Rush hour buildings becoming brown boxes

[UnknownPro 19]

My SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition's rush hour buildings are becoming brown boxes.

If any fix is available please inform. You may also ask for some more info.

I think i need the rush hour data files. I have the rush hour buildings prop file, bit i don't know how to implement it. I tried to use it through sc4 lot editor and pin, but both are having errors. The former shows "unable to read registry" and the latter shows some python log files. Please help.

[rsc204 21,869]

7 hours ago, UnknownPro said:

My SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition's rush hour buildings are becoming brown boxes.

The only reason for them to actually be missing, would be if somehow the game files have been messed with or overridden.

Remove all Plugins temporarily and see if these buildings are still missing. If that doesn't help, you may need to uninstall/reinstall SC4 to repair the affected files.

[UnknownPro 19]

I removed all plugins but still no results, but I can't reinstall because my installer got deleted.

I am having problems with rush hour buildings only, the others are fine.

[rsc204 21,869]

3 hours ago, UnknownPro said:

I am having problems with rush hour buildings only, the others are fine.

Right, but if it's not an issue with conflicting content, the files are either missing or corrupted. The only solution to that is to restore them somehow and even if someone had backups, you shouldn't use them in such an instance.

Assuming you have a legitimate copy of SC4, you should be able to logon to the service you bought it from and get another copy to reinstall it.

[twalsh102 1,601]

@UnknownPro, just in case you weren't aware, the only cause of brown boxes is missing (or inaccessible) models. In all versions of SC4, models (along with lot and building exemplars are contained in the file SimCity_1.dat, which is found at the root of your install directory. I can't imagine a situations where this file would get corrupted such that it would only affect models for Rush Hour-specific buildings. In my experience, if SimCity_1.dat is missing, or gets corrupted at all, the game won't even start.

Can you give us the names of some of the lots where the brown boxes show?

[Propfam 2,312]

Or, maybe the bldgprop_vol1 dan vol2 is corrupted making the lots dependent of them showing corrupted props.

Or maybe, the model files for buildings are somehow corrupted. But this case is rare, tho.

[UnknownPro 19]

Guys, thanks for your replies. But the problem went away by itself. When i opened the game few days before, many new types of buildings popped up and brown boxes went away. I will try your fixes if the problem comes again. But keep posting fixes.

[rsc204 21,869]

4 hours ago, UnknownPro said:

I will try your fixes if the problem comes again. But keep posting fixes.

This would suggest there is an alternative solution to your problem, but there is not...

Brown Boxes = Missing Models, specifically where an Exemplar exists that references them.

In other words, you must be missing model files to see such boxes, regardless of how that came to be, that IS the problem.

4 hours ago, UnknownPro said:

the problem went away by itself. When i opened the game few days before, many new types of buildings popped up and brown boxes went away

Did it though? Let's imagine you have 200 models, 10 of which are mysteriously missing somehow. Sure, if none of those 10 missing ones are currently appearing, it will appear all is OK. But, the second the game wants to show them again, they will still be missing. Computer data doesn't come and go, so unless something, or far more likely someone, changes something, logically things will be no different. You game is still having problems, you just can't see them right at this moment, but the problem is still there and nothing will have been fixed.

 

On 09/12/2020 at 5:19 AM, UnknownPro said:

I think i need the rush hour data files.

No one here can help you, it would be in violation of the EULA to do so.

On 09/12/2020 at 5:19 AM, UnknownPro said:

I tried to use it through sc4 lot editor and pin, but both are having errors. The former shows "unable to read registry" and the latter shows some python log files.

If the lot editor can't read the registry, that suggests you've never installed SC4 using the official Installer, thus such registry entries do not exist.

Honestly, everything you are saying suggests you are using an illegal download you got off the internet. No one here can help with that, nor any problems it may cause you. If you can't install the game, you don't have a legal copy, it's really that simple.

[divadarya 20]

I just began playing again, and have brown boxes too. The twist is that I'm playing the Origin version, and it's still using games I saved in 2015. I did download a new version from EA before they became Origin which was completely glitchy, probably because I had files and another plugins folder for the old version buried in a drive. I'm happy to be playing it on Windows ten. I'm not sure which plugins folder the Origin version is using, but I'm going to play around with it.

If this has been solved elsewhere, apologies and thank you.

[twalsh102 1,601]

There are only two Plugins folders that the game accesses. One is contained in whichever folder the game was installed in, and in general should not contain any custom content. The other is within your user documents folder. In Windows 10, you can access this by clicking "Documents" under "This PC" and then finding the "SimCity 4" folder, in Windows Explorer. If there are any other Plugins folders existing elsewhere on your hard drive, the game won't access them. If whatever version of the game you are playing is using any of your old content, it is because you placed that content in one of those two locations. If any of that content is in the Plugins folder in the games installation folder, it is recommended that it be moved to the Plugins folder under your Documents folder (Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins). Be careful here. There are some game files that need to be in the installation folder's Plugins folder. Note: if you have any saved Regions, they need to go under Documents\SimCity 4\Regions.

To re-quote both myself and @rsc204 from above, the only cause of brown boxes is missing dependencies, specifically models for either buildings or props. The only solution for this is to determine which lots have brown boxes on them, and then determine which dependencies are missing and acquire those dependencies. There are two ways to go about this.

First, attempt to query the lots that have brown boxes and see if the query will give you enough information to determine the name of the original download(s). If it does, you then need to find the original download location. If you're successful to this point you need to read all the available information/documentation that lists dependencies for that download,and determine which ones are missing.

If you're unable to determine the identity of the downloads causing the brown boxes using the above method, you are stuck with using the "search by halves" method (please note that if you only have 1 or a couple of brown boxes, this method, while time consuming, is manageable. If you have a multitude of brown boxes from many sources, this can become a nightmare to resolve). Rather than going into a long-winded explanation of how this process works when you may already be familiar with it, please ask if you're not familiar with it.

If you are playing the Origin version, the major issue is that it is un-patched, and un-patchable. If the custom content you're using doesn't include any major mods like NAM or CAM, it's probably somewhat playable, although you are missing a couple of patches that Maxis released before they disappeared. In order to be able to take advantage of and enjoy all custom content available for this game, it is recommended (if possible) that you purchase a digital copy of the game that is already patched. This means from any digital vendor other than Origin. SimCity 4 Deluxe is currently on sale at GOG.Com for $4.99. This version (if using the manual install method) does not require you to be connected to the Internet to play (as the version from Steam requires). To reiterate that digital versions of the game purchased from any current vendor other than Origin come already fully patched, and can be further patched by any currently existing or future mods.

Sorry about all the info I'm throwing at you, but you touched on a couple of important subjects that can't necessarily be easily explained.

And BTW, Welcome back!

[divadarya 20]

Thanks; all very helpful!

The only thing I have to say is that the origin game is overall more stable than it was when I was playing on Windows 7. If the upgraded game on GOG is more or less patched for Win10 I'm in. I'll keep everyone posted as to my adventure.

Fun to be back!!

PS-I already have the 2003 disk they're selling online. Stay tuned.

[rsc204 21,869]

9 hours ago, divadarya said:

The only thing I have to say is that the origin game is overall more stable than it was when I was playing on Windows 7.

Do not make the mistake of thinking any variant (by distributor) of SC4 is any different from another, they are not. All of the following are identical, any problems you get with one, you would get with all:

• SimCity 4 + Rush Hour Addon (Disks)
• SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition (Disk)
• SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition (Digital)

However, the original disk versions need two patches applied, otherwise there will be bugs and issues left behind, that Maxis patched 13 years ago. All digital editions come pre-patched, with a version number 1.641.0.0, fully patched disks show version number 1.640.0.0, but are essentially the same. 1.638.0.0 means you have the EP1 patch installed, technically the second is optional, an update to allow custom content to show nitelighting upon them. If your version number is lower, that means you do not have a fully patched game.

Now there is one caveat to all this, and that's why @twalsh102 mentions the Origin edition. If you bought a copy from Origin with money, it is highly likely you've got a copy which doesn't have these patches, but worse, you can not patch them either. If you redeemed a CD Key for a free digital copy (Origin still offer this), then you probably have a normal fully patched digital copy. The whole Origin craziness has been documented here.

The point being, don't assume you need a new copy,

9 hours ago, divadarya said:

If the upgraded game on GOG is more or less patched for Win10 I'm in.

It isn't, SC4 was designed for Windows XP, it just works with backwards compatibility under Windows 10. There is no such thing as a modified variant, better able to support Win10. Even the disks, which don't work under Win10, sort of do. It's not the game you installed that Win10 can not run, rather it is unable to validate the DRM system on your SC4 disk, the game refuses to start as a result. It is totally possible to work around this, however the solutions are either illegal or a huge security risk, hence not advisable.

Quote

I just began playing again, and have brown boxes too. The twist is that I'm playing the Origin version, and it's still using games I saved in 2015.

SC4's code hasn't changed (unless you are a Mac user), since it's release. Meaning any Regions (save files) or Plugins you previously used, can be resumed, simply by copying over the relevant files. If you get brown boxes, then your original Plugins folder, must have been missing some dependencies. Tracking them down could be a little complicated all this time later.

I suspect this is explained because whether or not you uninstalled SC4 (the old version), you kept the Plugins and Regions folders from that version. So you can either continue using your old content, or start afresh by removing the contents of those folders inside of Documents.

[UnknownPro 19]

Status - Problem fixed!

@rsc204, you were right. I turned on the ignore missing models option. That's why brown boxes vanished. I reinstalled the game from the gog installer. The ep1.dat file was missing. Now all buildings are ok. No more brown boxes. So according to my opinion, reinstalling and plugin removing are the best two medicines for removing brown boxes. Thanks, @rsc204.

And, the GOG version of the game is the best. Download that guys!

[rsc204 21,869]

9 hours ago, UnknownPro said:

So according to my opinion, reinstalling and plugin removing are the best two medicines for removing brown boxes

Reinstalling is only useful when the missing content is part of the base game. Doing this for custom content would be futile and could even create more problems.

You can of course remove content where the models are missing, but the better solution is to get the missing files (dependencies) so they work as intended.

Either way, glad you got things fixed. 

[divadarya 20]

I used the "No Brown Boxes" fix, but honestly, what's working best is cleaning up my old plug-ins folder and confirming I have the right dependencies. I've been gone a while, but it's like riding a bike.