Ruh-Roh Raggy Everything is gone!

[kittcat92]

On the suggestion of another MTS user I downloaded Numenor's AnyGameStarter as a way to keep specific CC separated for specific themes. (before anyone starts saying I need to go report any issues to the AGS download thread my technical issue is NOT with it, it is with my actual game, its just my trouble started after I downloaded AGS. In fact I don't even want to keep AGS.) I played my game using it once and when I went back to play using it a second time I received a message saying that I had uninstalled university (which I hadn't) and that all my YA sims would be aged up and I would lose all university progress if I didn't exit and reinstall it. I thought it was odd and I would just deal without the AGS, but when I went to my regular game I received the same message. Even odder my Double Deluxe launcher did not show either University or OFB. So, I updated my backup files and decided to try to reinstall both those expansion packs, but got a message that they were both already installed. Now on the AGS download page it states that if you have any bundle packs besides DD and holiday stuff you will need to uninstall and reinstall them to get AGS to work properly, something I totally forgot about in the few days that passed between downloading and actually installing AGS. Once I re-read that on the download page I went to uninstall and re-install those packs since both uni and OFB are part of a bundle. When I went to uninstall university it told me I had other expansion packs installed and they would have to be uninstalled first before I could uninstall Uni. So, I had to uninstall everything even DD. Once I uninstalled them I reinstalled all of them and replaced my files I had backed up. I went to launch the game using the DD launcher and I wouldn't work, I got a message that said the launcher had stopped working and to close the program. It launched correctly when I used the Seasons icon (since that is my most recent EP) But when it got to the main menu (drum roll please) no neighborhoods, none of my custom ones or the pre-mades. I double checked that the files are all there and they are, my custom content dialog shows my CC in the download folder. I created a new neighborhood to see if maybe my neighborhoods would be brought up as a template but no dice. Plus, the game shows that I do not have uni or OFB installed. Now it wouldn't be a big deal losing my 15 neighborhoods since I easily get bored of one and usually create a new one when I do. In fact I've been thinking of deleting some of my neighborhoods I haven't played in forever. BUT, my test neighborhood has a lot that I was commissioned to build for a woman in my town who wanted a digital rendering of her garage that she wants to turn into a shop, so she could show her husband exactly what she wants to do. I could re-do that but I don't have the original diagrams anymore so I would have to do it all by memory. Plus its really worrying me that it is not showing Uni or OFB as being installed, and I really miss my DD launcher that I used for windowed mode. Any help would be appreciated.
(P.S. all my EP and SP are hard copies not digital, I have windows 7 Home Premium, and all expansion packs up to Seasons. I did have the Sims 2 store edition installed briefly before I uninstalled everything just to see what it was but it was uninstalled with everything else)

[Mootilda]

Neighborhoods become dependent upon your current game engine the moment that you run the game with an updated engine. If you ever had the Store Edition installed when you played the game, then you will need to have that version of the Store Edition installed (or a later version) to use your neighborhoods (and lots).

The easiest way to solve your problem may be to install the latest Store Edition that you have available, assuming that you never got an auto-update of the Store Edition. If I understand you correctly, you have Double Deluxe (released April 15, 2008), the University Life Collection (released August 24, 2009), and the Best of Business Collection (released October 6, 2009). Therefore, I would recommend that you backup your save game and then try installing the Store Edition from the Best of Business Collection.

The launcher is notorious for uninstalling arbitrary EPs. The solution is to avoid using the launcher:
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Bypassing_Launcher

[kittcat92]

Thanks Mootilda I'll try that and see if it works
EDIT: alright I reinstalled the store edition which fixed the problem of my launcher not coming up (I visited your link but I do not have BV, FT, or AL) I have to now use the Best of Business CD which is fine but if I try to skip the intro or even just let it play I get a message saying the application has crashed.

[Mootilda]

Sounds like you should do the entire Game_Help:Game_Problem FAQ and provide us with your system specs:
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:System_Specs

If you are using the launcher, then that launcher FAQ applies to you. The Store Edition is a "later EP".

[kittcat92]

Sounds like you should do the entire Game_Help:Game_Problem FAQ and provide us with your system specs:
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:System_Specs

If you are using the launcher, then that launcher FAQ applies to you. The Store Edition is a "later EP".
Oh I didn't know that, I was able to use the regular Seasons icon and the Seasons CD but half way through loading I get the same message about the application crashing. I'll have my specs posted in a few min. Just out of curiosity what exactly is the sims 2 store edition?
EDIT: system Specs

System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 5/9/2012, 16:53:55
Machine name: GENNY
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.111118-2330)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: TOSHIBA
System Model: Satellite L455D
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBL
Processor: AMD Sempron(tm) SI-42, ~2.1GHz
Memory: 2048MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 1790MB RAM
Page File: 1429MB used, 2151MB available
Windows Dir: C:\windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode
I wasn't sure if I needed to post anything other than system information. let me just say that I have never had any problems before now besides not being able to make the show snow on ground option stick. (before someone says that the snow problem is my graphics card I know for a fact other people have had the same problem with a supported graphics card. Now I don't know if my graphics card is a supported one or not but I do know I have never had any flashing objects or any problems at all related to graphics)
I went through the Game help (with the exception of patches) as suggested with no change I still can't load the game all the way. Should I go ahead and patch my game?

[Mordant17]

Can you also post the specs for your graphics card?

And, yes, patching your game is a good idea.

[kittcat92]

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: ATI Radeon 3100 Graphics
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9613)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9613&SUBSYS_FFB01179&REV_00
Display Memory: 892 MB
Dedicated Memory: 253 MB
Shared Memory: 639 MB
Current Mode: 1366 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: LGDD801
Native Mode: 1366 x 768(p) (59.973Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: atiumdag.dll,atidxx32.dll,atidxx64,atiumdva.cap,atiumd64,atiumd6a,atitmm64
Driver File Version: 8.14.0010.0678 (English)
Driver Version: 8.634.1.0
DDI Version: 10
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 7/30/2009 02:38:44, 3105280 bytes
-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0272&SUBSYS_1179FFB4&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5904 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 7/29/2009 00:02:42, 2735504 bytes
------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
Drive: C:
Free Space: 29.9 GB
Total Space: 228.7 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: TOSHIBA MK2555GSX ATA Device

Drive: D:
Model: MATSHITA DVD-RAM UJ890AS ATA Device

went to patch my game an received the message that I did not have university installed and the patch only applies to that expansion pack, I received the same message with OFB. Pets was already up to date and Seasons was patched but the game still crashes half way through loading.

[Mootilda]

Oh I didn't know that, I was able to use the regular Seasons icon and the Seasons CD but half way through loading I get the same message about the application crashing.Just to be clear: could you run the game when you were running just the base game, or just the early EPs, without the Store Edition? Do the crashing problems only begin when you install Seasons or a later EP?

went to patch my game an received the message that I did not have university installed and the patch only applies to that expansion pack, I received the same message with OFB. Pets was already up to date and Seasons was patched but the game still crashes half way through loading.You may have to reinstall University and OFB, if they were uninstalled by the launcher. You can't patch a game unless it is installed.

Just out of curiosity what exactly is the sims 2 store edition?The Store Edition is a pseudo-EP which EA released to allow people to use CC from the Sims 2 Store. There are several different versions which are included with Double Deluxe and the Collection packs. The latest version uses a game engine which is compatible with Mansion and Garden Stuff. Unfortunately, since EA closed the Sims 2 Store, it can be difficult to get an updated version of the Store Edition.

Card name: ATI Radeon 3100 GraphicsI notice that you do not have a graphics card in your computer. Please read this article to understand the problem with integrated graphics:
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Onboard_Graphics

Specifically, you could be damaging your computer by running the game. You can mitigate the damage by using fewer EPs, avoiding later EPs (like Seasons and the Store Edition), reducing your graphics settings, etc.

[kittcat92]

Just to be clear: could you run the game when you were running just the base game, or just the early EPs, without the Store Edition? Do the crashing problems begin when you install Seasons or a later EP?

You may have to reinstall University and OFB, if they were uninstalled by the launcher. You can't patch a game unless it is installed.
I was able to run the game without crashes before I reinstalled the store edition it just wasn't detecting OFB or Uni and my neighborhoods were missing. The thing is that I do have them installed, if I insert their discs I receive a message saying they are already installed. I can try to uninstall and reinstall them again but I'll end up having uninstall everything not just those two Ep.

[Mootilda]

None of the pictures that you've included prove that Uni or OFB are correctly installed. If you get a message that they are already installed, but their icons don't show up in your game, then they may be only partially installed. Uninstalling completely (including a manual check for registry entries), and then reinstalling may be your only option. You shouldn't have to uninstall the base game, though, just the EPs that you are missing. However, perhaps the collection packs are obnoxious and insist that you uninstall other EPs or SPs.

Here's a FAQ about how to completely uninstall your game:
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Uninstall

I'd also like to confirm that you are getting the crashes, even with a completely empty save game (ie, the game will regenerate everything for you).

[kittcat92]

Thanks Mootilda I'll get started on uninstalling for whatever reason the Uni pack makes me uninstall DD and everything else first before it will let me uninstall it, its just finicky I guess. I'll post to tell you whether it works or not.
(yes still crashing with a completely empty save game)

[kittcat92]

Yay!! After messing with it all last night and this morning my game is once again working. All EP are showing and I am experiencing NO crashing or loading issues. I haven't replaced my neighborhood files yet. Any suggestions on making them work or should I just not mess with it since the game is working correctly right now?
(EDIT: oops I probably should have put all that in an edit instead of another post sorry)

[Mootilda]

Good. That's a start.

Your next step is to restore your backup and see whether you can see your neighborhoods. If not, then you can always delete your save game and end up back where you are now. However, if your problem was the fact that your neighborhoods had been updated to require the Store Edition, then I expect that you'll be able to see your neighborhoods now.

[kittcat92]

Nope restoring my neighborhoods didn't work, not a big deal I'll just start from scratch. Thanks Mootilda you've been very helpful :)

[Mootilda]

Sorry that we couldn't get your neighborhoods back. But at least everything else is working now.