System crashes during Sims Double Deluxe installation

[Guest]

Every time I attempt to install The Sims Double Deluxe, the install process goes to 24% and then the system crashes. I have upgraded the video card, disabled the Norton Anti-Virus Auto Protect, and even configured the ad blocker so that it wouldn't automatically start up. I have deleted the registry keys and files so many times that I have lost count. I install and delete with no success every time. And so far, it seems EA's technical help has been little help (my DVD-ROM works fine). Short of repairing the system by using the Windows XP CD, what can be done to get the game to install (finally!) and/or to prevent the system from crashing?

System specs:
Pentium III - 600 MHz
Windows XP with SP1
GeForce FX 5200 AGP graphics card
two hard drives (one 80 GB, one 20 GB)
8X DVD-ROM

 

[Jimmy S.]

Hi Mike,

The most common causes for that problem can be solved with
these few steps. If the problem persists after you've tried these,
please post back and we'll try some more solutions. Good luck!

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.

--
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.
_________________________________________________________

| Every time I attempt to install The Sims Double Deluxe, the install process goes to 24% and then the system crashes. I have
upgraded the video card, disabled the Norton Anti-Virus Auto Protect, and even configured the ad blocker so that it wouldn't
automatically start up. I have deleted the registry keys and files so many times that I have lost count. I install and delete with
no success every time. And so far, it seems EA's technical help has been little help (my DVD-ROM works fine). Short of repairing
the system by using the Windows XP CD, what can be done to get the game to install (finally!) and/or to prevent the system from
crashing?
|
| System specs:
| Pentium III - 600 MHz
| Windows XP with SP1
| GeForce FX 5200 AGP graphics card
| two hard drives (one 80 GB, one 20 GB)
| 8X DVD-ROM

 

[Guest]

I went back and did everything that was listed, even uninstalled my ad blocker and Norton AntiVirus and deleted their registry keys. I also updated my video and sound drivers to the most recent ones. I have since attempted to install the game about five times; the process went to 46% once and the others stopped at 24% - all five attempts ended in a crash or a blue screen (usually after the "Hot Date" splash screen appears). I am assuming that the installation failures have something to do with a conflict in the video and/or sound cards. My video card is an NVidia GeForce FX 5200 with 128 MB of DDRAM; my sound card is the SB Live! Value card from Creative Labs. This is my second video card; the sound card is original. Any help to get the game installed (finally!) would be greatly appreciated.

----- Jimmy S. wrote: -----

Hi Mike,

The most common causes for that problem can be solved with
these few steps. If the problem persists after you've tried these,
please post back and we'll try some more solutions. Good luck!

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.

--
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.
_________________________________________________________

 

[Jimmy S.]

Hi Miked,

Actually, during the installation process, your video and sound
card really don't come into play, which is why I didn't include
the instructions on how to update drivers in my last post.

Let's try another approach:

According to this site, Sims might require 98 compatibility mode:
http://compsimgames.about.com/library/files/thesims/blthesims_windowsxp.htm

To install a program using Windows XP's Compatibility Mode, hold
down SHIFT as you insert the game CD, use My Computer to browse
to the setup program, and then skip down to step 1 in the list below:

To run an installed program using Windows XP's Compatibility Mode,
first right click the program and "Send To..." / Desktop (create shortcut).

1.. Right click on the shortcut to the program.
2.. Click on Properties.
3.. Click on the Compatibility tab.
4.. Click on Run this program in compatibility mode and select one of these:
a.. Windows 95
b.. Windows 98
c.. Windows NT 4
d.. Windows 2000
5.. Under Display settings, check mark the mode that you think that is best:
a.. Run in 256 colors.
b.. Run in 640 X 480 screen resolution.
c.. Disable visual themes.

Click on Apply.Click on Ok.Double click on the program.

Of course, let's not forget to check for any patches or updates for that game.
A good place to look is: http://www.fileplanet.com/section.aspx?s=174&v=90002

If you'd like to learn more information about compatibility mode, you can click the
link in the Compatibility tab that reads "Learn more about program compatibility",
or watch this Application Compatibility Power Point Presentation:
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/webcasts/wc112202/WC112202.ppt

--
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.
_________________________________________________________


| I went back and did everything that was listed, even uninstalled my ad blocker and Norton AntiVirus and deleted their registry
keys. I also updated my video and sound drivers to the most recent ones. I have since attempted to install the game about five
times; the process went to 46% once and the others stopped at 24% - all five attempts ended in a crash or a blue screen (usually
after the "Hot Date" splash screen appears). I am assuming that the installation failures have something to do with a conflict in
the video and/or sound cards. My video card is an NVidia GeForce FX 5200 with 128 MB of DDRAM; my sound card is the SB Live! Value
card from Creative Labs. This is my second video card; the sound card is original. Any help to get the game installed (finally!)
would be greatly appreciated.
|
| ----- Jimmy S. wrote: -----
|
| Hi Mike,
|
| The most common causes for that problem can be solved with
| these few steps. If the problem persists after you've tried these,
| please post back and we'll try some more solutions. Good luck!
|
| 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.
|
| --
| 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.
| _________________________________________________________