Missing voices during sim/sim interaction

[redvan]

I read the help section, searched the internet and MTS help sections, I cannot find anything realated to my issue so I'm hoping someone has seen it before (and has a fix).

The issue:
When one sim interacts with another sim, there are no voices, they are talking and I can see the balloons of what they are discussing but no simlish is spoken. Individually, they speak fine, just not to another sim.

My system:
Dell XPS L502X, Windows 7, SP1, i5 dual core, 2.40 ghz, 6 gb ram
Many EP's installed and patched (see my profile)

I don't know where to start; is it custom content, packages...???
I did install some stuff recently but everything seemed ok afterwards because I checked and then this morning after start-up, wammo!

Red.

[Mootilda]

This is where you should start:
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Game_Problem

It will walk you through the steps to determine whether your problem is with custom content, your save game, or your installation files. If it's custom content, the FAQ will walk you through the steps required to find and remove the bad CC.

I assume that the sound on your computer works otherwise? You still have sounds within the game?

[redvan]

Mootilda,
Yes, all the game sounds work including the individual sims, like when somethings in their way and they grumble about it, I hear that! It's only when they talk to each other face to face there is no sound, no conversational speech.

I looked at the help section and didn't see anything regarding this type of issue AND as I stated, I did install some stuff but checked the game to see if was working ok, and it was. It wasn't untill the next day that I saw the issue.

[HystericalParoxysm]

Don't just look - actually go -through- the Game Problem FAQ. Do what it says, each step, in order. It may not specifically say "sim voices are missing during interaction" but it is the basic troubleshooting guide for -any- weird error. It rules out the most common causes of problems with your game, and if you're still having issues afterward, we can look at some other potential fixes. But you're going to need to actually go through and do those steps first, because about 95% of the time, that's where the problem lies.

[redvan]

Ok, I'll do that then, thanks.

[redvan]

Mootilda & HP,
I took your advise and followed the "Game Help" wiki, step by step.

I did everything it said to do (even if I thought it didn't apply).

I checked out every link to other documentation I came across just to be sure I didn't overlook something.

I removed the CC folder, then the Saved SIms, then NBHD's - problem persisted after each removal.

I then renamed the entire SIms2 folder and had the system recreate it - problem still there.

As per the instructions, I then patched the game for all EP's and SP's - stilll happening.

So, as the instructions state; I searched Game Help section for possible cures - found none. (Didn't really know what to search for; I tried 'missing conversations' got one hit regarding Sims 3 moodlets, tried 'missing speech' got one hit for this regarding TS3, tried 'missing voices' got nothing, tried 'no simlish' nothing.)

And lastly (before re-install) it states to post here for possible assistance.

So, here I am - ugh!

I'm guessing no one has seen this before or they would have posted the cure (I hope) so I'm on the verge of insanity!

Update:
I put all the folders back to their original location and started the game and much to my surprise, there was conversational speech for about half a second, then it was gone again!

What I did: I went to the same family I've been using to test changes made from the wiki and initaited a conversation bewtween 2 sisters and for a split second there was a voice of one of the sisters.

Red.

[redvan]

HP,
It's been several days...
In your post you stated: "...and if you're still having issues afterward, we can look at some other potential fixes."

What else did you have in mind since nothing else panned out?

Red.

[Mootilda]

Did you try uninstalling and reinstalling your game? Your installation files may have become corrupt somehow.

If you're going to do this, be sure to backup your save game, since EA will delete it. Then try installing and patching the base game only. Run the game and see whether the sound works. Then, install and patch your next EP and test the sound. The results may help us to understand your problem.

I have no other suggestions, but HP might.

[redvan]

Thanks Mootilda.

I've searched the web and come up empty but it's hard to know what to search for, how to name or define what you're trying to get.

I'm hoping I won't have to uninstall everything and start from scratch again.

I'm on PC #3 trying to get all this to work, now I'm reminded of that other post about why people stop playing Sims. (In which I have posted.)

Red.

UPDATE:
I went to enter a game cheat and saw there are dozens of messages indicating that a sound file failed to initialize. I now guessing that there is some issue with the sound card or the drivers. Any ideas?

[Mootilda]

Yeah, it's an odd problem. I definitely haven't seen that one before. However, you seem to have ruled out everything except the installation files themselves, or a problem with your computer. I suppose that it wouldn't hurt to post your system specs, so that we can see whether there's something odd.