Grey Screen error that persists.

[earthgirl]

I SOOOOOOOOO Need help! (because I can't seem to get it over at EA forums)

You see, I had to re-install the game just several days ago due to crashing. I re-installed it and patched it to 1.31. For a couple of days it worked, but it crashed pretty often and I DEP'd my .exe files and restarted computer. When I launched the game again, I got this one error:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/fatality1986/sims%203/greyerror.jpg

Ok, de-DEP'd my files and restarted again and surprize! it persisted.

Then by addidn/removing mods, DCCache, CC, the whole Electronic Arts folder, I came to the conclusion that none of these are causing the problem, but the 1.31 patch.

Younno, when I removed the Electronic Arts folder, it seemed to work fine - I created a new town, it loaded normally, I looked around the town, then exited without saving to create another... DUNDUNDUNDUUUUNNNN ... once I tried starting another game - grey screen came back! -.- Then attempted to select the town(Appaloosa Plains in this case) I originally selected and SAME thing happened.

So this morning I unistalled and re-installed the game with all EP's and stuff and patched it to 1.29. Moved all my saved games and CC and mods into the EA folder and launched.

well...

I thought the problems were over.

But (dundundun) grey screen came back... :wtf: (where's the facedesk smily when you need one?)

Took the EA folder out and same thing happened as it did previously.

Sooo, I need your help with it. v.v

I tried everything and nothing helps. :faceslap:

Pretty please?

[whiterider]

This error is usually - though not always - caused by TS3 being prissy over folder permissions. If you've been adding/removing mods, clearing caches, fiddling with screenshots etc, make sure you close all those files and folders before starting the game, or you may get that error.
When you already have that error, restarting should fix it. If not, right-click the TS3 folder in Documents, untick read only, and apply - it should take a while, especially if you have a load of mods, but once it's done you should be able to play again.

I've never noticed this error being triggered by having Program Files files/folders open when starting the game, but it may be that they behave the same as Documents files and folders. Usually, when I start the game with a Program Files file open, it's FullBuild0 and the UI just implodes before I have a chance to get to any error messages. :giggler:

[earthgirl]

I tried that just now, it didn't work, when I launched the game it persisted and when I went back to folder properties again the 'Read only' was ticked back.

I played with folders open before and had no issues.

I closed the folder before gameplay when I launched just now and had the issue. :/

[earthgirl]

Hmmm... Uninstalled the base game and found some... leftovers. >.>

Deleted those and now I'm installing the game back.

I'll keep you updated on what happens.

EDIT 1: So far, so good, I launched the Base game with no mods and no patches and it worked wonderfully.I patched and now I'm installing the CC. :Pint: I'm going to re-launch again after that.


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Alright, grey/black screen issue is back after patching to 1.29... and adding the CC.

I'm still not sure if the patch is causing it, or the CC. I prolly should have done it separately?


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***UPDATE***

I FOUND THE ISSUE!

You wanna know what it was?

It appears that my TS3W.exe compatibility was set to Win 95.
I randomly remembered doing it just before these errors appeared.

After, de-selecting it, the error was gone.

:beer:

[ellacharmed]

You do know how to use Edit, so what's with the triple-posting?

It is probably the reinstalling release the locks on the files. Uninstalling, reinstalling and patching would have reset the .exe tweaks back to defaults. Some patches didn't need the tweaks. I remembered for the longest time I didn't need to do DEP and skipped DEP with a few patches and then on the last 2 updates, I had to do it again.
But thanks for sharing your solution in your case, anyways.

If it is just a simple locking issue, there wasn't any need to do a full uninstall in any case. I guess you haven't seen this page - step #5 http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Sims_3_Crashing_Checklist#Patching_or_Installing_new_addon_related where I linked to a thread showing how to use "Unlocker". For future reference. ;)