Game Exception

[nlmnlmnlm]

Unhandled exception:Unable to find a valid device
Type:class TMill::Common::Exception
File:c:\sc5nginework\source\engine\dxdevice.cpp
Function:TMill::Engine::GetBestDeviceId
Line:599

What should i do now?:(

[mouse]

Run DX diag, upload and attach the created text file to a message so we can see your system specs.

[nlmnlmnlm]

Run DX diag, upload and attach the created text file to a message so we can see your system specs.

here it is

[mouse]

The problems I see with your system: 1. your video card is not a DX 9 card
2. lack of free space for windows to even move files around let alone run this game 3. it appears you have "virtual drive" software installed which secu-rom does not play nice when it's installed. Of these problems the video card is the most serious and lack of free space is the second most important. In my opinion you can't play this game without a different video card.

[tiagoperes]

I've got the same problem :( I can't believe it... so many time waiting for this game and now this...

But, is there any way to fix it? I have a NVIDIA GFMX4000, a realy bad video device, but i've runned the majority of new games by it, with graphics loss, obviously, but it worked.

i've already checked the disk space and virtual drives, it's all ok.

[Keith]

The MX4000 is literally an antique now. It's a DX7 video card and most games today require DX9 compliance or higher (DX10). DX7 cards do not support the graphic features introduced with DX9 and the games created for it. The "new" games you say you can run are either not utilizing those DX9 graphic features or are running very low graphic settings where those features are pretty much disabled.

[JL6erSims]

Hi, I have the same problem.

Can someone please help me find out what I need to do. I will upload my system specs:

It says my card is a NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro.
Outdated, right?

If this *is* the problem, where should I go to download a compatible one?

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

[TiltedBetch]

The same problem for me. There's nothing to do with this game!!! I have ATI Radeon 9200 (128mb) SimCity 4 runs very good on my PC and almost every game. so...
WHY THIS GAME CAN'T WORK?!
Just check http://simcitysocieties.ea.com/community/forum (http://simcitysocieties.ea.com/community/forum)There's not support in the forums and a lot of people it's getting this error... I'ts inadmissible this kind of errors in the realease of a game. I'm very disappointed with EA and Tilted Mill, :mad: :mad:

PS: Also my videocard is DX9

[Kiya]

The same problem for me. There's nothing to do with this game!!! I have ATI Radeon 9200 (128mb) SimCity 4 runs very good on my PC and almost every game. so...
WHY THIS GAME CAN'T WORK?!


** Supported chipsets :
nVidia Geforce FX5900 or greater
ATi Radeon 9600 or greater
onboard chipsets not supported**
That's why.

Simply your card is too old for this game, not supported. So no need to shout at us. :)

It says my card is a NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro.
Outdated, right?
Right, sorry to say that.

[TiltedBetch]

** Supported chipsets :
nVidia Geforce FX5900 or greater
ATi Radeon 9600 or greater
onboard chipsets not supported**
That's why.

Simply your card is too old for this game, not supported. So no need to shout at us. :)

It says my card is a NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro.
Outdated, right?
Right, sorry to say that.

Yes, I have to shout. This game was a huge miss since was in development, and now that... I hope Tilted Mill staff and their families feels like me right now. This have no name.

[JL6erSims]

** Supported chipsets :
nVidia Geforce FX5900 or greater
ATi Radeon 9600 or greater
onboard chipsets not supported**
That's why.

Simply your card is too old for this game, not supported. So no need to shout at us. :)

It says my card is a NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro.
Outdated, right?
Right, sorry to say that.


Wait a minute---I wasnt the poster who was shouting.....two different people here. lol

In my case, If my card is too old, where can i go to download a new version? That was *my* main question.

[TiltedBetch]

Wait a minute---I wasnt the poster who was shouting.....two different people here. lol

In my case, If my card is too old, where can i go to download a new version? That was *my* main question.

LOL I have the lastest drivers of my card (from the manufacture website) and doesn't work either. Good Luck.

[Kiya]

I'm sorry if you cannot play SCS now, but you shouldn't blame us for it. You should have checked the specs before you bought it. If you can play Simcity 4, that's just fine, but when was it released, was it 4 years ago? ;)

I don't have the game yet, but I had a chance to play it for some 3 hours, and that was quite fun, very promising if you ask me (but I guess you won't ;) ). :)

[JL6erSims]

LOL I have the lastest drivers of my card (from the manufacture website) and doesn't work either. Good Luck.


uhhhh im trying to figure out where i can get an updated driver, and you keep posting in between, and my question is ignored.

[Kiya]

Wait a minute---I wasnt the poster who was shouting.....two different people here. lol

In my case, If my card is too old, where can i go to download a new version? That was *my* main question.
Sorry for all the confusion. I am well aware there are two people here. The 'don't shout' part was before a quote from your post.

I don't think you can download a new version of a card from anywhere. You should buy a new video card, but I suspect it isn't that simple. You might need a new motherboard, or/and power supply, more RAM.... hm... did you post your dxdiag already?

[TiltedBetch]

uhhhh im trying to figure out where i can get an updated driver, and you keep posting in between, and my question is ignored.

¬_¬ obviously from Nvidia website. http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

[JL6erSims]

Sorry for all the confusion. I am well aware there are two people here. The 'don't shout' part was before a quote from your post.

I don't think you can download a new version of a card from anywhere. You should buy a new video card, but I suspect it isn't that simple. You might need a new motherboard, or/and power supply, more RAM.... hm... did you post your dxdiag already?

Yes I did. Here it is again:

Please give some direction on what to do. I am planning on getting a new PC soon, so, maybe I should just wait??

[Kiya]

Ok, what I think your video card is too old, having new drivers won't help you. You audio drivers are ancient, from 2001, and they too should be much recent.

If I were you I'd wait for a new PC, but that is just me. You better wait for one of the experts to show up and say their opinion of your current PC. :)

[JL6erSims]

Ok, what I think your video card is too old, having new drivers won't help you. You audio drivers are ancient, from 2001, and they too should be much recent.

If I were you I'd wait for a new PC, but that is just me. You better wait for one of the experts to show up and say their opinion of your current PC. :)


Yes, I really need some direction. I have no clue what i should be looking into at this point.

Im new here...Who here is considered an "expert"?

[Kiya]

Im new here...Who here is considered an "expert"?
Keith, mouse, Manni, but there are others who also know a lot, like PhilW about nvidia, and Rnett. Many others like me help where we can.

Yes, I really need some direction. I have no clue what i should be looking into at this point.

Like I said you need a new video card but what else you need, well... you need a better one than me to say that, sorry.

[Kiya]

LOL I have the lastest drivers of my card (from the manufacture website) and doesn't work either. Good Luck.
OK one more time. You say your card is ATI Radeon 9200, while the supported one is ATI Radeon 9600 or greater. So obviously even the latest drivers are not very helpful, right?

[mouse]

The Ati 9200 is not a DX 9 card it will work with DX 9 but does not support the needed features for the game. As to TM being at fault they provided a game using a game engine that had been used before successfully with known hardware requirements which if they are met the game will work. Sorry that anyone is unhappy with the requirements but it's what you have to work with if you want to play.

[Rnett]

Yes I did. Here it is again:

Please give some direction on what to do. I am planning on getting a new PC soon, so, maybe I should just wait??

I would wait then for the new PC, that card will struggle even with updated drivers. Make sure your new PC comes with atleast a 128M video card as per the minimum specs.

[tiagoperes]

But... why does the error says that the problem is in the file: "c:\sc5nginework\source\engine\dxdevice.cpp" if this archieve doesn't even exists?

[Rnett]

Can you upload a dxdiag report?

[tiagoperes]

Yes, I can, but what i want to know is why the file that the error tells about doesn't exists.

Here it is:

[Rnett]

Your video card isn't DX9.0 compliant. Have a look at the PDF on the left.

http://www.nvidia.com/page/geforce4mx.html

[tiagoperes]

I know it dude... I just wanna know why the file mencioned in the error message doesn't exists...

[Need_Help]

Some of the files may be 'hidden' (you can show the hidden files by changing some options in the Control Panel, but not recommended to show all these files).

To JL6erSims (http://www.tiltedmill.com/forums/member.php?u=9337) : You need to have a card that is DX9.0c compliant (your card is too 'old' to run it. Even you have the latest driver, it will never make you to run the game since your card cannot support the 'rendering process' of the game). If you are tight on budget, you can buy a 7600GS which is quite cheap and it can run the game with quite good FPS (or you can just get a 6600, its cheaper but its always better to get a better graphic card and use it for a few years more)

@ TiltedBetch (http://www.tiltedmill.com/forums/member.php?u=9338) : Your card is too 'weak' to run the game. You cannot compare a 2D game with a 3D game. (and the game is made in 4 years ago). A DX9 card doesn't mean that it can run a DX9 game. (if you can run the game with a 'weak' DX9 card and still have the 'same performance', who will buy those 'expensive' graphic card to run a game?) Just think that the graphic card is a processor, and your card is just a Pentium IV 1.8GHz but you need to have a Dual Core 2.2GHz processor to run it, do you think you can run that with a card that is so 'slow'? A graphic card is similar to processor, you cannot say that both of them are Dual Core, so they should be same. You also need to look at other 'factors'. Eg. the speed of the graphic card.

Thanks.

[TiltedBetch]

@ TiltedBetch (http://www.tiltedmill.com/forums/member.php?u=9338) : Your card is too 'weak' to run the game. You cannot compare a 2D game with a 3D game. (and the game is made in 4 years ago). A DX9 card doesn't mean that it can run a DX9 game. (if you can run the game with a 'weak' DX9 card and still have the 'same performance', who will buy those 'expensive' graphic card to run a game?) Just think that the graphic card is a processor, and your card is just a Pentium IV 1.8GHz but you need to have a Dual Core 2.2GHz processor to run it, do you think you can run that with a card that is so 'slow'? A graphic card is similar to processor, you cannot say that both of them are Dual Core, so they should be same. You also need to look at other 'factors'. Eg. the speed of the graphic card.

Thanks.

Yes, I know, I'm not trying to make Alan Wake (http://www.alanwake.com/) run on my comp... SimCity societies is a 3D game BUT is like Rollercoaster Tycoon 3, and runs perfectly on my comp. I just wanted to start the game even if its run insanely slow.

PS: My PC meets the requeriments for the game by far, only the graphic card is the "problem".

[Need_Help]

Not all 3D games are 'same'. I can run Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 with all options maximized, but still having good FPS. But in Caesar IV (almost same as SC:S) I can only run with most settings medium to have a reasonable FPS. One of the reason is because of the number of polygons of the models. If a model has more polygons, more details can be added and will also look better. Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 is using very low-polygon models (thats why some things should be 'rounded', but they appears to be octagon) while Sim City Societies uses much more polygons (since there are more 'details' than RCT3). Other factors also included the 'special effects' in the game, how the game is programmed to run on the PC and many other factors. I think its time to change your graphic card, since you need to do it later in the future too (you can still use the graphic card that you buy now in a new PC, in case you 'upgrade' your PC. So, it will not be 'wasted').

Thanks.

[JL6erSims]

Some of the files may be 'hidden' (you can show the hidden files by changing some options in the Control Panel, but not recommended to show all these files).

To JL6erSims (http://www.tiltedmill.com/forums/member.php?u=9337) : You need to have a card that is DX9.0c compliant (your card is too 'old' to run it. Even you have the latest driver, it will never make you to run the game since your card cannot support the 'rendering process' of the game). If you are tight on budget, you can buy a 7600GS which is quite cheap and it can run the game with quite good FPS (or you can just get a 6600, its cheaper but its always better to get a better graphic card and use it for a few years more)


I just want the game to run as smoothly as possible.. In that case, without getting a new PC just yet, would you recommend purchasing the NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT? Its in my price range, and seems to be very up to date.

[Keith]

I just want the game to run as smoothly as possible.. In that case, without getting a new PC just yet, would you recommend purchasing the NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT? Its in my price range, and seems to be very up to date.

You only want a Geforce 8 series card if you also have Windows Vista and DX10 otherwise it is no better than a 7 series card with Windows XP. There is no great advantage in putting one in your current system and it may not work because of the amount of power it demands. Your old system probably doesn't have a power supply unit rated high enough to run one.

Of course, you could replace your PSU too, but then you might just as well buy a whole new machine already setup and ready to go.

Some new games will require Vista and DX10 for the highest end graphics currently available, but from what I've seen lately it is more of a problem than it's worth. There's been lots of problems with DX10 and the Geforce 8 series cards in many of the latest games.

[Need_Help]

Well, since you have so much for your budget (I thought your budget is very tight, since you are using an antique graphic card). I think you can get a 7950 GX2 (the performance may be better than 8600GT). If you really want to get a DX10 graphic card, you should buy a 8800GT. It was only around 270USD, but has the performance of a 8800GTX (almost).

Thanks :)

[tiagoperes]

Some of the files may be 'hidden' (you can show the hidden files by changing some options in the Control Panel, but not recommended to show all these files).

The file is not hidden, i've already checked it. It just doesn't exist...

[greeedy]

hey, i had some problem...
screen of exception
http://img106.imageshack.us/my.php?image=chybaxd2.jpg
do you wanna DxDiag.txt to upload?
i have card asus gf 7600 GT

[mouse]

greedy please upload DX diag so we can take a look at your system:D

[greeedy]

huh i now tryed uninstall graphic card drivers and only change in expception is line ... now 599... ok i go on ;D
update : mirror for my DxDiag here >> http://www.najart.yw.sk/DxDiag.txt

[Amenirdis]

PS: My PC meets the requeriments for the game by far, only the graphic card is the "problem". Sometimes an outdated videocard is all it takes for a game not to load. It clearly states in the system requirements that the game needs at least an ATI 9600 to run. Maybe you know a friend who's willing to let you try out his/her better video card to see if that would solve the problem?

[greeedy]

juhuuuu i reinstalled (uninstall and than install ) graphic drivers and its ok!! uu lets play! ! :)

[polpenaloza]

well.. here it is my DxDiag.. see if u can do something.
I have a GeForce 8500GT.. oblivion runs great, and simcity won't??????

[mouse]

You might want try an older video driver (try a driver from early this year) since the newest drivers don't always work best with a game. Other than that I don't see anything else that might be a problem ust some things that you can try 1. turn off the virus software sometimes that can cause a problem 2. make sure to defrag your hardware after installing the games 3. run disk cleanup that will sometimes help.

[dave0805]

I am having the same problem getting this set up I am getting the same message. What can I do to get this to run properly?

[apple121]

Can you help me too??

[dr.pooh22]

I have the same issue about the unhandled exception, im not sure what the problem is.

[Kiya]

I have the same issue about the unhandled exception, im not sure what the problem is.
Hi dr.pooh22, not so good news for you I'm afraid.

The supported chipsets for ATI cards: ATi Radeon 9600 or greater. Yours is ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9000, so it is below the required. You've also got a laptop which means changing this card is probably not an option. Also your audio drivers are a bit old, from 2004.

Then it is your CPU, not enough there either. 1.7GHz Intel CPU or faster is required, you've got Intel(R) Celeron(R) M processor 1.40GHz. One thing I know I will never buy anything anymore with a label 'Celeron' if I'm going to play games (got that myself at the moment :( ).

[Kiya]

Dave0805 and apple121, would you post your dxdiag please, it would then be much easier to help you. ;) :)

[apple121]

Here it iss.

[Kiya]

Hi Apple121, not the best of news for you either. Your video card is way too old Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller. Its drivers, like your audio drives are a bit old, from 2004, but getting new ones won't help you much I'm afraid.
(Another Celeron PC here)

[apple121]

So there is nothing i can do ..?

thanks for your help also.

[Rnett]

I'm afraid not, the onboard graphics won't cut it.

[cindilousim1]

Can someone help with this?

[Kiya]

Can someone help with this?
Sorry, bad news for you. It's your graphic card, too old to handle this game. There is also too little RAM memory.

[cindilousim1]

thanks....good thing I have two computers.....runs fine on the other one:)

[Kiya]

thanks....good thing I have two computers.....runs fine on the other one:)
That is great news then. Happy gaming! :)

[str]

Hello, I have a similar problem (Exception at dxdevice.cpp, something about GameBuild and line:633) - game won't even start, just a black screen.
Although I have a notebook, 2Gb memory and a 256 Mb video card should be enough to at least run the game, isn't it?
My DxDiag is attached - some advice would be appreciated.

[Manni]

game won't even start, just a black screen.
Although I have a notebook, 2Gb memory and a 256 Mb video card should be enough to at least run the game, isn't it? Not really, not with ATI Mobility Radeon X1400

on the other hand............free space on C with 2.4 GB is short

also on D its getting short :Free Space: 5.1 GB

[dpk]

EDIT:

I'm able to start the game now. Event Viewer::System was showing problems from "ati2mtag". I searched for the error on Google, and it indicated that the problem appears when you run Catalyst drivers 7.7 or later. So, the moral of my story is: Don't run the latest drivers. Download 7.6 if you're getting this error.

-----

I'm also getting the Game Exception error, "Unhandled exception: Invalid call" in "TMill::Engine::CreateDevice". The error appears behind a black void in the upper right of the screen, which I would estimate to be 1024x768 itself.

I am running Windows XP SP2 with: 1GB RAM, an ATI Radeon 9600XT, Creative SB Live! (I also tried the onboard Via AC97). I have the latest drivers installed. dxdiag shows no errors.

To fix this I have tried the following:

- Reduced the resolution from 1680x1050 to 1280x1024 and 1024x768 -- Same error.
- Swapping the SB Live! and the onboard Via AC97. Same error.
- Verifying that the drivers are up to date.

As far as I can tell the system is fully within the system requirements. I even defragged the hard drive, not that that should do anything. I've attached my dxdiag results.

[dpk]

The file is not hidden, i've already checked it. It just doesn't exist...
The error message we're seeing here tells us the file and line that the error occurs at. Basically, what it's saying is that the program ran into a problem that the software developers didn't predict would happen at that stage ("unhandled exception") so the default behavior is to report as much as it can to tell the developer how to fix it.

Everything in that dialog box is useless to us, but should be useful to those that have the source code.

If it is indeed "always" a driver issue, then I think the appropriate fix there is to handle the exception with a custom dialog box saying exactly which component failed to initialize.

[Manni]

@dpk

have you tried without your virtual drive?

Drive: G:
Model: SCSI DVD-ROM SCSI CdRom Device

Before installing the game.........did you defrag the partition where you installed it on?

According to your dxdiag you probably have a conflict with the sound now. There is VIA and SB Live !
Via with driver from 2003
SB with driver from 2001

[dpk]

I'm up and running. The virtual drive isn't causing any problems, and it is working OK with the two sound devices (I'm only using the Via one at the moment, though). The entire problem for me was with the latest ATI Catalyst drivers. Once I downgraded to 7.6 I was able to play for hours.

[Keith]

This is the same sort of problem that we ran into with Caesar IV. The older ATI video cards are not being fully supported by the newer Catalyst drivers. Many people with Radeon 9500-9800 cards had to stick with Catalyst drivers no newer than June 2006, because the newer drivers did not support the special features of these older cards. When I was running a 9800 Pro I was successfully using Cataly 6.5 from May 2006.

[kringers]

i have the same problem.. here is my dxdiag

[Keith]

i have the same problem.. here is my dxdiag


SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
-------------------
* OS: Windows(R) XP SP2 / Vista*
* Processor: 1.7 GHz Intel CPU or faster, AMD XP 2100+ or faster
* Memory: 512 MB RAM
* Hard drive: at least 2.1 GB free space
* Video card: 128 MB**
* DVD drive: 4 speed
* Sound Card - DirectX 9.0c compatible
* DirectX - Version 9.0c (included on disc)
* Input - Keyboard, Mouse
*Windows Vista requires a 2.4 GHz processor or equivalent and 1 GB RAM.
**Supported chipsets: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 or greater; ATI Radeon 9600 or greater; onboard chipsets not supported. Windows Vista requires an NVIDIA GeForce 6800 or greater, ATI Radeon X600 or greater. Laptop versions of these chipsets may work but are not supported. Updates to your video and sound card drivers may be required.




Your system is just slightly slower than the minimum required.

Your onboard audio is probably not DX9.0c compatable.

Your biggest problem is your video setup. You have a Intel video chipset on the motherboard that does not support the graphic features used in the game. Since this is a laptop computer You are not going to be able to upgrade to a true video card. There is also insufficient video memory on your system to run the game. You have 64MB the game requires 128MB minimum.

[majortom1981]

What do people mean by big cities? I have a population of 1,000 + and about 40 buildings with no crashes what so ever.

[zero7]

What do people mean by big cities? I have a population of 1,000 + and about 40 buildings with no crashes what so ever.

Well, my city is up to 13,000 and I don't know how many buildings. No crashes though, but I play 800x600 windowed.

[FomarTHain]

What do people mean by big cities? I have a population of 1,000 + and about 40 buildings with no crashes what so ever.

For me big is past 20k - 22k. Once I past that the game starts to get shaky. I have a 28,000 and a 33,000 population city that I can't open anymore 'cause I get the C++ error.

I rarely get the C++ error below 20k.

[majortom1981]

Ok I gues I have more playing to do. IS anybody willing to post there city here that crashes so I can try it out to see if it crashes on me?

[Spartan 117]

Hello all,

I have an another problem :

http://sonier.david.free.fr/sim%20city%202.JPG

Please, help me !!! ^^

[dpk]

Hello all,

I have an another problem :

Please, help me !!! ^^
That's the exact error I received when I ran with the latest Radeon drivers. I believe it means it's failed to communicate with the video card, the way it expected to. We'll need to see the output from dxdiag to help, though. (Start->Run->dxdiag, "Save All Information", and then attach the output to a post).

[Rubus]

I've also had problems with the game :(

After I've been playing for around 20-30 minutes, the game just freezes. I can move the mouse around the screen but nothing is selectable.

The keyboard locks up & no keypresses/combination of keypresses do anything. After a further 2 minutes, the screen goes black & "No Signal" is displayed.

The only way I can recover the system is to "Button" the pc to turn it off.

Nothing is reported in Perfmon except the disruptive shutdown.

I have kinda solved the problem by turning all the graphics options down to med/low. But I paid £220 for my 8800GTS 640MB card & so that is kinda painful :rolleyes:

The weird thing is that when I 1st got the game, I played the tutorial for like an hour & a half with no issue & all settings on "High" :confused:

I have patched the game, but it made no difference.

I'm not really that annoyed, as at least I can still play the game which I totally love BTW ;)

Anyway, I've attached dxdiag.txt for some light reading lol.

I'd be interested if anyone one else has similar problems with GeForce 8800 series of cards.

Richard.

[Spartan 117]

That's the exact error I received when I ran with the latest Radeon drivers. I believe it means it's failed to communicate with the video card, the way it expected to. We'll need to see the output from dxdiag to help, though. (Start->Run->dxdiag, "Save All Information", and then attach the output to a post).


So, there is my "DxDiag.txt" !

Thanks for tell me what is our problem !!!

[leostar20]

I too am having the same problem here is my info.

If you could please help me that would be great :D

[Keith]

I too am having the same problem here is my info.

If you could please help me that would be great :D

Your video card is too old for starters.

Card name: NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200 with AGP8X

It's DX8.1 card and it probably doesn't support the DX9 features used in the game. You can try a newer driver if you can find one to be sure, but you may have to update your video card to something newer lika Geforce 7 series card.

[Keith]

So, there is my "DxDiag.txt" !

Thanks for tell me what is our problem !!!

Your video card is a DX9 type. You may want to try a older driver. The newer Catalyst drivers don't seem to support the features of older Radeon cards like yours. If you are going to try one try the May 2006 Catalyst 6.5 driver. You'll have to uninstall the one you have now. Follow the ATI instructions on installation.

Your C-Media sound system may need a newer driver than 2004 if you can find one that works with your specific onboard sound system. I'm not sure that your C-Media is fully DX9 compatable, but it could be. DX9 came out in 2004. The game requires a DX9 compatable sound card.

[Lady of Avalon]

:mad: hello

I'm getting the game exception error message now

[Lady of Avalon]

:mad: I was hoping answer to this problem but none came and I still cann't play my game:mad:





thank you
Lady of Avalon

[Kiya]

:mad: I was hoping answer to this problem but none came and I still cann't play my game:mad:





thank you
Lady of Avalon
Sorry you didn't get a reply any earlier, but most of us replying here are forum members who are trying to help fellow forum members. :)

Anyway it is your graphic card I think. Yours is Radeon X300SE which is about on the same level as Radeon 9600SE. The thing is that the required card is Radeon 9600 or greater, but those with a suffix SE are of 'limited edition'. So even though your card is a DirectX9 card it probably will never play SCS well enough. *hoping one of the senior techies could confirm this*

[Manni]

............apart from the "card"........

Processor: AMD Athlon with ~1.0GHz looks rather short.

By the way..............did you know of your second empty partition D ?

Free Space: 116.4 GB
Total Space: 116.5 GB

[Lady of Avalon]

they game ran fine up uintil last night on my video and on my computer speed and noow I find it very funny it start not working for some reason







thanks

[Lady of Avalon]

I removed my old vidoe setting before getting a new video card, the game played on the old ati radeon x300 256 md ddr 2 for 4 fours before the game
exception error returned. I just installed the new Ati Radeon X1650 pro
512 MB DDR 2. and now I can play the game also you must remove all the old citys that because of the game exception error and start new citys

[Katheryne]

............apart from the "card"........

Processor: AMD Athlon with ~1.0GHz looks rather short.
Her processor is just fine. DXDiag is reporting her processor clock speed at "idle" speed, which for her is 1GHz. It will ramp up to 2.4GHz when needed, so no problems there.

The only issue I can see is the X300 card. But even then, it's a full-fledged DX9 card. However, framerate will be poor, probably on par with my Radeon 9700 Mobility GPU, but playable.

Lady of Avalon: You do need to update your Catalyst drivers, though. You seem to have a pretty old version. That might help, though I agree with the general assessment that the newer drivers seem to only be of benefit to those with the higher-end X800 and X1600+ cards, and maybe the newer DX10 cards.

[bongzboy]

The same problem this is my DxDiag.txt
Help me Plzzzzzz...:(

[Rnett]

More ram, larger swapfile, better video card would help.

[Katheryne]

The same problem this is my DxDiag.txt
Help me Plzzzzzz...:(
You need more memory. Regardless of what the minimum requirements state, Windows XP needs at least 512M of memory to work reasonably. This leaves only 256M for running SCS. I recommend at least 1GB system memory.

Your swapfile settings are inadequate. The general convention is 2x-3x your system memory. If you are using system-managed settings, I recommend changing to custom settings, and defining minimum and maximum at 2048M. This will consume 2GB of hard drive space, so be sure you have adequate free space on your hard drive.

Now, here's the show-stopper: You are running Mirage IGP graphics, based on the SiS 661FX. This is an onboard integrated graphics processor embedded in your system's Northbridge, rather than being a discrete video card. It lacks video memory, so it uses main system memory. This explains why you only have 704M of available system memory. IGP's are simply not designed to handle graphically-intense games, and SCS will not run well on this setup even under the best of circumstances - if it runs at all.

There may be good news: The SiS 661FX is actually a pretty decent chipset; if paired with a high-end AGP video card, you should be able to see graphics and performance improvements that will probably blow your socks off. If your computer's motherboard has an available AGP slot, I strongly recommend getting an actual video card. When you install a new card, be sure to change the appropriate settings in your computer's BIOS.

Best of luck!

[Lady of Avalon]

hello
it is working very fine now since the old video settings was removed and the
new video card put in a week ago and I playing the game every day up 5 hours a day




thanks

[tink2909]

could u tell me whats wrong with mine too?
thanks

[Manni]

when you look into the read-me in the games folder it says:

notebook-video-chipsets are not supported

eventually it COULD work if sounddrivers and videodrivers can be updated.

[Kiya]

@ tink2909 I wonder if your laptop will run this game even if you update your drivers. Your card ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9000 IGP is well below what is required (Ati Radeon 9600 or greater) and is not an directX 9 card what is needed. Getting new components for laptops is not always possible. :(

[tink2909]

so basically i wasted my money and i'm stuck with a game that wont work, great....
well thanks

oh and i also wonder, why is this game so difficult,
b/c in the pictures, the graphics dont seem to be as good as the sims 2 and i have all of them on my laptop, and it works just fine.....

[Kiya]

Tink, so sorry you can't play SCS. :(

Perhaps next time you might read the small print too, and see what is required. New games are pretty demanding what comes to graphics.
I cannot say anything about Sims2 since I haven't played it. SCS is pretty, especially at night. :)

[tink2909]

its all good
and yeah i know i should read the print but it was a christmas gift,
and i dont really understand all that stuff,
but yeah no worries.
thanks

[simfan85]

I also need help, my game crashes at just random points. I've noticed though that sometimes it will crash to the desktop, though sometimes I can still hear the background music and noises. The game can run for say two hours if it's a new city, though larger cities sometimes crash after a few minutes. :(

[Manni]

@simfan85

you have installed Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6719 which means ATI driver version 7.9

try it with version 7.12
when installed it shows up as 6.14.0010.6755

also try current mode 16 bit instead of 32

[simfan85]

@simfan85

you have installed Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6719 which means ATI driver version 7.9

try it with version 7.12
when installed it shows up as 6.14.0010.6755

also try current mode 16 bit instead of 32

Is version 7.12 a download or somthing I need to buy (i'm not that smart with computers). :D
And where do I change my current mode? Is this somthing I change while playing? Thanks for your help :)

[Manni]

Is version 7.12 a download or somthing I need to buy (i'm not that smart with computers).
Yes, it is a driver-version from ATI. You can download the driver for FREE from the ati-page. :)
Before you install the downloaded new driver you UNinstall the present driver.

[simfan85]

Yes, it is a driver-version from ATI. You can download the driver for FREE from the ati-page. :)
Before you install the downloaded new driver you UNinstall the present driver.
Thanks, though how do I uninstall the current one I have? :)

[Micavaga]

Can anyone tell me why I'm getting a Line 633 error, please?
(Slightly frustrated since I first got a 599 error, updated my graphics card tonight and now getting this one...)

TIA!

[Kiya]

Your sound drivers are from 2003, they could be the cause of your problems. Try to update them too.

[Micavaga]

Thanks, Kiya. Unfortunately, they never updated the drivers for the sound card beyond that.

When I go to start the game, my screen clicks on and off four times and then just hangs with the hourglass. The only way I knew I had a problem was when I alt-tab'd and saw there was a Game Exception, though I couldn't tab to see it. I had to open Task Manager and end SCS before I could read the window (had to do print-screen quick to capture it so I could read it). Attached is the capture.

I've been playing SC since the start (and TheSims) and this is the first time I've ever had any kind of trouble.

[startrekdork]

I used to have the game working, but since I've returned from college I've started to receive the 633 line error message, the exact same message you get Micavaga.

The thing is, when I was at college the game worked and played fairly fine.

Since coming home for college, I installed the latest ATI drivers for my x1950 pro 256 mb, I've installed the latest patch for SCS, and I switched from a 20.1 inch lcd monitor to a 17 inch DLP monitor.

Since then, I've uninstalled the game, re-installed it then went to play it. It gave me a slightly different error. I installed the patch, and it gave me the 633 error.

I tried to install catalyst driver 7.11 and it still didn't work.

I was running the game on windows vista, but I have a dull boot, so I switched to windows xp, installed the game on there, and managed to get it to start. When I got to the menu there were yellow squares all over it. I managed to get a game to start playing but still yellow artifacts were appearing. On windows xp I downloaded the patch and went to install it to my fresh install of SCS, but the patch reported that it could not find SCS on my computer.....

Now I'm completely out of ideas.

[Kiya]

Unfortunately, they never updated the drivers for the sound card beyond that.

I've been playing SC since the start (and TheSims) and this is the first time I've ever had any kind of trouble.
The game system requirement says "Sound Card : DX9.0c compatible", so the cause of your problems might be there, but just my guess.

[AceXe]

Unhandled exception:Unable to find a valid device
Type:class TMill::Common::Exception
File:c:\sc5nginework\source\engine\dxdevice.cpp
Function:TMill::Engine::GetBestDeviceId
Line:599

I have the same error. Look i'll tell you something. I don't care anymore for you. I'm very disapointed. What ?! You are supporting three models of video chipsets. There are no words for that. You want from me to spend for that game 2000 $ for new PC meeting your recommendations. My PC is meeting all of the requierments, except my video chipset - NVidia Geforce 3 TI 200. What ?! ONLY DON'T TELL ME THAT THIS IS AN ANTIQUE, TOO... Because i've runned many games on that chipset + new games from 2007 and yeah it is a little slow, but it is running.

I'm wonderring why EA chose you... I think that Maxis is thousands of times better than you. Maxis wants to play and have fun, not to buy a new PC for one game, BECAUSE ITS CREATORS HAVE DECIDED THAT WE HAVE TO USE EXACT THREE MODELS OF VIDEO CARDS "or greater" AND SO PEOPLE RECIEVE THE SAME ERROR OVER AND OVER...

Sorry for shouting but i'm angry, because Tilted Mill now did ****... Explain to me just why you are mocking with the people ?

[whitegreyhat]

HERE IS MY COMPUTER SPECS:
Toshiba Satellite A75 S1253 XP SP2
3.2Ghz Pentium 4 704MB of RAM
ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9000 IGP
60gb Hard drive only 19 GB occupied


So I think my graphics card is the problem.
I only saw direct X compatible video card on the sys requirements:
Windows XP SP2, or Windows Vista, 1.7 GHz Intel CPU, or AMD XP 2100 processor, 512 MB RAM memory, 2.1 GB free hard disk drive space, 128 MB video card, DVD drive, DirectX 9.0-compatible video card.

Now i know why people are getting so mad.
Ill try to update mine later see what happens.
MESSAGE I GET
Unhandled exception:Unable to find a valid device
Type:class TMill::Common::Exception
File:c:\sc5nginework\source\engine\dxdevice.cpp
Function:TMill::Engine::GetBestDeviceId
Line:599

[Manni]

All you folks with the Line:599 trouble

post you problem here: http://consumer.installshield.com/submit.asp

it might give some help

[Keith]

Both video setups are DirectX8.1. The game probably requires DirectX 9 hardware compliant video hardware.

If TM is using the same engine that they used in Caesar IV some DX8.1 video setups may be able to run the game on very low settings, while other DX8.1s cannot run it at all when an application checks for DX9.

The Geforce 3 Ti200 and ATI Radeon 9000 IGP do not support the graphic features used in the game.

Time to upgrade (If you can.)

[AceXe]

Both video setups are DirectX8.1. The game probably requires DirectX 9 hardware compliant video hardware.

If TM is using the same engine that they used in Caesar IV some DX8.1 video setups may be able to run the game on very low settings, while other DX8.1s cannot run it at all when an application checks for DX9.

The Geforce 3 Ti200 and ATI Radeon 9000 IGP do not support the graphic features used in the game.

Time to upgrade (If you can.)


What ?!?!?! First as i told you i played a lot of games requiering DX 9 at meduim quality. Some of them - at maximum quality. But why 98 % of the new games are compatible with ours video chipsets and exact your game is not ? I have other of your products - Children of the Nile. And by the screenshots i don't see such big difference. Yeah it is better graphic quality but for so popular models of chipsets like his ATI and my Geforce... Shame for you !

P.S. I can't upgrade it now ! I gave money for that game and i want results. I understand the game not to work with some models but what is going on ?! The game is not working with popular and very used video cards and works only with 2-3 models. At end point the graphic is not sooooooooooo qualited like HDTV to be uncompatible with our models...

[whitegreyhat]

All you folks with the Line:599 trouble

post you problem here: http://consumer.installshield.com/submit.asp

it might give some help


the problem is not during the installation its after it has successfully installed then you try to start the game, but thanks

[Keith]

What ?!?!?! First as i told you i played a lot of games requiering DX 9 at meduim quality. Some of them - at maximum quality. But why 98 % of the new games are compatible with ours video chipsets and exact your game is not ? I have other of your products - Children of the Nile. And by the screenshots i don't see such big difference. Yeah it is better graphic quality but for so popular models of chipsets like his ATI and my Geforce... Shame for you !

P.S. I can't upgrade it now ! I gave money for that game and i want results. I understand the game not to work with some models but what is going on ?! The game is not working with popular and very used video cards and works only with 2-3 models. At end point the graphic is not sooooooooooo qualited like HDTV to be uncompatible with our models...

Yes, as I said above, those games probably didn't specifically check for DX9 compliance and games like Caesar IV and I'm sure SCS do. That will cause problems getting game to run on cards that don't meet the DX9 standards. Even Caesar IV and CotN will run on some (not all) DX8.1 cards but at lower graphic settings in the game.

Games keep demanding more and more from computers, because gamer's keep demanding more and more from their games. It's fact of life that by owning a computer you are always going to be playing the "upgrade" game at some point in its useful life if you plan on playing the latest games.

[whitegreyhat]

I have tried http://www.omegadrivers.net/archive.php since ATI has no updatable drivers for 9000 Radeons and it still doesnt work. *Sigh* guess the game goes onto my Amazon account to sell for now. I was really excited about it to...

[Khanon]

(*snip*)I gave money for that game and i want results. (*snip*)

Simply put, it's not the game makers' fault that you chose to buy a game your computer didn't meet the specs to play on...

Not all computers, laptop OR desktop, were meant to be gaming machines. While non-gaming machines will rarely require upgrading, other than harddrive space, it's common knowledge that the system requirements for games increases almost exponentially with each game generation.

[AceXe]

This is insane. My PC is good machine. A lot of games are playing normally. But Sim City has never been a game for specially gamer PCs. This is a game for a standart PC. But so many models of video cards and you're supporting only 1 % of them... It is not enough of your resorces. And tell my why so many people are mad ?!

[ADJB]

My PC is meeting all of the requierments, except my video chipset - NVidia Geforce 3 TI 200.



Put simply your machine has to reach ALL the requirements for the game. You can't choose to ignore something because you think it should be good enough.

[ADJB]

Toshiba Satellite A75 S1253 XP SP2
ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9000 IGP



The graphics card on an A75 is an integrated model and not the full version of the card. As the EA site states because of the cut down nature of these cards they cannot be relied on to run the game.

Check you machine on the requirements checker -

http://www.electronicarts.co.uk/news/10732/

to see what I mean.

[ADJB]

I used to have the game working, but since I've returned from college I've started to receive the 633 line error message, the exact same message you get Micavaga.

The thing is, when I was at college the game worked and played fairly fine.

Since coming home for college, I installed the latest ATI drivers for my x1950 pro 256 mb, I've installed the latest patch for SCS, and I switched from a 20.1 inch lcd monitor to a 17 inch DLP monitor.



From what you say it sounds as if you are now playing the game on a different or at least altered machine.

Can you post a dxdiag for your home setup ?.

[AceXe]

Put simply your machine has to reach ALL the requirements for the game. You can't choose to ignore something because you think it should be good enough.


It is stupid to be like that... Look how many people have problems. Just Tilted Mill didn't do their work properly as my opinion !

[Manni]

Sorry AceXe but the above folks are right.

Your NVidia Geforce 3 TI 200 really is a vintage banger and certainly not for SCS.
You just have to invest in a better card if you want to go.

Why haven`t you attached your dxdiag yet?

[SheenaNIN]

I just bought this game the other day and installed it and uninstalled it about 7 times, thinking my computer has just gone to hell. But now looking into it I'm finding it's a common issue with others, aswell. Can someone who understands this tell me if there is an easy/cheap upgrade or if I have to spend like $100 to be able to play this game?

Thanks in advance for you're help. I was really excited to play this game. =/

[Keith]

I answered you in the other thread you started. Unfortunately, SCS is probably not going to run on your system for the reasons I stated there.

[ADJB]

@ SheenaNIN

Your graphics card is far below the required spec.

You can obtain a 6xxx series AGP Nvidia card which will work for about £20 - £30
However I would suggest a 7xxx series card which start from about £30 upwards

Instructions for fitting this can be found on the Dell page, its not a difficult job even if you have never tried to ft a card before.

At present your machine has 512kb of memory. This is the very minimum required. However your video card is using some of this and there also appears to be something else (Shadow ROM possibly) using some RAM memory. This means you don't have enough memory to met the required specs.

Your machine (according to Dell) can take a maximum of 1gig of memory in a single stick, for the correct memory type this will cost about £35 - £40 depending on which memory you use.

Again see the Dell tech page for exact details.

So its going to cost you realistically at least £60 to upgrade your machine at todays prices which is well above $100.

I also suspect that you will need a better sound card as yours fails the DirectX 9.0c tests. If so then add another £10 minimum for a PCI sound card.

You may be able to get better prices for these components in the states but you do need to do a quite serious upgrade of your machine before SCS will run.

[lalo]

I wonder if anyone understands how pathetic and disastrous this is in terms of marketing. You wrote a game that 9 in 10 hardcore gamers I asked rate as "utterly boring"; where SCS really shines is with the "casual gamer" market, which doesn't have the patience for all the micromanagement required by "classic" SC games. But then, you over-spec it, using heavyweight 3d that the target audience really doesn't give a *** for, resulting in a game that will not run in their computers (and specially on their laptops). Uh?

Casual gamers don't know what DX9 is. Even if they do, they most likely have no idea if their card is compatible, and they don't have the interest to go check online. "Casual", remember? They will also most certainly not want to upgrade hardware to play a game; they will instead throw the box in the bin, or in the bottom of a drawer to look at again in two or three years when the computer finally gets upgraded. That for those that did buy it, of course. And then they'll tell their friends not to buy it.

Oh, and almost as importantly: the error message is utterly ridiculous. Doesn't TM have a programmer or two who could actually write a check for DX9 and display a message a casual gamer could understand? Something like, "I'm sorry, but your video card is too old, you have wasted your money on this game, unless you want to fork some extra cash on an upgrade." Which would, of course, incense laptop users who are unable to upgrade at all...

Calling a 4-year-old video card "antique" or "vintage" only shows you don't live in the same planet as most of us. You're a hardcore gamer? Good for you. You must be one of the 10 such gamers in the whole planet who liked this game.

Games keep demanding more and more from computers, because gamer's keep demanding more and more from their games. It's fact of life that by owning a computer you are always going to be playing the "upgrade" game at some point in its useful life if you plan on playing the latest games.

Not all computers, laptop OR desktop, were meant to be gaming machines. While non-gaming machines will rarely require upgrading, other than harddrive space, it's common knowledge that the system requirements for games increases almost exponentially with each game generation.

Those assertions are really arrogant and, most importantly, incorrect. They apply only to people who take games more seriously, and I don't think most of those people would bother with SCS. They're busy accumulating levels in their MMORPGs or blasting their friends on FPSes or strategy games.

[ADJB]

Calling a 4-year-old video card "antique" or "vintage" only shows you don't live in the same planet as most of us. You're a hardcore gamer? Good for you. You must be one of the 10 such gamers in the whole planet who liked this game.



In the UK (other countries no doubt are slightly different) a business is allowed to write down the cost of a machine over 4 years against tax.

At that time the business would be expected to be changing the machine to a more up to date standard.

So a 4 year old machine is regarded as obsolete in business.

I admit that individuals are not business users in regards to upgrading machines but if business machines are considered obsolete I see no reason why a new game should be expected to cater for what is legally regarded as obsolete.

If you do expect companies to cater for all these older machines how do you expect the standard of games, especially graphics, to ever improve if you have to cater for the lowest common denominator?.

[Keith]

Those assertions are really arrogant and, most importantly, incorrect. They apply only to people who take games more seriously, and I don't think most of those people would bother with SCS. They're busy accumulating levels in their MMORPGs or blasting their friends on FPSes or strategy games.

Well, you keep believing that if you want to. I know better.

[PacktSardines]

I bought SCS yesterday. I installed the game, I installed the update and I ran the game perfectly, it wasn't lagging, it wasn't glitchy, it was perfect. Eventually I closed the game. Before deciding to play again, I installed the Winter Mod. Well, I started the game and it gave me a different unhandled exception message:

Unhandled exception: Input/output error
Type: class TMill::Common::Exception
File: c:\sc5prexmasupdate\source\common\filestream.cpp
Function: TMill::Common::IO::FileStream::OpenFile
Line: 156

I've searched for this file and I can't find it, I did reveal all hidden folders and everything but nothing worked. I also uninstalled and reinstalled the game without the Winter Mod and well...same thing

I've also noticed that my it says my Winter Mod was successfully installed but none of the files appear in the SCS folder. Also, I can't find the import folder from the directions given on their official website, and the online game help.pdf file seems to be missing.

I am uploading my dxdiag:

Thanks

[aryachan]

i have the same error.....

this is my dxdiag. what's my problem?

[Kiya]

i have the same error.....

this is my dxdiag. what's my problem?
Probably it's your graphic card. Yours is Radeon 9200SE (DirectX 8 card) when the minimun required card for Win XP is Radeon 9600 (Dirext X 9 card). Also your graphic card and audio drivers are a bit old, from 2004.

[Guitarguy2004]

I'm not computer illiterate, but I have no clue what my card is like... it probably sucks.

Of course I get that message:

Unhandled exception:Unable to find a valid device
Type:class TMill::Common::Exception
File:c:\sc5nginework\source\engine\dxdevice.cpp
Function:TMill::Engine::GetBestDeviceId
Line:599

so here's my dxdiag. any ideas? that'd be great! thanks!

[Kiya]

Hi there. :) Probably your card Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller is giving you some problems, it has only 96 MB memory when 128 MB is the minimum required. Your card is probably using your RAM memory while there is just 502MB when 512 is required. More would be better, let's say 1 GB. Also your audio drivers are a bit too old, from early 2004, yes they are important too. Little things but together all this might make a lot.

Wondering what those drives x, y and z are?

[Guitarguy2004]

hey yeah thanks. the x y and z are drives from Daemon Tools for .iso stuff and such...

[Keith]

The Intel chipset you have doesn't support things like T&L and pixel shader 2.0 graphics that the game uses. Plus, the SCS system requirements state that video chipsets are not supported.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
-------------------
* OS: Windows(R) XP SP2 / Vista*
* Processor: 1.7 GHz Intel CPU or faster, AMD XP 2100+ or faster
* Memory: 512 MB RAM
* Hard drive: at least 2.1 GB free space
* Video card: 128 MB**
* DVD drive: 4 speed
* Sound Card - DirectX 9.0c compatible
* DirectX - Version 9.0c (included on disc)
* Input - Keyboard, Mouse
*Windows Vista requires a 2.4 GHz processor or equivalent and 1 GB RAM.
**Supported chipsets: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 or greater; ATI Radeon 9600 or greater; onboard chipsets not supported. Windows Vista requires an NVIDIA GeForce 6800 or greater, ATI Radeon X600 or greater. Laptop versions of these chipsets may work but are not supported. Updates to your video and sound card drivers may be required.

Also, Daemon Tools and the SecuROM security software on the SCS disc do not get along. You would have to disable/remove Daemon Tools.

[bchebat]

I bought SCS yesterday. I installed the game, I installed the update and I ran the game perfectly, it wasn't lagging, it wasn't glitchy, it was perfect. Eventually I closed the game. Before deciding to play again, I installed the Winter Mod. Well, I started the game and it gave me a different unhandled exception message:

Unhandled exception: Input/output error
Type: class TMill::Common::Exception
File: c:\sc5prexmasupdate\source\common\filestream.cpp
Function: TMill::Common::IO::FileStream::OpenFile
Line: 156

I've searched for this file and I can't find it, I did reveal all hidden folders and everything but nothing worked. I also uninstalled and reinstalled the game without the Winter Mod and well...same thing

I've also noticed that my it says my Winter Mod was successfully installed but none of the files appear in the SCS folder. Also, I can't find the import folder from the directions given on their official website, and the online game help.pdf file seems to be missing.

I am uploading my dxdiag:

Thanks

Same error, but the game actually used to run. It juststopped and started doing this. Have tried everything including reinstall. I cannot believe with the problems being this widespread that there is not a fix. I'm attaching my diag report, any help is appreciated.

[JohanB]

I'm getting the line 156 error too, after installing the latest patch of the game. Before that everything was running smoothly. I have no mods.

My DxDiag is included, i can't imagine the system is outdated, the PC is brand new. All requirements are met by far.

Can someone please explain to me what the problem is?

[kb321]

ok so, i have dx9 with 128 mb yet i get the 599 error, i hate ati and ea.
i prolly shouldnt post this but i tweaked the game so it dosnt need dx9. =\ but no go still dosnt run. i guess ea blocked the older ati cards? maybe someone can help me...

[Manni]

ok so, i have dx9 with 128 mb yet i get the 599 error, i hate ati and ea.
i prolly shouldnt post this but i tweaked the game so it dosnt need dx9. =\ but no go still dosnt run. i guess ea blocked the older ati cards? maybe someone can help me...

There might be a couple of reasons..........

get rid of those 4 generic drives

do install latest directX from November 07

replace the 2006 ati-driver with a newer

change from 85Hz to 60Hz

seems there are plenty registry errors......use CCleaner

;)

[WaywardRazor]

Ok worked decent before patch #2, then the game began to crash after about 20 minutes of playing. The game would freeze but i would be unable to see the error problem. Now the game won't start and gives me a game exception error but i can not see what exactly it says. i just updated the graphics card driver.

[misskristineb]

ok here is my DxDiag

and this is what my error looks like

desktop 1 is what it looks like when i hit play

desktop 2 is having paint open and the running application

i have to exit to game exception to see anything behind that patch of desktop

[WaywardRazor]

the exception i'm getting is different from about all the others i've seen in the forums.

unhandled exception:invalid call
Type:class tmill::common::exception
File:C:\sc5prexmasupdate\source\engine\dxdevice.cp p
Function:tmill::engine::create device
Line 644

I've yet to see line 644 in the forums yet. It feels more and more that this game is designed for a specific set of machines/hardware because it requires newer grafix cards and drivers. But in my case i can't go with new drivers cause then i get this problem much sooner than with the older drivers. Advice would be much appreciated.

[ßlue]

:mad::mad:I have the same goddamn problem 599, I've been reading all the posts and I agree with many of them, basicaly, I understand that this is an over-the-average game, like wow it's a game sooo cool you need a monster computer to run it, all hail SCS!!!, damn, if your pc can run this game w/o problems, you are like a god or something, or maybe just rich, I couldn't care less I've allways liked simcity, I have played simcity since SNES I even keep the cartridge on it's original box, it's allways been a game w/o a goal just build your damn city and feel proud of your accomplishments, and the most important, you never needed to be a serious gamer to play it, you could just turn on your console or pc and enjoy, but oh noooooooooooo, tilted mill had to go over-the-edge, top technology for this game, "damn, we didn't created the title, we can screw it and twist it as we see fit." NO YOU CAN'T, YOU HAVE A RESPONSABILITY WITH US GAMERS (us like in we not U.S. xD i'm from México so that statement would leave me outside the comment), NOT ONLY TO MAKE A BETTER EDITION OF SIMCITY, BUT TO KEEP THE ESCENSE OF THE BASICS ABOUT SIMCITY. I mean come on I'm not going to buy a new video card just to play your game, it'll be like buying a PS3 only to play FF13 and nothing else, is an unnesesary spend, and I'm going to buy a new video card when I really need it, when there are about 10 games or more that I like that are uncompatible with my video card, and everybody is going to do the same thing, so your game is not going to be selling properly untill next year, and by then there will be ISO's, Cracks and Keygens all over the place and you know what? you'll be screwed to the bottom, and that's what you deserve for being so "bit-chy", and I think you should sue your marketing staff for not considering this issue. And that's all I'm going to say, I apologize for all the bad words I used but as you can tell, I'm really pis... er angry, and i know that this seems more like a letter to the Admin. Staff of Tilted Mill but I saw the oportunity to write and I did sorry for any inconvinient this may have caused and I hope some of you agree with me thx.

[Rnett]

We still need a rant section.:rolleyes:

[lcuthbertson77]

I have the same problem as most have here, I'm sure I'll need a new video card, but is there anything else that I am missing?
Line 599
I have upload my computer details for anyone who can help??

[Rnett]

I have the same problem as most have here, I'm sure I'll need a new video card, but is there anything else that I am missing?
Line 599
I have upload my computer details for anyone who can help??

New video card and more ram would help.

[dikkelul]

I've got the same error message and not sure what's wrong. Could someone of the heads check out my DX diag ? thanks!

edit: added a new dxdaig.txt, fixed some ****

[Rnett]

I've got the same error message and not sure what's wrong. Could someone of the heads check out my DX diag ? thanks!

Your video card wont cut it either, try to free up some space on your C drive.

[Manni]

I've got the same error message and not sure what's wrong. Could someone of the heads check out my DX diag ? thanks!

to add to Rnett`s:

Memory: 510MB RAM = too short

pay attention to DxDiag Notes:

DirectX Files Tab: Several files (kstvtune.ax, ksxbar.ax, kswdmcap.ax, etc.) are incorrectly installed in the Windows folder and should be deleted.

nvidia-driver from 10/22/2006 = too old

sound driver from 12/10/2003 = too old

no chance for windows-temp-folder with Drive: C: Free Space: 0.8 GB

[dikkelul]

I'll fix the files to be deleted and take some space from D: and add in to C:
but why isnt my RAM enough ? System requirements of SCS is Memory: 512 MB RAM. And that's actually what I have...

edit: I added a new dxdiag.txt above, all tests including de direct3d 9 worked and my tempory file is almost 3gb now
deleted them ****ty files and looking for some better drivers

Btw, cant I just install c:\sc5engineworks\source\engine\dxdevice.cpp
that's what is needed right ?

[lcuthbertson77]

Can anyone suggest a good video card, and where to get it from, would like to spend no more than about $130?

[Manni]

I'll fix the files to be deleted and take some space from D: and add in to C:Sorry but I had a look in your "new" dxdiag-file and I don`t see much of a change...still only 0.8 gig free.
How about making room with deleting all restore points but the last?
How about deleting all the dozens of unnessasary "uninstall-exe" from the Micro updates?

but why isnt my RAM enough ? System requirements of SCS is Memory: 512 MB RAM. And that's actually what I have...True! The game wants at minimum 512 , you have 510. So if you are able to get it started it`ll splash down after laying out 2 roads on the map (that is if you ever get to see it!)...........and that`s it.

So when the game uses those 510..............what is left over for your win XP-prof to run???
Windows XP needs for itself and for a smooth run something like the double amount.............in other words 1024. In your case 2048 RAM would be ideal to run win AND game together. See?

[Rnett]

Can anyone suggest a good video card, and where to get it from, would like to spend no more than about $130?

You could try a couple of places like TigerDirect (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=28&name=Video-Cards) or Frys (http://shop1.outpost.com/category/Outpost/PCtab/Video+Cards/Interface?accipterAreaString=). Make sure what kind of interface connector is on your motherboard.

http://home.earthlink.net/~rnett4205/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/pci11.jpg

[dikkelul]

Sorry but I had a look in your "new" dxdiag-file and I don`t see much of a change...still only 0.8 gig free.
How about making room with deleting all restore points but the last?
How about deleting all the dozens of unnessasary "uninstall-exe" from the Micro updates?

True! The game wants at minimum 512 , you have 510. So if you are able to get it started it`ll splash down after laying out 2 roads on the map (that is if you ever get to see it!)...........and that`s it.

So when the game uses those 510..............what is left over for your win XP-prof to run???
Windows XP needs for itself and for a smooth run something like the double amount.............in other words 1024. In your case 2048 RAM would be ideal to run win AND game together. See?

I made my temp swap file 2gb bigger (added some from d: )
I also freed up 3gb on c: last night , but I think the biggest problem is still the video card.
I wonder why the minimum is set at 512mb, cause if they meant what you say it would be kind of a scam to say that people with 512mb ram (wich I physicly have in my pc) could play it (with the rest of the requirements ofcourse). Glad I just downloaded it first to see if its fun and if it works on my pc :D

[tcalisto]

Unhandled exception:Unable to find a valid device
Type:class TMill::Common::Exception
File:c:\sc5nginework\source\engine\dxdevice.cpp
Function:TMill::Engine::GetBestDeviceId
Line:599

What should i do now?

Attached my dxdiag.
Thanks.

[Manni]

Take the game, go back in the shop and ask to have your money refunded.

With your hardware being:

SiS 650/651/740/661FX/741/760 series with Display Memory: 32.0 MB

you have no chance at all to run this game.

Look into the read-me file of the game and see the "minimums" needed

[FAH-Q]

OK, I have a top end system. I dare anyone to find anything wrong with my system. It seems like everyone in this thread is making excuses for TM. I get several different crashes during the game. TM needs to fix this crap!!

[Manni]

To me it looks like a TOP-machine you have.

Couldn`t say why the game isn`t running. Did you try to run the game in a different compability?

Make sure you install directX 9 on top of directX 10

For starters................why not try to lay off the microphone...............it might be a..............

[FAH-Q]

To me it looks like a TOP-machine you have.

Couldn`t say why the game isn`t running. Did you try to run the game in a different compability?

Make sure you install directX 9 on top of directX 10

For starters................why not try to lay off the microphone...............it might be a..............

I have tried different compatibilities and still get crashes.

[dreadmime]

While I agree TM needs to fix their game....

You've got an OK Video card (GTS would be better.) but really... for everything else, insufficient RAM. Vista Home Premium really wants 2GB as a "minimum" (I know, the box says 1GB. but similar to Sim City Societies.... it says 512MB Minimum, and it really wants 1GB.) ... Vista Home Premium (especially with Aero enabled) wants *4GB* ideally. 2GB for Vista, and 2GB for programs.

That may be all you need to solve your crashes. Dropping in another 2GB of Ram.

[FAH-Q]

While I agree TM needs to fix their game....

You've got an OK Video card (GTS would be better.) but really... for everything else, insufficient RAM. Vista Home Premium really wants 2GB as a "minimum" (I know, the box says 1GB. but similar to Sim City Societies.... it says 512MB Minimum, and it really wants 1GB.) ... Vista Home Premium (especially with Aero enabled) wants *4GB* ideally. 2GB for Vista, and 2GB for programs.

That may be all you need to solve your crashes. Dropping in another 2GB of Ram.

You have to be joking, right!?!? I shouldn't have to spend $50 - $80 to get a $30 game to work with my specs!! TM needs to fix their bad code, which is the real problem here, not computer hardware. C'mon BROKEN MILL fix the game!!!!!!!!

[dreadmime]

Honestly, if someone's using Vista Home Premium with only 2GB of Ram.. I'd say they're lucky to get games to work at all. :p Like I said, TM needs to fix their game either way, but you shouldn't be running Vista with only 1-2GB of Ram. That's like pointing out the fact that you *CAN* Run Windows XP Home with only 256MB ram. Sure you *can* run it... but you really want 1GB or more for Windows XP to be really "functional" and not cause problems.

[stav3ng3r]

Hi, im new ^^ i still have the problem and all my specs are allright.
here my attach. see u

[mouse]

stav3ng3r your problem is likely caused by the "virtual drive" software on your system the copy protection doesn't like virtual software.

[stav3ng3r]

i though that too, i already uninstall every virtual device and tray again but.. the same =(

[mouse]

You have to uninstall the software that created those drives too.

[Manni]

i though that too, i already uninstall every virtual device and tray again but.. the same =(

I think you also have an old directX version from April 08

get directX from August 08

[stav3ng3r]

Nah, nothing... I just update my dx but nothing =(

here my new dxdiag

see you and thanks ^^

[stav3ng3r]

So, this game dont have any solution!?

[Hayle]

am having the same problem but the error is a little different

[Manni]

Hayle............

I see a few things which you might change:

looks to me as though you have a very old directX-version installed. Get the one from August 08.

your video-driver 163.75 is old, get version 178.24 from October 08

sounddriver is vintage from 2002

you are running 4 virtual drives...............

and how about installing xp sp3?
But be careful and use the "special-tool" before cos you have an AMD-cpu !

[Hayle]

lolololol....

sounds like i have my computer software out of date.... and it sounds like i made u sad inside a little lol

well am working on sp3.. but ummm. my os isn't really(cough) and my automatic its working so i cant download the windows validate software for my sp3 to install

i updated my the directx and the nvidia drivers

dropped the virtual drives to 1

news sound card cost money i don't have. what if i use the sound card on my motherboard? its asus A8S-X which i bought in 06 or 07

thx for the help it was awake up call for me

[Manni]

sounds like i have my computer software out of date yes

.... and it sounds like i made u sad inside a little lol no way

well am working on sp3.. but ummm. my os isn't really(cough) and my automatic its working so i cant download the windows validate software for my sp3 to install I see *grinning*

i updated my the directx and the nvidia drivers good

dropped the virtual drives to 1 good but better uninstall the software which creates them

news sound card cost money i don't have.you dont need a soundcard

what if i use the sound card on my motherboard? its asus A8S-X which i bought in 06 or 07 you ARE using the chip on mobo! It`s C-Media

here is a link to a c-media sounddriver:

http://www.treiberupdate.de/treiber-download/treiber-Cmedia-xp-0.html

get version 5.12.0 which is the first underneath the "ASROCK-stuff" further down the page plus there are more on page 2 of the drivers list

thx for the help it was awake up call for me welcome!

[Hayle]

cools well i have done everything u said but sp3 and its still not working.
its ok am not 1 to fight up with a game for too long i wont die if it don't play it.
But if u feel i can try something else that might make it work i would be much appreciated.
if not no problem i would just uninstall it and move on. you've helped me out plenty so thx again.
here is the new file :)

[Manni]

cools well i have done everything u said but sp3 and its still not working.of course not. none of my hints was pointing at the sp3. With a "funny key" you have no chance to get sp3 installed.

But if u feel i can try something else that might make it work i would be much appreciated. You could have another try to get it run..........install CCleaner and give your machine a clean. A good tool to defrag is another possibility which might help.

here is the new file :) Thanks.
There is a new video-driver in now but still the old sound.

Apart from that the old directX-version seems to be still in so get the latest from here:


http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ea4894b5-e98d-44f6-842d-e32147237638&DisplayLang=en

[Hayle]

ok well i did that and i didnt work so its bin fun.
so thx again for your help
and maybe i will bring a next screwed up game for u fix lol
am gonna d/l Caesar IV

[caribjustice]

I'm getting an error also. I've attached my dxdiag.txt

Here is the exception:

Unhandled exception: Invalid call
Type: class TMIll::Common::Exception
File: c:\main\source\engine\dxdevice.cpp
Function: TMill::Engine::CreateDevice
LIne: 725

Any help would be great.

[monlina]

I got and runtime error when I tried to run this game.
I also couldn't install patch #5 :(
Please help!

[Manni]

Hello molina,

when looking through the dxdiag there isn`t really anything perculiar to find.

You have: UptoDate-system, plenty of RAM, video-driver ok.

The last years Sounddriver "could" be a reason for a mess. Updating it wouldn`t harm.
Are you sure you have latest directX from Novembre?

Try also defragging you C-partition.

[monlina]

Hello molina,

when looking through the dxdiag there isn`t really anything perculiar to find.

You have: UptoDate-system, plenty of RAM, video-driver ok.

The last years Sounddriver "could" be a reason for a mess. Updating it wouldn`t harm.
Are you sure you have latest directX from Novembre?

Try also defragging you C-partition.

Thanks, but I've tried everything you said and it still won't work.

Here's the Game Exception error I got when I tried to start the game (with destination expansion pack):

Unhandled exception: IOException for (Data\db\dbResource.dat) : The handle is invalid.
Type: class TMill::Common::IO::IOException
File: c:\main\source\common\filestream.cpp
Function: TMill::Common::IO::FileStream::Read
Line: 143

[rolly1982]

getting the same error over the graphics cars heres my dxdiag. thanks.

[Rnett]

The video card will struggle with this game.

[rolly1982]

should i be able to get it on tho?

[Keith]

Your Radeon 9250 is also a DX8.1 video card (see other thread about about "game exception") and isn't DX9 compliant. Many of the newer 3D games will require a DX9 compliant graphics card.

[maryluck]

I have loved all the SimCity games so far and was really looking forward to this new game which I purchased just this week. Took forever to install - then BAM - got the error below. Please help.

Unhandled exception: unable to find a valid device. I don't understand a lot of computerese, but have attached the DxDiag.txt file. Please let me know if there is a solution..

Bummed.

[Manni]

advice from an old man:

your video-drivers are 6 years old! (the card: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 420 is VERY old)

sounddriver is 7 years old!!

directX9 is 4 years old !

try updating those drivers and have another go with the game

[Quantum Reality]

I did a proof of concept with a Geforce 7100GS; am surprised a GF 420 would be able to play the game at all!

I also found a 7600GT and 7600GS could handle it passably, but an ATI HD3450 was useless. I think it's because the HD34xx and 36xx series are optimized for media playing rather than gaming.