[sundra09]

Originally Posted by CoasterFreak

I figured since so many people are having Sims 2 Problems, I would post this. I have custom made this FAQ SO appreciate and enjoy it
-EJ

Minimum System Requirements:
800 MHz processor
256 MB RAM
Windows(R) XP, Windows ME, Windows 98 or Windows 2000 Operating System.
At least 3.5 GB of hard drive space
A T&L-capable video card with at least 32 MB of video RAM:
ATI Radeon(TM) series (7000 or better)
VE series (see note below)
7000, 7200, 7500
8500, All-In-Wonder 8500
9000, 9200, 9500, 9600, 9700, 9800
X300, X600, X800

NVIDIA(R) Quadro(TM) series
Quadro, Quadro2, Quadro4

NVIDIA GeForce series (GeForce2 and better)
GeForce 2
GeForce 3, 3 Ti
GeForce 4, 4 Ti, MX 420, 440
GeForce FX 5200, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 5950
GeForce 6600, 6800

NOTE: If you have a non-T&L capable video card, such as Intel Extreme Graphics or Radeon VE series, then you need at least a 2.0 GHz processor.

Recommended System Requirements
1.6 GHz Processor
512MB RAM
Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98
5GB (or more) HD Space
Any ATI Radeon 9000 series video card or any NVidia GeForce4 or GeForceFX Video Card.
DirectX 9.0 or better.

FAQ:

Q. The sims freezes while on "The Sims 2" splash screen.
A. Either your video card or sound card is conflicting with DirectX 9 or you do not have enough free Memory/RAM to run the game.
Assuming The Sims 2 is on your desktop, try this: right click on The Sims 2 >In the target line, go all the way to end of the text and put in a space after the " > after the space type "-w" without the quotes > put in another space > type "-nosound" without the quotes. The Sims 2 should now start, if it does, then try updating your Video and Sound Drivers. If it does not start, contact Maxis Support via www.thesims2.com

Q. I can't install the Sims 2!
A. Your computer does not meet the system requirements. Ensure your computer meets all the requirements. Also ensure your sound and video drivers are DirectX 9 compatible. Another reason is because you have downloaded The Sims 2 from the net or You are trying to install the game from a copied disc.

Q. The Sims 2 has really bad performance when playing.
A. This occurs when you're video card doesn't fully meet the system requrements or because you do not have enough memory to run the game.

Q. The Sims 2 freezes while I'm playing.
A. Again this is due to your video card or because you do not have enough memory to run the game.

I'll add more questions as they come in.

[ruselrones]

Hi,

I have a Compaq Presario that comes with an Intel video chip.It can handle Sims2, but the number of people allowed on lots is very limited and you can not watch the special occasion cinematics. I tried getting a GeForce 5200X video card and it would not work on my computer. What are my options for upgrading so that i can play Sims2 to its fullest capabilities. I have installed my HP dvd burner, it will usually within a week cause my monitor to conk out..another reason i need to upgrade.I run spyware/virus scan all the time - no problems found. I am running it on the lowest settings.

[TsarIvan]

Supposedly, this issue has been brought up and remedied before in this thread, but I've searched the entire thread and found nothing, so I'm asking about it and would like an answer other than something along the lines of "this has been addressed earlier."

I'm re-installing all of my expansion packs, and some of them are failing to install. Basically, the process goes all the way to 100%, and then the program decides to check if I'm up to date. After that, it says, "The update process did not complete successfully. Installation will now terminate." Needless to say, it then stops the installation and leaves me with no expansion.

Could someone please tell me how to get past this annoying problem?

[edit] Well, it seems like the problem has been solved. From what I can figure out, after reinstalling the most recently released expansion, all the others fell back into line.

[Waywardzombie]

For some reason the game keeps freezing in Create A Sim. Music still plays, mouse moves but the image freezes. I've ran a system requirements check and am above all recommended settings.

Hardware scan results: http://www.d-a-l.com/hardware-scanne...81ffed54be2029

Help?

[InvaderxxZim]

Hi, I have a really annoying problem.
Ok, so about two weeks ago, my almost two year old laptop started
having problems and stuff (Not Sims 2 problems, in fact Sims 2 ran
PERFECT on it) so I got a new laptop. Three days ago I finally decided to
install Sims 2 onto my new laptop. Well, when I was done installing, I
clicked to play and basically it said I needed Directx 9.0 but my new
computer has Directx 10. I tried EVERYTHING. People say it is because of Vista,
but my old laptop had Vista too and it was perfect.
I went to Best Buy and asked the Geek Squad and nothing they did
worked, so they just traded me laptops since it wasn't even a week old.
(Yes, I am so desperate to play sims, I got rid of an awesome laptop)

Well, I got my newest laptop yesterday, and I installed Sims 2 and it worked
fine, but my downloads won't show up.
Some couches show up but that is IT. No hair, no clothes.

Also, I tried installing Nightlife and AGAIN it said I needed Directx 9.0..
I'm guessing everything after Nightlife needs Directx 9.0 because I uninstalled Nightlife and it works fine.

And just about five minutes ago, I tried installing seasons and it said
something about having an error in the voice2.package, and made me quit the installation..

So, my questions are..

Why won't my downloads show up?
Why can't I install expansion packs without getting the Directx 9.0 error?
What is this voice2.package error thing?
And most importantly, Do you think Sims 2 will become outdated and we
won't be able to play on newer computers and then one day Sims 2 will
fade out of existance? That happened to a game I had on 98. It stopped
working and I haven't been able to play since, because it only worked on
windows 98..

I hope not. I don't like Sims 3. :[

[degw]

I have sims 2 and apartment life all of the graphics are right accept for the houses and apartments. The colors are deep pink and black and continues blink. what can I do to fix this problem or can it be fixed?

[degw]

I have sims 2 and apartment life all of the graphics are right accept for the houses and apartments. The colors are deep pink and black and continues blink. what can I do to fix this problem or can it be fixed?
I have directx 9 on my lap top!

[agrissett]

Sorry if this questions has already been asked but 200 pages is alot to read through.
i've had this problem before and I'm not sure how I fixed it but... when I click on something in the game, IE a door or the stove or whatever, the option to use it shows up for about a second then disappears. I cannot interact with people or use anything. I can't even rent my apartment. The other family I have on there doesn't do this. The new family I just made does.
Any ideas? Thanks a lot

[navajomouse]

Okay, our computer crashed, and I reinstalled everything. Everything else is working perfectly now, but the game won't play. When I put in the disc, I see the flash screen, then when it goes away, and I end up seeing nothing... and it always takes away the desktop wallpaper as well. I end up looking at a blank screen with just the icons visible.

This is with The Sims 2 (also have Pets and Nightlife, but they are not currently installed because of basic game problem).

Here is my computer info:

Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1700MHz
System Memory: 640MB RAM
Windows Version: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600)
Free Space: 1240MB available
DirectX Version: DirectX9.0c (4.09.0000.0904

NVIDIA gEfORCE 6200
dRIVER: nv4_dsp.dll
Date: 9/27/2009
Approx. Total Memory: 256.0MB

Display is set to 1152x864.

I really appreciate any help anyone can give me.... my sims-addicted husband is freaking out.

[navajomouse]

Here is the complete Report... if that helps anyone.

[hansen70007]

Thanks for the solution.Will try it.

[Raider1010]

I've owned the sims 2 for quit some time and own alot of expansions. Recently my computer crashed and was promptly fixed. When i installed all of my sims2 games, I tried playing and the launcher opened, I clicked play, the launcher disappeared, and nothing happend. I tried re-installing to no avail. The base game will not even run and is completley patched.

I'd appreciate any help, since the Sims 3 failed to intrest me.

[ijamie]

I bought sims about a year ago. I played and regularly and stuff, then for a while I didn't play it. I usualy kept the Sims 2 Freetime Disc One in the disc drive. Then when I went to play it I took out the other disk, put in Sims 2 FreeTime (the disc I normaly use for no particular reason), and clicked on the desktop icon it said to "insert original sims 2 free time disc and try again" then i closed that and tryed all of my other discs. What happened??????

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!

[Simeon24]

I've recently reinstalled Windows XP Professional on my computer, and ever since, have been having issues getting the Sims 2 to work properly. Before the reinstall, it worked great, no issues.
Now, after doing a little elimination, I've found that the only issue is that it will only work while running in windowed mode.

The sound is fine, and the video drivers have been updated to the very latest.

I'm using an nvidia geforce 8600gt (256mb gddr3)
Directx version is 9.0c

I'm not sure if this has all been posted before, but any help would be appreciated.

Edit: Nevermind, I figured out the issue. The game was unable to support the newest drivers, for some odd reason. Perhaps a corrupt file, or some such problem. Anyway, I did manage to get it working. Guess all I needed was to rant a bit, and focus my mind on something else lol.

Thanks ^^

[kylods]

ok i installed The Sims 2 with a program called daemon tools becouse i downloaded the cd
well the problem is that i tried all of the 4 cds to open the sims 2 but it doesnt work