I've been playing the game for years and all of a sudden, I'm unable to start the game. I removed the downloads folder, and deleted the cache files, and it still won't start. What else should I try? Thanks!

I wish i could help. I'm in the same boat. i always played using mansion and garden and now launcher crashes. im ready to uninstall the later ones and just play up to seasons ep.

Simply bypass the launcher: http://www.modthesims.info/wiki.php...Voyage_Launcher (The instructions are for BV, but just substitute your latest EP (or M&G, if you have it) in the directions and you're good to go. It's easy, simple, and takes less than a minute.

The reason the launcher crashes is that it's trying to access a website that it can't display. So, you either need to bypass it or disconnect from the Internet until the game starts loading.

Agree totally with @iCad - most of us had to bypass the launcher!

If you want to keep on using the launcher to start your game then you must disconnect from the internet before you start it up.

Thanks....I'll try it. I have all the EP's, but I use M&G to play the game, so which do I use as the substitute for BV? Also, thanks for the explanation of why the crashes are happening.

You use the exe from M&G.

This issue has been seen over and over again. Is there anyway to make info on not using the launcher into a sticky?

So what your saying is disconnect from internet to play the game and use mansion and garden pack to play?

And what number is M&G......the instructions show Sims2EP6 for Bon Voyage. Thanks!

You don't have to disconnect from the internet if you bypass the launcher.

Mansion and Gardens is EP9

So you type it in as ep 9 even though its a stuff pack?

M&G is an EP masquerading as a stuff pack. It brought new interactions not just stuff and changed the game engine. If you upload lots then anybody who uses your lot must also have M&G, that only happens with EP's.

M&G is still listed as SP9, and yes to use the launcher you will need to disconnect from the internet to start up your game.

If it is in a collection pack, you would find the executable in a folder called SP9. The executable lists it as EP9.

yes, or just bypass the launcher. Right click on the sims icon and double click ep9

Yes, simply right-click on your existing desktop shortcut (The one you click that brings up the game launcher), select "Properties," and then in the line labled "Target," change the very last bit to "Sims2EP9.exe" (Without the quotation marks.) If you alter the existing shortcut, the rest of the file path (Which is like an address, which tells your computer where to find the file you want to run) will be correct without you having to do anything with it.

OR, if you don't want to do that, then disconnecting from the internet before you open the launcher will work because then the launcher can't access the internet. It trying to load a webpage that it can't actually display (Because EA broke the launcher) is what causes it to crash/go non-responsive, so disconnecting from the internet will prevent that. Once your game is loading, you can then reconnect to the internet, if you want to.

And yes, whatever you do to get the game started, you'll need to have the disk that contains M&G in your disk drive. That's your latest EP, so that's what the game needs to run properly. In fact, without that disk in there (unless you've installed a no-CD crack), the game shouldn't run at all. You should get an error pop-up that says something along the lines of "Insert Mansions & Gardens disk."

Thank you so much.....you've covered it all, in a language I understand. I'm back in business and enjoying the game once again!

I'm glad to help, and I'm glad you're back to your game.

Thanks so much. i have chosen the route of disconnecting the internet while game is loading and now i can play without problems!