Troubleshooting The Sims 2 - very, very slow startup on new computer

The Sims 2 - very, very slow startup on new computer

Hi all,

I have just got a new computer with the following relevant spec:

- Intel Core 2 Duo 6600
- 1GB RAM
- 512MB nVIDIA GeForce 7300GS
- Windows Vista Home Premium

When I start up The Sims 2, I see the splash screen, then I get a black screen with just a cursor for AGES (the last time I did it, it was nine minutes) before the introduction to the game loads.

The startup was much faster on my years old computer that I've replaced. Any suggestions on how to speed it up?

 

I suspect this is a Vista thing. Remember that the game predates Vista and even the latest expansion pack: Seasons, was in developmet before Vista was released.

If the game runs, once it starts, then I would be tempted to say: it ain't broke, so don't try to fix it.

There are many of us with a lot of custom content that would think that a 9 minute wait would be rather spiffingly speedy.

 

i guess you need more RAM...windows Vista requires much more RAM than Xp, In my computer Vista uses 600 mgb of RAM without any program or game opened... i think it's too much, but my computor also have XP and for now i prefer to use it

 

Yeah, I was thinking I might upgrade the RAM and see if that helps. I also thought it might be a Vista issue too.

 

you could try and kill any unnecessary task in the taskmanager (including explorer and spoolsvr) and then start the game through File/new Task/Browse.

Or like I would do it, dig out the ole WinXP Disc and say bye bye to the ressourcehog Vista and enyouy the blazing speed you (and not Mr. Gates) payed for

-le

 

I agree with everyone here about the Vista issue (or issues).
My recomendation here is, not just for you IslandNiles, but for anyone, is: Never buy the first version of a Microsoft OS, or a new PC set from a manufacturer with the first version of a new Windows release. Wait for, at least, for the first service pack to be released, then buy the CD/DVD of the OS with that SP integrated to the system. I speak from experience, and I'm sure there are a lot of guys here who tested older MS OSs than me and can assure this is a true thing to follow. Guys who used the Windows before Win95, which were not exactly OSs, since they depended on MS-DOS.

I'm sleepy (it's late here), so, sorry if this is not entirely necessary or technical enough, but just as a tip:
From my experience, for example, the Windows 95 was the first OS I used in my first PC. So I did not have any information or knowledge to compare at the time. Now, when I switched from 95 to 98, the system was way better, but it had bugs, plus Windows 98 itself wasn't any better than Win98 second edition when this was later released.
I had the chance to test the first version of the win98 thankfully because of the CDs that my family bought to the office, so I installed one that was not used there. The second edition I bought myself after its release, so, technically, my parents bought the first edition, not me, so, imagine yourself spending money on a system two or three times because of a two or three re-releases. Not to mention that the latest version will always be better, and that the very first version of a new OS will always be not just the worst of its own family, but absolutely not worth of your money.
Windows Millenium was actually not a new Windows, but it was a different name for "Windows 98 Third Edition", unfortunately, this one was the worst windows version ever until today, and the exception in the rule that the latest one of a same family OS will always be the best one.

Now I think anyone here that sticks with Microsoft's OSs no matter the competition (Linux, etc...), specially because our games are "For Windows Only", I think everyone agrees that WinXP is the best Windows System until 2006, right ? But do you remember the very first version of WinXP ? In the time where not almost everybody had a DSL or other type of internet connection, and still used the Dial-up modems ? The very first release of XP did not recognized these modems, not even the U.S. Robotics products (todays 3COM), that were the top of the line at that time (at least here in Brazil). Some games only ran with XP after some patches, but of course there are games that did ran in the first version but do not run in the latest Service Pack for XP, but still, the latest version of XP is the most stable windows system you can have at the moment.

As for the specific problem of IslandNiles, I don't know if a Windows Vista SP1 (Service Pack 1) would be the definitive answer for the problems if you want to stick with Vista, but I definitely know that a first version of a Windows system is not worth to have. I bought Windows XP Professional SP2 only last november, I could have had it by 2002 when it was released, but I was waiting for any new Service Packs. Now with Vista on the spotlight, I know that my XP is definitely the latest one. Of course I always used XP since it was first released, because my office always had spare licenses. But I wanted the one with the SP2 integrated.

Speaking about SPs, another thing is about the upgrades. Never upgrade a system. Can you imagine how a PC with Win95 would be functioning today if it was upgraded from 95 to 98, 98 to ME, ME to XP and XP to Vista(ok, I know I exagerated, because a hardware made for win95 would not be entirely compatible today, but just to make a point) ? Even if it's just from XP to Vista, it will be never a smoother, whole and stabilized system.
Not to mention the work you'll have everytime you format the system or delete the partition of the disk. You'll have to install the FULL version of a previous system first in order to upgrade to the version you want to use.

Even if it's just a service pack update for a system that you'll install, try to wait a while before buying a system, because it's always better to have A SYSTEM than A SYSTEM + CORRECTION 1 + CORRECTION 2. A whole, smoother system will always be better, the system's "mojos" (hehe) work properly when it's a whole.

Another thing I suggest is, never buy a manufactured PC (IBM, Compaq, HP, etc...). You'll have not only non-updated drivers, but you'll have to stick with some brands when you decide to upgrade the system, and even if they are the best brands, for example, a processor brand, this processor will surely perform better on a specific motherboard type or model which you could have only if your PC was not manufactured. For example, Intel. Of course Intel's processors run better on a Intel motherboard than on a third party board that is not specific to it (since third party boards tend to accept both Intel and AMD, or even if they work with just one brand of processor, they accept a wide range of models and types of that brand and do not extract the best performance of any of them).
It's better to buy an empty PC case (is that how you call it in english ?), and put the parts that YOU WANT in there, not the ones that the manufacturers choose.

Another tiny thing, sometimes even if the systems match, for example, 10 people with exactly the same PC configuration both in hardware and software, meaning all boards are all the same (model, type, etc...) and the same amount of cache size, RAM, etc..., and for software, same things installed, including critical system patches and/or updates. Sometimes a program, could be a game here, runs in 9 of these 10 PCs, but it does not run in one of them. This mystery I can not precise why it happens, but it does, I don't know why.
I have one example here, some fellows can't play an old MS-DOS based game I have in their WinXP systems and/or PCs that matches mine or are way powerfull than mine. (but a DOS game does not need any real power, right ? hehe ). I can, but I have a sound issue with this software due to the fact that XP is the first windows version free of any DOS based command lines or anything else related to the DOS Operating system. (remember command.com, autoexec.bat and config.sys ? Yeah, Win95 was the first windows that could be considered a OS, but windows still had strings attached with DOS until the Millenium version, so XP is the first "pure" Windows). I install a patch for this sound issue, and voil... other people do not have the same luck with this particular game. This can also happen with any software, including games for windows. I can't run "Need For SPeed 2" and "Law & Order 2" on my system, but other people can. And I played "Law & Order 2" on this same PC with this same system 2 or 3 years ago, so... I don't know why things change sometimes, since I only learn more with the time and, therefore, I improve my system and PC configurations for better performance over the time... and returning some of these tunings to 2 or 3 years ago, do not solve the problem of "law & order 2" not running here . Sometimes, then, the problem is a mystery, meaning, this is not a hardware or software tweak need that, once made, fix the problem. There's nothing wrong with your PC or system, so, it's just a thing you have nothing to do about, it's really a mystery. Thankfully there's not much of these most of the time, and I'm sure this is not the case of this thread. Just mentioning as a curiosity.

See ya.

 

I have completely forgot about the major beta testing that took place with Vista. Thanks Josh. Still, I may put my hand on fire for people like you, the testers, but not for Microsoft. I don't hate MS, I just don't trust them enough, hehe. You always end up at the common solution best known as "CTRL+ALT+DEL" . That's why I'll never have a XBOX too, because from MS, windows is enough hehehe . I'm kidding, but I still believe in what I experienced through the years.

Regarding buying Vista, at least in my case, I'll still wait for a better version of Vista (with a service pack), and I can't risk having it now anyway in my PC. Vista needs too much hardware, and here in Brazil we can have top of the line products, but some of them, specially motherboards and GPUs, are hard to find. You can't buy a ATI X1950 512MB here in retailers for example, 'cause they don't have suppliers for it, so you end up have to dig it out of a local ebay partner, auction site. So, I'll be patient about Vista and about the most powerfull hardware I can acquire for it, I'll not risk Vista on a P4 with a ATI X800. I have 4GB RAM, that is enough I know, more than some people have to run Vista, but still... maybe I'll put more than 4GB for a Vista system too. But the PC commerce in here is scarce regarding some pieces of hardware.

Are you talking about a manufactured PC ? Well, if my knowledge is not accurate , meaning you can updgrade the hardware to whatever you want, then you still, at least, loose the warranty from the guys, because, at least here in Brazil, they only offer it if you stick with some brands for these upgrades. This truly means that you only have warranty or, like they like to spread for people like me, a stable PC, if you buy new hardware to upgrade only from their "commercial partners" (that's what I hear anyway). It is good to know that people can upgrade the manufactured PC to whatever they want though, but I myself prefer to build my own specs without a brand (Compaq, etc...).
I prefer to stay away from it. Plus, I never saw a manufactured PC with a windows system that was ONLY windows. They always come with that "factory CD" that restores the whole system if you format the PC or if it gets buggy, but the installation process (specially if you delete the partition) takes longer than normal (normal = windows original CD/DVD). I once went to a friend's house to delete the partition of his compaq, and the restoration CD took 2 or 3 hours, can't precise, to restore everything, and NOT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION the re-partitioning time of the disk and the formatting time, just the system installation period. Well, I take 4 hours to format my HDs here, since they're 400GB each, but the windows installation is quick once the format of the C drive is over. And the windows is purely just windows, 'cause I have seen compaq's with lots of not so usefull software, like, Microsoft Money 97. hehehe . This is also thanks to the restoration CD.

Anyway a few games may not run with Vista just yet, so it is clever to wait, so you expend your money in a system disc only once, like I use to do . And even with a service pack, most of the problems with games is ours to take, 'cause Microsoft may have been bug testing it during the pre-release, but they surely just worried about the stability of the OS and that it works with their products... products from others, like Maxis... that's for these others and us to solve, sadly, if these problems come by. I still have games that do not run anymore even in XP, not talking about only DOS games, but win32 games... that's just sad . Let's see how Vista will behave .

Thanks for your insights again .

 

I just met a pro technician yesterday, and he told me that Vista recognizes only up until 120GB of HD, memory I don't remember what he told me, perhaps just up to 256mb, and other issues I do not recall right now.

Assuming that this is all true (I haven't met Vista with my own eyes yet) and that windows is not different in any other region of the world aside of the regionalized strings (language), this then just supports my previous posts in this thread, plus all the things I have talked about.

Wait for Vista SP1 guys

 

Yeah I thought the informations were too strange indeed.

Still there's the things I said and I'll stick with my beliefs .

See ya !!!