You're welcome Alain, and I hope your perseverance pays off. ;-)
Cheers,
Jimmy.
| Ok - I found a problem. I'm still working on the
| Unleashed problem
| but I have found a possible problem with the
| Compatibility Wizard.
| After reading your " Microsoft Knowledge Base Article -
| 294403 " I noticed that the SIMS was set to " WIN98
| disable themes". The probram does not run in WIN98. I had
| changed these to test as decribed in the many
| suggestions. What I did not know is that WinXP remembered
| that "THESIMS" had a previous settings saved even after I
| removed the programs and cleaned the registry. What I do
| not understand is how did it go to WIN98 mode. I did try
| it but I had the settings set to no compatibility since
| it crashed in WIN98. I don't think that it will fix my
| Unleashed problems but at least I can get the game to
| work up to Hotdate cd. -- Unless I find something to fix
| my unleashed problem - this will be my last note on this
| thread. Thanks for your help. Alain
|
|
| >-----Original Message-----
| >Hi Alain,
| >
| >Whenever we see those .icd errors, they are usually
| >caused by a problem with the CD itself. Go to a friends
| >house, and try installing the game on their computer. If
| >you have any errors, let EA support know about them.
| >
| >They might need to replace the CD if it's defective. :-|
| >
| >--
| >Cheers, Windows XP MVP
| Shell / User
| >Jimmy S.
|
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
| >
| >Game FAQs:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
| scid=FH;[LN];gms
| >Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite:
|
http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
| >MS Support at:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
| scid=sz;en-us;top
| >My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I
| confer any rights.
| >_________________________________________________________
| >
| message | >| Ok I'm not doing well. I followed all their instuctions
| >| and yours. And it's gone worst. The game wont load at
| all
| >| anymore from any disk. I re-installed after the
| >| modifications and now it crashes . I get an error pop
| up
| >| notification window that reports back to Microsoft(Dont
| >| send or Send). The error has to do with the SIMS.ICD.
| >| I've reported it to MS yesterday.
| >|
| >| The log starts like this:
| >| <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?>
| >| <DATABASE>
| >| <EXE NAME="SIMS.ICD" FILTER="GRABMI_FILTER_PRIVACY">
| >|
| >| <MATCHING_FILE NAME="Clcd16.dll"
| >|
| SIZE="6784................................................
| >| ........and goes on for a couple of pages.
| >|
| >| Is this a Sims error or a MS error??
| >| EA are not very helpful...
| >| Alain
| >|
| >| >-----Original Message-----
| >| >Hi Alain,
| >| >
| >| >You're welcome, and follow the advice they're giving
| you.
| >| >They have to determine if there's a software conflict
| >| with
| >| >their game and something else running on your system.
| In
| >| >fact, that's what I suggested in step 1 of my post to
| >| you. ;-)
| >| >
| >| >--
| >| >Cheers, Windows XP MVP
| >| Shell / User
| >| >Jimmy S.
| >|
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
| >| >
| >| >Game FAQs:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
| >| scid=FH;[LN];gms
| >| >Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite:
| >|
http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
| >| >MS Support at:
|
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
| >| scid=sz;en-us;top
| >| >My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor
| do I
| >| confer any rights.
| >|
| >_________________________________________________________
| >| >
| >| message | >| >| Absolutely... as you said, I just checked and they
| re-
| >| >| hashed in an email the same information available
| from
| >| >| their technical site. What really bothers me is the
| >| >| suggestion of closing all my toolbar icons and
| closing
| >| all
| >| >| my processes except the taskmgr and iexplorer. That
| is
| >| >| not very practical.
| >| >|
| >| >| Again thanks for you comments and support. I'm just
| >| >| drumming up another email to reply EA games.
| >| >|
| >| >| I can be reached at
| alain.stella@//nospam//sympatico.ca
| >| >|
| >| >| Alain
| >| >|
| >| >| >-----Original Message-----
| >| >| >Hi Alain,
| >| >| >
| >| >| >You're most welcome (especially if it solves it for
| >| >| you) ;-)
| >| >| >
| >| >| >Indeed, the open support ticket I meant was the one
| >| >| >you started with EA Support. You don't want to let
| >| >| >them close it stating that they sent you to public
| >| news-
| >| >| >groups to resolve the issue. You want to keep them
| >| >| >involved until the proper resolution is provided.
| GL!
| >| >| >
| >| >| >--
| >| >| >Cheers, Windows XP
| MVP
| >| >| Shell / User
| >| >| >Jimmy S.
| >| >|
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
| >| >| >
| >| >| >Game FAQs:
|
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
| >| >| scid=FH;[LN];gms
| >| >| >Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite:
| >| >|
http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
| >| >| >MS Support at:
| >|
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
| >| >| scid=sz;en-us;top
| >| >| >My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor
| >| do I
| >| >| confer any rights.
| >| >|
| >|
| >_________________________________________________________
| >| >| >
| >| >| >"Alain" <
[email protected]>
| wrote in
| >| >| message |
[email protected]...
| >| >| >| Thanks for the information. I'll look into your
| >| >| >| suggestions - It's more information that I
| expected
| >| >| >| however I'm glad to have 10 more chances to
| resolve
| >| >| this
| >| >| >| issue.
| >| >| >|
| >| >| >| - Could you please elaborate on the support
| ticket
| >| open
| >| >| >| already. Do you mean the one I generated at EA?
| >| >| >| Alain
| >| >| >| >-----Original Message-----
| >| >| >| >Hi Alain,
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >I'll offer you some generic advice gladly,
| however
| >| >| >| before you
| >| >| >| >try this advice, since you have a support ticket
| >| open
| >| >| >| already,
| >| >| >| >do NOT let that ticket go stale. Make sure it's
| >| >| >| escalated to
| >| >| >| >a higher level tech and ask that they respond to
| >| you
| >| >| >| this week.
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >Here's TEN steps you can use to eliminate most
| >| >| software
| >| >| >| conflicts.
| >| >| >| >Start with the first one, and post back if you
| have
| >| >| any
| >| >| >| questions!
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >1. To see if it's a software conflict:
| Temporarily
| >| >| >| disable Startup
| >| >| >| >programs one at a time, starting with Firewall,
| >| >| >| Antivirus, and ad
| >| >| >| >blockers using:
| >| >| >|
http://new.jtsoft2001.com/windows/startup.php
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >You can lookup what a program does before you
| >| disable
| >| >| it
| >| >| >| here:
| >| >| >| >
http://www.pacs-
| >| >| >| portal.co.uk/startup_pages/startup_full.htm
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >2. Run a virus scan at:
| >| >|
http://housecall.antivirus.com
| >| >| >| Afterwards
| >| >| >| >Download & Run Spybot from:
| >|
http://security.kolla.de
| >| >| to
| >| >| >| find any
| >| >| >| >Trojans, Adware, or Spyware which could clog up
| >| your
| >| >| >| system.
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >3. Click My Computer / Rightclick the Drive &
| >| Choose
| >| >| >| Properties
| >| >| >| >/ Run the "Disk Cleanup..." / Next Click
| >| the "Tools"
| >| >| Tab
| >| >| >| and run
| >| >| >| >the "Error-Checking" and "Defragmentation"
| >| utilities.
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >4. Go to the Windows Update site for everything
| >| under
| >| >| >| Critical and
| >| >| >| >Recommended:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >5. Update DirectX and your Chipset, Sound,
| &Video
| >| >| >| Drivers:
| >| >| >| >For all Video / DirectX / Game and Hardware
| >| Issues, I
| >| >| >| have a
| >| >| >| >Checklist of Solutions at:
| >|
http://NibblesNbitsVideo.tk
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >6. If your system restarts by itself as a
| result
| >| of a
| >| >| >| STOP error, use the
| >| >| >| >steps in this article to stop that behaviour and
| >| >| >| identify the cause:
| >| >| >| >
http://www.mvps.org/marksxp/windowsxp/bsod.htm
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >7. Click Start / Control Panel /Administrative
| >| Tools /
| >| >| >| Event Viewer /
| >| >| >| >Click the Applications listing on the left / in
| the
| >| >| >| right pane look for
| >| >| >| >yellow or red symbols and doubleclick them to
| >| identify
| >| >| >| any problems,
| >| >| >| >and they often have a link to a KB article you
| can
| >| >| read
| >| >| >| for the solution.
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >8 Allow Windows to control your pagefile at
| >| a "system
| >| >| >| managed size".
| >| >| >| >Be sure there's enough space for the pagefile
| size
| >| to
| >| >| =
| >| >| >| 1.5 * your RAM
| >| >| >| >Bonus Tip: Set the pagefile to it's own
| partition
| >| or
| >| >| >| hard drive if possible.
| >| >| >| >References:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.php is
| a
| >| good
| >| >| >| site about this as is:
| >| >| >|
| >| >|
| >|
| >
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/expertzone/columns/mcf
| >| >| >| edries/03june16.asp
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >9. Click Start / Run / then type: sfc /scannow
| >| >| and
| >| >| >| press ENTER
| >| >| >| >to replace any damaged system files -or- Run
| >| Setup.exe
| >| >| >| on your
| >| >| >| >Windows 98/Me/XP/2000 CD to reinstall Windows
| over
| >| >| >| itself without
| >| >| >| >erasing your programs and data. Once everything
| >| works
| >| >| >| fine reinstall
| >| >| >| >updates one at a time from:
| >| >| >|
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com while
| >| >| >| >testing the game after each update, in case an
| >| update
| >| >| >| caused the problem.
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >10. If you have room on one of your partitions,
| >| use
| >| >| it
| >| >| >| to install another
| >| >| >| >clean installation of Windows which you can
| >| gradually
| >| >| >| update with the
| >| >| >| >appropriate chipset, video, and sound drivers,
| as
| >| well
| >| >| >| as Direct X, but
| >| >| >| >with no extras including themes, firewalls,
| >| antivirus,
| >| >| >| etc. You may have
| >| >| >| >to reinstall the game(s) for use with that
| >| partition,
| >| >| >| but it's well worth it.
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >11. If you don't have enough space for step 10
| I
| >| >| >| suggest you at least
| >| >| >| >create a new administrators account with no
| themes,
| >| >| >| firewall, antivirus,
| >| >| >| >or any other software or startup programs
| installed
| >| >| for
| >| >| >| that account. If
| >| >| >| >this solves the problem, then you should switch
| >| over
| >| >| to
| >| >| >| the new account.
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >Hopefully that solved the problem. If not,
| we'll
| >| >| >| examine the hardware next.
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >--
| >| >| >| >Cheers, Windows
| XP
| >| MVP
| >| >| >| Shell / User
| >| >| >| >Jimmy S.
| >| >| >|
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >Game FAQs:
| >|
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
| >| >| >| scid=FH;[LN];gms
| >| >| >| >Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite:
| >| >| >|
http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
| >| >| >| >MS Support at:
| >| >|
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
| >| >| >| scid=sz;en-us;top
| >| >| >| >My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty;
| nor
| >| >| do I
| >| >| >| confer any rights.
| >| >| >|
| >| >|
| >|
| >_________________________________________________________
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >"Alain" <
[email protected]>
| >| wrote in
| >| >| >| message
| >| >| >| > | >| >| >| >| On a fresh XP PRO SP1 installation on an
| older PC
| >| >| >| (PIII-
| >| >| >| >| 500) I've been trying to get "The Sims"
| Unleashed
| >| >| >| >| Expansion pack running without any success.
| I've
| >| ran
| >| >| >| out
| >| >| >| >| of ideas from the technical help on EA
| support.
| >| The
| >| >| >| >| following cd's were installed in sequence: The
| >| Sims,
| >| >| >| >| Livin' Large, House Party, Hot Date and
| >| Unleashed.
| >| >| The
| >| >| >| >| game works perfect in Hot Date but when I
| install
| >| >| >| >| Unleashed it crashes everytime once it
| finishes
| >| the
| >| >| >| >| Splash screen. I have updated all my drivers
| and
| >| >| >| >| installed the latest Windows critical updates.
| >| In
| >| >| the
| >| >| >| >| event viewer I get an unkown application error
| >| >| without
| >| >| >| >| any code but it says that I can view more
| >| >| >| with /auxsource
| >| >| >| >| (NFI). I've noticed something strange in the
| >| >| >| processes. I
| >| >| >| >| get an " ~e5d141.tmp " process along with "
| >| >| >| Sims.exe ".
| >| >| >| >| The game never starts with the .tmp file is
| >| >| running. -
| >| >| >| I
| >| >| >| >| also installed Safedisk attempting to fix the
| so
| >| >| >| >| called "Macromedia" problem, as detailed by
| EA.
| >| That
| >| >| >| fix
| >| >| >| >| did not work either. Should I use the CD as a
| >| >| coaster
| >| >| >| or
| >| >| >| >| does someone have any suggestions. Thanks in
| >| >| advance.
| >| >| >| >| Alain
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >| >.
| >| >| >| >
| >| >| >
| >| >| >
| >| >| >.
| >| >| >
| >| >
| >| >
| >| >.
| >| >
| >
| >
| >.
| >
