Sims 2: Pets Crashing to Desktop During Load Hi folks! I've been reading through the forums, trying to find an answer to my problem, but to no avail. At this point, whenever I try to start the Sims 2: Pets, I get the initial logo screen, then the movie, and then the actual load screen that displays the scrolling text ("Dumbing Down Doofuses", etc). It's the load screen where everything goes wrong - on a fresh reboot, it will get to "Scolding Splines", then exit straight to my desktop. No errors are logged on screen or in the Event Viewer. If I retry without rebooting, it dumps to desktop as soon as it hits the load screen. It has been awhile since I played, but the game had been working fine until now. I haven't downloaded any custom content for it, and I have applied the Pets patch. I have tried removing the two cache files, as well as the cigen.package, and I've tried removing my downloads directory. Nothing seems to make a difference. If anyone out there can help, that would be awesome - I miss my Sims! Thanks, SeaWraith P.S. Edited to add my system info: ------------------ System Information ------------------ 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: Alienware System Model: Alienware BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 FX-57 Processor, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.8GHz Memory: 2048MB RAM Page File: 602MB used, 3337MB available Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904) --------------- Display Devices --------------- Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Series GPU Manufacturer: NVIDIA Chip type: GeForce 6800 Ultra DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC Display Memory: 256.0 MB Current Mode: 1600 x 1200 (32 bit) (60Hz) Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200 Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll Driver Version: 6.14.0011.6921 (English) DDI Version: 9 (or higher) Driver Attributes: Final Retail Driver Date/Size: 12/5/2007 01:41:00, 5773568 bytes WHQL Logo'd: Yes WHQL Date Stamp: n/a VDD: n/a Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys Mini VDD Date: 12/5/2007 01:41:00, 7435392 bytes Registry: OK DDraw Status: Enabled D3D Status: Enabled AGP Status: Enabled DDraw Test Result: Not run D3D7 Test Result: Not run D3D8 Test Result: Not run D3D9 Test Result: Not run ------------- Sound Devices ------------- Description: SB X-Fi Audio [A000] Default Sound Playback: Yes Default Voice Playback: Yes Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0005&SUBSYS_00211102&REV_00 Manufacturer ID: 1 Product ID: 100 Type: WDM Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1144 (English) Driver Attributes: Final Retail WHQL Logo'd: Yes Date and Size: 10/29/2005 19:16:24, 439680 bytes DVD/CD Drive Info: Model: TSSTcorp CD/DVDW SH-W162L Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 5.01.2600.2180 (English), 8/4/2004 07:00:00, 49536 bytes
Also please run those Display tests in dxdiag. The "Scolding Splines" phase of the loading screen is associated with a final test for a the graphics ability of the puter. That machine looks to be around 3-4 years old ... make sure that graphics card's fan is still working, too.
dxdiag display tests came back fine. I'll try uninstalling the game. Is this the correct install order through Pets: 1. Sims2 2. Nightlife 3. University 4. Open for Business 5. Pets
