The Sims 3 has stopped working

After clicking play on the launcher the game looks as if it is going to load up (black screen, circular windows mouse Icon) But then it crashes and I get the following error:


Problem signature:

Problem Event Name: APPCRASH

Application Name: TS3W.exe

Application Version: 0.2.0.210

Application Timestamp: 51b14ba5

Fault Module Name: d3d9.dll

Fault Module Version: 6.1.7601.17514

Fault Module Timestamp: 4ce7b7b3

Exception Code: c0000096

Exception Offset: 000841a4

OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.48

Locale ID: 2057

Additional Information 1: 044f

Additional Information 2: 044f5d804e095772eddecffc100bd7ae

Additional Information 3: e16a

Additional Information 4: e16a2256058eed0de75f1095d310d860


I followed the installation process to the letter and my version is 1.55.4. I'm quite annoyed as I spent all day installing them.

 
//EDIT


Others seem to have a similar Issue and they have produced logs, so here is mine:

EA_PLATFORM: Windows on X86
OS name: Windows XP
OS version number: 5.1.2600
OS service pack: Service Pack 3
Debugger present: no
CPU count: 2
Processor type: x86
Processor level: 6
Processor revision: 3846
Memory load: 34%
Total physical memory: 4094 Mb
Available physical memory: 2682 Mb
Total page file memory: 8187 Mb
Available page file memory: 6570 Mb
Total virtual memory: 4095 Mb
Free virtual memory: 3770 Mb
[Application info]
Language: C++
Compiler: Microsoft Visual C++ compiler, version 1400
App path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe
App version: 0.2.0.210
[Exception info]
date: 2013-07-07
time: 18.23.14
type: PRIV_INSTRUCTION
address: 0x68b041a4 "C:\Windows\system32\d3d9.dll":0x0001:0x000831a4
[Call stack]
C:\Windows\system32\d3d9.dll
0x68b041a4
C:\Windows\system32\d3d9.dll
0x68abf1f6
C:\Windows\system32\d3d9.dll
0x68abefef
C:\Windows\system32\d3d9.dll
0x68abfe2f
C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe
0x00797ee8
C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe
0x04e841e4
C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe
0x045e0b50
C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe
0x03c985d0
C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe
0x03c985cc
C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe
0x0018ea3c
C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe
0x045f2140

May I stress that this is the very first time this has happened. I' ve had it working before. Perhaps this 1.55.4 patch is not compatible with windows 7 some how? is it possible to revert and still play?

Patch is compatible. Did you re apply the Ultimate Fix after the update?
If not, you can do it automatically with my new tool: see here.

I didn't re-apply it no. But I have just re-installed my computer and I have Ultimate instead of PRO now. I tired installing the retail base game and the same thing was happening. So hopefully this will work. Thank you for your reply. I will install and apply cracks etc tomorrow and let you know.

Please do!

I reistalled as I said above installed the base game (retail) and it worked fine. Downloading all the packs and exps now so I will post again later if it all worked.

Please do!