HERE WE GO!!! I HAVE ALMOST THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.
I started from scratch a 4th time. I have defragged, I have disk cleaned, the pc is great. I have better than the min requirements to play the game and plenty of space on the computer. I can only run sim city 4 deluxe after intallation. I exit, and then can never replay the game. I do not have a cracked copy though. I have the original game, I even registered for it this time, AND I have had it on this same computer 8 months ago and it worked fine.
Any suggestions? I must have some missing file from the game or something. I don't know.
Thanks much.