I have a computer issue with Sim City Societies, advice please?

[mariamousie1]

I got Sim City Societies for Christmas, but it won't run. By that, I mean it won't do anything. My computer refuses to even acknowledge the fact that there is a disc in it. I tried to start up the drive through run, but it just says "please insert a disc." I did double check that I had the right drive, too. I don't have this problem with any other games, so I don't think it's the drive. The game loads on my brother's computer (but he doesn't have the memory to play it) so I don't think it's the game.

I know these aren't computer forums, but I first went to the official forums and I couldn't get onto it, so I went to gamefaqs and posted the issue. I never got a reply. I finally got onto the official forums and someone said this: *Have you tried looking up the information on what to do if the TM written in the name is making your computer angry? Haha, sorry, I have no technical terms for "Duh, of course you shouldn't put a trademark symbol in a computer games name, it's probablly going to mess something up somewhere." *
I don't really know what they mean by this, or how I could fix it if it was the problem. It was kind of vague. I asked them to clarify, but I haven't got a reply.

I almost forgot- I went to a site that tells you if your computer is compatible with a game and chose SCS. It said everything was fine except my video card was expired. It should at least load anyway. It loaded on my brother's PC and he has a crap video card, much worse than mine. Anyway, my father wants to take my PC into a shop tomorrow and see what they think. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd really appreciate it because I have no other ideas.

[Gravekeeper]

Is it installed? Or did it just not do anything period? If its installed, maybe try a No-CD fix.

If its not installed.....are you putting a dvd into a cd-rom? Thats what lept to mind first. But I'm bitter from years of enduring tech support.

[Pedersen]

Well, since you said you checked the drive, my next suspicion would be the copy protection on the disc itself. Some of them can do some strange stuff.

My next step (in your position) would be to swap around drives until the one that works is in my PC, and the one that doesn't in your bro's. Try to run the install from both, and see what happens. My bet is that it's the combination of disc and drive that's screwing you over.

[lordlundar]

Programs to check if they're installed:

Nero
Easy Media Creator
Alcohol 120%
Daemon Tools
pretty much anything that can make a virtual drive. As well, check the version.

Why? Sim City Societies uses a copy protection system known as SeuRom. An older burning program that can make virtual drives, and a burning drive in the system trips the protection.

Best bet is to remove the offending program or update it. Earlier versions of the program I've had tripped the CP, but newer versions haven't.

[mariamousie1]

Thank you! This is more help than I've gotten anywhere else so far. Sorry about putting this in off-topic, I didn't realize that there was a forum for technical stuff. I do use a DVD-Rom, so I don't think that's the problem. It never installed, because it refuses to do anything. I did want to switch around the drives, but my father says he doesn't want to do that. I would have no idea how, but maybe I can get my brother to try it. As for programs, I have AVG anti-virus protection and the google toolbar for pop-ups. I'm not really sure how to turn them off, but I'll fiddle around with them. Thanks so much for the help! I'm going to experiment a little (don't worry, I'm not totally stupid when it comes to computers, I'm not going to delete anything or do anything drastic without asking my dad or brother for input)

[mariamousie1]

I think I figured out what the problem was (although I still have no idea how to fix it). SimCity Societies is a PC-DVD game, and although this shouldn't be a problem in a DVD-rom drive, DVDs do not work in this drive. I never watch DVDs on my computer so I didn't realize this. I went through the trouble-shooting for the DVD-rom but all it talked about were "Do cd-rom discs work or do DVDs work?" Then it told how to get into Windows Media Player manually to watch a movie. So I got a few DVDs and put them in, voila, none of them worked. At least I have some idea of what the problem was. Maybe my dad will know what to do now. Thanks for all your suggestions!

[MadMike]

Sounds to me like the drive is FUBARed. I could be wrong, but I think they have different sets of lasers for CDs and DVDs. My guess is that the one for the DVDs no longer works, but the one for CDs still does.

DVD drives, even burners, are quite inexpensive these days. I'd try replacing it.

[Shabo]

Not necessarily, Madmike. MariaMouse may not have the software installed to read the DVD. Depending on whether the drivers for the DVD-rom drive have been installed or not, she won't be able to read DVDs, but CD reading/writing drivers are built in to XP. My guess is that the drivers aren't installed if she is unable to view DVDs in Windows Media Player. So all she would have to do is find/buy a DVD software program, such as Nero or PowerDVD or another variation, and voila! It will probably work. If the computer is from a big company like (D)ell or (G)ateway or H to the P, then they offer their DVD software on the website, usually alongside the driver downloads. However, you must go to the correct manufacturer's website in order to get the software to work.

[Geek King]

Windows should have the basic DVD drivers if you've kept up with the updates. I think MadMike has the right of it. Sounds like the drive's DVD laser has failed.

[NightAngel]

Most Sims games come in both PC and PC-DVD formats. Just ask whoever gave it to you for the receipt and exchange it for the regular PC version.

When I originally bought TS2 I accidently got the PC-DVD version and it did nothing in my old computer. I exchanged it and it worked fine. If SCS has any Expansion Packs and you get them you'll want to make sure that they are not in PC-DVD either even if you do get the DVD drive going.

EDIT: Also, my experience is anything Sims is touchy. Conditions for Sims games to play properly must be perfect- although I've never played SCS.

[Shabo]

Windows should have the basic DVD drivers if you've kept up with the updates. I think MadMike has the right of it. Sounds like the drive's DVD laser has failed.

That's assuming that she (he? I'm assuming here...) has kept up with updates, which in my experience is usually not the case. Not that I'm dissing you, MM, but it's just the norm. I usually wait a few days before running updates to make sure it's not going to fubar my machine, so I'm not even that great about my updates.

[mariamousie1]

Update: My dad and I took to the computer shop and bought a new DVD drive and video card. They were both pretty cheap. My dad installed them today and now SCS works! It's really awesome, and Sims 2 is better now, I can see the fish in the pond. Thanks so much for your advice everybody! It really helped!
I made a western town in the desert. I put in a cathedral and now my town has about 5 religious zealots that randomly kidnap other sims and drag them to the church to be saved. It's pretty funny, if not a little too true.