Startup problems

[Waco]

Hey there. I'm new here and have a problem. When I run SimCity 4 (Deluxe Edition), all it does is run the splash screen and do nothing else. It just sits there, not running the game. I you could help, please reply.

[xxdita]

There could be a number of problems. What Operating System are you using? Do you have any custom content installed, if so how much?

Also check your Task Manager to see if the program is running after it crashes. You may just not be waiting long enough.

[metarvo]

It pains me to report that I'm having startup issues as well.  Even with a fresh installation, with no plugins and only the default regions, SC4 refuses to run.  At first, it would reach the EA Games splash screen and crash to desktop before the screen even finished running.  So, I deactivated the intro screen using the -intro: off parameter.  The game was then able to reach the region view screen, but it would CTD whenever I selected the "Load Region" option to go to another region.  The game even CTD'd whenever I clicked on a city quad.  I thought it might be a compatibility issue with my Vista dual-core machine, so I tried the dual-core fix [linkie] listed in "Other Tutorials."  Unfortunately, the problem has persisted, and I can no longer load a region or city without a CTD.  I'm at a loss, and SC4 is completely unplayable in this condition.  Does anyone have any ideas?

[xxdita]

You may need to turn off Vista's User Accounts, if you have them on currently. Or try running as Admin.

[metarvo]

I have the user accounts off, and I'm running my computer as an Admin, so I don't know if that's the problem.

EDIT:  I have some good news.  SC4 is up and running again, and it seems like the cure for the problem was a simple reboot, which may have "activated" the different fixes that I attempted.  It works great now!  Thanks for the support. 

[Connor]

I've been having a start up problem too. When i launch SC4 it comes up with the splash screen and then nothing happens. I only started to get this problem yesterday, and have never had it before, so I don't know what causes it.

I have tried running it as administrator, changing the resolution, taking away plug-ins, re-installing etc but nothing will work. If anyone has any solutions it would be very much appreciated.

I am using Vista, but i've never had any problems with Vista and Simcity before since I've had Vista (nearly a year) so I dont think that's the cause.

[jmyers2043]

Hello Connor - Well, something has changed. That's certain.

I don't have Vista but the first thing I'd do is to try to run SimCity Vanilla - no plugins at all. Does it run? If not - I'd be looking at a possible Microsoft update that has changed a setting without your knowledge. 

Next thing I'd do is a word search 'vista'. I found four pages of links regarding vista questions. There may be some information there.

Sorry I can't help much further than that. Good Luck - Jim

[Connor]

I have tried it without any plug-ins and it does not make a difference.

You are right though, because something must have changed, it would not just randomly stop working.

As you said it may be an update that has changed my settings. I'll probably search around a little more, but if i don't find anything i may try a system restore.


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EDIT: After three days of trying literally everything i found my next possible solution which was to try downloading the updates from the simcity website (which i thought i already had installed anyway, but turned out i didnt download on my new computer) and it solved the problem. Not sure how or why my game stopped working in the first place but its fixed now.

[metarvo]

Unfortunately, here we go again, only this time it's worse!    SC4 won't even start up for me now.  When I try to run SC4, it just says to insert the SC4 CD, even though it's already in the drive.  I doubt that it's an SC4 CD problem or a CD drive problem (or at least I hope it's not ) because the game will install from that drive and with that CD, and the SC4 CD is acknowledged as being in the drive according to the My Computer window.  This problem happens whether the Plugins folder is empty or not, so I can rule out any plugin-related causes.  Please help me if you can! 

[CityMaster563]

I think I can help you.

SC4 comes with 2 CDs, so if it's saying insert CD (with CD already in drive) then try the other one. Have you tried with the other CD?
(example: Insert CD 1, if that doesn't work, then insert cd 2. Does it work?)

[metarvo]

I guess I should clarify that I was indeed using CD 2.  CD 2 was always the correct CD before, and the game just doesn't work with that one.  Just to see, I tried CD 1, but the game won't start with that one either.  So, I've tried running it with both CDs.  I note that I am using Vista, but that never stopped me from running the game before.

[CityMaster563]

When you insert the CD into the drive, do you wait for autoplay to pop up?
Just put in one of the cd, then wait until a little window saying autoplay, and click on "run autorun.exe." After that, start the game.
If that doesn't work, try the other CD, and do the same thing. Does that work?

[metarvo]

After I read your last post, CityMaster, I tried out your suggestion.  I tried CD 1, and clicked on the autorun.exe, and it led me to a menu with these choices: Play, Uninstall, Readme, and Simcity.com.  I selected Play, and immediately got the "Cannot locate SC4 play disk" error.  So, I tried it with CD 2, and absolutely nothing happened.  The game didn't even try to start.  Unfortunately, I still can't play the game. 

[CityMaster563]

When you click run autorun.exe, did you click on the SC4 short cut? (try this on both cd 1 and 2.)
If autoplay doesn't apear, then go to my computer, right-click on the D: drive and then click on (open autoplay) After it pops up, click on run autorun, and then click on the SC4 short cut.

If that doesn't work then re-install it. Here's the steps:
1. Uninstall SC4 and insert CD 1.
2. When you are prompted to insert CD 2 halfway, take out CD 1, and insert CD 2, click ok, and let it run.
3. When it finishes, don't take out the CD!
4. The game will run automatically after installation. If it doesn't run, then click on the SC4 icon.
5. Enjoy SimCity 4 and the new releases of RHW and NWN!
SimCity 4 Commonly runs on CD 2 on most computers, so the game should run. If this doesn't work, then it's probably the CDs that are scratched.
Good luck!

[metarvo]

I uninstalled and reinstalled the game, updated the game, updated Windows, and rebooted my computer.  The game works now!    Thanks for helping me out, CityMaster.    Now I'm getting to follow Step 5, and I'm really liking that!

[CityMaster563]

You're welcome!