Can't install past Seasons without an error

[kubomatoko]

Ok so I've had this problem for a while now and have tried fixing it once again since coming back from my holiday.

The problem is I get an error just after the splash screen saying "The Sims 2 has stopped working, A problem caused the program to stop working correctly." and then the program refuses to load.

I have now reinstalled The Sims 2 and each EP one by one, and found that the error only occurs when trying to install ANY expansion past Seasons, even if patches are added.

I have no custom content, and when I uninstall EPs back to Seasons then the game works fine. Has anyone else come across this problem and found a solution? I have previously played all the expansion packs on this computer in the past.

My specs:
Windows Vista
AMD Athlon Duel-core 2.0ghz
3gb RAM
NVidia GeForce 8200M G
DirectX 11

Thanks,
Kubo

[Mootilda]

Looks like your computer may not be up to playing the later EPs.

From: http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-8200M-G.11360.0.htmlthe performance of the chip is hardly sufficient for very modest games with low details.
You should probably read and follow the following FAQ:
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Onboard_Graphics

[kubomatoko]

None of the problems shown in the FAQ of that link relates to the problem my game is having, since the error is not graphics related. Please read my post properly, I stated I have played all the expansion packs before, so it's definitely not a hardware problem. I have read online that another person has had a problem with running past EP5 but no solution was viewed to be given to them.

[Mootilda]

Perhaps you missed the bit about how playing the game on an inadequate computer can actually destroy your computer. This means that it may appear to work for a while, but it will eventually stop working.

Specifically, this link from inside of the article that I linked above:
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Your_Computer_is_Like_a_Car

[kubomatoko]

Thanks Mootilda for slating my computer. I found the solution myself as to why my game was not working, and it was not down to low computer performance. I find it highly unprofessional that your advice to an issue is only that the computer is essentially rubbish, rather than trying to help figure out the real problem.

I shall not be seeking advice from this website in the future.

Kubo

[Darby]

So it's "unprofessional" for someone to relay information obtained on your behalf, with links so you can verify said info for yourself? :rolleyes:

Your having supposedly found the solution to your game problem doesn't negate the fact that your computer's grahpics chip IS underpowered. What part of "...the performance of the chip is hardly sufficient for very modest games with low details." do you not understand?

[whiterider]

Hobbyists, who choose to try to answer questions in their own free time, with no reward or payment, because they are feeling nice, are not required to be professional.

Your computer is, indeed, not up to running the game. Although that doesn't mean that any and all problems must be hardware-related, it makes it very difficult to troubleshoot problems, because any problem could be caused by the underpowered hardware and there is no good way of ruling that cause out. Even if you do discover that the problem was caused by something else, running the game with those EPs is still inadvisable because you run the very real risk of totalling your computer; so there is limited value in doing extensive troubleshooting, when the eventual conclusion will be "Well, your game works now, but using it is a very bad idea".

It is, of course, your computer and your money, and therefore your choice. However, all of the info Mootilda provided was perfectly accurate and very important, so I would suggest that you take it into account.

[kubomatoko]

I don't think either of you understand that the problem was not because of the computer being "underpowered". I do not need a lecture from this website saying my computer is rubbish rather than trying to fix the problem I had. If the first advice is to say this, then you have already given up looking for a solution without even starting to help me research what was wrong. I already said it was not down to hardware issues, so why carry on saying it is? Just because a website says so, doesn't make it true for all errors displayed on my computer.

[whiterider]

I didn't say the problem was caused by a hardware issue.

[HystericalParoxysm]

Locking, as the user is no longer looking for help; no sense going round and round with this nonsense. Lead a horse to water and all that.