Screen resolution stuck at 800x600 in a game, (Sims 2), Windows 7

[Shaye]

I really hope someone here can help me.

I got a new computer a little over a year ago, a desk top. I play Sims 2 with the discs and it's Windows 7.
After installing my game I went in and made all the necessary adjustments in order for me to play my game at a higher resolution - 1920x1080. I have the graphicsrulesmaker-1.1.0 and all that.

It worked just fine - no problems for a year. Then in late January life took a turn for me and I wasn't able to play my game until late April. I went into my game and the resolution was at 800x600 and that shocked me as I have not made any changes to my game at all or even to my computer. I have been trying everything I can to get it back to where it was, where I had multiple resolutions to choose from, but to no avail. There is a part of the game called Body Shop and that will no longer load now. I've asked on message boards everywhere that are Sims 2 focused and the advice doesn't help and no one can even come up with a reason why this might have happened. Is there a chance that a Windows Update might have caused this? Do I need to uninstall the game and install again? I'm desperate to play my game again.

Can anyone here please help me? Thank you for reading.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Shaye,

There was an update that mucked up backgrounds, the suppossed last ever W7 update., But they did issue a patch a little while later.

Things to check

As its only affecting that game, have they changed anything??.
Check Device manager has the graphics card driver been updated, if so roll back
anything on the Graphicsrulesmaker form.

Easiest solution use System restore, if you have one dated early Jan.


Roy

 

[iko22]

You can also simply check the "Graphic Rules.sgr" file, and check the resolutions settings in that file. Open the file with an ordinary Text Editor. "Graphic Rules.sgr" is located in "The Sims 2/TSData/Res/Config" folder of that game installation.

 

[Shaye]

Hi Shaye,

There was an update that mucked up backgrounds, the suppossed last ever W7 update., But they did issue a patch a little while later.

Things to check

As its only affecting that game, have they changed anything??.
Check Device manager has the graphics card driver been updated, if so roll back
anything on the Graphicsrulesmaker form.

Easiest solution use System restore, if you have one dated early Jan.


Roy

Thank you Roy,
Yes, I updated the graphics card driver and also did a system restore, (in May) but could only go back a month or so - nothing as far back as January. And no, they haven't changed anything in the game - I use disks so even if they did change something it wouldn't effect my game. The change happened with my computer but it's so frustrating because I made no changes - it has to be from a Windows Update.

Appreciate you taking the time respond and try to help.

 

[Shaye]

You can also simply check the "Graphic Rules.sgr" file, and check the resolutions settings in that file. Open the file with an ordinary Text Editor. "Graphic Rules.sgr" is located in "The Sims 2/TSData/Res/Config" folder of that game installation.

Hi iko22, Yes, I did all of that and had a few people from Sims 2 sites, (Leefish and Mod The Sims), took a look at it and they thought it looked fine. But still, the resolution remains stuck and I cannot load Body Shop. So bummed because it was working perfectly for a year until I wasn't able to play for 3 months.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

 

[iko22]

But still, the resolution remains stuck and I cannot load Body Shop.

Have you set the game to run in Compatibility Mode for XP or Vista?

 

[Shaye]

Have you set the game to run in Compatibility Mode for XP or Vista?

Everything is set the way it was when I was able to play the game without any issues.
But if you can tell me how to check that I will.
Thank You

 

[iko22]

Find the game .exe file in the installation folder, and try this:

using program compatibility mode in windows 7 .

When you reach the Window that asks "What display problems do you notice", select "Program starts up in a small window and wont switch to a full screen."

Hope that helps.

 

[Shaye]

Find the game .exe file in the installation folder, and try this:

using program compatibility mode in windows 7 .

When you reach the Window that asks "What display problems do you notice", select "Program starts up in a small window and wont switch to a full screen."

Hope that helps.

I'm sorry, I'm not sure how to find the installation folder that you mention. Can you please explain it a bit more for me? Does this address my game issues being stuck in the 800X600 resolution?
Thank you, sorry for needing extra instructions.

 

[iko22]

Hi Shaye

I'm sorry, I'm not sure how to find the installation folder that you mention. Can you please explain it a bit more for me? Does this address my game issues being stuck in the 800X600 resolution?
Thank you, sorry for needing extra instructions.

Yes, sure does address your game issue, although I am unable to guarantee it to work, because it is a third party game, and who knows how they write there code - in principle, at least, this tip is intended to unlock your screen resolution issue, on Windows 7.

By installation folder, I simply meant your "The SIMS 2" game folder that may be found off the "C:\Program Files (x86)" directory.

 

[Shaye]

Hi Shaye


Yes, sure does address your game issue, although I am unable to guarantee it to work, because it is a third party game, and who knows how they write there code - in principle, at least, this tip is intended to unlock your screen resolution issue, on Windows 7.

By installation folder, I simply meant your "The SIMS 2" game folder that may be found off the "C:\Program Files (x86)" directory.

Thank you for explaining and I'll certainly give it a try!
I'll let you know what happens.

 

[Shaye]

Hi Shaye


Yes, sure does address your game issue, although I am unable to guarantee it to work, because it is a third party game, and who knows how they write there code - in principle, at least, this tip is intended to unlock your screen resolution issue, on Windows 7.

By installation folder, I simply meant your "The SIMS 2" game folder that may be found off the "C:\Program Files (x86)" directory.

Unfortunately I'm still rather confused as to what I'm looking for exactly.
Here are some screen shots of where your directions took me.
Is any of this what you wanted me to find?

Very grateful for you taking the time to advise me - sorry I'm not getting it.

 

[iko22]

I'm not too sure either, as I don't have this installation on my computer. I think what you might be looking for is called Sims2Launcher.exe, and that file might be located in the TSBin subfolder.

Try that, and see what you find, otherwise I do have another idea.

 

[Shaye]

I'm not too sure either, as I don't have this installation on my computer. I think what you might be looking for is called Sims2Launcher.exe, and that file might be located in the TSBin subfolder.

Try that, and see what you find, otherwise I do have another idea.

Hi iko22, very sorry it's taken me so long to respond back to the advice you gave me. Off-line stuff prevented me from trying out your suggestion. I did try it tonight and it didn't fix anything. If you have other ideas I'm more than willing to try. Thank You.

 

[iko22]

Hi iko22, very sorry it's taken me so long to respond back to the advice you gave me. Off-line stuff prevented me from trying out your suggestion. I did try it tonight and it didn't fix anything. If you have other ideas I'm more than willing to try. Thank You.

Sorry to hear the issue is not fixed, and I've forgotten what I was going to suggest next :shock::shock:
If I ever remember, I'll add again to this thread.

 

[Shaye]

Sorry to hear the issue is not fixed, and I've forgotten what I was going to suggest next :shock::shock:
If I ever remember, I'll add again to this thread.

Okay, thank you.