The Sims 2 University Help Needed!! I recently installed the Sims 2 University Expansion Pack onto my computer and I noticed right away when I started playing that something wasn't right. About 5 minutes into being on one of the college campuses the screen turned all different colors and the objects/scenery started flashing and became distorted. I uninstalled and reinstalled the game several times and it still happens and causes me to be unable to play the game. I then tried my Sims 2 and this expansion pack seemed to have ruined the game because it does the same thing to it now. I uninstalled both games and reinstalled them and still, at one point, everything will change colors, flash, and become distorted. Have you heard of this problem before? Is there anyway to fix it? Thank you!!
Ahem... I'm no mod or anything, but I don't think you are supposed to bump up your threads like that. You could get banned - you are just supposed to be patient. *Creeps away quietly.*
Sorry I didn't get around to ya sooner. The email system seems slow tonight. Leslie, First please post your system specifications. Second confirm whether the original Sims 2 game played properly before you added University. Third tell us if you have ANY downloaded items (houses, clothes, make-up, furniture, game hacks, etc.) For all these items a careful read of the advice Before Installing An Expansion Pack at the head of this sub-forum should help you to describe more accurately the background and circumstances of your problem so that I or someone else can hopefully spot the solution(s) and advise accordingly ....
Sorry, I'm new to this forum...I didn't know about the bumping situation. Well, I have Windows XP...if that's what you're asking, haha! I hadn't played the Sims 2 in at least a month before I installed the new expansion pack, but it had been working just fine. And no, I didn't download any items. I didn't back up any of my saved games before installation. But I did defragment the computer. I don't know how to describe the situation any clearer...I'll try. Either when I start up this expansion pack and get to the college campus, the screen/scenery will start to flash and change colors and the objects/buildings will disappear. And sometimes I'll play the game for about 10-15 minutes, and THEN it will go through this routine. Also, when I create new students and click the check button when I'm finished with them, their faces on the side of the screen are all scratchy and you can't make them out. The regular Sims 2 now does the same. Maybe that helps a little more in describing my problem? Thank you very much for your help.
PS (Ooh look who's bumping now ) To be honest this sounds like an overstretched graphics hardware problem to me. Those dxdiag details are essential! Have you downloaded any houses from the Maxis/EA exchange? If so delete your downloads folder (or move it out of the way) See the Before Installing An Expansion Pack thread for full advice on finding downloads. Rogue downloads can utterly screw up your game and you may not necessarily be aware they are even there. Go look, huh?
Okay: Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Processor: Intel (R) Pentium (R) 4CPU 2.40 GHz 364 MB used, 882 MB available. Memory: 510 MB RAM Direct X Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904) Driver Name: Version: 6.13.0010.4238 Date: 3/14/03 Total Memory: 64.0 MB NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 with AGP8X (Dell)
Hope I didn't sound nasty before. I just didn't want you to get a shock, or banned. PS You're right Mirelly. The posting sysem is slow tonight.
OK That graphics card is adequate ... not great but not hopeless. I am not sure why you're suddenly having problems that you didn't have before but I suspect that performing two steps should help, if not cure the problem. Unless the problem is overheating (possible but not likely -- though maybe this time of year you have the heating on ... like high?? ) Anyway .... First upgrade your Nvidia drivers. This is easy because Nvidia provides a single all-purpose driver. Go to the NVIDIA Download Center (you want the graphics drivers = 1st choice; GeForce and TNT2 = 2nd choice; Windows XP - 3rd choice ... hint it's the top option in each column ) Just download the file and run it (double click it) Second start up the game and assuming you have access <fingers crossed> go into the game option menu from the neighborhood screen (3 dots button) then into the graphics options and in there choose the lowest/poorest quality settings for everything that can be changed. Be sure to cancel out things like reflections and stuff if available. I can't remember but you might have to restart the game for the changes to take effect (the game'll tell you tho) See if that works OK. It might look it a little fuzzy but better than before. Asssuming this is so, each time you play without problems tweak up one or two (at the most) settings until you begin to encounter noticeable difficulties. The game performs best on GeForce 5xxx and better, especially one with 256MB of memory (that's 4 times more than you currently have, sorry ) Your machine is worth upgrading if you desire better graphic quality in your gaming ...
