The Sims 2 Installation

lgbrlbatb · Joined: Jan 29, 2007 Posts: 9

I am having this problem:

4. Game displays errors when starting such as "Failed to find a Direct X 9.0c compatible graphics adapter" or "Graphic Adapter failure".

This is normally caused by one of two things. Number one would be that the graphics card being used is way out of date and not capable of running the game. Number two would be that the graphics card driver being used is out of date, in this case installing the latest driver should work and as always drivers are available from the manufacturers website.

How do I know if it is #1 or #2 causing the problem? I had Sims loaded on my computer before but I got some spam and my Windows had to be completely uninstalled and re-installed to get rid of it. So all of my software had to be re-installed as well. I am trying to install The Sims 2 and it isn't working anymore. When I had my Windows fixed I actually had more memory installed than before so I don't know what the problem is. Sad

Can someone please help???

Thanks in advance.

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5061 Location: UK

Hello lgbrlbatb and welcome to Lockergnome!

What are the specs of your PC?
If you don't know then please download and run SysSpec. Run the file > click on the system button > click edit > click copy to clipboard and then paste it with your reply.

lgbrlbatb · Joined: Jan 29, 2007 Posts: 9

Windows: Windows 2000 5.0 (Build 2195) Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer: 6.0.2800.1106
Memory (RAM): 352 MB
CPU: mobile AMD Athlon(tm) XP-M 1400+
CPU Speed: 1200.1 MHz
Sound card: VIA AC'97 Audio (WAVE)
Display Adapters: S3 Graphics ProSavageDDR | NetMeeting driver
Screen Resolution: 800 X 600 - 32 bit
:
Network Adapters: USB Cable Modem | VIA Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter
CD / DVD Drives: D: ATAPI-CDROM-DRIVE-52MAX | E: SONY CD-RW CRX215E1
:
COM Ports: COM1
LPT Ports: LPT1
Mouse: 3 Button Wheel Mouse Present
Hard Disks: C: 74.5GB
Hard Disks - Free: C: 71.9GB
USB Controllers: 3 host controllers.
Firewire (1394): Not Detected
:
Manufacturer: American Megatrends Inc.
Product Make: Frys
:
AC Power Status: OnLine
BIOS Info: ATAT COMPATIBLE 010604
Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time
Battery: No Battery
Motherboard: Frys Frys
Modem: Not detected

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5061 Location: UK

The graphics card you're using isn't supported by the game so you may have problems running it or compatibility problems with certain features in the game.

You said that your PC had all it's software reinstalled, it may be that the people didn't update your graphics card driver.

Try these drivers they might work.

I've also noticed that your computer only has service pack 3 installed, this means that the PC is behind on it's Windows updates. It is essential to use the Windows update site or automatic updates to fix security vulnerabilities and other Windows bugs.

Go to http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ to download the latest updates.

lgbrlbatb · Joined: Jan 29, 2007 Posts: 9

Would it be better to buy a new card? How much do they cost? I think I may have had something different prior to my computer being re-installed because Sims loaded fine then. It ran a little on the slow side and when I downloaded the NVIDIA driver it helped a little.

On the S3 should I downloan all of the different drivers or just pick one?

lgbrlbatb · Joined: Jan 29, 2007 Posts: 9

I found this item on e-bay: 180080564941. Can you take a look? I am not sure if it is safe to purchase this type of thing from an unknown source though. What do you recommend?

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5061 Location: UK

lgbrlbatb · Joined: Jan 29, 2007 Posts: 9

Like this:

200071891719
200073297902
290077811888

These are e-bay item #'s

Do you think it would be okay to purchase on e-bay or would that be dangerous to my computer?

Also...what is a PCI-Express slot to plug into. How do I know if I have that?

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5061 Location: UK

PCI-Express is a type of interface inside a desktop PC and is what newer graphics cards plug into.

Is your PC a laptop?
If it is you're not going to be able to upgrade the graphics card because it's not possible on a laptop.

lgbrlbatb · Joined: Jan 29, 2007 Posts: 9

I have a Desktop. I was actually looking into the NVIDIA Geforce FX 5200. Is that a T&L capable card?

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5061 Location: UK

The Geforce 5200 is hardware T&L capable but it's not really the best card you could get.

Before you buy a graphics card it's important to know what expansion slots you have in your PC, otherwise you might end up with a card you can't use. It's very unlikely a PC as old as yours has PCI Express (PCI-E) so that leaves AGP or PCI.

Do you know what make and model your motherboard is?

What kind of price range are you looking at?

lgbrlbatb · Joined: Jan 29, 2007 Posts: 9

It isn't really that old. A friend of our bought it for us about 2 years ago (3 at the most). I am not sure what the make & model of our motherboard is. Where would I find that info?

We aren't looking to spend very much. We just paid $500 to have it fixed, windows reloaded and more memory put it.

I really just want to be able to play my sims game. It worked before we had problems with our computer...it ran very slow but it worked. I just want it to run decent for the least expense as possible

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5061 Location: UK

Download Everest free edition> install it > run it > click motherboard > click motherboard and it should display the motherboard ID and name.

lgbrlbatb · Joined: Jan 29, 2007 Posts: 9

Field Value
Motherboard Properties
Motherboard ID 62-0106-001131-00101111-040201-VIA_K7$FRYS_RELEASE 01/06/2004
Motherboard Name Unknown

Front Side Bus Properties
Bus Type DEC Alpha EV6
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 133 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 267 MHz
Bandwidth 2133 MB/s

Memory Bus Properties
Bus Type DDR SDRAM
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 133 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 267 MHz
Bandwidth 2133 MB/s

Chipset Bus Properties
Bus Type VIA V-Link
Bus Width 8-bit
Real Clock 67 MHz (QDR)
Effective Clock 267 MHz
Bandwidth 267 MB/s

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5061 Location: UK

Your motherboard doesn't seem to want to be cooperative.

Try running a hardware related report.
Open Everest > click the report button > click hardware-related pages > click next > click html > click finish > after it's produced the report scroll down the [system slots / AGP slot] section > in the section should be the AGP type 2X, 4X or 8X please paste it with your next reply.

lgbrlbatb · Joined: Jan 29, 2007 Posts: 9

[ AGP 4x: S3 ProSavageDDR (86c420) ]

Graphics Processor Properties:
Video Adapter S3 ProSavageDDR (86c420)
GPU Code Name 86c420
PCI Device 5333 / 8D04
Bus Type AGP 4x @ 4x
Memory Size 32 MB
GPU Clock 121 MHz
Pixel Pipelines 1
TMU Per Pipeline 2
Vertex Shaders Not Supported
Pixel Shaders Not Supported
DirectX Hardware Support DirectX v6.0
Pixel Fillrate 121 MPixel/s
Texel Fillrate 242 MTexel/s

ZEUS_GB · Joined: Jan 14, 2003 Posts: 5061 Location: UK

You have a 4X AGP slot. This means you'll need a 4X AGP graphics card or an 8X AGP graphics card that's compatible with 4X AGP slots.

Check these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Category=38&N=201038...8+4026+

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Category=38&N=201038...8+4027+