Simcity 4000 not working on Windows 10

bche · 10 Jan 2016

Simcity 4000 (steam ver) doesn't even try to load....
Anyone know of a fix for this? I mean, I click the play button, and it literally does nothing. I've tried adding parameters and compatibility mode that magically worked for people, but... Nothing! I'm seriously about to wipe 10 and install 7, I'm getting tired of the incompatibility with 99 percent of my games. Steam forums was unhelpful and just kept throwing the same regurgitated fix at me. Is there just nothing I can do? I was honestly trying to give 10 a chance, but this is just getting old. This isn't the first program that I can no longer use :/.

blackroseMD1 · 10 Jan 2016

Well, since it's Steam it wouldn't make much sense, but I believe that both SimCity 3000 and SimCity 4 use SafeDisc DRM, which is incompatible with Windows 10. I would think that the Steam version would remove SafeDisc and use Steamworks DRM instead, but it's a possibility that it didn't.

AnonVendetta · 12 Jan 2016

Is this SimCity 3000, or SimCity 3000 Unlimited? I have the Unlimited version and it works fine (retail version that requires discs). I have never seen SC3/SC3U sold on Steam.

For SC3, make sure you've installed the latest patch (SC3U never had a patch released for it).

Unfortunately you may need to use a no-CD crack to bypass the DRM. Microsoft removed support for SafeDisc, SecuROM and other forms of DRM that pose a security risk. So the only way to play some old games on 10 is to either bypass the DRM with a crack, or buy a updated edition that has no DRM (or its' DRM is compatible with 10). Microsoft has unintentionally created a situation that essentially either forces 10 users to employ a crack to play old games (which may have other risks like malware), or not play those old games at all.

I also have the GOG.com version of SimCity 4 Deluxe, it works fine. It has no DRM or requirement to insert a disc. If I were you I would buy it if you really want to play it.