[Busta -CASE- 140]

Well, I've tried both suggestions but nothing seems to be working. I'll keep the city file and the Berlin Region backup folder just in case. Sincerely, thanks so much for lending a helping hand   

[rsc204 21,808]

On 06/05/2019 at 11:00 PM, buzzoff67 said:

There was no Centro to import  I checked every folder and nothing. I even found another city I thought it was lost for good...

Bear in mind, when importing cities, you can only import a Small city into a Small tile. Likewise for Medium and Large cities. If the sizes do not match, you won't see those cities listed.

Have you recently reinstalled the game or used the "Reset Tutorial" option? I ask because it does seem likely that you are suffering from ID conflicts with Save Files. It's simple to see if this has happened or not, open the Documents\SimCity 4\Regions\Downloads folder. Do you see the missing cities here? If so, the game has moved files which had duplicate IDs automatically. Note those IDs are an internal part of the file and nothing to do with the filenames. However, the most common issue is when using the default regions that come with the game, because the IDs of each city is static. If at some point the originals are restored/copied, Windows won't notice, because the file names differ. But, it leads to this problem.

The solution is probably to move all the files inside the Berlin folder in Regions to a temporary location, where SC4 won't see them. Then move those in the Downloads folder, back into the Berlin folder. This operation is more complicated if other cities exist in the Downloads folder.

[Busta -CASE- 140]

@rsc204 mmm I thought about the region and perhaps you're right I should create a new one. Downtown, the missing city, was a medium tile and I tried to import it to a medium but the file was not recognized by the game when opening the folder, and I haven't altered the game in any way, the problem was perhaps caused by the sudden power off that my computer suffered when I was out of the room even if I did see the "city saved" Message before going out. Anyway I will create new regions from now on, maybe this was a lesson haha  thanks for the reply  

  Edited May 9, 2019 by b9117w  

[rsc204 21,808]

I think you misunderstand me, I'm not telling you to make a new region.

Take a look in this folder "Documents\SimCity 4\Regions\Downloads", does it contain files? If so, that's likely the save files you've lost. If there is a conflict, SC4 never deletes files, it only moves them. Even an unexpected power off should never be able to corrupt more than one city. Of course if that folder is empty, then this isn't the problem, but it takes but a moment to be sure before writing off your old region.

[Busta -CASE- 140]

7 hours ago, rsc204 said:

I think you misunderstand me, I'm not telling you to make a new region.

Take a look in this folder "Documents\SimCity 4\Regions\Downloads", does it contain files? If so, that's likely the save files you've lost. If there is a conflict, SC4 never deletes files, it only moves them. Even an unexpected power off should never be able to corrupt more than one city. Of course if that folder is empty, then this isn't the problem, but it takes but a moment to be sure before writing off your old region.

Mmm there were a few with "new city" But still the game didn't recognize them to be import, only what is shown in the picture. Downtown has like 24 mb but none of the files in downloads has more than 1 mb. 

[rsc204 21,808]

28 minutes ago, b9117w said:

Mmm there were a few with "new city" But still the game didn't recognize them to be import

Whilst they reside in the Downloads folder, the game won't see them. They must be inside a folder/region for this function.

29 minutes ago, b9117w said:

Downtown has like 24 mb but none of the files in downloads has more than 1 mb

Which is a little disconcerting. But files don't just delete themselves, so unless you've done something along those lines, it surely must be somewhere. Have you tried simply using the Windows search function with *Downtown* as the search string. I'd check the entire machine (My Computer). It's also worth seeing if it might be in the Recycle Bin too.

[Busta -CASE- 140]

On 9/5/2019 at 10:03 AM, rsc204 said:

Whilst they reside in the Downloads folder, the game won't see them. They must be inside a folder/region for this function.

Which is a little disconcerting. But files don't just delete themselves, so unless you've done something along those lines, it surely must be somewhere. Have you tried simply using the Windows search function with *Downtown* as the search string. I'd check the entire machine (My Computer). It's also worth seeing if it might be in the Recycle Bin too.

I mean the file is there in the downloads folder, as Centro.sc4 and is 24mb but the game doesn't recognize the file when I'm trying to import it to a new region as if the file is now broken invisible whatever we may call it, but the other file, statesboro, a city I lost a long time ago is there and the game does recognize that one. I have the downtown file stored in the Berlin backup folder too but that doesn't work either. So, the file is pretty much lost to me if none of the solutions above work :/ 

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

1 hour ago, b9117w said:

Centro.sc4 and is 24mb

I can't make any promises for recovery, but if you'd want to send me a copy of that city file I could see if there's anything I could do to help. You could use the free option at WeTransfer.com due to the file size.

[Busta -CASE- 140]

18 hours ago, CorinaMarie said:

I can't make any promises for recovery, but if you'd want to send me a copy of that city file I could see if there's anything I could do to help. You could use the free option at WeTransfer.com due to the file size.

I would appreciate that very much!  At what email address may I send the file?

[Cyclone Boom 16,875]

34 minutes ago, b9117w said:

I would appreciate that very much!  At what email address may I send the file?

The nice thing with that WeTransfer temporary file hosting site is it doesn't actually need an email (as the initial default upload options imply).

First clicking the little blue circular settings icon, here's the steps to have a link generated once uploaded:

Once the file has uploaded, click the Transfer button at the bottom and it'll begin. This might take several seconds or a minute and a bit, and there'll be a little animation on progress to completion. Finally post the link here and it'll be valid for one week. Cori can then download your city and investigate it for you.

(A regular .zip file is fine for this, or even upload it directly as the .sc4 saved city file.)

[Busta -CASE- 140]

10 minutes ago, Cyclone Boom said:

The nice thing with that WeTransfer temporary file hosting site is it doesn't actually need an email (as the initial default upload options imply).

First clicking the little blue circular settings icon, here's the steps to have a link generated once uploaded:

Once the file has uploaded, click the Transfer button at the bottom and it'll begin. This might take several seconds or a minute and a bit, and there'll be a little animation on progress to completion. Finally post the link here and it'll be valid for one week. Cori can then download your city and investigate it for you.

(A regular .zip file is fine for this, or even upload it directly as the .sc4 saved city file.)

I got it xD https://we.tl/t-6zDsDVWf0D Thanks to the three of you for the efforts  the Downtown people salute you.

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

2 hours ago, b9117w said:

I got it xD https://we.tl/t-6zDsDVWf0D Thanks to the three of you for the efforts  the Downtown people salute you.

I downloaded the file and, unfortunately, I can confirm the file is corrupted.

As you said it simply will not show up when trying to import it. Additionally, I tried opening it using Reader 0.9.3 which works on all other .sc4 files I've tried. Reader got so upset it cursed at me:

 

CB checked and Reader 1.5.4 will open it without crashing, but shows basically all zeroes for a slew of UI entries. He also tried the Save Game Explorer and it's just empty. So, the only help I can be is to assure you that your efforts for recovery were done correctly.

Rest in Electronic Pieces dear Simizens of Downtown (Centro).

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

Me again. There's another possibility. Check out CB's post here.

This is mine showing my Region Folder, right clicking on my Corillion one, selecting Properties, then clicking the Previous Versions tab:

Make a copy of your region to someplace outside of the SimCity 4 folder before trying this just in case some of your cities are later versions that you want to bring back in.

[Busta -CASE- 140]

1 hour ago, CorinaMarie said:

Me again. There's another possibility. Check out CB's post here.

This is mine showing my Region Folder, right clicking on my Corillion one, selecting Properties, then clicking the Previous Versions tab:

Make a copy of your region to someplace outside of the SimCity 4 folder before trying this just in case some of your cities are later versions that you want to bring back in.

Just like you said, I'm done   or at least the Downtown people is: no previous versions. It seems that Windows 10 didn't make a restoration point. Everything also seems to point towards the sudden blackout that my PC suffered. Maybe I should buy an UPS . Anyway, after making a back-up of Berlin where Centro used to be and run out of solutions from this post, I created Central, a brand new region created with Paint and imported all the Berlin cities into it, just in case. Still, I'm truly grateful for all the help provided and, who knows, maybe the file can be fixed in a near future so I'm keeping it safe for a while   

[rsc204 21,808]

3 hours ago, b9117w said:

Everything also seems to point towards the sudden blackout that my PC suffered. Maybe I should buy an UPS

Honestly, a UPS is really not something any normal user should need, it's very much professional level equipment to begin with. What isn't normal is your PC locking up and it would do you more good to resolve whatever happened there. If the power to your computer simply was interrupted, that's not something you can do anything about, unless the electric supply in your house has problems. All a UPS does is keep the power supplied during such an outage, but for a little while. Usually it just needs to be long enough for a managed shut down. But for literally every other problem that might lead to a lock up, a UPS won't prevent this.

The most common reason for such a system lock is overheating, so the motherboard detects this and switches itself off to prevent damage. The next would be some sort of hardware or driver fault, creating a similar situation where the PC switches off to prevent damage. If this really was a one-off situation, I wouldn't be overly concerned about it. But if this happens repeatedly, however infrequently, you should try to work out what is behind the problem.

3 hours ago, b9117w said:

It seems that Windows 10 didn't make a restoration point.

This feature is generally not enabled by default. It's just one way to keep a backup of your files too. The point being, this sort of fault can happen, likewise Hard Drives/SSDs can and do fail. Computers can get stolen, in fact even if not entirely likely, there is no end of scenarios where it's possible to loose all your data. So if you value that data, learn one thing from this episode and have a backup solution in place for your files. In the digital age, we keep photos, video and many important files on computers. Having at least one regular backup on alternate hardware, such as another PC, an external HDD/Memory stick or similar can be a life-saver.

[jeffryfisher 2,176]

On 5/12/2019 at 12:44 AM, rsc204 said:

The most common reason for such a system lock is overheating

Or a failing power-supply (many die within 5 years).

EDIT:

What's tricky about them is that the symptoms can show up anywhere in the PC  -- basically, the most sensitive component will throw errors, and you'll be led to think that's what's failing (especially when you pull it out and everything works OK again -- not because everything is OK but because you've dropped the power demand enough for the PSU to keep up... for the moment).

Therefore, whenever you get soft faults (no smoke coming out or visible melting) from a graphics card, hard drive, motherboard, RAM etc, try the power. If you don't have a known-good PSU to swap in, you can try removing a component that isn't throwing errors. If the PC stabilizes (e.g. removing the hungry graphics card suddenly cures your hard drive), then power is the likely culprit.

If your PSU came stock with a pre-built system, then it is probably crap. You're better off with a used good PSU than a new crappy one, so don't hesitate to replace a generic with something better, even on day 1 of a PC build. Your other components will live longer too.

  Edited May 13, 2019 by jeffryfisher  
Added explanation