|
Sims 2 and Graphics Cards - the fixes.
|
GRAPHICS RULES MAKER
A new program is out to help you with graphics rules
Click here to download
#1032
05-03-2015
I've thought a little more about what went wrong and what may have fixed it. I've played on this comp with Windows 7 for years, and no trouble until about a month ago. I suspect there was a driver update or some such, but I can't say for certain (as I said earlier, I'm tech-challenged). Periodically I get automatic updates from Windows and it's never been a problem.
ANYWAY. The original problem, based on a help request I made to a non-simming, but presumable more computer-savvy-than-me friend, was (quoting from my message to them--my memory is fuzzy at this point) "the screen freezes and turns blue as if I'd alt-tabbed out of fullscreen mode, when I haven't actually done so. Also Win7 crashes inexplicably about once a day."
A driver update corrected THAT problem, but then I had black rectangles under sims' feet. (I'm not sure when that happened, in all honesty, because the sims in my main hood pretty much live outdoors with no shelter and the black rectangles only appear indoors.)
I downloaded graphics rules maker to solve the black shadows, and that's when the DirectX error appeared. Oy vey. At this point I decided to accept black shadows since I didn't see them outdoors and uninstalled graphics rules maker, attempted to restore backups, etc etc, but the DirectX error persisted. Upon further googling, I changed compatibility settings--I didn't want to do it because it felt like taking a step backwards and I have played successfully for years on Win7, but ultimately I realized that's silly and I need to try whatever it takes. Which is why somewhere along the line I reinstalled graphics rules maker, and checked the 'disable sim shadows' box.
tl;dr: driver update broke things; compatibility settings fixed DirectX, graphics rules maker fixed black rectangles. And a lot of unnecessary hairpulling on my part.
ANYWAY. The original problem, based on a help request I made to a non-simming, but presumable more computer-savvy-than-me friend, was (quoting from my message to them--my memory is fuzzy at this point) "the screen freezes and turns blue as if I'd alt-tabbed out of fullscreen mode, when I haven't actually done so. Also Win7 crashes inexplicably about once a day."
A driver update corrected THAT problem, but then I had black rectangles under sims' feet. (I'm not sure when that happened, in all honesty, because the sims in my main hood pretty much live outdoors with no shelter and the black rectangles only appear indoors.)
I downloaded graphics rules maker to solve the black shadows, and that's when the DirectX error appeared. Oy vey. At this point I decided to accept black shadows since I didn't see them outdoors and uninstalled graphics rules maker, attempted to restore backups, etc etc, but the DirectX error persisted. Upon further googling, I changed compatibility settings--I didn't want to do it because it felt like taking a step backwards and I have played successfully for years on Win7, but ultimately I realized that's silly and I need to try whatever it takes. Which is why somewhere along the line I reinstalled graphics rules maker, and checked the 'disable sim shadows' box.
tl;dr: driver update broke things; compatibility settings fixed DirectX, graphics rules maker fixed black rectangles. And a lot of unnecessary hairpulling on my part.
#1033
07-03-2015
Hi! So I have the Sims 2 Ultimate Collection. I'm so glad I found this thread. I found your solutions after I had edited both Graphic Rules.sgr files in Config and CS Config and configured as such only to apply for my screen resolution. The user interface for my game is appropriate and crisp, but the game itself is distorted and I don't know what to do, so I hope that this would be the right place to ask. Also a note before I even edited the files in Graphic Rules.sgr, the game was distorted and the UI was just fuzzy.
I have my log attached here and the OS is Windows 7.
I have also linked pictures of said problem, couldn't attach them for some reason...the game is stretched and skewed, but as you can see the UI is totally normal.
http://i61.tinypic.com/18zxif.jpg
http://i62.tinypic.com/5o2up.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/ehhg8z.jpg
Thank you for your help!
I have my log attached here and the OS is Windows 7.
I have also linked pictures of said problem, couldn't attach them for some reason...the game is stretched and skewed, but as you can see the UI is totally normal.
http://i61.tinypic.com/18zxif.jpg
http://i62.tinypic.com/5o2up.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/ehhg8z.jpg
Thank you for your help!
#1034
07-03-2015
@shabbs
The problem is your screen size is a unknown resolution and so out of proportion to what is available to the game, that it will skew like this whenever you use full screen.
To fix this problem,
1. Go download the NVidia card from the first post - that will rectify the screen sizes. Load that up where it should be (also in the first post)
2. Change your game to windowed only (you won't be able to run it in full screen without distortion).
3. Given that your screen is 5760x1080, your best bet would be to go to 1920x1080 to give the proper proportion. You should be able to set that in the game in the setting for screen.
Unfortunately I don't have a pc at the moment that has the sims (just the P.O.S. Laptop) so I'm not able to help more than that.
The problem is your screen size is a unknown resolution and so out of proportion to what is available to the game, that it will skew like this whenever you use full screen.
To fix this problem,
1. Go download the NVidia card from the first post - that will rectify the screen sizes. Load that up where it should be (also in the first post)
2. Change your game to windowed only (you won't be able to run it in full screen without distortion).
3. Given that your screen is 5760x1080, your best bet would be to go to 1920x1080 to give the proper proportion. You should be able to set that in the game in the setting for screen.
Unfortunately I don't have a pc at the moment that has the sims (just the P.O.S. Laptop) so I'm not able to help more than that.
#1035
08-03-2015
Wow, @celebkiriedhel I appreciate your reply and how timely it was. Thank you so much for your help! I usually play 1920 x 1080, should've mentioned it in the post. I just changed it to windowed without downloading the nVidia card from your post and it looks just fantastic.
#1036
10-03-2015
@celebkiriedhel i need help.. All of the flickering are fix, but my problem is that now I cant put cars in my lot because it become invisible and extremely lag.. Also the news paper cause lag and become a distorted graphics that expand up to the sky..
When cars and and newspaper were not present in the lot, the game run smoothly
When cars and and newspaper were not present in the lot, the game run smoothly
#1037
10-03-2015
@macxx50
I currently don't have my pc at the moment so I'm not able to do much to help. Could you post up your config-log.txt so I can see what the problem is?
If you're having lag issues like that, it would suggest that your computer can't cope with the extra load. I'll need to look at what you've got.
I currently don't have my pc at the moment so I'm not able to do much to help. Could you post up your config-log.txt so I can see what the problem is?
If you're having lag issues like that, it would suggest that your computer can't cope with the extra load. I'll need to look at what you've got.
#1038
11-03-2015
I know you don't have your computer right now and understand you are busy. When you get a moment can you look at my config files? I've looked at some others here and mine don't look the same. I'm wondering if an important part of the games didn't load. Anyway, first post on page 103 whenever you can. Thx!
#1039
12-03-2015
@gnd968
Your problem is a little more complicated than other people's problems, so I can't promise that I'll be able to work it out without my own machine (which is where all my versions of the graphic rules and video cards are).
It could be a problem with your installation, it could be a problem with the cards, it could be a problem with both, or something else again.
The easiest fix would be the cards - so we'll start with that.
What graphics card do you have? Also do you know how to find out the device number when you don't have a working config-log.txt?
Your problem is a little more complicated than other people's problems, so I can't promise that I'll be able to work it out without my own machine (which is where all my versions of the graphic rules and video cards are).
It could be a problem with your installation, it could be a problem with the cards, it could be a problem with both, or something else again.
The easiest fix would be the cards - so we'll start with that.
What graphics card do you have? Also do you know how to find out the device number when you don't have a working config-log.txt?
Before you post requesting help
Information we need
- The
-config-log.txt from the Logs folder in the My Documents\EA\The Sims2\ Click "full editor" below to attach a text file. - Your operating System.
- What the problem actually is - that will be a picture to show the problem (optional), and accompanying text files that turn up (optional), and a detailed description of what happened, and what you expected to happen.
