Hi guys,
I'm not sure entirely if this is the right place to post this topic, but I'm having an extremely unusual weird problem. Recently, I've somewhat encountered a problem where there are invisible mod files where I don't know where the game is reading from. What I mean is, Simcity 4 seems to read mods files I had previously, even when both my plugin folders are empty! I
I'm trying to figure out where else the game is reading all the .model, .lot etc files you would find in a plugins folder, and the directories its reading them from.
I've done some testing and reinstalled the game several times which doesn't seem to help, as the first start up of the game after running the installation is normal with no mods. However, upon the second start up, the mods, etc reappear again, even when I ensured that the plugin folders were empty (both my documents and in the program files).
Anyway, I'm wondering if you guys have encoutered this odd situation before and could help,
Any help is very much appreciated :)
Can you tell us what the mod files are that keep coming back, it might help to give you an answer
:)
We would also like to know if you are running a digital copy or CD version of the game. If answer is a digital copy, does your provider (Steam/Origin) automatically backup your content and/or saves?
- I
I'm running the disk version of Simcity 4 Deluxe Edition and I've got both the EP1 and BAT patches in handy.
Sure, here's a brief list of mods,
but well there is alot of plugins, I think probably approximately 1.5GB of them...
But I'll try to go through them:
The NAM 31.2
Taipei 101 by Kd5rax
Pause thingy remover and Minimize button remover mods
Some HKABT Buildings
Some of Moonlgihts Mods
Alot of Japanese buildings and misc mods by Asama, Foxers and Badgers, Moonlight, SOMY, Neko Cat Punch, APTX, Mozukuss, uki, KS, Kei, Yuhisa and Gurray (Theres probably more but you get the idea)
AC Airport buildings, planes and their RMIP
Scag team planes
Dmscopio buildings
LK Appalachian Terrain Mod by Lowkee33
Drunk Apples Water Mod
Day'n nite mod by Simfox
Functional Landmarks mod (Only the Taipei arts museum and Living Mall)
LRM v4 mega pack by Mandelsoft - (Dependency for Japanese Sidewalk Mod V2)
Some of Girafes trees
BSC texture packs - (BSC Mega textures vol 01, BSC Texture pack Cycledegg Vol 01, BSC Mega Props JES vol 03, BSC Mega Props JES Vol 02,
BSC MEGA Props Misc Vol 02, BSC Mega Props jestarr Vol 02.
I might add more along the way because I think I have missed some.
I don't think its the mod itself though, but these are the mods that seem to be existence according to the game, for which I cannot locate the core files.
On my computer my two games plugins folder I use as a "master" and keep everything in it, but I don't use it, as the game will allow you to have a third plugin folder which is what I have, the third is what I using in-game
Its a switch that you add to your shortcut -UserDir and then you just add the path to the new plugin location
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -UserDir:"C:\Users\CATTY-HOME\SimCity 4 Compressed\"
could you have done something similiar?
-catty
Nope, not at all. I Never ever read doing anything like that, so I definitely haven't done that. However, I did try out as a solution ,but didn't seem to work as it created another plguins folder, which i put my backup plugins in but the results were, simply duplicates of the same custom icons of the same mods. I tried re-installing it again, but it didn't work. Its almost as if the mods are part of the Vanilla game itself.
Is there a program out there that reads what files are being used by the program and displays the file directories its reading from?
Quote from: Momo.kimchii on August 09, 2013, 05:02:05 PM
...Is there a program out there that reads what files are being used by the program and displays the file directories its reading from?
Try the SC4DataNode by rivit
http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/27675-sc4datanode/
its designed to
QuoteThe program supports four main Tasks
1. Audit/Review of Loading Sequence, file redundancies and Overrides
2. Dependency verification (as many as possible)
3. Audit/Review of
a. SC4 file integrity (.dat etc) and
b. TGI file content integrity (Exemplars etc) to the Property Level
4. Exploration - a really good informative display of Exemplar Property Values and file contents so that one can learn something of how SC4 works.
Sorry I should have suggested that early
-catty
I suppose it would also help to make sure that hidden files and folders are viewable (an option in Folder Preferences, if you're running Windows, which is what it sounds like). Although it doesn't explain the reappearance of the mods after reinstallation, it can help make sure that you aren't missing something simply because you can't see it.
Also, I had backed up my plugins folder through Dropbox, and had incorrectly set the priority level on the backup, so that it updated my computer instead of the online version of my files, which caused duplicates and the reappearance of files I had long since deleted. If the plugins folders are currently empty, though, I am at a loss. SC4Datanode is your best bet at this point to try and identify the cause.
Hmm, the SC4DataNode doesn't seem to pick up any of the invisible plugins in the SC4 Enviroment. I left both plugin folders empty and rescanned several times. I guess this problem seems to be located somewhere much deeper into the windows system files itself. My guess would probably be that it musth ave cache'd all that data somewhere in a restore point or windows backup system thing, or a bug/glitch that I got from using the Datpack on all my plugins, including the NAM etc (lol I know I was an idiot) to see what would happen :P.
Either way, I'm not that great of a computer genius, so I'm probably not really looking into there is a simple write up tutorial thing for beginners.
I guess, the only solution seems to be doing a full operating system reinstall, however its on a family computer and I probably won't do that at the moment. However I think I'll move to my laptop and play it from there.
Thanks so much for the suggestion guys, really appreciated. :)
Before doing that, check your User\AppData\Local for Simcity 4 files. This is a bit of a long shot, but those mods might have been registered there. It wouldn't be the first time when something odd happens in that section of Windows.
- I
Well, there was nothing inside the Apps/local folder related to simcity 4, so I reinstalled my windows 7 and it seems to have killed and solved it. Lets hope something like this won't happen again, thanks for the help guys.
Well, you're not the only one that has that mystery, since I have something very familiar, but I jusdt live with it and really don't feel like re-installing windows again.
My problem is that I have an unknown mod that makes my regiontraffic view kinda unique and strange, although I also have NO files (trafficview mod) in both of my plugins........
I followed this thread, in hope that someone would find a solution, but I guess there ain't any, well.....except the total "Window and all" re-install.
Nah, foget it, I donT really need a neat looking regionview anyways, and I kind of got used to it after all these years..... ;)
Fred
Hmm, its a shame that there isn't a known solution out there :( but I needed to get rid of those mysterious reappearing mods cause one of them was acutually conflicting each other. I'm glad I knew that i'm not the only one that had to go through it though. I wish you look on getting the problem resolved though, I know how annoying it can be :)
One more shot into dark, good friends.
Fred, do you have CCleaner and have you checked Tools/Startup/Scheduled Tasks with it? This might be a problem related to installation junk. We discussed about it (http://www.simpeg.com/forum/index.php?topic=10114.0) at Simpeg 4 last year.
- I
Perhaps you could also describe or give us a screenshot on how the region view transport maps look like so we could help you identify what mod it is, so we know what to search and destroy &sly.
Well, I have the CCleaner and I use it every 20 to 30 days or so with every option, that doesn't changed anything, nor does the re-installing of the game or leaving all Plugins empty.
I have SC4 Deluxe with the latest updates and it is a CD I bought in 2003.
Before, I tried several Region traffic view mods, but didn't like any, so I got rid of them one by one, but when I returned to any regions after, it had a different look.
This is taken with Region Census from one of my regions and it is what the Region Traffic view should look like.....right? Strange how the Region Census is not influenced with the invisible mod.....
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg703.imageshack.us%2Fimg703%2F8473%2Fjxt2.jpg&hash=a9ccaf53d42e57ec52dab9a2e7c1186966b315f7)
Now, this is what the region traffic view looks like at the moment. All roads, rails etc are black and all zones are white.....The picture was taken ingame with a terrainmod only, but it is the same without any files at all in both Plugins.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg854.imageshack.us%2Fimg854%2F97%2Fyz55.jpg&hash=ed3f61c0c4b1bf53f10f7510bd495a1326135916)
May I mention that it is the same with every region, old and freshly installed and also with other region trafficview mods installed, even when renamed to zzz_ (to overide other files )etc....
Also I would like to mention (which happened at around the same time) that the info and the pop-up windows don't show the complete messages, sometimes only numbers, as if there's files missing for the game to read.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg710.imageshack.us%2Fimg710%2F1420%2Fnjov.png&hash=18b1f5f6f84fb88bbfea76bbd5825b663c7112d5)
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg694.imageshack.us%2Fimg694%2F2751%2Fmdf8.jpg&hash=e3cc2d04b2160239615156fac423cd22926bafbe)
I mentioned that before in a thread some years ago, couldn't find it again, but I am used to it now and I can easily live with it. It is just "kinda strange" though, because I do simply not understand why it is like this and what causes it.
Fred
Someone else had the same problem and this is the answer they got given
Quote from: RippleJet on September 04, 2007, 03:40:12 PM
I can't help you with the sound...
However, the texts might be missing if your SimCityLocale.DAT file is corrupt or truncated.
Can you check the size of that file, located in the folder C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4\English ?
The one I've got is 939 kB. That's the size of the Rush Hour version.
If yours is smaller, you will probably have to reinstall Rush Hour to get it back.
Quote from: mrbisonm on August 11, 2013, 08:53:07 AM
Well, I have the CCleaner and I use it every 20 to 30 days or so with every option, that doesn't changed anything, nor does the re-installing of the game or leaving all Plugins empty.
As a general note, running CCleaner does not fix the installation junk, it only makes it visible. Junk has to be removed manually. This is why I asked.
What comes to this traffic view, uh, I don't have a clue right now. %confuso
- l
Quote from: catty on August 11, 2013, 09:25:50 AM
Someone else had the same problem and this is the answer they got given
Quote from: RippleJet on September 04, 2007, 03:40:12 PM
I can't help you with the sound...
However, the texts might be missing if your SimCityLocale.DAT file is corrupt or truncated.
Can you check the size of that file, located in the folder C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4\English ?
The one I've got is 939 kB. That's the size of the Rush Hour version.
If yours is smaller, you will probably have to reinstall Rush Hour to get it back.
Like I said,
re-installing the game (as many times as I want to)
DOES NOT the problem. Thanks for the info.
Quote from: Reform on August 11, 2013, 09:59:41 AM
Quote from: mrbisonm on August 11, 2013, 08:53:07 AM
Well, I have the CCleaner and I use it every 20 to 30 days or so with every option, that doesn't changed anything, nor does the re-installing of the game or leaving all Plugins empty.
As a general note, running CCleaner does not fix the installation junk, it only makes it visible. Junk has to be removed manually. This is why I asked.
What comes to this traffic view, uh, I don't have a clue right now. %confuso
- l
Even when manually deleting all that SC4 junk found by running the CCleaner, it doesn't repair the map neither the missing "text". Thanks.
Fred
Quote from: mrbisonm on August 11, 2013, 03:28:11 PM
...Like I said, re-installing the game (as many times as I want to) DOES NOT the problem. Thanks for the info....
Unless or course the file is corrupted in the install files themselves
Frustrating.
I have a week of sick leave (after falling from stairs at work and twisting my ankle), so I have some extra time in my hands. I can't promise anything, but I will try to replicate this problem during the upcoming week. Let's see if I can find some answers.
- I
Quote from: catty on August 11, 2013, 03:52:31 PM
Quote from: mrbisonm on August 11, 2013, 03:28:11 PM
...Like I said, re-installing the game (as many times as I want to) DOES NOT the problem. Thanks for the info....
Unless or course the file is corrupted in the install files themselves
Hm... interesting, but then again....is it possible? How can a file become corrupt on a CD?
Quote from: Reform on August 11, 2013, 04:16:47 PM
Frustrating.
I have a week of sick leave (after falling from stairs at work and twisting my ankle), so I have some extra time in my hands. I can't promise anything, but I will try to replicate this problem during the upcoming week. Let's see if I can find some answers.
- I
I seriously wonder how that can be done... %confuso
Fred
Files can become corrupt on CDs due to scratches, scuffs, and damage caused by aging materials. CDs do die of old age.
Looking from those images, it doesn't seem to look like its from a mod at all, and it definitely looks totally something different from what I had, it looks like its the vanilla game itself. However, seeing that there maybe suspected corrupted files in the CD and it being 10 years old, and assuming you run it in the disk drive the whole time. I recommend burning the disks into an image file using this http://static.slysoft.com/SetupCloneCD.exe (http://static.slysoft.com/SetupCloneCD.exe) (trial for 21 days only but you only need to use like once or twice really) and running with a virtual disk drive (http://static.slysoft.com/SetupVirtualCloneDrive.exe (http://static.slysoft.com/SetupVirtualCloneDrive.exe)). That's what I do and I put away my actualy Simcity 4 disks away for safe keeping and to prevent damage from heavy usage.
Quote from: HappyDays on August 11, 2013, 11:25:44 PM
Files can become corrupt on CDs due to scratches, scuffs, and damage caused by ageing materials. CDs do die of old age.
:thumbsup:
Ok, maybe it's one of the CD's, yes, they are old, but no, they don't have "visible scratches" because I only use them to install the game. I will try to re-install the game with one of my sons CD's the next time. Maybe that'll help, if not, well it has to be somewhat burnt into the system (windows)
Btw, No, i do not insert the disk everytime I play.....(I'm not stupid) even if it is illegal (couldn't give a darn anyways), I use a "No-CD Key" to start the game. A matter to preserve my CD's. ;) since I play everyday. I would have probably used up some several dozens of CD's in all these years.....
Thanks for helping again, but I guess, there's no real solution than to re-install windows, which I don't want to. I have too much stuff on this computer, too many programs that I will have problems finding again.
You folks tried to help some years ago without a result, so now I got used to all these little "errors" and missing txt's. No big deal. I am human, therefor I adapt myself.... ;)
Thanks, much appreciated.
Fred
Quote from: mrbisonm on August 12, 2013, 09:57:55 AM
I use a "No-CD Key" to start the game.
We have a winner!
Try to run the game using the standard executable and see if that helps. Make sure it, and the game files themselves, are updated to the latest versions.
Quote from: HappyDays on August 12, 2013, 10:56:59 AM
Quote from: mrbisonm on August 12, 2013, 09:57:55 AM
I use a "No-CD Key" to start the game.
We have a winner!
Try to run the game using the standard executable and see if that helps. Make sure it, and the game files themselves, are updated to the latest versions.
I thought that before also since I have that since 9 years or so, but it doesn't change anything. Thanks for the idea though. ;)
Fred
And what version is this no-CD cracked executable?
I wanted to ask how can I play the game with a copy of the original CD. Is this possible? For years, I play the game with the original CD :-[
I made copies with CloneCD but the copies does not work. &mmm
Quote from: HappyDays on August 14, 2013, 10:57:36 AM
And what version is this no-CD cracked executable?
Version 1.1.638.0 (that is what the .exe file of the no-cd game icon says)
I have all the updates possible.
Fred
Quote from: Kergelen on August 15, 2013, 05:37:30 AM
I wanted to ask how can I play the game with a copy of the original CD. Is this possible? For years, I play the game with the original CD :-[
I made copies with CloneCD but the copies does not work. &mmm
I use Alcohol 52% it creates a virtual disk drive and also can create a copy of your CD to use in it
http://www.alcohol-soft.com/
Its been a few years since I bought it, but it does the job so I've never felt the need to upgrade it to the latest version
http://shop.alcohol-soft.com/en/about_120.php?area=personal
-catty
Thanks catty :thumbsup: I'll try it.
Quote from: mrbisonm on August 15, 2013, 06:29:42 AM
Quote from: HappyDays on August 14, 2013, 10:57:36 AM
And what version is this no-CD cracked executable?
Version 1.1.638.0 (that is what the .exe file of the no-cd game icon says)
I have all the updates possible.
Fred
You're missing the nightlight patch...:)
Anyway, perhaps make an image of your play disk and mount it using Daemon tools or other such. Or spend 10 bucks on Steam to get a full, up-to-date new copy. I don't care to believe Windows is screwing up your game.
Quote from: HappyDays on August 16, 2013, 12:34:43 PM
Quote from: mrbisonm on August 15, 2013, 06:29:42 AM
Quote from: HappyDays on August 14, 2013, 10:57:36 AM
And what version is this no-CD cracked executable?
Version 1.1.638.0 (that is what the .exe file of the no-cd game icon says)
I have all the updates possible.
Fred
You're missing the nightlight patch...:)
Anyway, perhaps make an image of your play disk and mount it using Daemon tools or other such. Or spend 10 bucks on Steam to get a full, up-to-date new copy. I don't care to believe Windows is screwing up your game.
I don't have the nitelite patch, true, and I see no reason why I should have it since I always play the day version of the game and I am sure that it is NOT this that make all these errors. My CD is almost new, having used it maybe 4 or 5 times in all and it is not scratched either. Steam you say?, forget it, I had problems with them before and that's it for me. But I might buy a new copy if I can find one, just to see the difference.
I am still certain that windows has something to do with it, because the last time I installed the game, it was perfect for several years, then something happened 2 or 3 years ago and now it stays that way, even after re-installments.........be logic, it wasn't the CD then.....so, what else than windows could be the error?
Fred
Quote from: mrbisonm on August 16, 2013, 07:45:18 PM
Quote from: HappyDays on August 16, 2013, 12:34:43 PM
Quote from: mrbisonm on August 15, 2013, 06:29:42 AM
Quote from: HappyDays on August 14, 2013, 10:57:36 AM
And what version is this no-CD cracked executable?
Version 1.1.638.0 (that is what the .exe file of the no-cd game icon says)
I have all the updates possible.
Fred
You're missing the nightlight patch...:)
Anyway, perhaps make an image of your play disk and mount it using Daemon tools or other such. Or spend 10 bucks on Steam to get a full, up-to-date new copy. I don't care to believe Windows is screwing up your game.
I don't have the nitelite patch, true, and I see no reason why I should have it since I always play the day version of the game and I am sure that it is NOT this that make all these errors. My CD is almost new, having used it maybe 4 or 5 times in all and it is not scratched either. Steam you say?, forget it, I had problems with them before and that's it for me. But I might buy a new copy if I can find one, just to see the difference.
I am still certain that windows has something to do with it, because the last time I installed the game, it was perfect for several years, then something happened 2 or 3 years ago and now it stays that way, even after re-installments.........be logic, it wasn't the CD then.....so, what else than windows could be the error?
Fred
I'm not sure about what windows has to come into it and what or how it causes it, however, I think I have identified the 'unknown' mod you were having with the regional transport menu. Try looknig at this: http://wiki.livedoor.jp/masahiromirai/d/Ordnance%20Survey%20Regional%20Transport%20Map
Does it look familiar?
Sorry for the late reply
Quote from: Momo.kimchii on August 16, 2013, 08:47:18 PM
Quote from: mrbisonm on August 16, 2013, 07:45:18 PM
Quote from: HappyDays on August 16, 2013, 12:34:43 PM
Quote from: mrbisonm on August 15, 2013, 06:29:42 AM
Quote from: HappyDays on August 14, 2013, 10:57:36 AM
And what version is this no-CD cracked executable?
Version 1.1.638.0 (that is what the .exe file of the no-cd game icon says)
I have all the updates possible.
Fred
You're missing the nightlight patch...:)
Anyway, perhaps make an image of your play disk and mount it using Daemon tools or other such. Or spend 10 bucks on Steam to get a full, up-to-date new copy. I don't care to believe Windows is screwing up your game.
I don't have the nitelite patch, true, and I see no reason why I should have it since I always play the day version of the game and I am sure that it is NOT this that make all these errors. My CD is almost new, having used it maybe 4 or 5 times in all and it is not scratched either. Steam you say?, forget it, I had problems with them before and that's it for me. But I might buy a new copy if I can find one, just to see the difference.
I am still certain that windows has something to do with it, because the last time I installed the game, it was perfect for several years, then something happened 2 or 3 years ago and now it stays that way, even after re-installments.........be logic, it wasn't the CD then.....so, what else than windows could be the error?
Fred
I'm not sure about what windows has to come into it and what or how it causes it, however, I think I have identified the 'unknown' mod you were having with the regional transport menu. Try looknig at this: http://wiki.livedoor.jp/masahiromirai/d/Ordnance%20Survey%20Regional%20Transport%20Map
Does it look familiar?
Sorry for the late reply
Yesss, it looks quite familiar, but what is that file (mod) called? Chinese is ......chinese to me......not much for me to understand. Thanks
Fred
Its actaully Japanese... and you could easily translate with Google translate.
here: http://translate.google.com.au/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http://wiki.livedoor.jp/masahiromirai/d/Ordnance%2520Survey%2520Regional%2520Transport%2520Map
The mod is called 'Ordnance Survey Regional Transport Map' and doesn't seem to be available anymore too, it was apparently on the STEX once as well but disappeared.
So it tells me that this mod is probably a really old one that's for sure.
Quote from: Momo.kimchii on August 17, 2013, 03:15:05 PM
Its actaully Japanese... and you could easily translate with Google translate.
here: http://translate.google.com.au/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http://wiki.livedoor.jp/masahiromirai/d/Ordnance%2520Survey%2520Regional%2520Transport%2520Map
The mod is called 'Ordnance Survey Regional Transport Map' and doesn't seem to be available anymore too, it was apparently on the STEX once as well but disappeared.
So it tells me that this mod is probably a really old one that's for sure.
Japanese?....ouppps...sorry. lol...Japanese is Chinese to me also.....lol (no wonder my translater couldn't figure out a word)
Hey thanks, I will try to do some searching on my computer with the Ordinance Regional Transport Map, maybe I'll find something. ;)
Thanks You, much appreciated. ;) :thumbsup:
Fred
Quote from: Momo.kimchii on August 17, 2013, 03:15:05 PM
...The mod is called 'Ordnance Survey Regional Transport Map' and doesn't seem to be available anymore too, it was apparently on the STEX once as well but disappeared, So it tells me that this mod is probably a really old one that's for sure.
Momo.kimchii your efforts on mrbisonm behalf are &apls and a karma point is heading your way :thumbsup: