Hi there, Sso i recently installed the Sims 3 with these packs:
The Sims 3: World Adventures
The Sims 3: Ambitions
The Sims 3: Late Night
The Sims 3: Outdoor Living Stuff
The Sims 3: Generations
The Sims 3: Town Life Stuff
The Sims 3: Master Suite
The Sims 3: Showtime
The Sims 3: Supernatural
The Sims 3: Seasons
The Sims 3: University Life
The Sims 3: Island Paradise
The Sims 3: Movie Stuff
The Sims 3: Into the Future.

I get onto the launcher, click the play icon, sometimes The Sims 3 logo will show up and then my screen will just stay black and sometimes the logo doesn't even show up at all and turns black almost straight away after the loading has ben on a few seconds. The black screen just freezes and stays there until i turn my computer off.
I have checked and done all the things that are suggested before you can post but none helped. When the screen turns black, i can't return to my desktop either and i have to turn my computer off at the wall.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!


Update: It works if i edit the options file in my documents and start it in window mode instead of fullscreen. Why is this?

this can be because of an out dated mod like if you have an older awesomemod it also will black your loading screen and stopped the game to load, or because of lacking something else like proper drivers for your hardware. When this happened, you don't have to reset your computer, you can just press Ctrl+Alt+Del to go back to the Desktop menu.

to have better understanding of your problem, can you post your DeviceConfig from your TS3 Docs folder? And also, is your game patched to 1.67 or 1.69? Do you have FPS limiter installed for TS3? Hopefully it is not because of FPS limiter wasn't installed.

Thankyou for responding! I don't have any mods installed at all as i was going to play it for the first time. I tried pressing the Ctrl+Alt+Del but the black screen still remained. Here is what the DeviceConfig contains:
=== Application info ===
Name: Sims3
Version:
Build: Release
=== Rating info ===
GPU: 5 GPU Memory: 1 CPU: 4 RAM: 4 CPU Speed: 3300 Threading: 3
Adjusted CPU: 4000 RAM: 8083 Adjusted RAM: 7571 Cores: 4
=== Machine info ===
OS version: Windows 8 6.2.9200
OS prod type: 0
OS major ver: 6
OS minor ver: 2
OS SP major ver: 0
OS SP minor ver: 0
OS is 64Bit: 1
CPU: GenuineIntel
Brand: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz
Family: 6
Model: 10
Cores: 4
HT: 0
x64: 0
Memory: 8083MB
Free memory: 5961MB
User: Freeware Sys
Computer: NUGNUG
=== Graphics device info ===
Number: 0
Name (driver): AMD Radeon R9 200 Series
Name (database): AMD Radeon R9 200 Series [Found: 0, Matched: 0]
Vendor: ATI
Chipset: Vendor: 1002, Device: 67b0, Board: e289174b, Chipset: 0000
Driver: aticfx32.dll, Version: 8.17.10.1452, GUID: D7B71EE2-24F0-11CF-5771-83C2BEC2C535
Driver version: 1452
Monitor: \\.\DISPLAY1
Texture memory: 32MB <<OVERRIDE>>
Vertex program: 3.0
Pixel program: 3.0
Hardware TnL: 1
=== Options ===
AnimationSmoothing 1
LightingQuality 3
GeneralReflections 3
TextureQuality 3
VisualEffects 3
TerrainQuality 3
EdgeSmoothing 3
ObjectHiding 0
AspectRatio 0
ForceSquarePixels 1
SimQuality 4
TreeQuality 4
DrawDistance 3
MaxActiveLots 8
NumMaxActiveLotOptions 6
AdvancedRendering 1
AudioQuality 3
AudioOutputMode 1
VoiceLevel 255
SoundFXLevel 255
MusicLevel 255
AmbientLevel 255
FocusMute 1
VoiceMute 0
SoundFXMute 0
MusicMute 0
AmbientMute 0
EdgeScrolling 0
EdgeScrollingWarning 1
SupressOpportunityDialogs 0
SuppressOpportunityDialogsWarningProducts 0
SimWhileMinimized 0
TwelveHourClock 1
ShowPlacementGrid 0
AutonomyLevel 2
DisableAutonomyForSelectedSim 0
PetAutonomyLevel 2
AgingInterval 2
EnableAging 1
EnableTutorial 1
EnableIntroTutorial 1
EnableTombResets 1
EnableInGameStore 1
EnableTelemetry 1
EnableMemories 1
AgingStageLengthBaby 3
AgingStageLengthToddler 7
AgingStageLengthChild 7
AgingStageLengthTeen 14
AgingStageLengthYoungAdult 21
AgingStageLengthAdult 21
AgingStageLengthElder 17
EnableInteractiveLoading 1
AgingStageLengthPuppy 0
AgingStageLengthDogAdult 0
AgingStageLengthDogElder 0
AgingStageLengthKitten 0
AgingStageLengthCatAdult 0
AgingStageLengthCatElder 0
AgingStageLengthFoal 0
AgingStageLengthHorseAdult 0
AgingStageLengthHorseElder 0
LunarCycleLength 3
LunarPhaseLength 0
EnableLunarCycle 1
EnableLunarPhase 0
EnableStoryProgression 1
EnableVampires 1
EnableWerewolves 1
EnablePets 1
EnableCelebrities 1
EnableFairies 1
EnableWitches 1
EnableHorses 1
EnableOptOutCeleb 0
ReceiveConnectTNS 1
ReceivedDevGift 0
PostFilterFlags 0
RequireLoginBeforeLoad 0
SummerLength 8
FallLength 4
WinterLength 8
SpringLength 4
SummerEnabled 1
FallEnabled 1
WinterEnabled 1
SpringEnabled 1
IsCelcius 1
FogEnabled 1
RainEnabled 1
SnowEnabled 1
HailEnabled 1
InvertHorizontalRotation 0
InvertVerticalRotation 0
VideoCaptureSize 1
VideoCaptureQuality 2
VideoCaptureSound 0
VideoCaptureTime 60
VideoCaptureHideUI 1
=== Default Options ===
AnimationSmoothing 1
LightingQuality 1
GeneralReflections 1
TextureQuality 1
VisualEffects 3
TerrainQuality 3
EdgeSmoothing 0
ObjectHiding 0
AspectRatio 0
ForceSquarePixels 1
SimQuality 1
TreeQuality 3
DrawDistance 3
MaxActiveLots 1
NumMaxActiveLotOptions 6
AdvancedRendering 1
AudioQuality 3
AudioOutputMode 1
VoiceLevel 255
SoundFXLevel 255
MusicLevel 255
AmbientLevel 255
FocusMute 1
VoiceMute 0
SoundFXMute 0
MusicMute 0
AmbientMute 0
EdgeScrolling 0
EdgeScrollingWarning 1
SupressOpportunityDialogs 0
SuppressOpportunityDialogsWarningProducts 0
SimWhileMinimized 0
TwelveHourClock 1
ShowPlacementGrid 0
AutonomyLevel 2
DisableAutonomyForSelectedSim 0
PetAutonomyLevel 2
AgingInterval 2
EnableAging 1
EnableTutorial 1
EnableIntroTutorial 1
EnableTombResets 1
EnableInGameStore 1
EnableTelemetry 1
EnableMemories 1
AgingStageLengthBaby 3
AgingStageLengthToddler 7
AgingStageLengthChild 7
AgingStageLengthTeen 14
AgingStageLengthYoungAdult 21
AgingStageLengthAdult 21
AgingStageLengthElder 17
EnableInteractiveLoading 1
AgingStageLengthPuppy 0
AgingStageLengthDogAdult 0
AgingStageLengthDogElder 0
AgingStageLengthKitten 0
AgingStageLengthCatAdult 0
AgingStageLengthCatElder 0
AgingStageLengthFoal 0
AgingStageLengthHorseAdult 0
AgingStageLengthHorseElder 0
LunarCycleLength 3
LunarPhaseLength 0
EnableLunarCycle 1
EnableLunarPhase 0
EnableStoryProgression 1
EnableVampires 1
EnableWerewolves 1
EnablePets 1
EnableCelebrities 1
EnableFairies 1
EnableWitches 1
EnableHorses 1
EnableOptOutCeleb 0
ReceiveConnectTNS 1
ReceivedDevGift 0
PostFilterFlags 0
RequireLoginBeforeLoad 0
SummerLength 7
FallLength 7
WinterLength 7
SpringLength 7
SummerEnabled 1
FallEnabled 1
WinterEnabled 1
SpringEnabled 1
IsCelcius 0
FogEnabled 1
RainEnabled 1
SnowEnabled 1
HailEnabled 1
InvertHorizontalRotation 0
InvertVerticalRotation 0
VideoCaptureSize 1
VideoCaptureQuality 2
VideoCaptureSound 0
VideoCaptureTime 60
VideoCaptureHideUI 1

I have version 1.67 installed on my game and i have RTSS to help control the fps.
Thankyou!

I need to know more about your graphics card. It seems the game is detecting your graphics card incorrectly (32MB? )
Please, run the direct "dxdiag" (Start menu, write dxdiag and press enter) and clic the SAVE INFORMATION button (or something like that) right in between next page and exit. It'll generate a .txt file. I need you to upload that file (as a zip or whatever) so I can take a look at your whole system.

It seems like you've just upgraded to Win 10 and you need to adjust your GPU one more time, because your GPU is not recognized by TS3, if you have the proper drivers for Win 10 then you just need to get it recognized by TS3 by editing the GraphicCards.sgr, put your device ID 67b0 to replace one of the same class GPU as yours, saved it and restart your game, if everything is correct then you don't need to fix the 32MB Override because usually it will follow automatically, but if it doesn't you need to edit the GraphicRules.sgr as well. Note: You might need to download the updated drivers of your graphic card for Win 10 if available before editing the GraphicCards.sgr and GraphicRules.sgr.

I forgot where is the link located, but you can follow Nitromon's post about editing your graphic card to get it recognized by TS3, secondly.. if by then after you done editing them and it still having the same problem, you might need the .Net 3.5 for Win 10 installed, you don't need to if you just upgraded to Win 10 and if your previous Windows has the .Net 4 installed already because it carries on to Win 10 and Win 10 won't remove it, but just in case you need it, here's the link of how to install the .Net 3.5 for Win 10 http://modthesims.info/showthread.p...822#post4948822

Ah right i see. Thankyou i will try this and hopefully it will work. What programme would be okay to use to edit this file? Notepad? I don't suppose this will fix a lag and freezing problem will it? I've tried loads of fixes for freezes and lags but none have worked. Thankyou again!

Yes just use Notepad to edit the *.sgr files, it works.

As for the lags and freezes, that'll be different matter, once you have the proper set up for your computer for Win 10, then you'll see the real lags/freezes caused by the game not because of the improper drivers or installation set up,

Note: Since you have the 2nd generation Core i5 2500k, you might not find the proper drivers for your hardware (motherboard chipset, SATA AHCI controller, sound card etc) compatible with Win 10, because the manufacturer might not support it again as is getting old by now, if this is the case, just follow the whole contents in the thread I mentioned above, it should work for your system as is already worked for older Core i5 than you have.

I managed to change it and this is what my new DeviceConfig states:
=== Application info ===
Name: Sims3
Version:
Build: Release
=== Rating info ===
GPU: 5 GPU Memory: 4 CPU: 4 RAM: 4 CPU Speed: 3300 Threading: 3
Adjusted CPU: 4000 RAM: 8083 Adjusted RAM: 7571 Cores: 4
=== Machine info ===
OS version: Windows 8 6.2.9200
OS prod type: 0
OS major ver: 6
OS minor ver: 2
OS SP major ver: 0
OS SP minor ver: 0
OS is 64Bit: 1
CPU: GenuineIntel
Brand: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz
Family: 6
Model: 10
Cores: 4
HT: 0
x64: 0
Memory: 8083MB
Free memory: 4954MB
User: Freeware Sys
Computer: NUGNUG
=== Graphics device info ===
Number: 0
Name (driver): AMD Radeon R9 200 Series
Name (database): AMD Radeon HD 7900 Series [Found: 1, Matched: 1]
Vendor: ATI
Chipset: Vendor: 1002, Device: 67b0, Board: e289174b, Chipset: 0000
Driver: aticfx32.dll, Version: 8.17.10.1452, GUID: D7B71EE2-24F0-11CF-5771-83C2BEC2C535
Driver version: 1452
Monitor: \\.\DISPLAY1
Texture memory: 1024MB <<OVERRIDE>>
Vertex program: 3.0
Pixel program: 3.0
Hardware TnL: 1
=== Options ===
AnimationSmoothing 1
LightingQuality 3
GeneralReflections 3
TextureQuality 3
VisualEffects 3
TerrainQuality 3
EdgeSmoothing 3
ObjectHiding 0
AspectRatio 0
ForceSquarePixels 1
SimQuality 4
TreeQuality 4
DrawDistance 3
MaxActiveLots 8
NumMaxActiveLotOptions 6
AdvancedRendering 1
AudioQuality 3
AudioOutputMode 1
VoiceLevel 255
SoundFXLevel 255
MusicLevel 255
AmbientLevel 255
FocusMute 1
VoiceMute 0
SoundFXMute 0
MusicMute 0
AmbientMute 0
EdgeScrolling 0
EdgeScrollingWarning 0
SupressOpportunityDialogs 0
SuppressOpportunityDialogsWarningProducts 2018795
SimWhileMinimized 0
TwelveHourClock 1
ShowPlacementGrid 0
AutonomyLevel 2
DisableAutonomyForSelectedSim 0
PetAutonomyLevel 2
AgingInterval 2
EnableAging 1
EnableTutorial 1
EnableIntroTutorial 0
EnableTombResets 1
EnableInGameStore 1
EnableTelemetry 0
EnableMemories 1
AgingStageLengthBaby 3
AgingStageLengthToddler 7
AgingStageLengthChild 7
AgingStageLengthTeen 14
AgingStageLengthYoungAdult 21
AgingStageLengthAdult 21
AgingStageLengthElder 17
EnableInteractiveLoading 1
AgingStageLengthPuppy 0
AgingStageLengthDogAdult 0
AgingStageLengthDogElder 0
AgingStageLengthKitten 0
AgingStageLengthCatAdult 0
AgingStageLengthCatElder 0
AgingStageLengthFoal 0
AgingStageLengthHorseAdult 0
AgingStageLengthHorseElder 0
LunarCycleLength 3
LunarPhaseLength 0
EnableLunarCycle 1
EnableLunarPhase 0
EnableStoryProgression 1
EnableVampires 1
EnableWerewolves 1
EnablePets 1
EnableCelebrities 1
EnableFairies 1
EnableWitches 1
EnableHorses 1
EnableOptOutCeleb 0
ReceiveConnectTNS 1
ReceivedDevGift 0
PostFilterFlags 0
RequireLoginBeforeLoad 1
SummerLength 8
FallLength 4
WinterLength 8
SpringLength 4
SummerEnabled 1
FallEnabled 1
WinterEnabled 1
SpringEnabled 1
IsCelcius 1
FogEnabled 1
RainEnabled 1
SnowEnabled 1
HailEnabled 1
InvertHorizontalRotation 0
InvertVerticalRotation 0
VideoCaptureSize 1
VideoCaptureQuality 2
VideoCaptureSound 0
VideoCaptureTime 60
VideoCaptureHideUI 1
=== Default Options ===
AnimationSmoothing 1
LightingQuality 3
GeneralReflections 2
TextureQuality 3
VisualEffects 3
TerrainQuality 3
EdgeSmoothing 0
ObjectHiding 0
AspectRatio 0
ForceSquarePixels 1
SimQuality 4
TreeQuality 3
DrawDistance 3
MaxActiveLots 4
NumMaxActiveLotOptions 6
AdvancedRendering 1
AudioQuality 3
AudioOutputMode 1
VoiceLevel 255
SoundFXLevel 255
MusicLevel 255
AmbientLevel 255
FocusMute 1
VoiceMute 0
SoundFXMute 0
MusicMute 0
AmbientMute 0
EdgeScrolling 0
EdgeScrollingWarning 1
SupressOpportunityDialogs 0
SuppressOpportunityDialogsWarningProducts 0
SimWhileMinimized 0
TwelveHourClock 1
ShowPlacementGrid 0
AutonomyLevel 2
DisableAutonomyForSelectedSim 0
PetAutonomyLevel 2
AgingInterval 2
EnableAging 1
EnableTutorial 1
EnableIntroTutorial 1
EnableTombResets 1
EnableInGameStore 1
EnableTelemetry 1
EnableMemories 1
AgingStageLengthBaby 3
AgingStageLengthToddler 7
AgingStageLengthChild 7
AgingStageLengthTeen 14
AgingStageLengthYoungAdult 21
AgingStageLengthAdult 21
AgingStageLengthElder 17
EnableInteractiveLoading 1
AgingStageLengthPuppy 0
AgingStageLengthDogAdult 0
AgingStageLengthDogElder 0
AgingStageLengthKitten 0
AgingStageLengthCatAdult 0
AgingStageLengthCatElder 0
AgingStageLengthFoal 0
AgingStageLengthHorseAdult 0
AgingStageLengthHorseElder 0
LunarCycleLength 3
LunarPhaseLength 0
EnableLunarCycle 1
EnableLunarPhase 0
EnableStoryProgression 1
EnableVampires 1
EnableWerewolves 1
EnablePets 1
EnableCelebrities 1
EnableFairies 1
EnableWitches 1
EnableHorses 1
EnableOptOutCeleb 0
ReceiveConnectTNS 1
ReceivedDevGift 0
PostFilterFlags 0
RequireLoginBeforeLoad 0
SummerLength 7
FallLength 7
WinterLength 7
SpringLength 7
SummerEnabled 1
FallEnabled 1
WinterEnabled 1
SpringEnabled 1
IsCelcius 0
FogEnabled 1
RainEnabled 1
SnowEnabled 1
HailEnabled 1
InvertHorizontalRotation 0
InvertVerticalRotation 0
VideoCaptureSize 1
VideoCaptureQuality 2
VideoCaptureSound 0
VideoCaptureTime 60
VideoCaptureHideUI 1

However, i still can't start the game in fullscreen mode otherwise it turns black forever still.

Ok 1st, are you sure that AMD Radeon R9 200 Series is in the same class as AMD Radeon HD 7900 Series? I'm not familiar with the new AMD Radeon video cards line up, but if it's higher one it's going to stress your R9 200, for example my laptop has GT610M and the same class to it would be the GT310M, the 1st number usually is the generation when it was launched.

Secondly, is your Win 10 an upgraded one from previous Windows or did you installed it stand alone as a new clean installation? If it's an upgraded one, did you have the .Net 4 installed before upgrading it to Windows 10? Because if not, you'll need to install the .Net 3.5 for Win 10 just like if you have a new Win 10 stand alone clean installation and then you also need to reinstall your graphic drivers. You can find this in the link I mentioned above, you will need to have all your drivers ready, just follow the contents from the top so you'll have better understanding how to sort it out, once this done then we'll go back to set it up for TS3 because your graphic card is newer to the ones in the GraphicCards.sgr list.

And the last one is to fix the 1024 Override, open your GraphicRules.sgr, you'll see;

setb textureMemorySizeOK true
if ($textureMemory == 0)
seti textureMemory 1024
# setb textureMemorySizeOK false
endif

add the hashtag (#) setb texture.....

Okay, i've managed to do everything you suggested and it still doesn't help or work :'( Thankyou for trying though

I can start the game if i change the options file in My Documents and change the fullscreen to 0 but not if i start the game in full screen.

I honestly just think i am going to give up with this game. I am sick of the hassle. When i get onto the Sims 3 using Windows mode (because fullscreen mode still doesn't work), it either doesn't respond at the end of loading in a saved game or new game, or it freezes after starting the gameplay itself. Even if i was able to get it to work, there is a really bad lagging and freezing problem which makes it unplayable and a transparent line that moves up and down my screen. I'm sick of it!

Oh god i don't know! I haven't had any problems with any other games i play and that includes the Sims 4!

I think i am just going to leave it i think. I just liked the Sims 3 because of the expansions like Seasons and so on. I want to thank you nitromon and PapaEmy for your help though as it is muchly appreciated!

I know it's kinda confusing to follow, but I think your root problem was not because of TS3, but your Win 10 installation, the black screen or blackish problem is more likely because incomplete driver required by Windows, in this case Win 10 need the Net 3.5, and the complete guide to install it is in the link I've mentioned earlier.

It's the same like in Win 7, you'll need .Net 4.0 to get your graphic drivers working properly under Windows 7, Windows needs its driver, its driver need .Net installed, and TS3 determines your graphic card based on what registered in your Windows OS. And since you have moved to Windows 10, this thing have to be done all over again to set up Win 10 working for your computer, you'll need at least to re-install your graphic driver one more time, get the one compatible with win 10 if available, and have the .Net 3.5 installed, that's why I gave you the link above, because it was similar to your case, just take your time and follow the steps in the link and you'll understand how it's done.

That's because the OP computer is not a laptop, it's a desktop PC, 2nd gen Core i5 2500k came with 4 cores 4 threads with turbo boost, they don't make this for laptop but they do make i5 with 2 cores 4 threads and i7 with 4 cores 8 threads for laptop.



I think you might confused the OP with Island Paradise issue, let's the OP figure it out how to get rid the blackish issue first and then deal with lags/freeze issues later

The black screen HAS TO be driver related. With you specs that shouldn't happen. I recommend that you uninstall your current drivers and download an updated version from AMD's site (http://support.amd.com/en-us/kb-art...es-Drivers.aspx) for Windows 10 (32 or 64 bits). Then install these new drivers (try to prevent Windows from installing generic drivers because Windows sometimes tries to do that).

Okay, i know i said i was done with the sims 3 but i quickly uninstalled and reinstalled the graphics card drivers and now the game will start and not freeze when i start it in fullscreen mode. I even played it for a while to make sure. I would say the game is more playable and there are less lags and freezes but they do still occur. I am just happy that i managed to get the game working again!

Thankyou everyone, again!!

You are welcome, my friend!

If you want to improve the performance of your game, there are many things you can do:
- IMPORTANT: Use an FPS Limiter or force V-Sync. http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/s...p?topic=15585.0
- IMPORTANT: Download NRaas Overwatch and ErrorTrap. These two mods are essential to clean up your games periodically and keep your savegames healthier. http://nraas.wikispaces.com/Overwatch
- If you play with EA Worlds: Download the world fixes (routing errors / stuck Sims are the most important cause of lag). http://www.modthesims.info/browse.p...&gs=2&f=38&gs=2
- Use a RAM Disk to store your caches. http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=548125
- Unpark your CPU (this will help a lot with AI and Speed 3). http://modthesims.info/showthread.php?p=4961408
- Merge your package custom content (except for core/script mods).
- Disable memories to keep your savegames from getting bloated and thus speed up loading.
- HARDWARE: Get an SSD and install the whole Sims 3 (+expansions/stuff packs) and My Documents Folder. Your game will load faster and overall performance will be better.

If you do all this (especially the first four suggestions), I can promise your game will be less laggy and you'll have a better playing experience.