This is a new one, even for me. As glitched up as my game has been since Pirates and Nobles, this is the first time I finished a quest and can not end it. The quest I am trying to complete is Golems Gone Wild. I have 3 QP left and after all this effort, now this happens. I finished the quest, and it locked up on the final screen with the book. OK, so I reran the whole blasted thing, saved the game right before my blacksmith follows the Golem Army to Tick Top, then finished the quest, same deal. OK, so I used task scheduler to delete the game since I can not save, exit or anything when this happens in full screen mode. Next I ran the game windowed, at least that way I can exit the game by clicking the x in the right upper corner of the window. When I did, it asked me if I want to save as usual.. I selected yes, then I got an error message about open windows. I made a screenshot by using the computer's built in save to clipboard and pasting the picture in paint. I am attaching the picture. If anyone knows what causes this please fill me in. I am now going to have to wipe my game again for the dozenth time and reinstall it. It wears me out how often this game just falls apart on me like this. It is always some new and mysterious way each time.. go figure?
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Update: OK, I figured out what the problem was. Since I have been trying out npc heroes, that is to say npc's that I had reassigned to become heroes, I had neglected to set any heroes for the various professions in the usual way. It seems there is only so much of this which the game can tolerate and I exceeded that amount. So if anyone else is trying this be cautioned that at some point you will need to assign normal heroes for the professions or you will crash the game. It seems that you can still use your npc heroes for quests, because when you set up a quest they are listed as well as the regular ones and you can just choose whichever one you want. Since I just used the default ones the game suggests (there are always two) they are not very well suited to their professions (randomly selected traits and all that) but it is no bother to me since I will not be using them. It is good to know that the only glitch this time was the guy behind the keyboard.. relief.

Last edited by Silverprinz : 21st Jul 2012 at 04:47 AM. Reason: I solved the problem, and wanted to post what it was

Rather than start a new thread, I am going to post this on here. My computer died, it is doubtful I will ever fix it - probably just part it out. Anyway the deal is that I am trying very hard to get TSM to run on my netbook, even though it is said to be impossible. Heck, i got nothing to loose and its all the computer I have left. Anyway I have solved the resolution problem with a regedit hack but now I have a new hurdle to overcome. When I loaded the game Windows 7 blocked the install of the vcredist_x86 so I downloaded vcredist_x86.exe from microsoft and installed it without a hitch. Next I tried to start the game, all I get is a black screen of death with a spinning cursor through what should be the EA logo screen and into the intro movie screen which follows it. After that i get a message about a protection fault and there is a button to push which kills the game. it puts an error log file into the My Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims Medieval folder, which is named xcpt X-ACER1 12-07-22 12.17.20.txt and also another file which is named xcpt X-ACER1 12-07-22 12.17.20.mdmp. In the text file one there is the following, near the top::
[Exception info]
date: 2012-07-22
time: 12.17.20
type: ACCESS_VIOLATION reading address 0x00000000
address: 0x004d7b1f "C:\Games\TSM\Game\Bin\TSM.exe":0x0001:0x000d6b1f
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Since the files are quite small in size I am zipping them both and attaching them.
Can any of you help me fix this issue?
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Additional Info: I just removed everything from my documents and tried to run the game again. I got an error message that the game had stopped working and clicked on "more info" and this is what it said:
Fault Module Version: 0.0.0.7201
Fault Module Timestamp: 4d55f689
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 000d7b1f
OS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.768.11
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 6d6a
Additional Information 2: 6d6adb29a92c68b7f234af0091c11928
Additional Information 3: 0309
Additional Information 4: 03094a74824c643af54e8e4339fa2bc8
.....
Can it be such a simple thing as my TSM.exe file is no good? I am going to try reloading again...
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Last edited by Silverprinz : 22nd Jul 2012 at 09:25 PM. Reason: added additional info

I don't think you have enough memory to run it
....also your processor might be creaking under the weight of TSM.
But never say never
Your log says your OS is Vista with no service packs and TSM requires service pack 1 for Vista.
(If you're trying to start just the base game, I assume you have no custom content installed that might not work with just the base game.)
A fix for a lot of people on TS3 with this problem "Memory pointer appears to point to invalid memory" was to add TS3 to the list of exceptions in DEP (Data Execution Prevention)....but I'd try this as a last resort, it just sounds like a similar thing is all.

Link to a post explaining how to go about it ...(instructions for how to find the DEP tab in vista is near the bottom of the page)
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/133747.page

Thank you much, I do not know why it says my OS is Vista, I am running windows 7 starter, just as it came from the box.
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update: I read the thread you listed, and thank you for that. When, however, I attempted to set tsm.exe as an exception in DEP windows would not allow it. I got an error message instead which stated that this program must be run with DEP set - it sounds for sure to me like DEP is the problem.

Last edited by Silverprinz : 23rd Jul 2012 at 04:35 PM. Reason: added update

Yeah I thought it sounded similar too.
I, unfortunately, don't know how to get around it for you. Hopefully someone else will.
It was a huge problem for loads of people running TS3 so perhaps the answer you need will be elsewhere here at MTS.

No problem, I think I know what is going on. This Acer only has 1 GB of RAM (only! gosh it amazes me that a gig is like small now) and the DEP on my computer was previously set to only protect core files, which i now reset it back to. I believe that what is happening is DEP is legitimately shutting down the computer to protect it from an overload on its ram. It sure is strange this game uses so much RAM, i guess it must not use the page file at all (I have lots and lots of virtual memory) but oh well..
I can run civilization IV and V even just fine and they require like 1.8 GB of RAM. Once again, it would seem that EA dropped the ball by giving us a sloppy game design. (Sorry for the rant, i am just so very disappointed.)

Are you sure? It looks like mine is using from everything I have. I shut down all background processes that I can, although I do often leave WMP running.
Memory load: 51%
Total physical memory: 3583 Mb
Available physical memory: 1743 Mb
Total page file memory: 5466 Mb
Available page file memory: 3617 Mb
Total virtual memory: 2047 Mb
Free virtual memory: 989 Mb

I came across something that explained why TSM was such a resource hog, if I find it again I'll post it.

You can use ReadyBoost with a USB stick or memory card to boost the RAM.

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Hey, thanks for the tip I had forgotten to try that one. I will and see what happens. It really bugs me that the game crashes on trying to load the stupid logo and intro movie.. never even gets to the game itself which is very puzzling.