I have never had this message in the past, but everytime I click on the simcity 4 icon, I receive this message
I have already attempted re-starting my computer, I have run as administrator several times, but I continue to receive the same message.
Any aid would be greatly appreciated!
This is a known problem lately with a recent Windows update that has affected games using SecuROM copy protection and "secdrv". You can try running this code in a batch file:
Then try running SimCity 4.Code:start cmd.exe /k "sc config secdrv start=demand" start cmd.exe /k "sc start secdrv"
After you're done playing, you can shut off secdrv by running this code in a batch file:
The /k switch just keeps the windows open, you can change it to /c if you like, which will close the window for you. I put this into a couple of batch files so it's easy to run when I need to start Civilization 4, which is also affected by this little mess from Microsoft.Code:start cmd.exe /k "sc stop secdrv" start cmd.exe /k "sc config secdrv start=disabled"
Last edited by Mellon Head; 15 Sep 2015 at 11:02.
This just affected me after the Critical Update on Sept. 9...I had no warning and couldn't understand why SimCity wouldn't open...I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the game and still got the error message. THEN I did a Google search and found this explanation for the problem.
Now here's my question...I did a System Restore to get my computer back to before the 9-9-15 critical update...is this issue going to be resolved with some kind of patch in the near future, or is SimCity4 just no longer going to work ever again? (I don't know if I can deal with that...I spend a LOT of time playing SC4 and can't bear the thought of it just being taken away from me like that). The workaround seems a bit clunky and all to have to do EVERY TIME I want to play SC4. I realize its a 12-year-old game but it still works just fine (or did...) and I get a lot of enjoyment from it.
You would be better off instead if you enable/disable the service as needed like Mellon Head showed.
I'm sure I will...but my question remains...do you think there will be any kind of patch offered for this in the future?
I believe it depends, some game companies (publisher/developer or whatever) will release an update or remove the DRM, while others will not do anything.
> I had no warning
From whom were you expecting a warning?
> is this issue going to be resolved with some kind of patch in the near future
Are you asking if Microsoft will patch this issue?
Or
Are you asking if the game maker will patch this issue?
There will not be a patch from Microsoft... if that is what you are asking.
Read this link that GokAy posted to similar thread:
Total War games will no longer work at all
No need to get snarky on me. I was asking if ANYONE (Microsoft or EA) would be offering a patch.
At any rate...I found better solutions to the problem over in the Simtropolis forums, as those people are, like me, dedicated to the SimCity problem specifically, so thanks for your help.
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