The sims complete collection start up problems

Hi everyone.

A few days ago I downloaded the sims (1) complete collection. The download went fine but after installation the game didn't start. I already
tried the following things:
- Installing with help of the video and opening the .rar file with winrar and no other program
- Running as administrator and setting compatibility to windows xp service pack 2 (also tried al the other compatibility options, just to be sure)
- Completely erasing the game with your uninstaller (downloaded from games4theworld) and the sims eraser. (BTW: I never installed any of the sims versions on my computer. I did this after the first failed attempt to start the game). Then reinstalling again and again...
- Restarting the computer after different steps in the progress
- Downloaded a different nocd crack from an other site
- No other programs were running at the same time of starting the sims
I've already tried everything I could find on this forum and on the internet but nothing seems to work.

I will try to describe very precise what the problem is. After the download and installation, following the video, I change the combatibility to run as administrator and windows XP service pack 2 (see screenshots 1 and 2). Then I click on the sims icon to start the game. The screen goes black, with the blue loading circle in the center, and then goes back to my desktop. If I start the game by pressing the right mouse button on the sims icon and selecting "solve compatibility issues" (see screenshot 3) and using the "recommended settings" (see screenshot 4), then starting the program (see screenshot 5) I get the error "could not find the sims data directory (see screenshot 6).

I hope my problem is clear and I really hope you guys can help me because I'd love to play this game again.

Screenshot 1 and 2: *** Because I'm a new member I couldn't link the screenshots. They will follow ASAP
Screenshot 3:
Screenshot 4:
Screenshot 5:
Screenshot 6:
Screenshot 7:

Cheers,
Jo

PS: the screenshots are in Dutch but they say the texts I quoted
PPS: my system information is in screenshot 7

Hi, I have the exact same problem as you. Also have tried out everything you mentioned, as well as downloading different torrents, but they all result in me being unable to start up the game. When I run in compatibility (windows xp service pack 2) mode after right clicking the program to troubleshoot compatibility, it shows a "Fatal error - Could not fins the sims data directory". This only happens when I run in compatibility mode though. Hope a solution will be posted soon. Thank you!

It seems more people have the same problem. Hopefully a solution will follow (one that we haven't already tried)

In your My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 folder there should be some files called "scpt .txt" files. Could you open up the last one created, and copy/paste everything BEFORE the line that says "[Call stack]". Feel free to remove the lines with the computer name or user name if you like. And as something to try while waiting for a reply, have you tried installing DirectX 9c?

I'm sorry, I don't really understand your instructions. This is the sims 1 we are talking about though, are you referring to this game as well, or the sims 3?

Whoops, I apologize - I was thinking Sims 3.

Thanks for your replies!

Yes, we were talking about the sims 1. I already had directx 11 on my pc, but downgraded it to 9c just to be sure that wasn't the problem. Unfortunately it didn't help.

Forgot to mention (tried so many things that I don't remember them all) but I also already tried windowed mode and it doesn't work. When I add the -w exactly your way I get the error "The name that has been given in the target box is invalid" I also tried C:\Program Files (x86)\The Sims\Sims.exe-w, C:\Program Files (x86)\The Sims\Sims.exe w and C:\Program Files (x86)\The Sims\Sims.exew just to be sure.

Hello there,

You have to leave a space, I think. So like this: C:\Program Files (x86)\The Sims\Sims.exe -w

I know. That's what I did on my first try (see my earlier post where I say : "when I add the -w exactly your way"). I also tried the other ways without space etc to be sure. But nothing works.

*Isis* wrote:I know. That's what I did on my first try (see my earlier post where I say : "when I add the -w exactly your way"). I also tried the other ways without space etc to be sure. But nothing works.

Hello there,

Sorry, I missed that.
Let's see... not much I can think of at the moment, but please contact me via the Forum's Chatbox when you see me online on the Forum.

Same problem here (and also tried the above mentioned=. Was any solution found yet?