Windows 7: Game stops working... - The Sims 3

Hey,

I have a problem with playing The Sims 3. I have installed almost all of the avaible expansions packs.
For let's say an hour or maybe longer I play it normally but then suddenly I get the message that the game has stop working. Sometimes in the game appears black color over some object and after that I can't save the game anymore.
My system requirements are above minimum.
I was thinking that maybe I have overheating problem. So I use program CPUID HWMonitor before playing, while playing and after I get the stop working message.
What can I do?

First thing I would suggest is filling out your System Specs so in the future, we can help you better.

Second, since you don't make any mention of it, I will suggest going to the manufacturer of your video and audio to download the latest drivers for it and saved them on a temp folder. If using Nvidia, uninstall the drivers from control panel, also uninstall the PhysX drivers, uninstall the audio drivers, then restart and go into Safe Mode, run CCleaner and clean your registry. Restart again and once at the desktop, wait for windows to install the generic drivers for each one, it may ask you to restart, if it doesn''t, go ahead and do so anyways, go to the Temp folder where you saved the drivers, right click on one of them and use "Run as an Administrator", do the same with the other driver and then restart again for good measure.

There are different methods to uninstall/clean install but this is how I do it and it works for me.

Have you got the latest graphic drivers from Nvidia for the GTS250?

Download them here if not: Drivers | GeForce

I just updated my System Specs.
I will try what AstaLaVista sugested and I will let you know if it worked.
I updated my drivers this spring (I will do it again now).

On the Nvidia page I read that my graphic card do not support DirectX 11, which I have installed. Is maybe this the problem?

And also I never install the PhysX drivers, I will also try to install it now.

Great... now is easier to help

Updating correctly is never a bad thing but, for the most part, I only do it when I have an issue or when the new drivers help with a game I am playing.

No, all it means is that you won't be able to play dedicated DX11 games like Crysis 3.

The problem could be easily solved by getting newer drivers... this is what we are hoping for

You don't necessarily have to install it manualy, it installs itself with the Nvidia drivers... most people tend to forget to uninstall them when they update their drivers and this can cause issues.


Apparently, Nvidia has a utility now that checks and installs your drivers correctly but I have yet to try it so I am going Old School on my recommending how to install your drivers. Besides, I find that with game issues, it is always recommended to get both audio and video drivers updated.

So I did everything that you sugested. The game didn't stop working but I get "error 12" - I couldn't save the game.

I was reading forums about this problem and someone said that 64-bit operating systems can save this problem.

When you look at my System Specs, whould 64-bit system work on my computer? Is it smart to install it?

DirectX 11 (DX11) has nothing to do with your issue. And be aware that DX11 is native to windows 7, which means it's part of Windows 7 and can't be removed. With that, you should also know that DX11 is backwards compatible and as such, will play nicely with older DX versions (8, 9, 10, 10.1). By the way Sims 3 is a DX9 game so DX11 mode to run.

All that said, where did you get the game(s) from? And is the game patched to the latest version?

What "might" be happening is that Sims 3 and Windows 7 aren't getting along, but that's got nothing to do with DX11. I say might because I haven't looked into it yet. I'm kind of rushing just to post this. Will check later.

Also have a look here to see if anything there can help - Tips on Troubleshooting Game Issues