[Solved] SimCity 4 Deluxe crashes while loading

[rsc204 21,863]

1 hour ago, Raymond7cn said:

I'm a bit curious about this, Did that mean the OS even has been suspending or crashing by starting the game, I just have heard of some issues caused SC4 to crash down, but the system was still going.

It's probably worse than that, likely it's the Mainboard's BIOS/System software that is invoking the lock-up because something is out of bounds of it's designated tolerances. For the keyboard to continue functioning, it simply requires power from the system bus, in other words it's a very low-level part of the system. Therefore if that has stopped, you can be pretty certain the system needs a hard reset to get going again. Which is why I think the previous resolution settings might still be hanging around, but it's also possible that upon trying to initialise DirectX, a command being send to the Video Card triggers the lock-up.

Ultimately, having reset the resolution manually, switching off audio and bypassing DirectX (if necessary), there is no good reason why SC4 won't start up. So once we know which set of commands resolve the base problem, we'll have a much clearer picture of the cause.

[NeveroddoreveN 80]

Rsc204 – Thanks for the heads up! I uninstalled SimCity 4 Deluxe, and reinstalled it. I am still using 1920x1080 as default. And after that reinstall, I found five files in my Plugins folder – I promptly removed them, as per your suggestion. I don’t recall if my PC updated my sound drivers. I always use a pair of headphones while gaming – I find the sound quality to be better that way!! Yes, my CAPS LOCK button does have a light, and in turn I have been using that tactic when I have a problem. Please give me a refresher about Command Line fix, where to put the CustomResolution command line so I try out your suggestion.

[Whte_rbt 1,431]

The command line additions need to go in the Target box after the path to the exe. Access this by right clicking on the SC4 shortcut and selecting properties. I will look something like this:

The instructions given by @rsc204 need to go in at the end of the path.

Additional: For correct formatting of the command, I think there has to be a single space after the quote mark at the end of the path.

[NeveroddoreveN 80]

Ok, so I went made a new shortcut to my SimCity 4 Deluxe game. In "target" - I found it in properties - I now have: "C:\GOG Games\SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32 -F -Audio:Off. The game started for a second, and then froze up while still on the desktop!! What in the world am I doing wrong?!!?

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

7 minutes ago, NeveroddoreveN said:

The game started for a second, and then froze up while still on the desktop!! What in the world am I doing wrong?!!?

As @rsc204 posted, try adding the -D:Software command to the end, so then the full path will be:

"C:\GOG Games\SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32 -F -Audio:Off -D:Software

This will start the game in software rendering mode, which could then rule out a graphical issue with your hardware. If this is the case, then we can explore trying to get SC4 running on hardware (-D:DirectX) mode with driver updates or settings. But firstly it'll be useful to make sure the game runs in the software mode.

[NeveroddoreveN 80]

Cyclone Boom - I tried that: "C:\GOG Games\SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32 -F -Audio:Off -D:Software  - but my PC froze up again. This is so frustrating because my PC freezes up and is unresponsive.

 

[Whte_rbt 1,431]

I'm now wondering if the intro video itself is causing the crash. You can add -intro:off to the command switches to disable it.

[NeveroddoreveN 80]

Its possible I guess. I know very little about all of this. Does it matter where and what order these add-ons are inputted into the target code?

[Whte_rbt 1,431]

12 minutes ago, NeveroddoreveN said:

Does it matter where and what order these add-ons are inputted into the target code?

Not as far as I know.

[rsc204 21,863]

Absolutely not, just the commands and that the "syntax" is valid, which is a fancy way of saying it's all correct. Assuming you've been copy/pasting those lines into your posts, then everything is being entered correctly.

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

I think as @Whte_rbt said, adding the -intro:off is worth a try. Maybe it's also worth experimenting with a lower screen resolution perhaps and see if that helps. There's a list of supported resolutions on this page. (This article is hosted on the Wayback Machine since the original site is no longer available.)

Another thing with the command line switches is capitalisation doesn't matter. So that's why -intro:off or -Intro:Off works just the same too.

[NeveroddoreveN 80]

ITS WORKING!!! I just added -intro:off to the list of commands in the target section, tried to load the game, and it worked!!!!! Thanks so, so much to all of you and your help with getting SimCity 4 Deluxe up and running. I am so, so appreciative!!! You guys are a blessing!

[NeveroddoreveN 80]

I started poking around the terrain, trying out some of the disasters (I was curious), and I found that I have no sound. Would it be alright if I took out the audio: off portion of the commands I have in the target section of the shortcuts priorities screen?

[City_Slider 2,716]

Sure... go ahead and let us know whats happend.

[rsc204 21,863]

Indeed, whilst it might seem like everything is now hunky-dory (working), what you now need to do is undo any changes that might not be beneficial. So, not only will your Audio be off, but DirectX has been disabled too which is really not ideal. Of course, there may have been more than one problem, so a little caution is needed.

Step 1 is to remove the Audio: Off command, note this doesn't turn the audio back on, but we can do this in-game in the relevant menu. Test that switching on the Music and or Sounds as you desire is then working, just to be sure it's best to quit the game and re-start it before you can say 100% it's not an issue.

Step 2 re-enable DirextX or the "Hardware" rendering, by removing the command -d:software and once more changing the applicable in-game setting. This change requires a restart to take effect.

Assuming it was just the Intro videos causing the crash, there will be no problem using both Audio and the Superior DirectX rendering to play your game.

The behaviour you have experienced is actually is quite explainable, these intros are quite low-resolution and some newer equipment simply can't display that resolution, attempting to do so caused the computer to switch that safety cut out, to prevent your GPU or monitor from being damaged. This is why it looked like the set resolution might be the cause, since in effect these two problems lead to the same issue. So a little bit of a red herring, but I'm glad we finally got there. Of course, if restoring either the audio or DirectX should bring the problem back, you may need to restore the respective commands in the shortcut once more, but there is only one way to find out .

[NeveroddoreveN 80]

So, I removed the audio off portion of the commands in Target, went back into the game, turned on both music and sound, and tried building some road and a few disasters. I don't hear anything. Should I proceed with fixing DirectX, or is my sound a more pressing issue?

[rsc204 21,863]

Just do one at a time, so if it all goes wrong, you know which broke things. Neither of these options is mandatory to play the game, but both will make for a better experience.

One more thing, if it's not there, add one more command into the shortcut:

-CPUCount:1

This will prevent the game from being very unstable (CTDs), GoG usually add that by default, but I've a feeling it probably got wiped out with all the other changes.

[NeveroddoreveN 80]

Awesome, thanks. What should do about my lack of sound?

[rsc204 21,863]

Simply switch it back on, as shown in the screenshot in my post above. Don't forget to remove the Audio:Off switch though, or the next time you run the game, it'll be switched off again.

[NeveroddoreveN 80]

hmm. I made the appropriate changes - both removed from Target, as well as changing settings in graphics/sound in game. Everything is peachy except for sound. I am not hearing anything. I tried both some disasters (so cool!) and building roads all over the place. I hear nothing. How frustrating.

[rsc204 21,863]

Maybe try adding -Audio:on to the shortcut. Perhaps it needs to be done there before the in-game options work. 

[NeveroddoreveN 80]

We are good!! Everything seems to be in working order. Thanks so, so much to everyone who provided advice and guidance through my issue. I am so appreciative!!

[Mercandelle 18]

Good afternoon people. I tried to find a topic similar to the problem I've been facing and I didn't find it, this is the most similar. I've been without playing since 06/2021 and currently I went to play and my Steam updated my Sc4 Deluxe, after this small update I couldn't load cities anymore or enter new cities to start. Has anyone faced the same problem? If anyone can help me please.

[rsc204 21,863]

If the Steam update altered the main game file SimCity4.exe, then it will no longer include the 4gb patch. This is mandatory if you are using the full controller from the NAM. Since your problem seems to match, I.e. the game crashes trying to load a city, I’d hazard you need to restore that patch. If you have the latest NAM it includes a .bat script you can run that’ll take care of this for you.

[Mercandelle 18]

5 hours ago, rsc204 said:

Se a atualização do Steam alterou o arquivo principal do jogo SimCity4.exe, ele não incluirá mais o patch 4gb. Isso é obrigatório se você estiver usando o controlador completo do NAM . Como o seu problema parece corresponder, ou seja, o jogo trava ao tentar carregar uma cidade, eu arriscaria que você precisasse restaurar esse patch. Se você tiver o NAM mais recente, ele inclui um script .bat que você pode executar e que cuidará disso para você.

Good afternoon rsc204, I did exactly what you told me and everything was successful. Thank you so much for your help, and what would we do without you moderators to help us. Very grateful and thank you for helping me.

[WannGLondon 2,297]

Hello Community,

I have been running into an issue for the last 24 hours since Steam updated my version of SimCity 4 Deluxe. I am able to run the game, but upon loading a city tile, the game crashes to desktop. I have run the 4g patch again and ensured my command line is correct to no avail. Here is the command line I use:

-intro:off -CustomResolution:enabled -r1600x900x16 -F -CPUCount:1 -D:Software

Any assistance you can provide is greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you need any additional information.

Warren

[Silur 3,308]

Grab SC4 from GOG and don"t mess with Steam.  

[CorinaMarie 29,866]

2 hours ago, WannGLondon said:

I have run the 4g patch again and ensured my command line is correct to no avail.

You might need to make sure it's really patched. If the SimCity 4.exe file is in an area Windoze considers restricted it'll pretend the patch worked and then promptly restore from the prior version.

[Ulisse Wolf 4,444]

3 hours ago, WannGLondon said:

Hello Community,

I have been running into an issue for the last 24 hours since Steam updated my version of SimCity 4 Deluxe. I am able to run the game, but upon loading a city tile, the game crashes to desktop. I have run the 4g patch again and ensured my command line is correct to no avail. Here is the command line I use:

-intro:off -CustomResolution:enabled -r1600x900x16 -F -CPUCount:1 -D:Software

Any assistance you can provide is greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you need any additional information.

Warren

Remove these paramenters that are compeltely wrong and broken.

I recommend that you follow this tutorial

 

2 hours ago, Silur said:

Grab SC4 from GOG and don"t mess with Steam.  

There is no difference between Steam and Gog. They are the same versions and work the same way.

[WannGLondon 2,297]

20 hours ago, Ulisse Wolf said:

Remove these paramenters that are compeltely wrong and broken.

I recommend that you follow this tutorial

 

There is no difference between Steam and Gog. They are the same versions and work the same way.

Thank you - saved my butt!