Gamer Question For PC Techs

[NightAngel]

I should probably put this in "Unsupportable" as it seems I am. *sigh*

As most of you probably know by now I am a hopeless Sims 2 junkie.

Three Days Ago: TS2 ran fine- no problems.
Two Days Ago: Nothing changed about my system yet the game wouldn't work. The splash screen comes up but the game doesn't load, well, not exactly. When I bring up Task Manager it shows it under Processes but not under Applications. It's there, sort of, running- I just can't see it.
Discs are clean, etc.
I ran DXDIAG and tested everything and it all passed perfectly fine.
Ran virus/spyware- nothing.
Reinstalled video drivers (for the heck of it).
I uninstalled everything, made sure that all Sims 2/EA files were GONE from the computer and then reinstalled just the base game- no ExpansionPacks or StuffPacks- just the basic Sims 2.
Same thing.

Body Shop (a separate part of the game that allows users to create custom game content from base game content) runs/shows up perfectly fine.
Lot of good it does me without the game though, eh? Oh, and my hubby's EA Game Command & Conquer still works fine. I don't know if that helps or matters but there it is.

Yesterday: We decided it was corrupt files in the TSBin. To test this I had a friend of mine email me the three main files from her game's TSBin and I replaced the ones in my game. Rebooted, and the game ran perfectly again.

Tonight: I get home from work and nothing- it's not running again. Well, it IS but I can't see it. Tried the same fix as yesterday- didn't work this time.

So- after all that- can you all think of anything that might be stopping it from showing up?

My poor hubby (bless him) has tried everything he can think of (even though he had a massive headache- he loves me) and I'm afraid, perhaps, it's hopeless.

[Greenday]

Try going into the applications and processes running and turning all the TS2 off. Then try again. Or, if you are like me and never actually turn off your computer/laptop, try turning it off, then turn it back on. Sometimes that works for me.

[NightAngel]

I turn my computer off before I go to bed every night.

I turned on the computer today and immediately loaded the game and it's running fine... for now. However, the internet on my computer doesn't work now. So, i'm using my Mom's.

I'm so confused!

Thanks, Greenday. :)

[VicSilver]

Do you by any chance download a lot of player made custom content? Hacks, objects, etc?

If so, do you have the Sims 2 Clean Pack Installer?

You'll want to get that and load it up...any questionable downloads will show up in pink, and any bad downloads will show up in red.

I had a very similar issue when I downloaded a new mesh for male clothing. It really screwed up my game and computer. I ended up uninstalling and reinstalling and adding my custom content a little at a time to find out what was screwing me up. It takes a long time, but it seriously needs it sometimes.

I had a habit of going on DL binges where I'd just add tons and tons of CC at a time. I have to pace myself now to make sure I don't have issues like before.

[NightAngel]

Oh, yes- I have Clean Installer and use it frequently. I also use SimPe (I'm a creator: TSR/Wicked Sims). I'm generally VERY careful with downloads.

It's possible that something became corrupted. Because I create so much stuff I move my Downloads folder back and forth frequently. When I am creating I only use those files.

I had thought perhaps it was the QExpress Installer from MTS2 that caused me problems. I had only recently started using it- but even after I meticulously removed all traces of it from my computer I still had problems.

I also disc defrag between 1-3 times a week.
Virus/Spyware scan everyday, AdAware everyday- sometimes twice. I have a Firewall Security Suite- which quite often protects me from sites like, oh, Fratching.com... :lol:
I also use System Mechanic 7 and UniBlue to keep my system squeeky clean.

I am really quite uptight about my computer if you can't tell... :angel: