I could need some help with patching...

[Seaman]

hi

I recently realized, that my missing nightlighting problem is based on the fact, that my game is still on version 1.1.638.0 and needs to be updated. I've read in another thread, that it should be no problem to simply patch the game without having interferences with plugins etc. I downloaded the patch from the SC4D area and after executing the installer it responds everything ok. But ingame the lights don't show up and the sc4 .exe is still in version 1.1.638.0 with 8.407.514 Bytes (which should be correct for the 638 version).

Any suggestions where the problem might be?

[schokoladeneis 1]

Hi Seaman,

if you patched your game to 1.1.638.0 all you have to do is to download and install the Update 1.1.640.0
You can find this file at the "Official Maxis Files"-Section on the sc4d-navigation bar on the left under the BAT (Building Architect Tool)
You have too scroll a bit down to "Recommended Downloads", there it is.

Or you can follow this link to the german sc4-fanpage "SimCityKurier": http://kurier.simcityplaza.de/details.php?file=307

Good Luck!

[Seaman]

thank you for your reply (and even the link to the german site, too. Unnecessary for me right now, but very kind of you).

I already have the patch and executed it. It finally says: "Congratulations! SimCity has been updated with EP1 Update 2 (build 640)."

but when I check the .exe its still the 1.1.638.0 with 8.407.514 Bytes.

[schokoladeneis 1]

okey.... I understand. Do you use a Steam/Origin-Version? And what is your Operating System?

[Seaman]

I am using the CD version of SC4 Deluxe on a Windows 7 machine.

Is it correct, that the patch changes the .exe at all? But on the other hand, half of the buildings ingame remain dark, so I guess it is simply not patched and there is a mistake somewhere...

[mgb204]

When you run the patch, the message "Congratulations! SimCity has been updated with EP1 Update 2 (build 640)." will appear, but it's kind of misleading.

The folder where this patch was located should now contain a new file, PatchLog.txt. Please copy the contents of that and post it here. Then we can see what it's really doing.

[Seaman]

ah, thats a good hint (patchlog, damn it, how obvious!)

the log seems to report the error:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   PATCH  Version 6.50 - RTPatch(R) Professional - Software Update System

                    DOS/16-bit Windows/32-bit Windows Edition

       (C) Copyright Pocket Soft, Inc., 1991-2002.  All Rights Reserved.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------





----- Processing Patch File -----



Applying MODIFY File Patch for 'DELUXE.exe'



Applying MODIFY File Patch for 'RUSHHOUR.exe'



Applying MODIFY File Patch for 'SimCity_1.dat'



    New Version of File 'SimCity_1.dat' already exists.





----- Patch File Processing Complete -----





-----------------------------------------------------

-        Results of Application of Patch File       -

-----------------------------------------------------

File Patches Applied ......................... (   0)



   Files Modified .................. (   0)

   Files Renamed. .................. (   0)

   Files Added ..................... (   0)

   Files Deleted ................... (   0)

   Temporary Files Processed........ (   0)



File Patches Skipped: New Files Up-To-Date.... (   1)



File Patches Ignored: Old Files Missing....... (   0)

                      Old Files Invalid....... (   2)

-----------------------------------------------------

Total File Patches Processed ................. (   3)

-----------------------------------------------------

[InvisiChem]

A quick solution to your issue and possible future one if you upgrade to Windows 10 would be to use you CD Key to register the game from Steam.

The Steam version comes already updated and patched. Keep your CD's around if you want to install BAT for gmax, but other than that, my Steam version works great. Plus, no CD requirement.

I did notice you have been trying for a while to get the 640 update installed. I do not know why it is failing, but this is a very fast solution.

If you do wish to install the Steam version and redeem your key, install the Steam client. At the top of the Steam client, click on Games then Activate a product on Steam.

I just repurchased the game, inexpensive. But this way should allow you to install the game for free.

[mgb204]

Where did you get your CD version from? Has the .exe been modified in any way? For example, modifying the SimCity1.DAT file to fix the I-HT bug would produce this error. So would the use of a NoCD patch or otherwise non-original file.

Usually it's best to install these patches as soon as you install SC4, since once they are done, it should never need validate your files again. If you did modify anything, restore from the backups and try again, the patch should complete.

[Seaman]

thanks a lot for your work-around, InvisiChem. But I rather try to avoid steam, even if this means I have to solve problems with the CD version like the recent Windows update, which deactivated the SECDRV driver, preventing SC4 (and all other "old" games, relying on the CD verification) to start.

You are correct. After I realized, the patching failed, I tried to execute the patch 3 or 4 times (after rebooting the system, removing the renamed backup .exe from the SC4 folder, etc).


thanks mgb204. I know the game should be patched as soon as possible, but I wasn't aware of the 640 build 5 years ago. You've said that modifying the SimCity1.DAT file to fix the I-HT bug would produce this error. I am not sure, wether I downloaded something that fixes that. Is there a way to check, wether it is modified?

[InvisiChem]

If you have reader, open SimCity_1.dat. Click exemplar at the top, then tree. In the tree view, click the plus next to General-->RCI and select the IH Census. If the values listed at Drives does not equal 0x00002010,0x0000000A,0x00002020,0x00000050,0x00002030,0x0000000A,0x00004C00,0x00000064,0x00004900,0x00000064  Then the I-HT Fix has been applied.

If the directions were fully followed, you should have a backup of the SimCity_1.dat file somewhere. If so, restore the original, apply the patch and then put the modified one back. Will not hurt anything.

If you installed CAM 2.1.0, the backup will be under /Documents/SimCity 4/Original Maxis Files/   This is the SimCity_1.dat you had when CAM 2.1.0 was installed though, modified or not.

Last, if really unsure, simply uninstall and reinstall the game. It will leave your plugins folder untouched. Always backup this data just to be sure though. Once installed, use the update patches and then install any fixes.

[mgb204]

Last, if really unsure, simply uninstall and reinstall the game. It will leave your plugins folder untouched. Always backup this data just to be sure though. Once installed, use the update patches and then install any fixes.

Worst case scenario, that's what I'd do.

Bear in mind the NAM patches the main .exe too with a 4GB memory patch, I'm not sure if that changes the checksum or expected size, but I wouldn't rule it out. Hence the NAM installer these days advises to update before running the installer.

If you've been using this install for 5 years, a new install is likely the easiest solution, since who knows what's gone on in all that time?

[Seaman]

thanks for the help! The values listed at Drives do equal the values you mentioned. I don't have CAM (yet  ).

ok, maybe reinstalling the game is a solution to this. If I save the plugin folder, it should be a simple de- and reinstall and patching (and maybe backcopying of the plugin folder)? Are there any Mods you are aware of, that should be reinstalled, too? (like the CAM as you are mentioned; what about the NAM?)

[mgb204]

If you simply copy the SimCity 4 folder in My Documents to another location (Desktop will do), along with the Plugins folder in Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\ (note drop the (x86) part if using 32bit windows, install directory may be different), this is just in-case anything goes wrong.

When you uninstall SC4, it asks if you want to keep existing files, and simply doesn't touch them. So when you reinstall all your regions/plugins should be as you left them. Of course you have the backup, just in case something goes wrong.

Before anything else, patch the game up to 1.640, after that you can apply any other fixes you want. Probably best to rerun the NAM installer to add the 4gb patch again. If you have 7zip and can find it, you can open the installer (NAM) and extract that separately and just run it standalone.

I-HT fix is the next one to patch. Most of the other fixes can just be overrides and so don't require modifying the original files. Also don't forget to restore any command line switches you have in place (like CPUCount:1 etc).

[Seaman]

Well, I still don't know what was the problem in the first place. But reinstalling solved it, too. Lights on, finally  (right in time for my timezone)! I will have a more frequent look at my cities at night, now, with custom lights enabled. Previously, I thought I simply f**ed up by mixing -nite mods and didn't spent much attention to it.

thanks a lot, schokoladeneis 1, mgb204 and InvisiChem.

[InvisiChem]

schokoladeneis 1, mgb204 and InvisiChem

Careful SC4D, I think we have a new tech dream team lol