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SOLVED: My game crashes to Desktop ¡¡¡

Started by jeronij, January 13, 2009, 09:39:23 AM

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mlylem

Jack see this post by Twalsh102 it will help you find all the info you need for the Iht-fix

http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=17205.msg501747#msg501747

mgb204

The I-HT fix won't stop the problem, but it's an important update.

Since the issue seems to relate to Direct X, my best guess is that your system won't support Direct X rendering of SC4. Because you can't launch the game, it's necessary to add a switch to the startup of your game to switch to the more compatible software rendering mode.

To do this, right click on the SC4 icon on the desktop, select properties. From here, click the shortcut tab and find the target line. Here you should have something like this:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe"

You can add commands or switches to this line, to enable software rendering, add "-d:soft" to the end. There are other commands you might also want to add here too, for example here is a typical set for many players:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -d:soft -intro:off -CPUCount:1 -f -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32

This sets software rendering mode, disables the intro video, sets SC4 to use only 1 core (for multicore systems this prevents CTDs), set full-screen mode, use a custom resolution of 1920x1080.

You might not need/want all of these, and some thing like the resolution need to match your system, but hopefully for now, simply setting software rendering will get you going.

Jack_wilds

my sc4 is functioning... but I did not do anythig to the I=ht fix... for one thing I cannot find it...

and then, I remember sometime ago that jeronji had everything maxis for SC4, SC4deluxe, ect add=ons [bat, plug-in manager, LE, etc] with instructions and links, and additional useful windows drivers, dll's, or other tweaks to aid in better functions... all in one place...

again, i remember it, but not where to find it... I lost my major folder where I had all these programs and drivers and dlls... now back to locating everything again...

thx for any further aid on this matter...

Girafe

I am sorry but I don t get the place you add the command line

The Floraler

This is the end, hold your breath and count to ten, feel the earth move, and then...

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *    *   *   *   *   *    * 

samerton

Quote from: Girafe on December 27, 2015, 12:21:09 PM
I am sorry but I don t get the place you add the command line

*image snip*
Judging by the path you're using Steam, you'll need to right click on SimCity 4 within the Steam library, click Properties and then "Set Launch Options". Paste the target line arguments directly into there.

Girafe

Quote from: samerton on December 27, 2015, 12:40:47 PM
Quote from: Girafe on December 27, 2015, 12:21:09 PM
I am sorry but I don t get the place you add the command line

*image snip*
Judging by the path you're using Steam, you'll need to right click on SimCity 4 within the Steam library, click Properties and then "Set Launch Options". Paste the target line arguments directly into there.

Yes I am using Steam version unfortunately, this Set Launch option does not work  %wrd
The Floraler

This is the end, hold your breath and count to ten, feel the earth move, and then...

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *    *   *   *   *   *    * 

mgb204

What is it exactly you want to add here? When you say it doesn't work, did it allow you to enter the switches?

Steam messed with the code of SC4, so as a result you need to use the function Samerton mentioned. Make sure you only include the switches for the Steam version (e.g. -d:soft -intro:off -CPUCount:1 -f -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32), I'm pretty certain including the game path here would cause problems.

Girafe

I can put whatever in the launch opetion of sc4 in steam panel however

- intro scene is not off
- resolution is not changed

The main purpose is that I want to force the game to run only 1 CPU to avoid to many crashes, rest of commad I don t mind too much
The Floraler

This is the end, hold your breath and count to ten, feel the earth move, and then...

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *    *   *   *   *   *    * 

art128

Here's how it looks for me. The resolution settings is done ingame since I'm using 1280*1024. If it still doesn't work, you can try using the SC4 Launcher.  http://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/28544-sc4-launcher/

I'll take a quiet life... A handshake of carbon monoxide.

Props & Texture Catalog

mgb204

It occurs to me, it might be better if you paste here what you input into the launch options window. Then we'll know for sure if there is any error in the syntax.

Otherwise, perhaps this guide on Steam is helpful. It also mentions using a launcher to run the game, it will allow you to set these commands in a user-friendly interface.

@art128 - 6,436 hours of SC4  :o, that's impressive  :thumbsup:

Girafe

I tried SC4 Launcher, it seems it s working  ;)

Thanks guys

What a pity to have 8 cores and use only 1  &mmm
The Floraler

This is the end, hold your breath and count to ten, feel the earth move, and then...

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *    *   *   *   *   *    * 

mgb204

Quote from: Girafe on December 28, 2015, 11:38:04 AM
What a pity to have 8 cores and use only 1  &mmm

You should save them for rendering all your fantastic BATs... That's about the only time (outside of playing Skylines) my PC gets a proper work-out.

kiwram

Found a solution. Search the plugin folder for zipfiles and delate em. Also change the cpu count to cpu0. This fixed my game. From that day zero crashes!

p.williams

one more thing to try- make sure your soundcard is turned on- took this idiot a week to find I'd mistakenly disabled it in the BIOS settings and wondering why it kept crashing ! :angrymore:

eagle74

I am getting a CTD when closing the building query for a particular lot, & have not been able to solve it.  The model is the Wedge Tower by Zero7 from the LEX.  Originally it was a CO$$$, but I relotted it to a CS$$$ Camelot with PIMX.  The query will open & display normally, but if it is clicked on to close it. . .game over.  The query exemplar is the standard one added by PIMX for this lot type.  In fact, I don't see anything unusual in the building exemplar.  I would appreciate some help on what else to check.  &hlp

luvs2draw

Hello everyone,

Had a problem with SC4 Deluxe crashing to Desktop when I scrolled the view using the wheel on my mouse or used the + and - . Tried all of the step's the Lex and STEX to no avail. I decided to uninstall the game and redownload it from GOG.
When I first got SC4 from GOG I downloaded the game under GOG Galaxy, this time I downloaded just the game (2nd option).
When I had GOG Galaxy installed, the game installed to C:|\Program Files (x86)\GOG Gaxaly\games\SimCity 4 Deluxe, on the redownload it located the game to C:\GOG Games\SinCity 4 Deluxe. I checked the properties in the shortcut and in the Shortcut in the target it put ":\GOG Games\SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition\Apps\SimCity 4 .exe" –CPUCount: 1 –f. When I had the game From Galaxy it never showed this set-up it was all about the resolution. Also with the Galaxy version installed, I could never get the resolution set in the game. When I started the game after the reload the resolution was already set to 600x800 I have since changed the resolution. I am Running Windows 10 64 bit on a HP Pavillion Norebook Laptop. So if anyone is having the same problem hopefully the information I have provided will help you with your problems with the game crashing to the desktop.

BruceAtkinson

Hello to all!
   Again I am having some issues...all of a sudden I cannot even load up my SimCity4 Rush Hour...and it isn't the regular CTD...I am using an Acer Aspire laptop with Windows 7 Professional....plus SC4 Quick Launcher.  I have taken the liberty of including the latest Exception Report...hopefully someone can help:
Exception time: 09/14/2018, at 10:38:10.
Exception code: 0xC0000005 (-1073741819) ACCESS_VIOLATION.
Current thread ID: 8232 (0x00002028).
Version information:
Application/module path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4\Apps\SimCity 4.exe
Application/module version name: SimCity 4
Application/module version: 1.1.640.0
System version: Windows NT 6.1
System memory: 4096 Megabytes total, 1880 Megabytes free.

Exception module:  C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4\Apps\SimCity 4.exe.
Exception address: 0x005f4029. Section:Offset: 0x01:0x001ed029.

Registers
   EAX: 00000000
   EBX: 03930e54
   ECX: 00000000
   EDX: 00000000
   ESI: 00000000
   EDI: ffffffff
   CS:EIP: 0023:005f4029
   SS:ESP: 002b:0018fd50  EBP:00000000
   DS:002b  ES:002b  FS:0053  GS:002b
   Flags: 00210286

Loaded Modules
   Address          Size Module             Path
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   0x00400000    8187904 SimCity 4.exe      C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4\Apps\SimCity 4.exe
   0x76f90000    1572864 ntdll.dll          C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ntdll.dll
   0x760f0000    1114112 kernel32.dll       C:\Windows\syswow64\kernel32.dll
   0x76910000     290816 KERNELBASE.dll     C:\Windows\syswow64\KERNELBASE.dll
   0x75840000    1048576 USER32.dll         C:\Windows\syswow64\USER32.dll
   0x75dd0000     589824 GDI32.dll          C:\Windows\syswow64\GDI32.dll
   0x76230000      40960 LPK.dll            C:\Windows\syswow64\LPK.dll
   0x749d0000     643072 USP10.dll          C:\Windows\syswow64\USP10.dll
   0x75e60000     704512 msvcrt.dll         C:\Windows\syswow64\msvcrt.dll
   0x75fe0000     659456 ADVAPI32.dll       C:\Windows\syswow64\ADVAPI32.dll
   0x75cd0000     102400 sechost.dll        C:\Windows\SysWOW64\sechost.dll
   0x75be0000     983040 RPCRT4.dll         C:\Windows\syswow64\RPCRT4.dll
   0x74900000     393216 SspiCli.dll        C:\Windows\syswow64\SspiCli.dll
   0x748f0000      49152 CRYPTBASE.dll      C:\Windows\syswow64\CRYPTBASE.dll
   0x74800000      28672 WSOCK32.dll        C:\Windows\system32\WSOCK32.dll
   0x75d80000     217088 WS2_32.dll         C:\Windows\syswow64\WS2_32.dll
   0x76670000      24576 NSI.dll            C:\Windows\syswow64\NSI.dll
   0x76480000    1982464 WININET.dll        C:\Windows\syswow64\WININET.dll
   0x75cf0000      16384 api-ms-win-downlev C:\Windows\syswow64\api-ms-win-downlevel-user32-l1-1-0.dll
   0x76f60000      16384 api-ms-win-downlev C:\Windows\syswow64\api-ms-win-downlevel-shlwapi-l1-1-0.dll
   0x75d00000     356352 shlwapi.DLL        C:\Windows\syswow64\shlwapi.DLL
   0x760e0000      16384 api-ms-win-downlev C:\Windows\syswow64\api-ms-win-downlevel-version-l1-1-0.dll
   0x74810000      36864 version.DLL        C:\Windows\system32\version.DLL
   0x75950000      12288 api-ms-win-downlev C:\Windows\syswow64\api-ms-win-downlevel-normaliz-l1-1-0.dll
   0x749c0000      12288 normaliz.DLL       C:\Windows\syswow64\normaliz.DLL
   0x76240000    2301952 iertutil.dll       C:\Windows\syswow64\iertutil.dll
   0x75bd0000      20480 api-ms-win-downlev C:\Windows\syswow64\api-ms-win-downlevel-advapi32-l1-1-0.dll
   0x76680000      94208 USERENV.dll        C:\Windows\syswow64\USERENV.dll
   0x75dc0000      45056 profapi.dll        C:\Windows\syswow64\profapi.dll
   0x74aa0000   12890112 SHELL32.dll        C:\Windows\syswow64\SHELL32.dll
   0x72080000     466944 DSOUND.dll         C:\Windows\system32\DSOUND.dll
   0x759f0000    1425408 ole32.dll          C:\Windows\syswow64\ole32.dll
   0x74610000     204800 WINMM.dll          C:\Windows\system32\WINMM.dll
   0x73160000     151552 POWRPROF.dll       C:\Windows\system32\POWRPROF.dll
   0x76960000    1691648 SETUPAPI.dll       C:\Windows\syswow64\SETUPAPI.dll
   0x75f10000     159744 CFGMGR32.dll       C:\Windows\syswow64\CFGMGR32.dll
   0x76b00000     585728 OLEAUT32.dll       C:\Windows\syswow64\OLEAUT32.dll
   0x75d60000      73728 DEVOBJ.dll         C:\Windows\syswow64\DEVOBJ.dll
   0x68050000     819200 OPENGL32.dll       C:\Windows\system32\OPENGL32.dll
   0x71670000     139264 GLU32.dll          C:\Windows\system32\GLU32.dll
   0x67c00000     946176 DDRAW.dll          C:\Windows\system32\DDRAW.dll
   0x722a0000      24576 DCIMAN32.dll       C:\Windows\system32\DCIMAN32.dll
   0x73640000      77824 dwmapi.dll         C:\Windows\system32\dwmapi.dll
   0x73040000     135168 MSVFW32.dll        C:\Windows\system32\MSVFW32.dll
   0x74010000     540672 COMCTL32.dll       C:\Windows\WinSxS\x86_microsoft.windows.common-controls_6595b64144ccf1df_5.82.7601.18837_none_ec86b8d6858ec0bc\COMCTL32.dll
   0x76780000     393216 IMM32.dll          C:\Windows\syswow64\IMM32.dll
   0x766b0000     835584 MSCTF.dll          C:\Windows\syswow64\MSCTF.dll
   0x74380000     311296 apphelp.dll        C:\Windows\system32\apphelp.dll
   0x6f280000    2199552 AcGenral.DLL       C:\Windows\AppPatch\AcGenral.DLL
   0x730e0000     524288 UxTheme.dll        C:\Windows\system32\UxTheme.dll
   0x74290000      61440 samcli.dll         C:\Windows\system32\samcli.dll
   0x731a0000      81920 MSACM32.dll        C:\Windows\system32\MSACM32.dll
   0x736d0000      12288 sfc.dll            C:\Windows\system32\sfc.dll
   0x745c0000      53248 sfc_os.DLL         C:\Windows\system32\sfc_os.DLL
   0x756f0000    1351680 urlmon.dll         C:\Windows\syswow64\urlmon.dll
   0x75940000      16384 api-ms-win-downlev C:\Windows\syswow64\api-ms-win-downlevel-ole32-l1-1-0.dll
   0x73ed0000      73728 MPR.dll            C:\Windows\system32\MPR.dll
   0x72f70000     577536 AcLayers.DLL       C:\Windows\AppPatch\AcLayers.DLL
   0x74300000     331776 WINSPOOL.DRV       C:\Windows\system32\WINSPOOL.DRV
   0x6c6a0000    2461696 AcXtrnal.DLL       C:\Windows\AppPatch\AcXtrnal.DLL
   0x73230000      24576 SHUNIMPL.DLL       C:\Windows\system32\SHUNIMPL.DLL
   0x73190000      53248 SortServer2003Comp C:\Windows\system32\SortServer2003Compat.dll
   0x10000000     638976 ~df394b.tmp        C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\~efabac\~df394b.tmp
   0x766a0000      20480 psapi.dll          C:\Windows\syswow64\psapi.dll
   0x74660000    1695744 comctl32.dll       C:\Windows\WinSxS\x86_microsoft.windows.common-controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.7601.18837_none_41e855142bd5705d\comctl32.dll
   0x75960000     536576 CLBCatQ.DLL        C:\Windows\syswow64\CLBCatQ.DLL
   0x743d0000    1003520 propsys.dll        C:\Windows\system32\propsys.dll
   0x74510000     135168 ntmarta.dll        C:\Windows\system32\ntmarta.dll
   0x76090000     282624 WLDAP32.dll        C:\Windows\syswow64\WLDAP32.dll
   0x72a30000     335872 rasapi32.dll       C:\Windows\system32\rasapi32.dll
   0x72a10000      86016 rasman.dll         C:\Windows\system32\rasman.dll
   0x767e0000    1183744 CRYPT32.dll        C:\Windows\syswow64\CRYPT32.dll
   0x75fd0000      49152 MSASN1.dll         C:\Windows\syswow64\MSASN1.dll
   0x73ac0000      94208 CRYPTSP.dll        C:\Windows\system32\CRYPTSP.dll
   0x73930000     241664 rsaenh.dll         C:\Windows\system32\rsaenh.dll
   0x73e50000      94208 bcrypt.dll         C:\Windows\system32\bcrypt.dll
   0x73880000     249856 bcryptprimitives.d C:\Windows\SysWOW64\bcryptprimitives.dll
   0x73840000     233472 ncrypt.dll         C:\Windows\system32\ncrypt.dll
   0x73820000      90112 GPAPI.dll          C:\Windows\system32\GPAPI.dll
   0x73800000     118784 cryptnet.dll       C:\Windows\system32\cryptnet.dll
   0x73dd0000      24576 SensApi.dll        C:\Windows\system32\SensApi.dll
   0x6fb80000    1204224 aticfx32.dll       C:\Windows\system32\aticfx32.dll
   0x729d0000     114688 atiu9pag.dll       C:\Windows\system32\atiu9pag.dll
   0x6a4f0000    7389184 atiumdag.dll       C:\Windows\system32\atiumdag.dll
   0x6bf00000    7966720 atiumdva.dll       C:\Windows\system32\atiumdva.dll
   0x70520000     835584 D3DIM700.DLL       C:\Windows\system32\D3DIM700.DLL
   0x71b70000     233472 MMDevApi.dll       C:\Windows\System32\MMDevApi.dll
   0x71b00000     221184 AUDIOSES.DLL       C:\Windows\system32\AUDIOSES.DLL
   0x73920000      32768 Secur32.dll        C:\Windows\system32\Secur32.dll
   0x73910000      16384 api-ms-win-downlev C:\Windows\system32\api-ms-win-downlevel-advapi32-l2-1-0.dll
   0x73ef0000     245760 mswsock.dll        C:\Windows\system32\mswsock.dll
   0x73f40000      24576 wship6.dll         C:\Windows\System32\wship6.dll
   0x73df0000     114688 IPHLPAPI.DLL       C:\Windows\system32\IPHLPAPI.DLL
   0x73de0000      28672 WINNSI.DLL         C:\Windows\system32\WINNSI.DLL
   0x71d50000      36864 LINKINFO.dll       C:\Windows\system32\LINKINFO.dll
   0x733e0000      28672 avrt.dll           C:\Windows\system32\avrt.dll
   0x6d510000     507904 DbgHelp.dll        C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4\Apps\DbgHelp.dll

Call stack:

Stack data: (ESP is 0x0018fd50)
0x0018fbd0   00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0018fbf0   00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0018fc10   00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0018fc30   00000000 00200053 0069006d 0075006c 00610074 006f0072 00200043 006f006e
0x0018fc50   00660069 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0018fc70   00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0018fc90   00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0018fcb0   00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0018fcd0   00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0018fcf0   00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0018fd10   00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0018fd30   00000000 34fdffff e4020000 34fdffff cc020000 19000000 00000000 f8010000
0x0018fd50   140e9303 480e9303 200e9303 540e9303 0e194e00 0000803f 9b284e00 200e9303
0x0018fd70   c4b6c009 a8fd1800 74b4c009 f4009300 14009303 346bbf03 a8fd1800 a6a28700
0x0018fd90   99a28700 14009503 1c009303 00000000 74b4c009 14009303 bcfd1800 52b28700
0x0018fdb0   14009303 00e0fd7e 00000000 14fe1800 93b28700 28fe1800 00000000 b6c14400
0x0018fdd0   28fe1800 00000000 40009503 14009303 45121076 00000000 00e0fd7e 9e2de602
0x0018fdf0   d02de602 00000000 14009503 e0fd1800 24f91800 78ff1800 d8fc9e00 c86ca800
0x0018fe10   00000000 88ff1800 6fc24400 28fe1800 00000000 00000000 202aa800 00000000
0x0018fe30   1406e702 c806e702 5407e702 1008a800 1483e602 b983e602 ba83e602 00000000
0x0018fe50   1008a800 c414bb03 c414bb03 cc14bb03 00000000 601b9f00 00004000 00000000
0x0018fe70   cc332c00 0a000000 94000000 06000000 01000000 b11d0000 02000000 53657276
0x0018fe90   69636520 5061636b 20310000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0018feb0   00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000

Instruction data: (EIP is 0x005f4029)
0x005f3fa9   ca 8b 44 24 0c 74 34 53 56 57 85 c0 74 20 8b f1 8b 1e 8b f8 89 1f 8b 5e 04 89 5f 04 8b 5e 08 89
0x005f3fc9   5f 08 8b 5e 0c 89 5f 0c 8b 76 10 89 77 10 83 c1 14 83 c0 14 3b ca 75 d2 5f 5e 5b c3 aa b0 00 89
0x005f3fe9   08 a3 3c aa b0 00 c3 53 55 8b 69 0c 56 57 8d 7d ff 33 f6 85 ff 7e 27 8b 19 d9 44 24 14 8d 14 37
0x005f4009   d1 fa 8d 04 92 d8 1c 83 df e0 f6 c4 05 7a 04 8b fa eb 03 8d 72 01 3b fe 7f df 85 f6 7f 0c 8b 09
0x005f4029   d9 41 04 5f 5e 5d 5b c2 04 00 8d 45 ff 3b f0 7c 20 d9 44 24 14 8d 54 ad 00 d8 5c 93 ec 8d 0c 93
0x005f4049   df e0 f6 c4 01 75 0a d9 41 f0 5f 5e 5d 5b c2 04 00 d9 44 24 14 8d 04 b6 d8 64 83 08 8d 04 83 5f
0x005f4069   5e d8 48 10 5d 5b d8 40 0c c2 04 00 cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc 8b 41 04 39 01 75 05 32 c0
0x005f4089   c2 04 00 8b 40 ec 8b 4c 24 04 89 01 b0 01 c2 04 00 75 e9 45 ff ff ff 51 8b 44 24 08 57 8b f9 3b

mgb204

Quote from: BruceAtkinson on September 14, 2018, 11:47:08 AM
Hello to all!
   Again I am having some issues...all of a sudden I cannot even load up my SimCity4 Rush Hour...and it isn't the regular CTD...I am using an Acer Aspire laptop with Windows 7 Professional....plus SC4 Quick Launcher.  I have taken the liberty of including the latest Exception Report...hopefully someone can help:

The exception report really doesn't provide anything mortals without access to the source code are able to read. As such, what we really need to know is simply what is happening. If you can explain what steps you are taking and when it crashes, that will be more help in diagnosing the problem.

BruceAtkinson

Thanks for the reply...so this is what is happening:  As mentioned in my previous post I am using SC4 Quick Launcher, and it usually works as follows...activate the Quick Launch and press play and the SimCity exe. window comes up and I press ok, then it starts to load and after a brief SimCity logo appears then the screen goes black with the exception of the cursor in the middle.  Now it takes any where from twenty to thirty minutes to load, most likely because of the size of my Plugins folder.  When it does finally loads the SimCity logo appears briefly and then one of my Regions appears, and off I go into the magical world of SimCity!  Now, and this just began to happen while I was on vacation--the last week of August:  Upon beginning the process it acts in the same fashion, but just as it would bring up the SimCity logo screen-the whole program crashes back to the desktop.  I have tried the usual trouble shooting, renaming my Plugins folder, launching from the game disk itself-etc.  Nothing seems to work.  I have double checked my exe file and my command line--and those haven't changed.  I also have my Windows 7 in compatibility in Service Pack 3--as I had issue before, and had great help from this community.
  In addition, I use Cleanitol regularly and follow all instructions when downloading new plugins from SimDevotion...
  Thanks in advance for any help on this...

mgb204

I'd have to ask what size your plugins folder was, because I note from before you've only 4GB RAM and of that, only 1.8 is available. That may go a long way to explaining why the loading times are so long. SC4 needs to index the entire Plugins contents, which is thankfully much smaller than their actual size. Even so, if during that process, your system runs out of physical memory (RAM), it will need to start using Virtual Memory (VM / page file). This basically means such data is being processed on your hard disk, not in RAM. This is a big deal, because RAM is many, many times faster than hard drives, so it comes with a huge performance penalty. However, some tasks simply need to be in RAM, use of VM may indeed be what's causing SC4 to CTD, but it's certainly not the only possibility here.

You say you've tried "renaming" your plugins folder... so does it still crash when there are effectively no plugins to load? I assume the games starts much quicker? It's very important too that during such a test, you do not attempt to load an existing city/region made with lots of custom content. If the save file/city relies on certain types of mods, a CTD may occur precisely because those files are missing.

I recommend you re-name the Plugins folder, start the game and load a new, blank city. If doing that still results in a CTD, we can effectively rule out your Plugins folder as the culprit.