SimCity 4 isn't launching. Like, not at all. [SOLVED]

[Hello, Newman]

I have to say, I do not own this game on Steam. In fact, I actually own 3 original discs: 2 cds for SimCity 4 and one for Rush Hour. So yeah, I do not have SimCity Deluxe, I actually have the original and its expansion. Some time ago I uninstalled this game from my computer (it ran perfectly) and these days I wanted to play it again, so I reinstalled it. But after double-clicking the shortcut it would display the loading cursor and then it went back to normal. So then my saga began. I searched thoroughly every corner of the web for a solution and then proceeded to (not necessarily in this order):

• Install the official patch from EA
  
• Configure the shortcut target with every option possible
  
• Run the game as administrator, trying each windows version compatibility, checking, unchecking and tweaking everything there was
  
• Uninstall and reinstall the game like 5+ times, each time with a different method: run the setup with compatibility mode, install in a different folder, delete old register values for the game, install only the original and patching it, etc. etc.
  
• Turn off the Antivirus
  
• Turn the computer off and on IT-like
  
• Pull my hair
  
• Check if I was actually dreaming which, unfortunately, I wasn't
  
• Even install some DirectX stuff I found in the Microsoft website. Because why not
  
• Cry

I could have given up by now, but I won't. I freaking love this game. I had it working before, so there's something I may be overlooking somehow. I have already opened up Task Manager and found out that the process won't even start. Weird.
I have Windows 7 64-bit, i3 with an Intel HD Graphics Integrated Card (yes, that one). So, if anyone knows some neat little tricks I'll be glad to read. Anything at all at this point.

Thanks in advance.

[Brave Sir Robin]

This is probably entirely useless, but have you tried launching the executable without a shortcut? It's possible that your shortcut is somehow causing interference.

You've already gone through everything I'd normally suggest otherwise, but you could check that the executable hasn't for some reason been denied the permission to "read & execute" under the security tab in properties.

Other than that, you could cry while waiting for the Winter Sale and then cry with guilt after feeding the monolith of gross inconsideration for human well-being that is EA $5 to buy the Steam version. If you can't afford the $5, then the obvious solution is to cry. A lot.[i.imgur.com] I don't guarantee that the Steam version would even work, though.

Last case scenario would be to reformat your hard-drive and reinstall everything, or just revert to a backup from before you uninstalled the game the first time. I'm sure you don't want to do that, though.

[Cahos Rahne Veloza]

Try this guide:

http://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/65165-guide-running-simcity-4-on-windows-8/

Incedentally for a non-Steam player you should have definitely asked for assistance on Simtropolis or at SC4Devotion instead of seeking help here on Steam.

[Hello, Newman]

Originally posted by Cahos Rahne Veloza:

Try this guide:

http://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/65165-guide-running-simcity-4-on-windows-8/

Incedentally for a non-Steam player you should have definitely asked for assistance on Simtropolis or at SC4Devotion instead of seeking help here on Steam.

I... I love you. It was the KB3086255 update from Windows that was causing this trouble. Indeed, I should have asked on those websites, but I didn't want to create an account :P and I thought the answer would come quick from the Steam Community, which it did. And I overlooked that topic also. You're a hero, kind sir.