Initial loading screen has gone black and the game crashes when loading a Lot.

[muaka2]

A lot of people have had this problem, such as this guy (http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=380196) , http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=380392 and http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=379169 . People have mentioned in those threads that the driver should be updated, but i'm not sure what i download based on my specs.

==System==

* OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_rtm.090713-1255)
* Packard Bell
* imedia S3720
* Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q8300 @ 2.50GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.5GHz
* Memory: 3072MB RAM
* Page File: 1884MB used, 3744MB available
* DirectX 11

==Display==

* Name: NVIDIA GeForce 7100 / NVIDIA nForce 630i
* Manufacturer: NVIDIA
* Chip Type: GeForce 7100 / nForce 630i
* Approx. Total Memory: 1401mb

* Main Driver: nvd3umx.dll,nvd3dum
* Version: 8.15.11.8637
* Driver Date: 14/07/2009 01:15:00

==Sound==

* Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
* Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
* Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5898 (English)
* Date: 7/20/2009 11:52:38


==Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives==

* Drive: C:
* Free Space: 50.7 GB
* Total Space: 144.8 GB
* File System: NTFS
* Model: Hitachi HDT721032SLA SCSI Disk Device

It'd be great if somebody would help :(

[callistra]

Unfortunately, your computer does not meet minimum requirements to run the game. In fact, EA has specifically stated that your graphics are unsupported and will not work with the expansion. Indeed, the black screen crash is pointing towards a graphics problem.

We can try updating drivers, but it is not likely to help.
http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_vista_win7_64bit_15.49.html
http://angelicvoices.net/Vista_Win7_R247(2).exe

Also try everything in this guide: http://modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game%20Help:Sims%203%20Crashing

If you would like help upgrading or buying a new computer, please check out the Computer Support Forum, so that you can be guaranteed to get something that will work.. it would seem the computer you have now is a current model, so it's a shame you spent all that money on it without it being sufficient. The compact design is going to really hinder upgrades too, but we'll see what we can come up with.

[muaka2]

Unfortunately, your computer does not meet minimum requirements to run the game. In fact, EA has specifically stated that your graphics are unsupported and will not work with the expansion. Indeed, the black screen crash is pointing towards a graphics problem.

We can try updating drivers, but it is not likely to help.
http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_vista_win7_64bit_15.49.html
http://angelicvoices.net/Vista_Win7_R247(2).exe

Also try everything in this guide: http://modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game%20Help:Sims%203%20Crashing

If you would like help upgrading or buying a new computer, please check out the Computer Support Forum, so that you can be guaranteed to get something that will work.. it would seem the computer you have now is a current model, so it's a shame you spent all that money on it without it being sufficient. The compact design is going to really hinder upgrades too, but we'll see what we can come up with.

Is it only my graphics card that needs upgrading?

[callistra]

Assuming that's all that's wrong.. no way to tell without replacing it. You'd probably also need a new power supply. Also, like I said, due to the case restrictions, you have very limited and lower end options as well. Probably won't ever be perfectly ideal unless you buy a new case to transfer things over (which you could do) but you should be able to make it playable.