Serious Sims 3 crashing problem

by Guest Sat 08 Jun 2013, 23:20

I have been having this problem for weeks, if not months. First, the game would only crash inside CAS. Then, it started crashing both inside CAS and after a certain moment of playing. When I installed your fix, it stopped crashing inside the CAS mode, but to my greatest disappointment I realized it still stopped working after I played for a while.

Having looked up different solutions and none of them having an efficient result, I figured out that maybe my computer just wasn't good enough -I only had 2GB RAM, so I bought two more GB. I now have 4GB RAM, but as I started playing again the game still crashed ! I browsed the forum some more and found that it was strongly advised to temporarily rename the Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3 folder and test the game for crashing. So I did that, started a new game with no mods or CC whatsoever, but after playing a little bit more than I usually can, the game still crashed...

There is only one thing I haven't done yet : uninstalling then reinstalling. I'm not sure that will fix anything but I will try it nonetheless and update you later. I still fear the worse. Is my computer not good enough? What could the problem be?
I have The Sims 3 and these expansions : Seasons, University Life, Generations. Here are my PC specs.

Graphic card : Intel(R) HD Graphics Family (don't know where to find more detailed specs)
Processor : Intel(R) Pentium (R) CPU B960 @ 2.20 GHz 2.20 GHz
System type : 32 bits
RAM : 4GB

by Guest Sun 09 Jun 2013, 02:09

Minorinrin wrote:There is only one thing I haven't done yet : uninstalling then reinstalling

Yes why would that be the first thing to try...

Anyways if you try that (sometime in the future) and it doesn't work, try disabling Data Execution Prevention. For Windows 7 right click on Computer > Properties > Advanced System settings and under the Advanced tab select the Performance Settings. Then under the Data Execution Prevention tab add TS3W and Sims3Launcher as exceptions.

If it refuses to do that you need admin privileges.

Anyway apart from this the only other thing that crosses my mind is your graphics chip, it sucks. It's a CPU integrated graphics chip, even if your game can run well on it with high graphics I'd advise setting them to Low, otherwise you might end up with a CPU barbecue.

You should get a separate GPU even if that doesn't solve your problem, will prevent a much bigger one.

by Guest Sun 09 Jun 2013, 02:46

TUN3R wrote:Yes why would that be the first thing to try...

Haha I know, I wanted to check every possible solution before reinstalling everything... I'll try it asap tho.

I already added all the exes from my base game and EPs to the DEP and it did nothing.

I usually play with my graphic settings on Medium, but I feared there would be a problem with my hardware... I'll think of buying a separate GPU later, I don't think I can really afford it at the moment since I just bought a new stick of RAM!

But wait, I just checked my system properties and it says only 2GB RAM (out of 4) are usable, no wonder the game still crashed, it's as if I didn't do anything. I know 32-bit systems can only use maximum 3.4GB RAM but maybe if I can get my computer to use more than 2GB it'll work. There's still hope for more RAM to fix the problem, right?

by Guest Sun 09 Jun 2013, 03:30

Oh, we have almost the same PC specs; different processors but the same GHz. I always use windows mode and some medium and low settings and I have not crashed unless I experience error code 12 then go to Edit Town = GAME CRASH and triggering a meteor near the university rabbitholes Razz

by Guest Sun 09 Jun 2013, 03:36

Triggering a meteor? Wow, that's some serious stuff right there Razz

I often experience Error 12 too but honestly this is the least of my problems right now... I'm far more concerned about this whole crashing thing ! It's driving me crazy ! FUU!

by **The_gh0stm4n** Sun 09 Jun 2013, 08:54

Minorinrin wrote:

Haha I know, I wanted to check every possible solution before reinstalling everything... I'll try it asap tho.

I already added all the exes from my base game and EPs to the DEP and it did nothing.

I usually play with my graphic settings on Medium, but I feared there would be a problem with my hardware... I'll think of buying a separate GPU later, I don't think I can really afford it at the moment since I just bought a new stick of RAM!

But wait, I just checked my system properties and it says only 2GB RAM (out of 4) are usable, no wonder the game still crashed, it's as if I didn't do anything. I know 32-bit systems can only use maximum 3.4GB RAM but maybe if I can get my computer to use more than 2GB it'll work. There's still hope for more RAM to fix the problem, right?

Hello,

Have a look here: https://games4theworld.forumotion.com/t857-the-sims-3-crashes-freezes-to-desktop-fix-updated-on-29-09-2012

If you especially look at #3 there ("Assigning more RAM memory") you will find a link to the "4 GB patch". If you double-click on that patch, you need to select the TS3W.exe in the Sims 3 base game location C:/Program files(x86)/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Game/Bin.

Other than that, I suggest you also look at this here: http://www.modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS3_System_Requirements
According to that chart about graphics cards, there are BIG problems with the graphics card you seemingly have (meaning: your graphics card doesn't seem to be supported).

For more info, open the start menu, then go to "Run". Now type in dxdiag and go to the "Display" tab. You will find more detailed information about your graphics card there.

by Guest Sun 09 Jun 2013, 10:18

Minorinrin wrote:
But wait, I just checked my system properties and it says only 2GB RAM (out of 4) are usable, no wonder the game still crashed, it's as if I didn't do anything. I know 32-bit systems can only use maximum 3.4GB RAM but maybe if I can get my computer to use more than 2GB it'll work. There's still hope for more RAM to fix the problem, right?

I doubt it. I ran The Sims 3 on 768 MB of RAM. It ran like crap but never crashed, not without a clear motive anyway.

I'm not sure how to fix the RAM, but most likely you (or whoever installed the memory card) didn't plug it in properly. If it was broken then the PC wouldn't start at all.

As for the GPU, there are a lot of cheap GPU's, all of them would do better than an integrated chip. There are even a few that are cheaper than a 2GB memory card.

Btw if you're tempted to add even more RAM, you're gonna have to switch to a 64-bit OS, 32-bit can only use up to 4GB of RAM.

by Guest Sun 09 Jun 2013, 23:07

Carlos G. wrote:Hello,

Have a look here: https://games4theworld.forumotion.com/t857-the-sims-3-crashes-freezes-to-desktop-fix-updated-on-29-09-2012

If you especially look at #3 there ("Assigning more RAM memory") you will find a link to the "4 GB patch". If you double-click on that patch, you need to select the TS3W.exe in the Sims 3 base game location C:/Program files(x86)/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Game/Bin.

Other than that, I suggest you also look at this here: http://www.modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS3_System_Requirements
According to that chart about graphics cards, there are BIG problems with the graphics card you seemingly have (meaning: your graphics card doesn't seem to be supported).

For more info, open the start menu, then go to "Run". Now type in dxdiag and go to the "Display" tab. You will find more detailed information about your graphics card there.

Hey Carlos G., thank you for your answer. Sadly I have tried everything in that topic including running the game without CC (I renamed the Sims 3 folder), adding the exes to the DEP and applying the 4GB patch, but it didn't work.

I already launched dxdiag, that's where I found my graphic card's name. I have no idea where to find more detailed info about it though :/

TUN3ER wrote:I doubt it. I ran The Sims 3 on 768 MB of RAM. It ran like crap but never crashed, not without a clear motive anyway.

I'm not sure how to fix the RAM, but most likely you (or whoever installed the memory card) didn't plug it in properly. If it was broken then the PC wouldn't start at all.

As for the GPU, there are a lot of cheap GPU's, all of them would do better than an integrated chip. There are even a few that are cheaper than a 2GB memory card.

Btw if you're tempted to add even more RAM, you're gonna have to switch to a 64-bit OS, 32-bit can only use up to 4GB of RAM.

I read somewhere that 32-bit systems can't use all of the 4GB of RAM, just 3.4GB maximum. I was thinking of switching to a 64-bit OS but that might be too much work since I have lots of files to save and programs to reinstall... oh well, if the RAM isn't what's causing the problem then I'm not really gonna bother. I initially bought a new stick just to save my Sims 3 game, every other game runs perfectly smooth and with no lagging/crashing. :/

So is the problem really coming from my graphics card? If so, I think I have no other choice but to buy a new one... Maybe you can recommend me something not too expensive and compatible with my PC? :} I have a Dell Inspiron N5050.

by Guest Mon 10 Jun 2013, 00:50

Minorinrin wrote:
I read somewhere that 32-bit systems can't use all of the 4GB of RAM, just 3.4GB maximum. I was thinking of switching to a 64-bit OS but that might be too much work since I have lots of files to save and programs to reinstall... oh well, if the RAM isn't what's causing the problem then I'm not really gonna bother. I initially bought a new stick just to save my Sims 3 game, every other game runs perfectly smooth and with no lagging/crashing. :/

So is the problem really coming from my graphics card? If so, I think I have no other choice but to buy a new one... Maybe you can recommend me something not too expensive and compatible with my PC? :} I have a Dell Inspiron N5050.

That's true... ish. 32-bit systems can use 4GB of RAM but the Windows reserves about half a GB of the total usable RAM for it's own purposes.

Anyway getting a new GPU is a good idea. Depends on how much you're willing to spend. I still see a lot of GeForce 6800's and 8800's in shops. The 6800 probably costs around $30 at best (maybe less, VAT here is 24%) and it can run any DX9 compatible game (there are only a handful that don't support DX9 anymore, unpopular ones). The 8800 is better, it can run any pre-2009 game quite well (some newer ones too, it really comes down to the amount of effort the game devs put into optimization) though it doesn't support DX11 and it might set you back... I dunno, $70 I think? Maybe more, not sure.

Both can run The Sims 3 just fine, the base game anyway. Won't help you much if you have many expansions and mods, that's up to the CPU.

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