Goodbye to SC4 from me

[Duco 546]

Dear fellow player,

I’m saying goodbye to you.

After the freezes and crashes, removing seasonal things, I thought SC4 was pretty stable.

But then I installed windows again and after reinstalling, the BAT couldn’t export anymore: code 11.

And I saw that the SC4 I installed wasn’t patched. So, after alt/tab it just says SC4 and not with a number behind it.

So I want to instal the patch but that didn’t work because he couldn’t find a file.

After digging and reading, the only thing I read was that it must be an illegal copy, but mine is from steam and I always played with it.

To make it short, I want to play and create but I keep struggeling to get the game to work a little bit normal.

I’m moving over to CS, not because I like that game ( I love SC4 so much more) but because problem solving in a pc is not my thing. I wanna play and create.

Thanks everybody for everything I’ve learned about the game, the tips and tricks and all that kind of things.

Cheerio

[T Wrecks 10,209]

Ah, that sucks. Don't you want to make an attempt at solving your problem, though?

Tbh, I have some trouble following your description. Did I understand you correctly?

• SC4 ran fine
• Then you re-installed Windows
• When you wanted to use your existing SC4 again, it didn't work any more

Does this summarize what happened?

If so, the solution might be simple if we are lucky. Having the game on your HD is not enough; Windows must also "know" that SC4 is installed. This is stored in the registry. This information may have been wiped out when you reinstalled Windows. So you'd simply have to re-install and patch SC4 again (you can keep your plugins and regions folders, of course!).

Sorry if I misunderstood your problem. If that should be the case, please don't hesitate to describe it again. We're a community. We are here to help.

 

[Cyclone Boom 16,852]

Hi Duco. That sure sounds frustrating with how SC4 is no longer working for you.

It's true how the Steam version should be fully patched, and this would show the version number when hovering over the executable file. As I posted the other day in reply to another topic, my research found this resides in the following location:

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

Providing this is 1.1.641.0 as expected, it'll confirm your copy is patched to the maximum extent.

One thing is unlike Origin, from all reports the Steam version doesn't suffer the same problems with being unpatched. The file structure must match with what it expects from the disc based game, hence they'll fail if manually attempting to install the EP1 or nightlights updates. Versions like from Steam and Origin use DRM which means the executable is bundled with copy protection. As far as the patches are aware, they see the executable as an unrecognisable file and skip updating.

I'm just wondering if reinstalling your computer and certain configurations might need setting up again. Perhaps one idea is to try with an empty Plugins folder, and also adding the -CPUcount:1 command to your launch options. This limits one's processor to using a single core only which helps improve stability on modern systems.

Also if your rendering mode needs setting to hardware (-d:DirectX) or even software (-d:Software) it might be worth toggling over.

 

2 hours ago, Duco said:

To make it short, I want to play and create but I keep struggeling to get the game to work a little bit normal.

No worries. As @T Wrecks said, that's what we're here for as a community to help one another. Of course, there's nothing wrong with moving onto CSL if that's your personal preference. That's a game you may find fun in its own right too if your system can handle the added graphical requirements.

Should you wish to still play SC4 sometime though (now, later, or whenever), we'd very much like to assist where possible.

[Duco 546]

Allright, this is what I did.

-       I went to Steam and removed CS4 from my library

-       I went to C/86/steam/apps/common à Removed CS4 (I have back up)

-       Installed windows again

-       Installed CS4 again

-       Installed the NAM again

-       Installed GMax/SC4BAT again à there is a list of things that had to be installed again, this was one of it.

I opened CS4 and everything seems to be fine. I have installed the NAM again and I think that is only possible when you have a legal CS4 game.

Then I opened SC4BAT and it works fine, until I want to export. It gives this messages: ERROR:  CODE 11:  FAILED TO EXPORT S3D

Then I found this in the troubleshooting documentation.

Error saving export nodes to the output file.

Possible causes:

1.  File sharing violation. Close any SC4 related programs.

2.  Output file is write-protected (read-only).

3.  Bad units. Make sure you are using metric.

Because these three suggestions are not the case, I thought it had something to do with the patch, because this is what I see with alt/tab  There is no number behind it.

So I thought I haven’t got the patch, that is the reason the BAT can’t export. But by installing the patch I got the error.

After that I sunk in a hole and was a bit sick of it all. So I thought: goodbuy

After reading the comments I checked C/86/Steam/Apps/common there is this: version: 1.1.641.0

So this seems ok. I can play the game, it doesn’t crash and seems fine. I haven’t installed the patch, that still don’t work, but because of the number it isn’t necessary. (I think)

Leaves the question why I can’t export in the BAT.

Tomorrow (maybe the day after tomorrow) is another day and I will check the builders forum for an answer.

Thanks for your kind replies

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, I am sometimes so silly. It was my virus protection. That program stopped Gmax from exporting. I give it a green light and now everything is working again.

Pfff, Why didn't I think of that three days ago.

 

  Edited August 2, 2019 by Duco  
fixed issue

[CorinaMarie 29,574]

5 hours ago, Duco said:

It was my virus protection

I'm glad you mentioned this as it's something we need to consider suggesting for anyone else who runs into similar problems.

[Duco 546]

5 hours ago, CorinaMarie said:

I'm glad you mentioned this

After searching, saying #@$%#$$%^*%^!!! and can't find it, it is importend to give sollutions. 

I really thought this is the end, I quit. 

Quess I needed a push in the back so thanks @T Wrecks and @Cyclone Boom.

[T Wrecks 10,209]

Hey, don't mention it. That's just what I meant: This is what a community is for. I'm glad you'll continue to be with us!

Turns out I didn't understand you correctly at all, but the result is what matters: The problem got solved. Stupid virus scanners! Well, at least it's an easy fix once you think of it... still better than some obscure OS problem.