"A serious error has occurred while loading 'xxxx.sims3' Please help!

Hi I know there have been several posts relating to this problem, however I've looked through them and tried different 'solutions' and none have worked for me. Any help would be most appreciate, thanks in advance!

The Sims 3 program runs fine, and I can create a brand new save file, and haven't seen any problems with that yet, however my main game always gets this message. A .bad folder was created and is dated a day earlier than the .sims3 and .sims3.backup folders.

FYI I use Windows 7 and am running the Base Game, Late Night, Generations, Ambitions & Pets and used the 'Ultimate Fix' to install correctly. I haven't updated to the latest patch yet, I was about to when I had this problem, and don't want to update the game yet in case this causes further problems. I also don't have any custom content.

I have tried removing the xxxx.sims3 save folder and renaming xxxx.sims3.backup to xxxx.sims3. But then when I load the game, I try to select the load game and the big tick is greyed out, and if I hover over the load game it says 'cannot load this save game it may have been saved with expansion pack data that is no longer present on this system'.

So I then restored the original xxxx.sims3 and xxxx.sims3.backup folders and tried the next solution I came across, replacing the meta.data file. However this also did not work, from what I've come across on this forum and others, that only works with WA which I don't have installed.

I don't have McAfee (which I've read can cause problems) I use Microsoft Security Essentials, with no viruses. I have defragged, just in case.

I've tried deleting the CASPartCache.package, compositorCache.package, scriptCache.package, simCompositorCache.package files as suggested by another forum.

Is there anything I've missed?

I'm not sure whether the saves are bad, as the original says "A serious error has occurred.. etc etc" when I try and load it..

I don't have any mods and don't think I'm running in compatibility mode, how do I check this?

Yes, I can start a new game, save and reload it.

//EDIT

I've just checked and am not in compatibility mode, should I be?

Oh ok, yes there was a .bad folder. It was dated a day earlier than the .sims3 and .sims3backup. I deleted the .bad extension (took a copy beforehand).

Sorry, that's what I meant, I removed it from the folder.

EDIT. I've found two odd files in the C:\...\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 folder, they start with "xcpt", one is a text document and the other is a .mdmp (?) file. Their date modified is the same as the xxxx.sims3.bad file was. Any link?

I think those are the crash log files, actually.

[Build info]
Application: Sims3
BuildTime: 2011-11-23-1502
BuildUser: codebuilder
BuildHost: SIMS-BUILD129
BuildConfig: Release
BuldVersion: 0.1.0.1266
Commandline: C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe


[System info]
Computer name: GRACE-LAPTOP
Computer DNS name: Grace-Laptop
User name: Grace
EA_PLATFORM: Windows on X86
OS name: Windows Vista
OS version number: 6.1.7601
OS service pack: Service Pack 1
Debugger present: no
CPU count: 2
Processor type: x86
Processor level: 6
Processor revision: 5898
Memory load: 70%
Total physical memory: 3032 Mb
Available physical memory: 879 Mb
Total page file memory: 6064 Mb
Available page file memory: 3685 Mb
Total virtual memory: 2047 Mb
Free virtual memory: 609 Mb

[Application info]
Language: C++
Compiler: Microsoft Visual C++ compiler, version 1400
App path: C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe
App version: 0.1.0.1266

[Exception info]
date: 2013-01-11
time: 15.31.01
type: ACCESS_VIOLATION reading address 0x00000051
address: 0x71719ed6 "C:\Windows\system32\d3d9.dll":0x0001:0x00048ed6

[Call stack]
C:\Windows\system32\d3d9.dll
0x71719ed6

C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe
0x0060bb46

C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe
0x03a95f00


[Stack data]
0012a980 | 00 00 00 00<20>42 ad dc 40 35 c3 10 10 82 aa 02 | .... B..@5...... |
0012a990 | 7c aa 12 00 04 5f a9 03 98 64 6d 71 c8 a9 12 00 | |...._...dmq.... |
0012a9a0 | 04 5f a9 03 8f 0f 72 71 10 42 ad dc 14 42 ad dc | ._....rq.B...B.. |
0012a9b0 | 40 35 c3 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 78 ff 12 00 | @5..........x... |
0012a9c0 | 78 ff 12 00 68 ce 86 71 ff ff ff ff 80 aa 12 00 | x...h..q........ |
0012a9d0 | ed af 60 00 00 5f a9 03 ec a9 12 00 04 5f a9 03 | ..`.._......._.. |
0012a9e0 | 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 84 a9 12 00 78 ff 12 00 | ............x... |
0012a9f0 | 34 af 86 71 01 00 00 00 b8 9b aa 02 46 bb 60 00 | 4..q........F.`. |
0012aa00 | 00 5f a9 03 00 00 00 00 51 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | ._......Q....... |
0012aa10 | 8a d3 76 00 00 00 00 00 40 35 c3 10 50 5f 62 03 | ..v.....@5..P_b. |
0012aa20 | 10 82 aa 02 50 5f 62 03 00 00 00 00 58 5f 62 03 | ....P_b.....X_b. |
0012aa30 | 50 5f 62 03 41 e6 76 00 10 82 aa 02 7c aa 12 00 | P_b.A.v.....|... |
0012aa40 | 00 00 00 00 d0 5e 62 03 10 82 aa 02 b7 bd 60 00 | .....^b.......`. |
0012aa50 | 00 5f a9 03 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 36 6e 67 00 | ._..........6ng. |
0012aa60 | 96 0c 77 00 10 82 aa 02 7c aa 12 00 80 5e 62 03 | ..w.....|....^b. |
0012aa70 | b8 9b aa 02 c8 ac 12 00 40 76 99 4a 01 04 23 4d | ........@v.J..#M |
0012aa80 | a0 34 49 0d 40 35 49 0d 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | .4I.@5I......... |
0012aa90 | 56 05 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 80 3f | V..............? |
0012aaa0 | 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 56 05 00 00 00 03 00 00 | ........V....... |
0012aab0 | 7b a4 76 00 10 82 aa 02 b0 6f 67 00 10 ab 12 00 | {.v......og..... |
0012aac0 | 50 ad 12 00 9c 81 67 00 b0 6f 67 00 10 ab 12 00 | P.....g..og..... |
0012aad0 | 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 50 ad 12 00 58 16 9a 00 | ........P...X... |
0012aae0 | 7b a4 76 00 10 82 aa 02 b0 6f 67 00 40 ab 12 00 | {.v......og.@... |
0012aaf0 | 7f 00 12 00 80 5e 62 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | .....^b......... |
0012ab00 | 0b 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 a0 ad 12 00 60 ab 12 00 | ............`... |
0012ab10 | 40 76 99 4a 00 00 00 00 50 ad 12 00 00 00 00 00 | @v.J....P....... |
0012ab20 | 00 00 00 00 b0 02 7a 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | ......z......... |
0012ab30 | 10 86 3e 31 20 ab 12 00 a0 ac 12 00 15 b7 86 71 | ..>1 ..........q |
0012ab40 | 10 86 3e 31 00 00 00 00 a0 ad 12 00 00 00 00 00 | ..>1............ |
0012ab50 | 00 68 55 3d 4a cb f3 03 54 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 | .hU=J...T....... |
0012ab60 | 00 68 55 3d 00 00 00 00 a0 ad 12 00 00 00 00 00 | .hU=............ |
0012ab70 | 05 00 00 00 d4 ab 12 00 b8 ab 12 00 00 00 04 00 | ................ |
0012ab80 | 01 81 02 c0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | ................ |

[Instruction data]
71719e56 => DasmX86Dll.dll not found.

[Registers]
eip: 71719ed6
eax: 00000000
ebx: 00000051
ecx: 00000000
edx: 71719e53
esi: 03a95f00
edi: 03a95f04
ebp: 0012a9f8
efl: 00010202
esp: 0012a984

[Modules]
base 0x00400000 size 0x00d78000 entry 0x00e501e1 "TS3W.exe" "C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe"
base 0x77000000 size 0x0013c000 entry 0x00000000 "ntdll.dll" "C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll"
base 0x75720000 size 0x000d4000 entry 0x7576cd6f "kernel32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\kernel32.dll"
base 0x753f0000 size 0x0004b000 entry 0x753f7e10 "KERNELBASE.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\KERNELBASE.dll"
base 0x716d0000 size 0x001c3000 entry 0x716d1a45 "d3d9.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\d3d9.dll"
base 0x75840000 size 0x000ac000 entry 0x7584a472 "msvcrt.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\msvcrt.dll"
base 0x77180000 size 0x00019000 entry 0x77184975 "sechost.dll" "C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\sechost.dll"
base 0x76e30000 size 0x000a1000 entry 0x76e62433 "RPCRT4.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\RPCRT4.dll"
base 0x75650000 size 0x000c9000 entry 0x7566d711 "USER32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\USER32.dll"
base 0x75b70000 size 0x0004e000 entry 0x75b79c09 "GDI32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\GDI32.dll"
base 0x77170000 size 0x0000a000 entry 0x7717136c "LPK.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\LPK.dll"
base 0x76bf0000 size 0x0009d000 entry 0x76c23fd7 "USP10.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\USP10.dll"
base 0x74500000 size 0x00009000 entry 0x74501220 "VERSION.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\VERSION.dll"
base 0x737b0000 size 0x00006000 entry 0x737b11f0 "d3d8thk.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\d3d8thk.dll"
base 0x73b40000 size 0x00013000 entry 0x73b41d3f "dwmapi.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\dwmapi.dll"
base 0x01180000 size 0x00267000 entry 0x0139af6c "d3dx9_31.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\d3dx9_31.dll"
base 0x76a20000 size 0x000a0000 entry 0x76a349e5 "ADVAPI32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\ADVAPI32.dll"
base 0x71250000 size 0x000e7000 entry 0x71251771 "DDRAW.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\DDRAW.dll"
base 0x721e0000 size 0x00006000 entry 0x721e1250 "DCIMAN32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\DCIMAN32.dll"
base 0x76c90000 size 0x0019d000 entry 0x76c917e7 "SETUPAPI.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\SETUPAPI.dll"
base 0x75460000 size 0x00027000 entry 0x754658b9 "CFGMGR32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\CFGMGR32.dll"
base 0x76990000 size 0x0008f000 entry 0x76993fb1 "OLEAUT32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\OLEAUT32.dll"
base 0x75a10000 size 0x0015c000 entry 0x75a5ba3d "ole32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\ole32.dll"
base 0x75440000 size 0x00012000 entry 0x75441441 "DEVOBJ.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\DEVOBJ.dll"
base 0x72760000 size 0x0001c000 entry 0x7276a431 "iphlpapi.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\iphlpapi.dll"
base 0x76810000 size 0x00006000 entry 0x76811782 "NSI.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\NSI.dll"
base 0x72750000 size 0x00007000 entry 0x7275128d "WINNSI.DLL" "C:\Windows\system32\WINNSI.DLL"
base 0x76820000 size 0x0011b000 entry 0x76821735 "WININET.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\WININET.dll"
base 0x771c0000 size 0x00057000 entry 0x771d9ba6 "SHLWAPI.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\SHLWAPI.dll"
base 0x75970000 size 0x00003000 entry 0x00000000 "Normaliz.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\Normaliz.dll"
base 0x75490000 size 0x001b8000 entry 0x755a47f9 "iertutil.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\iertutil.dll"
base 0x76ee0000 size 0x00111000 entry 0x76ee1b29 "urlmon.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\urlmon.dll"
base 0x75bc0000 size 0x00c4a000 entry 0x75c41621 "SHELL32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\SHELL32.dll"
base 0x70d20000 size 0x00087000 entry 0x70d50dce "MSVCP80.dll" "C:\Windows\WinSxS\x86_microsoft.vc80.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_8.0.50727.6195_none_d09154e044272b9a\MSVCP80.dll"
base 0x70690000 size 0x0009b000 entry 0x7069232b "MSVCR80.dll" "C:\Windows\WinSxS\x86_microsoft.vc80.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_8.0.50727.6195_none_d09154e044272b9a\MSVCR80.dll"
base 0x771a0000 size 0x0001f000 entry 0x771a1355 "IMM32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\IMM32.dll"
base 0x76ac0000 size 0x000cc000 entry 0x76ac168b "MSCTF.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\MSCTF.dll"
base 0x6a320000 size 0x000eb000 entry 0x6a3213ce "dbghelp.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\dbghelp.dll"
base 0x77220000 size 0x00005000 entry 0x77221438 "PSAPI.DLL" "C:\Windows\system32\PSAPI.DLL"
base 0x738e0000 size 0x00011000 entry 0x738e1300 "NETAPI32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\NETAPI32.dll"
base 0x738d0000 size 0x00009000 entry 0x738d15a6 "netutils.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\netutils.dll"
base 0x75010000 size 0x00019000 entry 0x75011319 "srvcli.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\srvcli.dll"
base 0x738c0000 size 0x0000f000 entry 0x738c12a1 "wkscli.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\wkscli.dll"
base 0x75800000 size 0x00035000 entry 0x7580145d "WS2_32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\WS2_32.dll"
base 0x6e3c0000 size 0x00072000 entry 0x6e3c1576 "DSOUND.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\DSOUND.dll"
base 0x72dd0000 size 0x00032000 entry 0x72dd37f1 "WINMM.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\WINMM.dll"
base 0x72e50000 size 0x00025000 entry 0x72e52b71 "POWRPROF.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\POWRPROF.dll"
base 0x75130000 size 0x0004c000 entry 0x75132c14 "apphelp.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\apphelp.dll"
base 0x71a50000 size 0x00218000 entry 0x71a5220f "AcGenral.DLL" "C:\Windows\AppPatch\AcGenral.DLL"
base 0x750a0000 size 0x0001b000 entry 0x750a93b9 "SspiCli.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\SspiCli.dll"
base 0x73e70000 size 0x00040000 entry 0x73e7a2dd "UxTheme.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\UxTheme.dll"
base 0x738b0000 size 0x0000f000 entry 0x738b125e "samcli.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\samcli.dll"
base 0x72b80000 size 0x00014000 entry 0x72b81340 "MSACM32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\MSACM32.dll"
base 0x6ae90000 size 0x00003000 entry 0x00000000 "sfc.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\sfc.dll"
base 0x6ae80000 size 0x0000d000 entry 0x6ae81392 "sfc_os.DLL" "C:\Windows\system32\sfc_os.DLL"
base 0x747b0000 size 0x00017000 entry 0x747b1c9d "USERENV.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\USERENV.dll"
base 0x75190000 size 0x0000b000 entry 0x75191992 "profapi.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\profapi.dll"
base 0x69fc0000 size 0x00012000 entry 0x69fc1200 "MPR.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\MPR.dll"
base 0x003e0000 size 0x00016000 entry 0x003e801f "xinput1_3.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\xinput1_3.dll"
base 0x725d0000 size 0x00022000 entry 0x725db13c "glu32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\glu32.dll"
base 0x71980000 size 0x000c8000 entry 0x71a1b0e4 "OPENGL32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\OPENGL32.dll"
base 0x10000000 size 0x00091000 entry 0x10053dce "igdumdx32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\igdumdx32.dll"
base 0x03f30000 size 0x004d1000 entry 0x042ebe84 "igdumd32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\igdumd32.dll"
base 0x750c0000 size 0x0000c000 entry 0x750c10e1 "CRYPTBASE.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\CRYPTBASE.dll"
base 0x75980000 size 0x00083000 entry 0x759823d2 "CLBCatQ.DLL" "C:\Windows\system32\CLBCatQ.DLL"
base 0x74c40000 size 0x00016000 entry 0x74c42dc3 "CRYPTSP.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\CRYPTSP.dll"
base 0x749e0000 size 0x0003b000 entry 0x749e128d "rsaenh.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\rsaenh.dll"
base 0x75180000 size 0x0000e000 entry 0x75181235 "RpcRtRemote.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\RpcRtRemote.dll"
base 0x73570000 size 0x00007000 entry 0x73571230 "winbrand.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\winbrand.dll"
base 0x753c0000 size 0x0002d000 entry 0x753c296d "WINTRUST.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\WINTRUST.dll"
base 0x752a0000 size 0x0011e000 entry 0x752a158a "CRYPT32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\CRYPT32.dll"
base 0x75200000 size 0x0000c000 entry 0x7520238e "MSASN1.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\MSASN1.dll"
base 0x74c00000 size 0x0003c000 entry 0x74c0145d "mswsock.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\mswsock.dll"
base 0x746e0000 size 0x00005000 entry 0x746e15df "wshtcpip.dll" "C:\Windows\System32\wshtcpip.dll"
base 0x75080000 size 0x00008000 entry 0x750810e9 "Secur32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\Secur32.dll"
base 0x73ff0000 size 0x0019e000 entry 0x7401e6b5 "comctl32.dll" "C:\Windows\WinSxS\x86_microsoft.windows.common-controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.7601.17514_none_41e6975e2bd6f2b2\comctl32.dll"
base 0x74450000 size 0x00021000 entry 0x7445145e "ntmarta.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\ntmarta.dll"
base 0x76940000 size 0x00045000 entry 0x769411e1 "WLDAP32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\WLDAP32.dll"
base 0x74ac0000 size 0x00044000 entry 0x74ad63f9 "dnsapi.DLL" "C:\Windows\system32\dnsapi.DLL"
base 0x73750000 size 0x00052000 entry 0x737514be "RASAPI32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\RASAPI32.dll"
base 0x73730000 size 0x00015000 entry 0x737312de "rasman.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\rasman.dll"
base 0x73720000 size 0x0000d000 entry 0x73721326 "rtutils.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\rtutils.dll"
base 0x71fb0000 size 0x00079000 entry 0x71fb140f "mscms.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\mscms.dll"
base 0x72530000 size 0x00038000 entry 0x725327b6 "icm32.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\icm32.dll"
base 0x6e440000 size 0x00006000 entry 0x6e44125a "sensapi.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\sensapi.dll"
base 0x72d20000 size 0x00010000 entry 0x72d238cd "NLAapi.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\NLAapi.dll"
base 0x6e710000 size 0x00006000 entry 0x6e7114b2 "rasadhlp.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\rasadhlp.dll"
base 0x74bf0000 size 0x00006000 entry 0x74bf1673 "wship6.dll" "C:\Windows\System32\wship6.dll"
base 0x6e750000 size 0x00027000 entry 0x6e758a13 "WLIDNSP.DLL" "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WLIDNSP.DLL"
base 0x6e720000 size 0x00021000 entry 0x6e724f16 "mdnsNSP.dll" "C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mdnsNSP.dll"
base 0x724d0000 size 0x00038000 entry 0x724d990e "fwpuclnt.dll" "C:\Windows\System32\fwpuclnt.dll"
base 0x73b60000 size 0x00039000 entry 0x73b6e2de "MMDevApi.dll" "C:\Windows\System32\MMDevApi.dll"
base 0x73eb0000 size 0x000f5000 entry 0x73ec0d9e "PROPSYS.dll" "C:\Windows\System32\PROPSYS.dll"
base 0x72cf0000 size 0x00030000 entry 0x72cf3c6b "wdmaud.drv" "C:\Windows\system32\wdmaud.drv"
base 0x72ce0000 size 0x00004000 entry 0x72ce1030 "ksuser.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\ksuser.dll"
base 0x72e40000 size 0x00007000 entry 0x72e410c0 "AVRT.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\AVRT.dll"
base 0x72bb0000 size 0x00036000 entry 0x72bb9dae "AUDIOSES.DLL" "C:\Windows\system32\AUDIOSES.DLL"
base 0x72ba0000 size 0x00008000 entry 0x72ba4119 "msacm32.drv" "C:\Windows\system32\msacm32.drv"
base 0x72b10000 size 0x00007000 entry 0x72b111d0 "midimap.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\midimap.dll"
base 0x6e6f0000 size 0x00008000 entry 0x6e6f11d0 "netbios.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\netbios.dll"

[Register memory]
ebx 00000050 | ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? | ??????????????? |
00000060 | ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? | ???????????????? |
00000070 | ?? | ? |
edx 71719e50 | <8b>ff 55 8b ec 6a ff 68 34 af 86 71 64 | ..U..j.h4..qd |
71719e60 | a1 00 00 00 00 50 83 ec 58 53 56 57 a1 50 92 87 | .....P..XSVW.P.. |
71719e70 | 71 33 c5 | q3. |
esi 03a95f00 |<9c>8c a9 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | ................ |
03a95f10 | 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | ................ |
edi 03a95f00 | <00>00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | ............ |
03a95f10 | 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | ................ |
03a95f20 | 04 15 00 00 | .... |
ebp 0012a9f0 | 9b aa 02 46 bb 60 00 | ....F.`. |
0012aa00 | 00 5f a9 03 00 00 00 00 51 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | ._......Q....... |
0012aa10 | 8a d3 76 00 00 00 00 00 | ..v..... |

[Extra]
ScriptHeap: 100.41MB/111.96MB (17); 14.72MB

Lady ElDi wrote:Hello,

Ah, that doesn't really tell me anything though, unfortunately.

Yeah, I wish I knew how to actually read and decipher those entirely.

This is the important information from that copy/paste:

[Exception info]
date: 2013-01-11
time: 15.31.01
type: ACCESS_VIOLATION reading address 0x00000051
address: 0x71719ed6 "C:\Windows\system32\d3d9.dll":0x0001:0x00048ed6

DirectX is "crashing" - not The Sims 3. The question is, what is causing DirectX to crash? Is it the game? Doubtful. I'd try reinstalling DirectX 9c.

This is also interesting:

Total physical memory: 3032 Mb
Available physical memory: 879 Mb
Total page file memory: 6064 Mb
Available page file memory: 3685 Mb
Total virtual memory: 2047 Mb
Free virtual memory: 609 Mb

Try running with all background programs closed too.

Thanks guys, I'll try reinstalling DirectX and see what happens.


I also noticed this:

[System info]
EA_PLATFORM: Windows on X86
OS name: Windows Vista
OS version number: 6.1.7601
OS service pack: Service Pack 1

But I'm running Windows 7 not Windows Vista.. is this odd?


EDIT: I ran dxdiag, and I'm running Direct X 11, not Direct X 9c as the crashlog indicated.. this also seems odd.