The Sims 2 Troubleshooting (NEW thread)

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

Esparanzo wrote:

In my game the sims 2 I told her to do something but then x-ed it off and now shes stuck and wont move or die no matter how long she stands there how do i unfreeze her?

Hello esparanzo and welcome to Lockergnome!

Check the following link, it details methods of fixing stuck SIMS.

http://www.sims2wiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Force_Error_or_Reset

KimLam · Joined: Feb 06, 2008 Posts: 8

Hello to all ! Especially ZEUS_GB !

I've been reading threads for quite some time now, and I seem to have a problem no one else has yet encountered while Installing The Sims 2 (Base edition).

My AutoPlay doesn't run.

When I try to manually load AutoPlay, it says ''An unknown error occured while accessing E:/AUTORUN/AUTORUN.BMP '' When I click ok, it sends me to the beginning of the installation but I cannot use any navigation buttons (Back, Next, Finish) and can only stop via Cancel.

I have also tried running the Setup application, it takes quite some time (About 3 minutes) to open a popup in new window that says ''E:/setup. exe is not a valid Win32 application.''

What does this mean, how can I fix it ??

PS: My computer meets all the system requirements.

Please help, I've been stuck for about 2 hours !

Thanks in advance, Kim.

blaen · Joined: Feb 06, 2008 Posts: 2

Hi. I'm experiencing a lock-up on entering any lot. The system crashes when the 'fears' tumblers are spinning, any lot, anywhere. Any suggestions? (XP, AMD 3200+, 1Gb DDR)

Diolch!

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

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

KimLam · Joined: Feb 06, 2008 Posts: 8

I have another CD/DVD Drive and yes, have tried it. I haven't yet tried another CD (replacement) I know of no other person in my ''circle of friends'' if you wanna call it that, that has The Sims 2, I'd like to try and fix the problem before going to buy another one. And no, it doesn't do this with any other disks :S

I don't know if yo have other possible ways to fix this problem without changing the CD.

Please help, thank you ... Kim

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

blaen · Joined: Feb 06, 2008 Posts: 2

Thanks (diolch is Welsh for thanks!) Zeus

I am going to try all options, I found th ereadme.txt file on the DVD and that was a good starting point! D'Uh!

I use a lot of custom content, I'll reinstall and put it in one bit at a time and then try again. Trouble is, it is all killing my (320 Gb) HDD so I am facing a format and re-install of XP. I have the necessary files saved to save me from requestin a new unlock from MS.

I am a Dad and it is the kids' game. I want to use it to make somem animation for a short film idea I am developing using live actiona nd gameplay. I'll stay on the forum to keep you updated.

All best

blaen

KimLam · Joined: Feb 06, 2008 Posts: 8

I'm sorry ZEUS ... Still doesn't work, and I've tried changing CD/DVD Drive ... Sad

I really don't know what's happenning to my computer, I think he's sick. Please help me again on this one ! Here's my compu specs ! Maybe it will help (I'm very hoping it will ! )

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 2/6/2008, 19:54:15
Machine name: WII
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
System Model: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
BIOS: BIOS Date: 05/21/03 11:47:15 Ver: 08.00.09
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 510MB RAM
Page File: 341MB used, 908MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce4 MX 440
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0171&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A3
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.7801 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 8/2/2005 15:35:00, 3908864 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: No
WHQL Date Stamp: None
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 8/2/2005 15:35:00, 3198560 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4231-11CF-C97D-0A2002C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0171
SubSys ID: 0x00000000
Revision ID: 0x00A3
Revision ID: 0x00A3
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D

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

Hi KimLam,

Did you try changing the drives transfer mode to PIO only?

KimLam · Joined: Feb 06, 2008 Posts: 8

Yes, at the beginning, I tried just changing the first channel ... Then proceeded to change both channels and each device on each channel. I don't know if what I did was ok, but it still doesn't work.

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

KimLam · Joined: Feb 06, 2008 Posts: 8

Here's what went down yesterday ...

I got fed up with my old Sims 2 that wasn't working so I went to a nearby EB Games (Gaming store) and bought a new one, except it's The Sims 2 Deluxe (Which shouldn't change anything much).

Anyways ... When I came back home and tried to install that CD, my computer didn't even recognize the CD, so I tried it on my sister's computer and the Autorun didn't open, it just said (on her compu) that there was an unknown error concerning the autorun.

I still don't understand why my computer doesn't recgonize this NEW CD ! No scratch, nada, zip, and it can read other CDs fine.

Please help again !

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

KimLam · Joined: Feb 06, 2008 Posts: 8

Right, on my computer it is a CD Drive only (Both drives actually are CD only, 7-year-old computer ! ) But on my sister's computer, it is a DVD Drive except there is a problem with the Autorun. Each time I try to open the application, there is a Windows pop-up telling me there was an error with Autorun and that they need to close. Why ? And how can I fix this ?

God I am so not lucky with this game !

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

KimLam · Joined: Feb 06, 2008 Posts: 8

I can honestly tell you I've tried about everything. I'm pretty good with computers, tried the PIO mode only, tried run then setup.exe and autorun and other stuff too, what I've decided to do is return the game, get an other one too and sell my basic version of the Sims 2, I'll keep you updated during the next week or so ! Thanks for all your help !

Hyperpower · Joined: Feb 18, 2008 Posts: 2

Argh! I usually don't bother posting problems like this but it's been annoying me for the last couple of months. Ever since I installed TS2 Pets on my computer, the game won't load. It starts to run, then when it gets to the blue "loading" page a blank error message comes up, with only one option. I click it, and the game closes, taking me back to my desktop.

I recently got a new graphics card, and I've re-installed the drivers (remembering to uninstall the old ones first) about three times, to no avail. I've also tried re-installing DirectX, as well as using -w and -nosound in the shortcut. Oh yeah, and I uninstalled all of TS2 games and re-installed them. Up to Nightlife works perfectly, but Pets seems to be the problem.

I've read through this thread and tried everything I could, so my last resort is to ask if there is anything I haven't tried yet! I read about using "PIO mode only" - but I don't know how to do this myself.

Any help would be REALLY appreciated, this has been frustrating me for so long!

Here are my specs, to save some time:
Windows: Windows XP5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer: 7.0.5730.13
Memory (RAM): 704 MB
CPU Info: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.66GHz
CPU Speed: 2609.8 MHz
Sound card: SigmaTel Audio
Display Adapters: RADEON 9250 | RADEON 9250 - Secondary | NetMeeting driver | RDPDD Chained DD
Screen Resolution: 1280 X 1024 - 32 bit
Network: Network Present
Network Adapters: IEEE 802.11g Wireless Cardbus/PCI Adapter - Packet Scheduler Miniport | Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC - Packet Scheduler Miniport | Hamachi Network Interface - Odyssey Network Services Miniport
CD / DVD Drives: D: _NEC DVD_RW ND-2510A | E: JY5394P DWC457V
COM Ports: COM1 | COM2
LPT Ports: LPT1
Mouse: 16 Button Wheel Mouse Present
Hard Disks: C: 69.5GB | F: 107.8GB
Hard Disks - Free: C: 22.0GB | F: 94.0GB
USB Controllers: 3 host controllers.
Firewire (1394): Not Detected
PCMCIA (Laptops): Not Installed
Manufacturer: Award Software International, Inc.
Product Make: 00000000000000000000000
AC Power Status: OnLine
BIOS Info: AT/AT COMPATIBLE | 08/08/04 | GBT - 42302e31
Time Zone: GMT Standard Time
Battery: No Battery
Motherboard:
Modem: Not detected

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

I've been looking through my instructions for changing the transfer mode to PIO only mode and I think they could be made a lot easier (i'll have to change them some time).

OK here goes.

Right click My Computer > click properties > click hardware > click device manager > look for IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers and click the + sign to expand the tree > double click primary IDE channel (name may vary slightly from PC to PC) > click details > click on the down arrow and select bus relations > the window below the down arrow should then display something like cdrom and then the name of the drive (you can check the drive name by expanding the CD/DVD drives tree).
If it doesn't and says IDE and the name of your hard drive then click cancel > double click the secondary IDE channel > follow the same procedure as before (bus relations) it should say cdrom.
Now we know where it is click advanced settings > change the transfer mode to PIO only mode > click OK > restart the PC and then try installing it again.

The sysspec program didn't really give me any information on the make or model. Is there a sticker on the PC somewhere that says what it is?

Hyperpower · Joined: Feb 18, 2008 Posts: 2

Wow that was faster than I expected, thanks for your help

I tried transferring to PIO only mode but after trying to go on the game it appears not to have worked

My computer is a Packard Bell
And looking at the sticker... Model/Type: UTOW - CO2

Anything else you might need to know?
I'm guessing SN is serial number but I don't know if that will help