Freezing during loading, unrelated to custom files.

[Everyone]

I don't know why, but I started getting a freezing while loading problem. Basically I'd click on the icon to start up my game and from the Logos, Intro, and even the loading screen, it would freeze for __ minutes. Which with all of my eps installed, adds up to around 8 minutes. I've uninstalled all of my Eps and reinstalled them and the problem is still here.

I'm running with the following:

Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit
Nvidia Geforce 7300 GT
1 Gig RAM

I think thats all I need to post, but if you need to know some other specs just let me know and I'll edit them in.

[julianarosalia]

How large is your Downloads folder?

[Everyone]

It's completely empty

[whiterider]

Have you tried deleting groups.cache, accessories.cache, and cigen.package from My Docs/Sims 2?

This is interesting, as I'm currently having a similar issue sans BV. It may just be down to my huge Downloads folder, though, but it does seem to have got worse over (mostly downloading-free) time :P .

[Everyone]

I deleted the cache files, opened sims twice and it still has the freezing problem.

[julianarosalia]

So after you deleted the cache files, the game did open? I've noticed since Seasons that I need to delete the groups.cache more often.

[Everyone]

Yeah the game will open, but it freezes either during the intro (If I double click to cancel it) or at the loading screen (If I let the intro play through). So I guess you could say my cache files are fresh now?

[julianarosalia]

Ok, I'm confuzzled... the game opens but still freezes? So does it ever completely load so you can play?

[whiterider]

Does it happen with clean userfiles?

[Everyone]

The game will load, its just that it used to take roughly 1minute or so with seasons, and now ever since BV it the times it freezes adds up to around 8minutes-12minutes of loading time. Which doesn't seem right.. I could understand maybe a 2minute loading time from BV, but going from 1 minute to 8-12 is just not understandable. I'm beginning to think it has something to do with my nvidia card.

Edit: Yes I can still play, but with an 8-12minute loading time with no downloads whatsoever.. If I were to put my 3gig download folder back in who knows how long it'd take.