SimCity 4 won't start correctly

[Sam]

I have Vista Ultimate 32 installed. When I start SimCity 4, Rush-Hour it
starts with the opening screen, then after a few seconds it drops back
to the task bar, showing my normal desktop. The icon can be pushed again
(and again) and the game will continue loading for a few more seconds,
then drop back to the task bar again. Hmmmm!

I've tried every compatibility mode I can find... no difference. I tried
changing the screen resolution way down... still no joy. I've tried
running it in "admin" mode with UAC is turned off. Arrrgh!

I figure the problem is probably a video or audio incompatibility. I
have an nVidia 8800gtx and I've tried both their current release drivers
and the newest betas they list on their web site. No dice. My sound card
is a Creative X-Fi Platinum with the current drivers installed. I've
also tried using their ALchemyX-Fi program and that doesn't make a
difference either. <sigh>

So now what? I know that others have played this game in Vista without a
problem. Not sure if there's other hardware incompatibilities or not. My
MB is an Asus Crossfire with an AMD Athlon 64 FX-62. I have 4 gig of
Crucial Ballistix RAM installed. Not much else is loading up... I'm
using a Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse (with their Set Point drivers)
and have the ZoneAlarm Security Suite for Vista, release 71.078,
running. (I've tried turning that off too).

This is frustrating... :-(

Sam
--
"We have met the enemy, and he is us" -- Pogo

[Andy]

"Sam" <retired@home.net> wrote in message
news:gdve73t6gt30ol150mm3u8ifhugtok0k3m@4ax.com...
>I have Vista Ultimate 32 installed. When I start SimCity 4, Rush-Hour it
> starts with the opening screen, then after a few seconds it drops back
> to the task bar, showing my normal desktop. The icon can be pushed again
> (and again) and the game will continue loading for a few more seconds,
> then drop back to the task bar again. Hmmmm!
>
> I've tried every compatibility mode I can find... no difference. I tried
> changing the screen resolution way down... still no joy. I've tried
> running it in "admin" mode with UAC is turned off. Arrrgh!
>
> I figure the problem is probably a video or audio incompatibility. I
> have an nVidia 8800gtx and I've tried both their current release drivers
> and the newest betas they list on their web site. No dice. My sound card
> is a Creative X-Fi Platinum with the current drivers installed. I've
> also tried using their ALchemyX-Fi program and that doesn't make a
> difference either. <sigh>
>
> So now what? I know that others have played this game in Vista without a
> problem. Not sure if there's other hardware incompatibilities or not. My
> MB is an Asus Crossfire with an AMD Athlon 64 FX-62. I have 4 gig of
> Crucial Ballistix RAM installed. Not much else is loading up... I'm
> using a Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse (with their Set Point drivers)
> and have the ZoneAlarm Security Suite for Vista, release 71.078,
> running. (I've tried turning that off too).
>
> This is frustrating... :-(

Was your computer even concieved when this game was released?

Disable your X-fi in device manager, and enable your on-board sound card as
your primary sound card. Try the game again.

New Hardware + Old Game = crap shoot, best bet would be to call EA tech
support, chances are the really kind people on the phones would love to help
you get the game running, I know I used too.

Good luck,
A.

[Sam]

On Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:38:16 -0700, "Andy" <android8675@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>"Sam" <retired@home.net> wrote in message
>news:gdve73t6gt30ol150mm3u8ifhugtok0k3m@4ax.com...
>>I have Vista Ultimate 32 installed. When I start SimCity 4, Rush-Hour it
>> starts with the opening screen, then after a few seconds it drops back
>> to the task bar, showing my normal desktop. The icon can be pushed again
>> (and again) and the game will continue loading for a few more seconds,
>> then drop back to the task bar again. Hmmmm!
>>
>> I've tried every compatibility mode I can find... no difference. I tried
>> changing the screen resolution way down... still no joy. I've tried
>> running it in "admin" mode with UAC is turned off. Arrrgh!
>>
>> I figure the problem is probably a video or audio incompatibility. I
>> have an nVidia 8800gtx and I've tried both their current release drivers
>> and the newest betas they list on their web site. No dice. My sound card
>> is a Creative X-Fi Platinum with the current drivers installed. I've
>> also tried using their ALchemyX-Fi program and that doesn't make a
>> difference either. <sigh>
>>
>> So now what? I know that others have played this game in Vista without a
>> problem. Not sure if there's other hardware incompatibilities or not. My
>> MB is an Asus Crossfire with an AMD Athlon 64 FX-62. I have 4 gig of
>> Crucial Ballistix RAM installed. Not much else is loading up... I'm
>> using a Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse (with their Set Point drivers)
>> and have the ZoneAlarm Security Suite for Vista, release 71.078,
>> running. (I've tried turning that off too).
>>
>> This is frustrating... :-(
>
>Was your computer even concieved when this game was released?
>
>Disable your X-fi in device manager, and enable your on-board sound card as
>your primary sound card. Try the game again.
>
>New Hardware + Old Game = crap shoot, best bet would be to call EA tech
>support, chances are the really kind people on the phones would love to help
>you get the game running, I know I used too.
>
>Good luck,
>A.

I know that Vista wasn't hardly started when SC4 was developed. However,
I'd read that a number of other people had it running straight out of
the box. I tried disabling the sound card and running the game again
(with no sound at all). However, the game stopped just the same way once
again. Here are two of the logs from the SC4 exception logs The first
one is after disabling the sound card and the second one is before
disabling it (last night):

*****************************************************
Exception time: 06/19/2007, at 16:08:12.
Exception code: 0xC0000005 (-1073741819) ACCESS_VIOLATION.
Current thread ID: 5648 (0x00001610).
Version information:
Application/module path: D:\Games\Maxis\SimCity 4\Apps\SimCity 4.exe
Application/module version name: SimCity 4
Application/module version: 1.1.638.0
System version: Windows NT 6.0
System memory: 2048 Megabytes total, 2020 Megabytes free.

Exception module: D:\Games\Maxis\SimCity 4\Apps\SimCity 4.exe.
Exception address: 0x00876d3a. Section:Offset: 0x01:0x0046fd3a.

*****************************************************
Exception time: 06/18/2007, at 23:05:20.
Exception code: 0xC0000005 (-1073741819) ACCESS_VIOLATION.
Current thread ID: 4816 (0x000012d0).
Version information:
Application/module path: D:\Games\Maxis\SimCity 4\Apps\SimCity 4.exe
Application/module version name: SimCity 4
Application/module version: 1.1.638.0
System version: Windows NT 6.0
System memory: 2048 Megabytes total, 1968 Megabytes free.

Exception module: D:\Games\Maxis\SimCity 4\Apps\SimCity 4.exe.
Exception address: 0x0098ea26. Section:Offset: 0x01:0x00587a26.
*****************************************************

Or, besides disabling the card, do I need to uninstall all the Creative
software too? Creative has been really slow in developing Vista ready
drivers for this card... there's virtually open rebellion on their
forum. I'm seriously considering getting another brand of card.

Sam
--
"We have met the enemy, and he is us" -- Pogo

[Sam]

On Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:09:15 -0700, Sam <retired@home.net> wrote:

>I have Vista Ultimate 32 installed. When I start SimCity 4, Rush-Hour it
>starts with the opening screen, then after a few seconds it drops back
>to the task bar, showing my normal desktop. The icon can be pushed again
>(and again) and the game will continue loading for a few more seconds,
>then drop back to the task bar again. Hmmmm!
>
>I've tried every compatibility mode I can find... no difference. I tried
>changing the screen resolution way down... still no joy. I've tried
>running it in "admin" mode with UAC is turned off. Arrrgh!
>
>I figure the problem is probably a video or audio incompatibility. I
>have an nVidia 8800gtx and I've tried both their current release drivers
>and the newest betas they list on their web site. No dice. My sound card
>is a Creative X-Fi Platinum with the current drivers installed. I've
>also tried using their ALchemyX-Fi program and that doesn't make a
>difference either. <sigh>
>
>So now what? I know that others have played this game in Vista without a
>problem. Not sure if there's other hardware incompatibilities or not. My
>MB is an Asus Crossfire with an AMD Athlon 64 FX-62. I have 4 gig of
>Crucial Ballistix RAM installed. Not much else is loading up... I'm
>using a Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse (with their Set Point drivers)
>and have the ZoneAlarm Security Suite for Vista, release 71.078,
>running. (I've tried turning that off too).
>
>This is frustrating... :-(
>
>Sam

Well I finally figured it out. It had nothing to do with my sound/video
card or their drivers. The solution was with two other items running in
the background. First was the Logitech Set point program. Second was
"Folding@Home" that I had running as well. The funny thing is that it
must be a combination of things, since just taking one out still left
problems.

I hope this helps anyone else with the same problem.

Sam

[Mark]

Sam,

Well done! - who would have thought.

Can you document how you tested? Did you uninstall everything on the
computer, disable every service that didn't sound important, go into each
and every running app and uncheck the "start at bootup", etc. Having a
process to do it may end up helping a lot of people who may have similar
problems.

Mark



"Sam" <retired@home.net> wrote in message
news:15kh73h6f0csaip0n6uvmjmd9o3ndq45hd@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:09:15 -0700, Sam <retired@home.net> wrote:
>
>>I have Vista Ultimate 32 installed. When I start SimCity 4, Rush-Hour it
>>starts with the opening screen, then after a few seconds it drops back
>>to the task bar, showing my normal desktop. The icon can be pushed again
>>(and again) and the game will continue loading for a few more seconds,
>>then drop back to the task bar again. Hmmmm!
>>
>>I've tried every compatibility mode I can find... no difference. I tried
>>changing the screen resolution way down... still no joy. I've tried
>>running it in "admin" mode with UAC is turned off. Arrrgh!
>>
>>I figure the problem is probably a video or audio incompatibility. I
>>have an nVidia 8800gtx and I've tried both their current release drivers
>>and the newest betas they list on their web site. No dice. My sound card
>>is a Creative X-Fi Platinum with the current drivers installed. I've
>>also tried using their ALchemyX-Fi program and that doesn't make a
>>difference either. <sigh>
>>
>>So now what? I know that others have played this game in Vista without a
>>problem. Not sure if there's other hardware incompatibilities or not. My
>>MB is an Asus Crossfire with an AMD Athlon 64 FX-62. I have 4 gig of
>>Crucial Ballistix RAM installed. Not much else is loading up... I'm
>>using a Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse (with their Set Point drivers)
>>and have the ZoneAlarm Security Suite for Vista, release 71.078,
>>running. (I've tried turning that off too).
>>
>>This is frustrating... :-(
>>
>>Sam
>
> Well I finally figured it out. It had nothing to do with my sound/video
> card or their drivers. The solution was with two other items running in
> the background. First was the Logitech Set point program. Second was
> "Folding@Home" that I had running as well. The funny thing is that it
> must be a combination of things, since just taking one out still left
> problems.
>
> I hope this helps anyone else with the same problem.
>
> Sam
>

[Andy]

"Sam" <retired@home.net> wrote in message
news:4oog735eqd2vh0sqstuu1qc6gpe7d6p1em@4ax.com...
>
> I know that Vista wasn't hardly started when SC4 was developed. However,
> I'd read that a number of other people had it running straight out of
> the box. I tried disabling the sound card and running the game again
> (with no sound at all). However, the game stopped just the same way once
> again. Here are two of the logs from the SC4 exception logs The first
> one is after disabling the sound card and the second one is before
> disabling it (last night):
>
> *****************************************************
> Exception time: 06/19/2007, at 16:08:12.
> Exception code: 0xC0000005 (-1073741819) ACCESS_VIOLATION.
> Current thread ID: 5648 (0x00001610).
> Version information:
> Application/module path: D:\Games\Maxis\SimCity 4\Apps\SimCity 4.exe
> Application/module version name: SimCity 4
> Application/module version: 1.1.638.0
> System version: Windows NT 6.0
> System memory: 2048 Megabytes total, 2020 Megabytes free.
>
> Exception module: D:\Games\Maxis\SimCity 4\Apps\SimCity 4.exe.
> Exception address: 0x00876d3a. Section:Offset: 0x01:0x0046fd3a.
>
> *****************************************************
> Exception time: 06/18/2007, at 23:05:20.
> Exception code: 0xC0000005 (-1073741819) ACCESS_VIOLATION.
> Current thread ID: 4816 (0x000012d0).
> Version information:
> Application/module path: D:\Games\Maxis\SimCity 4\Apps\SimCity 4.exe
> Application/module version name: SimCity 4
> Application/module version: 1.1.638.0
> System version: Windows NT 6.0
> System memory: 2048 Megabytes total, 1968 Megabytes free.
>
> Exception module: D:\Games\Maxis\SimCity 4\Apps\SimCity 4.exe.
> Exception address: 0x0098ea26. Section:Offset: 0x01:0x00587a26.
> *****************************************************
Yeah, no idea, but it is a different exception, but still could be something
else.

> Or, besides disabling the card, do I need to uninstall all the Creative
> software too? Creative has been really slow in developing Vista ready
> drivers for this card... there's virtually open rebellion on their
> forum. I'm seriously considering getting another brand of card.
No, remove the card, the drivers shouldn't do anything. Yeah, Problem with
Vista I guess is no DirectSound anymore, and I guess CreativeLabs drivers
were built around it, so now they are just having all sorts of problems
coming up with drivers that work. I think the problem is the hardware,
hopefully they can recover or Microsoft can adopt something that helps them
out.

I'm not sure Sam. Might want to check into http://support.ea.com, send em an
email, see if they have a suggestion.

[Andy]

"Sam" <retired@home.net> wrote in message
news:15kh73h6f0csaip0n6uvmjmd9o3ndq45hd@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:09:15 -0700, Sam <retired@home.net> wrote:
> Well I finally figured it out. It had nothing to do with my sound/video
> card or their drivers. The solution was with two other items running in
> the background. First was the Logitech Set point program. Second was
> "Folding@Home" that I had running as well. The funny thing is that it
> must be a combination of things, since just taking one out still left
> problems.
>
> I hope this helps anyone else with the same problem.
>
> Sam
>

Nice work, I have which version of Setpoint? I don't use Folding, but I do
use the later.

[Sam]

On Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:57:20 -0700, "Andy" <android8675@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>"Sam" <retired@home.net> wrote in message
>news:15kh73h6f0csaip0n6uvmjmd9o3ndq45hd@4ax.com...
>> On Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:09:15 -0700, Sam <retired@home.net> wrote:
>> Well I finally figured it out. It had nothing to do with my sound/video
>> card or their drivers. The solution was with two other items running in
>> the background. First was the Logitech Set point program. Second was
>> "Folding@Home" that I had running as well. The funny thing is that it
>> must be a combination of things, since just taking one out still left
>> problems.
>>
>> I hope this helps anyone else with the same problem.
>>
>> Sam
>>
>
>Nice work, I have which version of Setpoint? I don't use Folding, but I do
>use the later.

I have the latest 4.0 version. I could see the desktop bleeding through
each time I hit the mouse key. Eventually SC4 would just crash.

Sam

[Sam]

On Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:40:09 -0700, "Mark" <mark_butler@verizon.net>
wrote:

>Sam,
>
>Well done! - who would have thought.
>
>Can you document how you tested? Did you uninstall everything on the
>computer, disable every service that didn't sound important, go into each
>and every running app and uncheck the "start at bootup", etc. Having a
>process to do it may end up helping a lot of people who may have similar
>problems.
>
>Mark

After messing with the video drivers and sound card, I decided to start
cutting anything that was in my notification area (tray). When the
program started working, I then tried putting things back, one-at-a-time
until the program started misbehaving again.

Sam


>"Sam" <retired@home.net> wrote in message
>news:15kh73h6f0csaip0n6uvmjmd9o3ndq45hd@4ax.com...
>> On Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:09:15 -0700, Sam <retired@home.net> wrote:
>>
>>>I have Vista Ultimate 32 installed. When I start SimCity 4, Rush-Hour it
>>>starts with the opening screen, then after a few seconds it drops back
>>>to the task bar, showing my normal desktop. The icon can be pushed again
>>>(and again) and the game will continue loading for a few more seconds,
>>>then drop back to the task bar again. Hmmmm!
>>>
>>>I've tried every compatibility mode I can find... no difference. I tried
>>>changing the screen resolution way down... still no joy. I've tried
>>>running it in "admin" mode with UAC is turned off. Arrrgh!
>>>
>>>I figure the problem is probably a video or audio incompatibility. I
>>>have an nVidia 8800gtx and I've tried both their current release drivers
>>>and the newest betas they list on their web site. No dice. My sound card
>>>is a Creative X-Fi Platinum with the current drivers installed. I've
>>>also tried using their ALchemyX-Fi program and that doesn't make a
>>>difference either. <sigh>
>>>
>>>So now what? I know that others have played this game in Vista without a
>>>problem. Not sure if there's other hardware incompatibilities or not. My
>>>MB is an Asus Crossfire with an AMD Athlon 64 FX-62. I have 4 gig of
>>>Crucial Ballistix RAM installed. Not much else is loading up... I'm
>>>using a Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse (with their Set Point drivers)
>>>and have the ZoneAlarm Security Suite for Vista, release 71.078,
>>>running. (I've tried turning that off too).
>>>
>>>This is frustrating... :-(
>>>
>>>Sam
>>
>> Well I finally figured it out. It had nothing to do with my sound/video
>> card or their drivers. The solution was with two other items running in
>> the background. First was the Logitech Set point program. Second was
>> "Folding@Home" that I had running as well. The funny thing is that it
>> must be a combination of things, since just taking one out still left
>> problems.
>>
>> I hope this helps anyone else with the same problem.
>>
>> Sam
>>

[Andy]

"Sam" <retired@home.net> wrote in message
news:d3nj73ls5iga859gc3qp6ueea63kg1he2l@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:57:20 -0700, "Andy" <android8675@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>Nice work, I have which version of Setpoint? I don't use Folding, but I do
>>use the later.
>
> I have the latest 4.0 version. I could see the desktop bleeding through
> each time I hit the mouse key. Eventually SC4 would just crash.
>
> Sam

Interesting, I have been running 3.11 of setpoint and my Windows Media
Center would exhibit that problem. I just upgraded to 4.0, going to see if
Media Center is still having that problem, if so I might just uninstall and
see if that fixes it. Too bad because I need setpoint do do the mouse DPS on
the fly adjustments (MX518, greatest mouse i've ever owned)

[Sam]

On Thu, 21 Jun 2007 11:29:06 -0700, "Andy" <android8675@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>"Sam" <retired@home.net> wrote in message
>news:d3nj73ls5iga859gc3qp6ueea63kg1he2l@4ax.com...
>> On Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:57:20 -0700, "Andy" <android8675@hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>Nice work, I have which version of Setpoint? I don't use Folding, but I do
>>>use the later.
>>
>> I have the latest 4.0 version. I could see the desktop bleeding through
>> each time I hit the mouse key. Eventually SC4 would just crash.
>>
>> Sam
>
>Interesting, I have been running 3.11 of setpoint and my Windows Media
>Center would exhibit that problem. I just upgraded to 4.0, going to see if
>Media Center is still having that problem, if so I might just uninstall and
>see if that fixes it. Too bad because I need setpoint do do the mouse DPS on
>the fly adjustments (MX518, greatest mouse i've ever owned)

Sounding more like a Vista bug in the SetPoint drivers.

Sam

[Chris Weir]

"Sam" <retired@home.net> wrote in message
news:5akl73hk441a9rah690u1ug9c7kqoa2719@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 21 Jun 2007 11:29:06 -0700, "Andy" <android8675@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>"Sam" <retired@home.net> wrote in message
>>news:d3nj73ls5iga859gc3qp6ueea63kg1he2l@4ax.com...
>>> On Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:57:20 -0700, "Andy" <android8675@hotmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Nice work, I have which version of Setpoint? I don't use Folding, but I
>>>>do
>>>>use the later.
>>>
>>> I have the latest 4.0 version. I could see the desktop bleeding through
>>> each time I hit the mouse key. Eventually SC4 would just crash.
>>>
>>> Sam
>>
>>Interesting, I have been running 3.11 of setpoint and my Windows Media
>>Center would exhibit that problem. I just upgraded to 4.0, going to see if
>>Media Center is still having that problem, if so I might just uninstall
>>and
>>see if that fixes it. Too bad because I need setpoint do do the mouse DPS
>>on
>>the fly adjustments (MX518, greatest mouse i've ever owned)
>
> Sounding more like a Vista bug in the SetPoint drivers.
>
> Sam


Hi Andy

I have SC4, never had any problem running it. Crashes out occasionally, but
that isn't anything that didn't happen with any of other versions of windows
I have used.

What is setpoint.


Yours Chris

[Andy]

"Chris Weir" <chris.weir@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:ez0ukaEtHHA.412@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hi Andy
>
> I have SC4, never had any problem running it. Crashes out occasionally,
> but that isn't anything that didn't happen with any of other versions of
> windows I have used.
>
> What is setpoint.
>
>
> Yours Chris

It's the main utility for Logitech Mice, controls things like on the fly DPS
adjustments and other fine tuning.

Also, I wasn't having the problem, Sam was. :) I haaven't broken out SC4 in
years.

-A.

[Chris Weir]

"Andy" <android8675@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:CC64044A-8C5A-49FC-907E-C5D82B1B7562@microsoft.com...
> "Chris Weir" <chris.weir@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:ez0ukaEtHHA.412@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Hi Andy
>>
>> I have SC4, never had any problem running it. Crashes out occasionally,
>> but that isn't anything that didn't happen with any of other versions of
>> windows I have used.
>>
>> What is setpoint.
>>
>>
>> Yours Chris
>
> It's the main utility for Logitech Mice, controls things like on the fly
> DPS adjustments and other fine tuning.
>
> Also, I wasn't having the problem, Sam was. :) I haaven't broken out SC4
> in years.
>
> -A.


Hi Andy

Thanks for the info.

The post I replied to was a little confusing, I must admit I couldn't tell
if Sam or you, were having the problem.


Yours Chris

[vidicheese]

I have a one month old computer. It is a compaq, with 2.4 ghz, and 1gb
of ram. It has a NVDIA GE force display adaptor, and Windows Vista,
32bit. It ran Simcity4 fantastically for the first two weeks, but the
game won't even load now. I see the bridge screen, then the EA logo, and
then it goes right back to the desktop. I have tried multiple factory
restores, updated drivers, and left off windows updates, and gotten
windows updates. Nothing has helped. I will try the previous writers
suggestions, but if it doesn't work, is there anyone out there with
another suggestion?


--
vidicheese