Actions/Comands not working

[BrokenFEMALE]

I have never had this problem before with my game. I came here to search for related issues hoping to find someone who may have had this happen, I found nothing. I tried all the steps in the FAQ as well with no luck.

My issue is I am unable to click objects for the Sims to do actions. For example if I click on a bed to have my Sim relax, the Sims head pops up as it should along with the list of actions to choose put it only stay up for about 2 seconds then disappears not giving me a chance to choose an action for the Sims to follow. I try another object and still the same problem, the action choices disappear no giving me any chance to pick. I thought it was maybe the lot, so I exit one lot an enter another and the same problem occurs. It's very annoying because I can't play the game if I can't click an action. Another thing I have noticed is the opening video that plays after the EA Games green logo appears. The game skips that and goes straight to the Sims 2 loading screen with the bar at the top. The game loads and another issue is the camera circling the neighborhood then stopping above the lot that was last played. My game used to do both of these and now it just skips ahead. Instead of circling the neighborhood it pops right over and random lot. I played the game fine last night but today these issues started. I have not downloaded any new content or made any changes to anything. I uninstalled the game and reinstalled it 3 times. The problem still exist. I tired the updates from the manufacturers site, that didn't help. I don't know what else to do and I am frustrated because I really want to play my game again.

My computer runs on Windows Vista 32bit, I have 2GB memory, ATI Radeon Xpress 1100 graphics card, and a AMD Turion Mobile 64 processor.

But I doubt my issue can be due to my computers specs because I have been playing it for a few months now and the issue never occured until now.

[julianarosalia]

General - Do the Game Problem FAQ
You appear to have not gone through our main Game Help:Game Problem FAQ. Please go through and do the steps on this FAQ, including any others that it links to (for example the Game Help:Game Problem-Problem Custom Content FAQ).

Usually, in the vast majority of cases, actually going through and doing the steps (doing, not just reading) fixes issues - sometimes you may be asked to remove custom content, or to patch - please rest assured that all of our FAQs have been tested by our staff and volunteers and we wouldn't suggest you do something unless it's been known to fix particular issues.

[BrokenFEMALE]

I have already gone through everything in the Game Help FAQ. I completed all the steps. It did not solve the issue which is why I posted the topic.

[Mootilda]

So, the problem occurs with all lots and all families in a newly installed and patched game with a newly generated save game and with no CC at all?

Perhaps we'd better make sure that your computer is capable of playing the game:
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:System_Specs

[BrokenFEMALE]

Yes my computer has the specs to play the game. I have played the game on this computer before with no problems until now. My game is up to date. This all of a sudden started. I play the game fine in the afternoon, then I go to play again later in the night and it started. I've been playing the game to a certain extent. If I am fast enough I can mange to click at least 1 action, but it is still annoying. If the action menu has something that requires 2 clicks it doesn't stay up long enough. It's disappointing I can't get any help with this issue from EA support. I called them and they don't offer support for Sims 2 anymore.

[Mootilda]

I have already gone through everything in the Game Help FAQ. I completed all the steps. It did not solve the issue which is why I posted the topic.Since this is not normal behavior for the game, and since you are still having the problem with a newly generated save game and no CC in a newly installed and patched game, the most likely explanation is your computer. That is, unless you had some problem getting your games uninstalled completely or reinstalled or patched correctly.

Yes my computer has the specs to play the game. I have played the game on this computer before with no problems until now. My game is up to date. This all of a sudden started. I play the game fine in the afternoon, then I go to play again later in the night and it startedIt's best for us to see your actual specs. Many people with underpowered machines are able to play the game for a while before their computers are destroyed enough, by the load of playing the game, that they start to see problems.

For example, a google of your graphics card get the following from http://www.notebookcheck.net/ATI-Radeon-Xpress-1100.2174.0.html:
"The performance is sufficient for elder games and the performance should be below a normal X300."

and from http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f108/ati-radeon-xpress-1100-a-167958.html:
"The Radeon X1100 chipset is a VERY low-level system best used for 2D work and not 3D, especially gaming. "

This limited power can easily be affected by insufficient RAM or other underpowered system parts. And, although this is a particularly good integrated graphics chip, integrated graphics are not really recommended for Sims 2, especially for the later EPs like Apartment Life.

Here's a FAQ which will explain the problems with integrated graphics and which will give you some tips about how to mitigate some of the damage that you may be causing to your computer by running the game:
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Onboard_Graphics

Be sure to read the linked article which explains how your computer can be damaged by playing the game:
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Your_Computer_is_Like_a_Car

Of course, there is no way to fix any damage that has already occurred.