PC crashed, Fresh Windows install, Installed SimCity 4, won't load [Solved]

[Lazarou Monkey Terror 1,835]

Calamity! My PC had become too dusty, had a thermal event and caused me all sorts of distress in trying to fix the hardware problem.

 

That's all sorted now, but as I feared SimCity 4 would be the trickiest thing to rebuild. 

I've dug out the 2013 with the download code, downloaded and installed SimCity 4 and it should just be a question of copying over my Plugins in the SimCity Installation  folder and then the SimCity 4 folder from Documents. 

 

But the installation didn't seem to create a folder in Documents, and the game itself just won't load. No error message, no loading screen, it's like it's just ignoring me.

Also, not quite related but frustration anyway, I thought I had copied over everything in Documents from my old hard drive before I formatted and did fresh install of windows, but it copied every file and folder EXCEPT the SimCity4 folder!! Why would it do that?!

I have a backup on Proton Drive but that only dates from 28th December last year, frustrating but not the end of things. If I download that and plonk it in Documents with that solve my non-loading issue (presumably SimCity is checking for that folder first, not finding it then just giving up? 

I'm in Windows 10, for some reason just before the PC crashed a config log of my installation of SimCity 

Those are the last settings that worked, how would I replicate them in the new install? 

This game is very dear to me and I'd like to get back into it asap, it's my 'zen garden' 

 

 

[Lazarou Monkey Terror 1,835]

Update, I copied the old Maxis\SimCity 4 deluxe folder over, then gave my user permissions to modify the folder and I get the blank loading screen but it cuts out before we get to the title. 
What am I missing? 

[Lazarou Monkey Terror 1,835]

What was I missing?

Something, I don't know what but I solved it by copying the whole SimCity Deluxe folder over from a Proton Mail backup. It loaded fine, 

 

Now it loads, but there are some graphical issues though (all the buildings are missing) but I'm sure there is a remedy for that, right? 

[Lazarou Monkey Terror 1,835]

There was, the graphic settings within the game had all be set to nil, I've set them all to 'high' and things are back to normal now, my city is back! 

[CorinaMarie 29,736]

2 hours ago, Lazarou Monkey Terror said:

... my city is back! 

Yay!  

( Sounds like a scary journey getting there.  )

[Lazarou Monkey Terror 1,835]

It was, but I got through it and hopefully others will learn from my hideous journey!  lol 

[Lab Rat 15]

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