Game running problems - black screen

[sladkata91]

I installed The Sims 2 for the first time on my PC. There were no problems during the installation, but when I got the game installed and tried to run it, a black screen appeared and the PC freezed. I had to press the restart button on the computer case to restart it. I tried to run the game again, but the same thing happened. I have no idea why it does not work. Here is my PC configuration:

CPU: Intel(R) Celeron(R) D 3.20GHz
RAM: 512MB
VIDEO: GeForce 7300LE 256MB

And I have enough space on my HDD for swap file and etc.

Here is the Sims 2 log file, created when trying to run the game:


Log generated on 10/10/2007, 15:21
=== Application info ===
Name: The Sims 2
Version: 1.0.0.932
Build: ReleaseSRT-P
=== Machine info ===
OS version: Windows NT 5.1
CPU: 3196Mhz, Name:GenuineIntel, FPU:1, MMX:1
Memory: 512MB
Free memory: 316MB
User: Jestoka
Computer: X3M
=== Sound device info ===
Name: Unknown
Driver: Unknown
=== Graphics device info ===
Number: 0
Name (driver): NVIDIA GeForce 7300 LE
Name (database): NVIDIA GeForce 7300 LE <<NOT FOUND IN DATABASE!>>
Vendor: NVIDIA
Chipset: Vendor: 10de, Device: 01d1, Board: 00000000, Chipset: 00a1
Driver: nv4_disp.dll, Version: 6.14.11.6371, GUID: D7B71E3E-4291-11CF-537B-0B2000C2CB35
Driver version: 6371
Monitor: \\.\DISPLAY1 (file://./DISPLAY1)
Monitor aspect: 1.333333, 4:3
Screen mode: 1024x768x32BPP,75Hz
Texture memory: 256MB
HW T&L: Fixed function:1 Programmable:3.0
Pixel program: 3.0
Texture stages: 8
AppControlledAA: 1
Global properties
-----------------
boolProp allowCustomContent true
uintProp AmbienceVolume 100
boolProp animationLOD false
uintProp antialiasingQuality 0
uintProp AudioPerformance 1
boolProp autoCentering true
boolProp autoLogin false
boolProp bumpMapping false
boolProp CameraDriftCamEnabled true
boolProp CameraSpecialEventEnabled true
boolProp carsOnRight false
boolProp checkForPatch true
boolProp constrainFloorElevation true
boolProp creatingLotTemplate false
uintProp cutawayMemorySize 3
boolProp cutawayOutside true
boolProp deviceVsynch true
boolProp displayLookAtBoxes false
boolProp displayPaths false
uintProp dynamicRenderStrategy 0
boolProp edgeScrolling true
uintProp edithConfigFlags 0
boolProp effectLODSoftChange true
floatProp effectMaxTimeDelta 0
uintProp effectPriorityLevel 3
boolProp enableSnapshot true
boolProp freeWill true
uintProp FXVolume 100
floatProp geomBoneInfluenceThreshold 0.01
boolProp geomCheckGeomDataIntegrity false
floatProp geomGeneratedTangentSpaceNormalLineLength 0.1
uintProp geomGenerateTangentSpaceNormalLines 0
boolProp geomGenerateTangentSpaceSxT false
uintProp geomMaxBoneInfluencesPerVertex 4
sintProp geomMaxMorphTargetDeltasPerVertex 4
floatProp geomMorphTargetDeltaThreshold 0.001
floatProp geomPerBoneBoundBlendWeightThreshold 0.9
boolProp guob true
floatProp horzedgescrollrate 0.5
boolProp interrupt false
stringProp lastLoadedNeighborhood
uintProp lightingQuality 3
boolProp lightOpenGLStyle false
boolProp liveCameraConstraints true
boolProp livePIP true
uintProp lodOverride 0
boolProp lotInfoAdvancedMode false
stringProp lotWindowFillColor (0,0,0,1)
uintProp maxParticlesTarget 10000
uintProp maxTerrainGrade 5
boolProp morph true
uintProp MusicVolume 40
stringProp neighborhoodWindowFillColor (0.5,0.5,0.5,1)
boolProp nhoodWaterReflection false
boolProp NoLegacySounds true
boolProp noStupidIFFUnlocking false
boolProp optimizeMeshes true
floatProp particleDamping 0
floatProp particleDensity 1
uintProp particleLODOffset 0
floatProp particleScale 1
floatProp particleSizeThreshold 1
boolProp perfAddLights true
boolProp perfEnableMorphing true
boolProp perfEnableSkinning true
boolProp perfLightCaching true
boolProp perfRenderParts true
uintProp propertyRevision 6
boolProp quickTips true
boolProp reduceBoneWeights false
boolProp reflectionWithExtraViewer false
boolProp renderInsideObjectOnlyOnSelectedSimLevel true
uintProp renderInsideVisibleObjects 1
boolProp renderOpaqueUI false
boolProp renderSelectedSimLevel false
boolProp rotateCameraSims1Mode false
boolProp ShowLotPackageFilename false
boolProp ShowTutorialWelcome true
boolProp simInBackground false
boolProp simShadows true
boolProp sleepInBackground true
boolProp snapObjectsToGrid true
uintProp snapshotPictureQuality 2
uintProp snapshotPictureSize 2
uintProp soundDetail 2
boolProp SoundMasterGroupAmbienceEnabled true
boolProp SoundMasterGroupFXEnabled true
boolProp SoundMasterGroupMusicEnabled true
boolProp SoundMasterGroupVoxEnabled true
boolProp specHighlights true
stringProp startingNeighborhood Pleasantview
boolProp unevenTilesFloorable true
boolProp useEffects true
boolProp useLODs false
boolProp usePixelAspectRatio true
floatProp vertedgescrollrate 0.5
boolProp videoCaptureAudioOn true
uintProp videoCaptureMaxRecordingSeconds 60
uintProp videoCaptureQuality 1
uintProp videoCaptureSize 1
uintProp VOXVolume 100

Device 0
--------
Options
-------
uintProp MaterialDetail 3 #default: 3
uintProp ObjectDetail 3 #default: 3
uintProp ObjectHiding 0 #default: 0
uintProp Shadows 3 #default: 3
uintProp OpaqueUI 0 #default: 0
uintProp Reflection 1 #default: 1
uintProp EffectsQuality 3 #default: 3
uintProp LightingQuality 3 #default: 3
uintProp SoundQuality 3 #default: 3
uintProp DirtyRect 2 #default: 2
uintProp FullscreenFadeEffect 1 #default: 1
uintProp Turbo 2 #default: 2
uintProp SimulatorControls 3 #default: 3
uintProp LightingOptimizations 3 #default: 3
uintProp AnimationSamplingLevel 2 #default: 2
uintProp LivePIP 1 #default: 1
uintProp SpecialEventCamera 1 #default: 1
uintProp ScreenModeResolution 3 #default: 3
Option properties
-----------------
sintProp activeDeviceNum 0
boolProp animationFrameSampling false
uintProp AudioPerformance 2
boolProp bumpMapping true
boolProp chooseCameraSpecialEventEnabled true
uintProp defaultResHeight 768
uintProp defaultResWidth 1024
uintProp dynamicRenderStrategy 2
uintProp effectPriorityLevel 3
boolProp enableSnapshot true
boolProp floorAndWallNormalMapping true
boolProp guob true
boolProp heightMapShadows true
uintProp imageDataSizeReductionOnLoad 0
boolProp incrementalLighting true
boolProp lerpLights true
boolProp lightingEnabled true
boolProp livePIPDefault true
uintProp lodOverride 0
uintProp maxNumOfVisitingSims 8
uintProp maxParticlesTarget 10000
uintProp maxResHeight 1200
uintProp maxResWidth 1600
boolProp nhoodWaterReflection true
boolProp objectShadows true
boolProp optimizedDiffusion true
uintProp optionAnimationSamplingLevel 2
uintProp optionDirtyRect 2
uintProp optionEffectsQuality 3
uintProp optionFullscreenFadeEffect 1
uintProp optionLightingOptimizations 3
uintProp optionLightingQuality 3
uintProp optionLivePIP 1
uintProp optionMaterialDetail 3
uintProp optionObjectDetail 3
uintProp optionObjectHiding 0
uintProp optionOpaqueUI 0
uintProp optionReflection 1
uintProp optionScreenModeResolution 3
uintProp optionShadows 3
uintProp optionSimulatorControls 3
uintProp optionSoundQuality 3
uintProp optionSpecialEventCamera 1
uintProp optionTurbo 2
floatProp particleDensity 1
uintProp particleLODOffset 0
floatProp particleScale 1
boolProp portalLighting true
boolProp reduceBoneWeights false
boolProp reflectionWithExtraViewer true
uintProp renderInsideVisibleObjects 0
boolProp renderOpaqueUI false
boolProp simShadows true
boolProp specHighlights true
boolProp useDirtyTiles true
boolProp useEffects true
boolProp useLODs false
boolProp useTurboRect true
Device properties
-----------------
boolProp activeDeviceUseSoftwareRasterizer false
uintProp antialiasingSupport 3
uintProp configParserErrorCode 0
boolProp createNVidiaWorkaroundTexture true
uintProp deviceLocalVideoMemorySizeDefault 268435456
boolProp enableDriverMemoryManager false
boolProp enumerateMultisampleLevels true
boolProp presentWorkaround false
boolProp useRenderTextures false
boolProp vs2LoopsFunctional true

[muffin-tacos]

This link (http://support.ea.com/cgi-bin/ea.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=8703&p_created=1107383993&p_sid=GMgyvQNi&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=8705&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX 3Jvd19jbnQ9MzcsMzcmcF9wcm9kcz03LDcwMCZwX2NhdHM9NTY 2JnBfcHY9Mi43MDAmcF9jdj0xLjU2NiZwX3BhZ2U9MSZwX3NlY XJjaF90ZXh0PWJsYW5rIHNjcmVlbg**&p_li=&p_topview=1) might help you out. Also, you could try downloading the latest patch from EA here (http://www.thesims2.ea.com/update/). I don't know if that will help but it's worth a try. :)

[sladkata91]

I installed the patch, but no success... :( Thanks anyway.

[Mirelly]

OK, I'm going out a limb, here. The black screen crash is a definite graphics failure. Patching the game is pointless and will get you nowhere.

Thanks for the config log report. Very helpful :D

My eye is drawn to your screen's refresh rate.


Monitor aspect: 1.333333, 4:3
Screen mode: 1024x768x32BPP,75Hz
My ridulous brain told me that 75 Hz refresh rate was bad for Sims 2. I ran a Google and found this advice:

http://www.ntcompatible.com/thread28858-1.html

[Odinmoon]

My ridulous brain told me that 75 Hz refresh rate was bad for Sims 2. I ran a Google and found this advice.

I run with 75Hz and no probs. Its a real prob if your monitor can't handle it. :)
I'm more concerned with windows NT. I could be wrong . But isn't NT a little old? Also are you running any background tasks. like virus protection or Norton system works. 512mb is not much memory with those in background.

[Mirelly]

LOL. NT is the generic Windows name for a 32 bit OS so XP Pro comes up at NT 5.1 and Vista shows up as NT 6.0

The refresh rate is a clutching at straws thing. It was a sort of hot issue a couple of years back. Obviously not everyone's experience was the same, but some folks who had serious black screen issues found fixes in resetting their refresh rates to 50 Hz.

Sometime puterization makes no sense. I've been tearing out hair trying to make RCT3 run in Vista. Actually running wasn't the problem. Saving was problem. Save folders were set to read only. Nothing I did made them writable on a permanent basis. On a tip from Googling, I created another Windows account and was immediately able to save in the same folders that the prime and previously sole ADMIN account had been refused access to. It goes without saying that this problem has not been universally experienced by RCT players trying out Vista.

[Odinmoon]

LOL. NT is the generic Windows name for a 32 bit OS so XP Pro comes up at NT 5.1 and Vista shows up as NT 6.0

Yes Lol it was the NT thing I was confused on. :eek: I knew xp and vista was NT based. I wasn,t sure of the numbers lol. So now I know 5.1 and 6.0 .:)