Sims 2 help

[Ritz459]

I know there are some people on here who play the Sims 2 game, and I'm having an issue with it.

A couple of days ago we downloaded the Pets expansion pack onto our computer (already had the basic and Nightlife). No problems whatsoever and my younger siblings were having a very good time making cute little doggies and kitties for their families. However, just recentally, when we go to play the game it will load, but right at the end of the loading period on the main screen (it says "Sims 2 Pets" and has all of those funny comments at the bottom for each loading segment) a little window pops up that says something along the lines of, "Aplication has failed. This aplication will no terminate" and it shuts off. It was working fine a couple of days ago, but now it isn't working at all.

I would rather really not uninstall/reinstall everything, but I will if that is the only way to get the game working again.

From what I've read online, it could have something to do with my video or sound driver? What in the heck is that? And how would I go about seeing if that is the problem?

*sigh* Any advice is appriciated.

[DogLover8]

If it starting acting up after while the game probably needs to be reinstalled. If it was the drivers you would have had issues as soon as you installed it. Still, I would reinstall first, download updates for the Sims 2 (if there are any), and update the video and sound drivers. Do you have Windows XP, Vista, or What?

Is your computer and/or video card overheating? It is hot out now and dust collects on the innards of the computer after a while. The dust can really stick to fans and heat sinks if it is humid out.

[Cassiepeia]

You can easily update your drivers by searching for your sound/video card in google and adding 'drivers' to the search. So for expamle "mysoundcard 1.2 drivers". Find the latest ones, download and then install as instructed.

If they fail, then go to a sims forum (world sims is good) and take a look at their tech section. If you can't find the answer there...ask them about uninstalling and reinstalling. Problems can occur doing and uninstall/reinstall because sometimes it doesn't uninstall all the bits of the program and it still won't work. I had that problem. I uninstalled/reinstalled over and over again and still couldn't get it to work...then found out that I needed to do it a special way to really clean it all off my hard drive. I hate computers.

Definately go to WorldSims for help after you install new drivers because you may not need to uninstall anything.

Cass.

[Swiftwind]

You might need to get more memory for your computer. My game was crashing a lot (same message) and then I upgraded my memory to 2 gigs, and the game is so much better now. Just another thought, you don't have any Sims2 custom content (eg content made by other players) installed, do you?

[Doglover1988]

Cass just wondering how do you search to find what kind of sound/video card you have?

[DogLover8]

You can look up your sound card and video card in the device manager in the control panel. You can also download a utility for it. Google "SIW" for the System Information for Windows. Click download and Download the SIW Standalone.

[Ritz459]

Do you have Windows XP, Vista, or What?

We have Windows XP.

Still, I would reinstall first, download updates for the Sims 2 (if there are any), and update the video and sound drivers.

How do you do all of that?

Is your computer and/or video card overheating? It is hot out now and dust collects on the innards of the computer after a while. The dust can really stick to fans and heat sinks if it is humid out.

How can I tell if it is? I'm assuming since my PS2 isn't overheating (I have a small one), then the computer would be fine, but the again the PS2 isn't on most of the day. We shut the computer down, gave it a break, and then tried again but we still got the same message.

You might need to get more memory for your computer. My game was crashing a lot (same message) and then I upgraded my memory to 2 gigs, and the game is so much better now. Just another thought, you don't have any Sims2 custom content (eg content made by other players) installed, do you?

This computer only has one gig of memory, but this is the only "big" game we have the computer. It never gave us any problem before, so I'm not sure if memory is the problem. Besides that, this isn't "my" computer, but the families, and my dad would never go for getting more memory. He'd say, "Just download less crap."

No, I don't have any custom content. I don't even know how to get custom content. lol

You can look up your sound card and video card in the device manager in the control panel.

What exactly is a sound/video card? I was able to go to the device manager, but I couldn't figure out which of the devices was the one I needed to be looking at.

Once I try to figure out all of that garbage, I may just uninstall everything and then reinstall just the Sims 2 deluxe and say heck with the pets and any other expansion packs. I'll have Nightlife at least.

[DogLover8]

Google "Sims 2 updates" and you will get the links to the Sims 2 updates. The Video card is listed as "Display Adapters" in the Device Manager and the Sound card is listed under "Sound, Video, and Game Controllers". Look for the the components on Google.

1GB should be enough if there is nothing else running in the background with Windows XP.

Link for the Sims 2 Updates:
TheSims2.com - Updates

[Cassiepeia]

Sound and video cards are the hardware (actually boards) in your computer that allow it to display sound and video/picture.

Best advice is to abandon this forum for Sims tech advice and join WorldSims instead. They have excellent staff and members there who know the ins and outs of the game and its problems and can help you as much as possible without you having to uninstall/reinstall...if at all possible. PLEASE speak to them first. And make sure they know that you don't know your computer's "specs" and need help finding out.

Cass.

[Ritz459]

Originally Posted by Cassiepeia

Sound and video cards are the hardware (actually boards) in your computer that allow it to display sound and video/picture.

Best advice is to abandon this forum for Sims tech advice and join WorldSims instead. They have excellent staff and members there who know the ins and outs of the game and its problems and can help you as much as possible without you having to uninstall/reinstall...if at all possible. PLEASE speak to them first. And make sure they know that you don't know your computer's "specs" and need help finding out.

Cass.

I'll probably do that, but thought I'd ask here first before I went out and signed up for another forum.

Thanks for the advice and I'll let you all know the final verdict.