Tropico 4 & Windows 10: Crashes on startup

[Wafty Cranker]

The most recent version of Windows 10 causes a conflict with the version of fmodex.dll currently in the game directory. For me it would try to rescale then crash back to desktop.
By replacing it with version 0.4.44.52 I got the game working again. It was trial and error, so use which ever version works for you. Download from here[wikidll.com].

[Skybreaker]

Hi Wafty Cranker,
we recommend to start the game in e.g. Windows 7 (or any other provided, like Windows XP) compatibility mode.
To set the compatibility mode, do the following:

• Right-click on “Tropico 4.exe” (by default: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Tropico 4) and select properties
  
• Click the Compatibility tab and then tick the box labelled "Run this program in compatibility mode
  
• Now you can select a Compatibility Mode and select e.g. “Windows 7”
  
• Tick the box below "Run this program as administrator" (to always run the game as administrator, instead of running it manually each time you start the game)
  
• Click on "OK" to apply the changes and start the game with double click on the game’s .exe.

-cheers

[Oz Gaming]

I'm using Windows 10 (1903) and Tropico 4 is loading and working perfectly. No need to use compatability mode.

[mysterytempo]

I've replaced the dll but stil unable to play. I also tried the compatibility mode without success.

[Skybreaker]

Hi everybody,
@Emma
thank you for the update, same for me here, after trying to reproduce.
@mysterytempo
Are you running 1903, too? What about drivers for your system/graphic card, are those up to date?

-cheers

[Wafty Cranker]

@Unerde
If it helps, my problems seemed to start after I'd installed an Asus Xonar SE soundcard to solve issues I was having with onboard sound from an Asus Prime Z270-P.

[mysterytempo]

@Unerde thank you very much for the reply. yes im running 1903 too. there were actually a new driver for the graphic card so ive just installed it but i still have the problem. the game was running fine 2 weeks ago.

[Mandrake]

For the record, I'm also using the latest updated version of Windows 10 (1903) and was able to launch Tropico 4 without needing compatibility mode. Perhaps this is a driver issue?

[Burt Bacharach]

Post your report.wer file and see my post here. We might have the same issue. Game worked fine for weeks then suddenly start crashing on splash screen.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/57690/discussions/0/1639802081893988204/

[Mo Bader]

Thanks Unerde. Compatibiilty mode seems to have fixed my problem with Windows 10 (1903) 64 bit. Now running Tropico 4 on Windows 7 compatibility and so far it"s working. Thanks again

[efiggy]

Originally posted by Unerde:

Hi Wafty Cranker,
we recommend to start the game in e.g. Windows 7 (or any other provided, like Windows XP) compatibility mode.
To set the compatibility mode, do the following:

• Right-click on “Tropico 4.exe” (by default: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Tropico 4) and select properties
  
• Click the Compatibility tab and then tick the box labelled "Run this program in compatibility mode
  
• Now you can select a Compatibility Mode and select e.g. “Windows 7”
  
• Tick the box below "Run this program as administrator" (to always run the game as administrator, instead of running it manually each time you start the game)
  
• Click on "OK" to apply the changes and start the game with double click on the game’s .exe.

-cheers

Still didn't fix it for me :( my crash log has the same fmodex.dll issue. Is there any solution besides downloading dll files?

[nkg753]

Please check your default sound device in Control Panel. It should be set to connected device.
See also: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/102323-change-default-audio-playback-device-windows-10-a.html

When you plug another sound card to USB (for example USB headphones) and install drivers then it will be checked as default sound device. When you unplug, the default sound device will checked to unplugged device. So Tropico 4 will be crash on startup.

[efiggy]

Originally posted by nkg753:

Please check your default sound device in Control Panel. It should be set to connected device.
See also: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/102323-change-default-audio-playback-device-windows-10-a.html

When you plug another sound card to USB (for example USB headphones) and install drivers then it will be checked as default sound device. When you unplug, the default sound device will checked to unplugged device. So Tropico 4 will be crash on startup.

Thanks, it was exactly this.

[⛧ Morslyte ⛧]

Originally posted by nkg753:

Please check your default sound device in Control Panel. It should be set to connected device.
See also: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/102323-change-default-audio-playback-device-windows-10-a.html

When you plug another sound card to USB (for example USB headphones) and install drivers then it will be checked as default sound device. When you unplug, the default sound device will checked to unplugged device. So Tropico 4 will be crash on startup.

Except I don't have multiple options like it shows on the guide. There's no expansion arrow on the sound, and on the control panel I don't have any other available sound to set as default. Either with Hi-Fi headphones set in or not. Is it because of my Nahimic sound software? I'm running on MSI.

Really wanted to play and can't.