Problem with the action menu

[ChappyTamTam]

Hello there. I seem to be having a bit of a bug.

My game was working perfectly, and a few days ago something happened. Whenever I try to get my sim to do an interaction, like talk to another sim, use the shower etc, the action menu appears for a brief second or two, then disappears, leaving me with little time to select actions. I've Googled this problem and found a lot of people with the same issue but still can't find a solution.

I have a Dell Vostro 1000 laptop which used to be my grandmother's before she passed away, she hasn't installed anything really since she got it. Anything she did install, and was not needed, I uninstalled.

I've tried reinstalling the game but the bug still wouldn't go away. Then I tried playing without hacks, still the same problem occured. I have no viruses and my laptop runs the game beautifully and swiftly with hardly any lag and still tons of room for hacks. I currently have no viruses nor have I ever had any.

I'm contacting EA Support on Live Chat right now but I'm #10 in the queue, meanwhile I'd like to see what you people can come up with. Hopefully I'll get this problem resolved.

[Mootilda]

It sounds like you tried some of the things in the Game_Help:Game_Problem FAQ, but you missed a few important steps. If you follow all of the steps of the FAQ in order, it will help you to narrow down where the problem is.

What happens when you move your entire Downloads folder?

What happens when you move your entire save game folder and allow it to regenerate?

[bluetexasbonnie]

I have had similar problems in the past, and it was that my keyboard was dying. If it still happens with no CC, that might be the source of your problem.

[Mootilda]

ChappyTamTam never indicated that he tried running without CC... only that he ran without "hacks". Plus, he hasn't done any tests to determine whether the save game itself is corrupt.

[ChappyTamTam]

I tried everything I could with Wiki, but since I don't have a Dell Inspirion 1501 (I have a Vostro 1000) I couldn't get the update.

By "hacks" I mean CC as well since CC are hacks.

I'm a girl.

And EA couldn't help much. They gave me the same link, but then I re-explained I didn't have that laptop, and they said they'd send me a response in a day or two. So, yeah.

My keyboard might be dying? I'll go grab the one we have in the basement and hook it up to my laptop and see if it fixes the problem.

[simsample]

Go onto the Dell site and put your tag/serial number in, that way you can check if there are any driver updates for your machine.

You should also try the things in the link that Mootilda gave- that will determine right away if the problem is affected by your user files.

Another thing you can try is to discharge the laptop fully (shut it down, disconnect from the mains, remove battery and then press the on/off button a few times). Sometimes that can help, I've seen laptops develop glitches that are fixed by discharging the unit.

[ChappyTamTam]

Go onto the Dell site and put your tag/serial number in, that way you can check if there are any driver updates for your machine.

You should also try the things in the link that Mootilda gave- that will determine right away if the problem is affected by your user files.

Another thing you can try is to discharge the laptop fully (shut it down, disconnect from the mains, remove battery and then press the on/off button a few times). Sometimes that can help, I've seen laptops develop glitches that are fixed by discharging the unit.

Thanks but I got a few questions (sorry to sound like an idiot and a n00b)

1. How do I find my serial?
2. What do you mean by "mains?"

Sorry lol.... I know I sound stupid...

[simsample]

Sorry, I was using English terminology! By 'mains' I meant mains electricity, as in unplug the laptop power supply. :)

The serial number or Dell Tag number should be on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop somewhere, if it's fallen off or become erased then you might be able to find it on the packaging/ manuals for the laptop. Otherwise, type in the model number on the Dell site.

[ChappyTamTam]

Oh ok, so I remove the battery and memory things? And I am American, I'm just stupid, lol.

[ChappyTamTam]

OK I have tried hooking up the new keyboard but the problem still won't go away. I'll try simsample's method now.

[whiterider]

If simsample's suggestion fails, you should also try using a USB mouse, if you have one. :)

And yes - once it's completely dead, take the battery out.

[ChappyTamTam]

I have been using a USB mouse but still the problem isn't fixed.

And I should wait for it to die? Ok, I'll unplug the charger now.

[simsample]

Don't touch the memory, and don't worry about discharging the battery- just discharge the laptop itself. Take out the battery, take out the power supply lead and then hit the on/off button on the laptop a few times. That will discharge the capacitors on the mainboard, so ensuring that the laptop is completely reset. Then put the battery and mains lead back in and see if the game works okay.

[ChappyTamTam]

Don't touch the memory, and don't worry about discharging the battery- just discharge the laptop itself. Take out the battery, take out the power supply lead and then hit the on/off button on the laptop a few times. That will discharge the capacitors on the mainboard, so ensuring that the laptop is completely reset. Then put the battery and mains lead back in and see if the game works okay.

Oh, okay, I understand, lol. Thank you :) I'll try that in a minute.

[ChappyTamTam]

Hey guys, I figured out the problem. It's not the touchpad/mouse or the keyboard. It's the CHARGER. For some reason my charger makes things register as two clicks or something, and that's why this bug is occuring.

Well now I have to save up for a new charger, until then, I'm simless. :faceslap:

Thank you everyone for all your help :)