SimCity 2000 - Guide to Installation (Windows)

[Marble_1 46]

SimCity 2000 is a quintessential game in the SimCity series, taking everything from the first game and cranking it up to eleven. While EA hasn't neglected this game the way they did the first game, the version for sale is not the "best version", which I'll go into later.

Now, the MS-DOS version is still being sold on digital storefronts, so if you want to play this version of SimCity 2000, to avoid legal trouble, it's best if you buy it from GOG. However, the Windows versions of SimCity 2000 are still classified as "abandonware", meaning that while they are protected under copyright, EA will probably not sue anyone for having copies of the Windows versions on their PCs.

NOTE: This installation guide is only for the Windows / DOS versions of the game. There were many versions made for many other platforms, like SNES, Sega Saturn, PS1, Game Boy Advance, and more. Every single one of them requires their own specialized emulators to work on modern PCs. 

Now, if you’re still here, follow me.

MS-DOS

As I said before, the DOS version of SimCity 2000 is available on digital storefronts. I recommend going that route, as it's easier to set up, without the risk of legal trouble.

EA: Buy SimCity 2000™ – PC – EA

GOG: SimCity™ 2000 Special Edition on GOG.com

While this version can be made to work on a Mac, many reviewers have rightfully pointed out that the DOS version is inferior to the Windows versions. People have said it felt clunkier to use, being stuck at a lower resolution and taking slower to launch than the Windows versions. Furthermore, this version is lacking in features found in the Windows versions, like the intro videos (Windows 95 exclusive) and an extra zoom level. I'm not saying you shouldn't buy this version. Just know what you're getting. 

Windows

Ideally, the Windows 95 version is the one you should play. However, it is also harder to get working.

This version of the game is the definitive version of SimCity 2000, with brand new intro videos that always play when starting up the game.

The main problem is that this version of the game has a save bug that causes the game to crash upon pressing the “save” or “save as” buttons (this is also a problem with the Windows 95 version of SimCity Classic).

First, download the game here (https://archive.org/details/SimCity_2000_Special_Edition_Maxis_Inc._1996). 

After extracting the .iso file, download InstallShield 3 Engine (http://toastytech.com/files/Is3Engine.zip). Go into the folder labelled “WIN95” and place the file “setup32.exe” into that folder (which should contain “SETUP.EXE”). Then, launch “setup32.exe” instead of SETUP.EXE. The setup should launch and go on without a hitch. If it doesn’t launch, restart your PC, then try again.

To fix the save game bug, we are going to use sc2kfix (https://github.com/sc2kfix/sc2kfix/releases). Download the "winmm.dll" file, then move it to your game's directory (C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 2000 by default).

To get the intro and Will TV videos working, go into the "DATA" folder at the root of the CD and copy its contents (NOT the folder itself, the files inside it with the extension ".SMK"). Then, go into your game's directory (C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 2000 by default) and make a new folder titled "Movies". Paste the .SMK files you copied from the DATA folder of the CD into that "Movies" folder.

SimCity 2000 can be found on “SimCity.EXE” and the Urban Renewal Kit can be found on “WINSCURK.EXE”.

Overall, installing SimCity 2000 requires a bit of work on your part. However, it’s well worth the effort, as what you get is a timeless classic that remains fun 30 years later.

  Edited September 6, 2025 by Marble_1  
Updated to remove mentions of the Windows 3.1 version (since it has stability problems on Windows 10 with WineVDM), and updated the Windows 95 guide to sc2kfix instead of SC2000X.

[TogaMasterJohn 705]

One of my favorites!  The newspaper articles in the game are some of the stupidest yet funniest things I have ever read! The developers had a lot of fun coming up with the jokes and Easter eggs in the game.

I'm sure this guide will also be quite beneficial to those who would love to get the Windows versions up and running on modern versions of Windows. I grew up playing the Windows 95 version of the game, and it really is the best version of the game!

In terms of the console ports... those are truly hit or miss, haha! The PS1 and Sega Saturn versions are pretty cool (the latter I haven't played yet, but I've seen what it's like). I've played every port of the game except for the original Macintosh version and the Sega Saturn version... one day, though! I can't recommend the GBA version; it has some quirks and it's missing the water system, if I remember correctly. If one wishes to play the SNES version, be prepared for a sloooooow (yet kind of fun) experience! 

Great work once again, Marble1MC!

[Turnstyled 486]

This is a great guide! Thank you! If on Windows 8 or above and running the Windows 95 edition of SimCity 2000, I would recommend SC2K Repainter, which fixes animations: https://github.com/Guspaz/SC2KRepainter

Just run it before or after you start SimCity 2000!

Also, as per the PC Gaming Wiki (https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/SimCity_2000#Black_scrollbar_padding_.28Windows_10.29), I would recommend setting Compatibility Mode to Windows 8 for SC2000X.exe if on Windows 10 or above to fix some black pixels in the scrollbar. Again, this is if running the Windows 95 edition of SimCity 2000!

[lateraldnb 1]

Thanks for all your work on this! I cant wait to play it again although i seem to be falling at the last hurdle: when installing the patch to fix the crashing bug im getting an error message:

WARNING:
Failed to copy file from: C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 2000\SimCity.EXE
to: C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 2000\SC2000X.EXE
Error Code: 5
Access is denied.

 

How do I work around this? Is it common?

Thanks again!

[Marble_1 46]

Hey lateraldnb,

I haven't run into this issue myself. 

Judging from the error code, it looks like the patch is failing because the patcher is unable to access the game files in C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 2000\ to replace the SimCity.EXE file with the patched version.

If you haven't yet done so, make sure you're running the SC2000X patcher in Administrator Mode. This can be done by right-clicking the file, then pressing the "Run as Administrator" button (if you use Windows 11, that may or may not be hidden behind a "show more options" button).

Hope it works!

[End_of_Eternity 13]

Thank you for this guide.

I have an older "abandoneware" archive for running SimCity 2000 (the Windows 95 edition) on Vista 64 bit. It still works on Windows 10.

The archive does not contain the intro and Will TV content. However you can use the same approach - i.e. putting the DATA in the root of the drive where you installed SimCity 2000. Both the intro and Will TV work fine.

I can share this archive if this is OK with the rules.

Attached is the Chicago scenario running on 1440p monitor.

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

10 minutes ago, End_of_Eternity said:

I can share this archive if this is OK with the rules.

Does the guide give instructions on how to install legitimate copies of the game? Or does it delve into hacked versions to bypass copyright protection?

Basically, we love things which help peeps enjoy their older games, but we also don't want to run afoul of any EULAs included with said games.

-Cori & CB  (doing the admin thing)

[End_of_Eternity 13]

It is an abandonware copy.

I have SimCity 2000 on GOG too, but I really dislike the MS-DOS version (4 x 3 aspect ratio, lower resolution and worse UI/UX).

FWIW, the OP does include an archive.com link to the SimCity 2000 for Windows 95 ISO.

However, I fully understand your concerns.

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

Just now, End_of_Eternity said:

FWIW, the OP does include an archive.com link to the SimCity 2000 for Windows 95 ISO.

Ah. It's been so long ago, I'd forgotten. So let's go ahead and pretend it's ok and just if EA gets mad, we'll deal with removing this topic then.

 

1 minute ago, End_of_Eternity said:

However, I fully understand your concerns.

Yep, you do. This'll be the official: GFI then.

[Marble_1 46]

In this guide I provided a link to an abandonware version, simply because I wanted to make the game more accessible to the people who don’t have CD drives and all that. This guide should work for those who are using CDs to install the game though.

As a side note: I’m quite happy to see this game still gets quite a lot of love. This really is a great game that was truly ahead of its time, so much so that it formed the base for the two SimCity games that succeeded it. 

[End_of_Eternity 13]

Please find a copy of SimCity 2000 that works with Windows 10 x64 (I've also tested it on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, included readme says it works with Vista x64 as well). I believe it should work with Windows 11 as well.

https://files.catbox.moe/woitaj.rar

Please follow the "README.TXT" instructions (you need to run a .reg file, possibly with some modification).

TLDR: Unzip all the files to C:\Program Files\SimCity 2000\ and run "sc2k.reg".

Adding the "DATA" folder to the root of the drive (i.e. C:\DATA\ if you're going with default installation option) as outlined in thread OP will enable the intro video and WillTV.

 

On 10/6/2024 at 7:37 AM, Marble1MC said:

As a side note: I’m quite happy to see this game still gets quite a lot of love. This really is a great game that was truly ahead of its time, so much so that it formed the base for the two SimCity games that succeeded it. 

SimCity 3000 and SimCity 4 are essentially evolutionary refinements of SimCity 2000.

While my all time favourite is SimCity 3000 (even though I've played SimCity 4 the most), SimCity 2000 will always have a special place for me. It was one of the first games I figured out as a young kid (got my first PC in 1997).

[uniplexed 3]

For fixing the animations, sc2kfix works like a charm for me in a modern system with Win11. https://github.com/sc2kfix/sc2kfix/releases

[Marble_1 46]

On 03/04/2025 at 4:39 PM, uniplexed said:

For fixing the animations, sc2kfix works like a charm for me in a modern system with Win11. https://github.com/sc2kfix/sc2kfix/releases

Haha, thanks for letting me know about it! I recently updated the guide to use sc2kfix instead of SC2000X, since I do think it’s easier and provides a better experience for people on modern hardware. 

[End_of_Eternity 13]

Updated the link to the compressed version in post #11. 

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

2 hours ago, End_of_Eternity said:

Updated the link to the compressed version in post #11. 

I've added a Recommendation. That's up top of the thread itself and has a mini quote of the start of post #11 and then a comment from me.

Do feel free to dictate what you'd like my comment to say up there if there's a better way to express it to members. Also, if the recommendation is superseded, you can ask me to remove the current one and add a different one. The key idea with recommendations is to help members jump right to something important. And if there is a need for two separate recommended posts, we can do that too. You are perfectly welcome to let me know what works best since you're the expert and I'm just the PR girl trying to help out.