Solved Sims 3 has stopped working.

[calskin]

Hello all,

I've searched for days on this topic and after hours of testing, I'm at my whits end, so I hope others have solved this issue or can point me in the right direction.

My DxDiag is attached

I have installed Sims 3, and about 20 minutes give or take into playing, it crashes. I get the window that comes up saying Sims 3 has stopped working.

It generates this error in the application log.

Log Name: Application
Source: Application Error
Date: 8/17/2011 2:25:41 PM
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: (100)
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: Yoda
Description:
Faulting application name: TS3W.exe, version: 0.2.0.154, time stamp: 0x4e1cce0a
Faulting module name: unknown, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x00000000
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x14b0004b
Faulting process id: 0x1218
Faulting application start time: 0x01cc5d1a06783522
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe
Faulting module path: unknown
Report Id: 13232b55-c90f-11e0-89b8-a0ed8d95fe4f
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Application Error" />
<EventID Qualifiers="0">1000</EventID>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>100</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2011-08-17T20:25:41.000000000Z" />
<EventRecordID>9030</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>Yoda</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>TS3W.exe</Data>
<Data>0.2.0.154</Data>
<Data>4e1cce0a</Data>
<Data>unknown</Data>
<Data>0.0.0.0</Data>
<Data>00000000</Data>
<Data>c0000005</Data>
<Data>14b0004b</Data>
<Data>1218</Data>
<Data>01cc5d1a06783522</Data>
<Data>C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe</Data>
<Data>unknown</Data>
<Data>13232b55-c90f-11e0-89b8-a0ed8d95fe4f</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

I have read through the Sims forums and their recommendations are to add all Sims .exe files to DEP which I have done - no joy

Another suggestion was to reinstall (obvious answer) - Done that - no dice

Other suggestions were to delete any custom content or expansion packs installed - non ever downloaded, and no expansions installed, I've double checked the recommended folders anyway, and nothing was in there.

I've tried giving the sims 3 process a higher CPU priority, and turning off CPU 3 in the affinity as was also recommended - no dice.

I've undone all changes, and reinstalled and tried again - no dice

I've made those changes again to see if I did something wrong before - no joy

If anyone has any suggestions for me with this issue, I would really appreciate it.

The annoying thing is my laptop shouldn't even be able to play it, but it does with no issues, however my desktop which is WAY over powered for this game can't handle it.

Thanks in advance.

Cal

 

[vierasniper]

Maybe the Source is corrupt? have you tried updating? How is it you pc cant handle it? Your GFX Card maybe?

 

[severedsolo]

Using the official forums for help is like asking a fish to play chess... ie useless.

Please go to C:\Users\<username\My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 and upload the crash logs. they will be called something like "xcerpt-Yoda-<date>"

 

[calskin]

Wow, thanks for the quick replies guys (or girls, if that's the case.)

I have tried both not updating and updating and neither has worked.

I'll attach the dumps. Not sure if you want the mdmp or txt files, so I'll just do the text files for now.

Here's the last 5.

 

[calskin]

I thought I should attach the mdmp files too just so I don't waste anyone's time.

 

[severedsolo]

Thanks for the dumps. Hmm... I haven't seen that error in a while.

Can I ask what your base game version is?

 

[calskin]

It's version 1.24.3.012001

 

[severedsolo]

The dump blames trying to access an already reserved piece of memory. Which usually has two causes.

Usually errors like that are caused by memory issues, which shouldn't be an issue... as you have the TS3W.exe which means you are definitely running at least 1.21, and that problem was fixed with 1.17.

Failing that, it is occasionally mod conflict, but you said you have no content... so it can't be that either.

It may be worth grabbing this program: Mod The Sims - The Sims 3 Crash Log Analyzer it may be able to give you more insight. Feel free to upload the output here for further analysis.

Have you tried deleting the "cache" files from your Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 folder? Is it on all saves? Or one in particular? What happens if you start a new game?

 

[calskin]

The dump blames trying to access an already reserved piece of memory. Which usually has two causes.

Usually errors like that are caused by memory issues, which shouldn't be an issue... as you have the TS3W.exe which means you are definitely running at least 1.21, and that problem was fixed with 1.17.

Failing that, it is occasionally mod conflict, but you said you have no content... so it can't be that either.

It may be worth grabbing this program: Mod The Sims - The Sims 3 Crash Log Analyzer it may be able to give you more insight. Feel free to upload the output here for further analysis.

Have you tried deleting the "cache" files from your Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 folder? Is it on all saves? Or one in particular? What happens if you start a new game?

I've tried deleting the cache files, but that didn't work.

I've never made it to the point where I can save a game. I've never actually made it out of character creation.

I'll get about 2 characters created and it crashes. Sometimes more sometimes less.

I'll give that analyzer a try and let you know what I find.

 

[severedsolo]

Just a thought, do you have any Store Items? EA created Content? That can cause issues too.

 

[vierasniper]

Uninstall and get rid of all registry files related to the game. I've done it before and it has worked flawlessly. Of course your case might be different, just a suggestion.

My Evo sent this on its own.

 

[calskin]

Here's a dump from the analyzer.

 

[calskin]

Just a thought, do you have any Store Items? EA created Content? That can cause issues too.

No, no store items.

 

[calskin]

Uninstall and get rid of all registry files related to the game. I've done it before and it has worked flawlessly. Of course your case might be different, just a suggestion.

My Evo sent this on its own.

I can give that a try. I'm hoping that's a last resort if there's no other quick ideas.

 

[severedsolo]

At least one crash was DEP related.

Another was from XP?

A patch issue... or something. It was looking for the wrong executable.

I would actually follow vierasnipers advice and use Revo to uninstall, to clear the registry keys. (Sims leaves loads and loads behind when you uninstall) Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download - Uninstall software, remove programs, solve uninstall problems

 

[calskin]

Okay, I'm reinstalling now. I'll test and let you know, but that might be tomorrow.

Thanks for your help.

 

[calskin]

Well, after removing everything, and reinstalling, I'm very surprised to say this may be resolved, but it's still too early to tell.

I just created 4 sims, and customized them for about 30 min and then I'm in game now ready to play. I've saved my progress too.

This is the farthest I've made it, so this reinstall and scanning the registry may have solved the issue.

I'll report back.

 

[vierasniper]

Well, after removing everything, and reinstalling, I'm very surprised to say this may be resolved, but it's still too early to tell.

I just created 4 sims, and customized them for about 30 min and then I'm in game now ready to play. I've saved my progress too.

This is the farthest I've made it, so this reinstall and scanning the registry may have solved the issue.

I'll report back.

Good, Good. A clean like that always fixed it for me. Glad its all working. Anything pops up, we're here.

 

[calskin]

Yeah, I spoke too soon.

I played for about and hour and a half. I restarted my computer for whatever reason, and then started sims and updated it. When I started playing again, it crashed after about 5 minutes.

I don't know what's going on now. It says in the dump that it's a DEP problem, but I've changed the settings in DEP. I have all the executables in the program files folders including the patches included in DEP exceptions.

I'm thinking that another clean install will work again, however, I don't see the point of a game that you can't update ever. Not trying to be whiny, I actually do want to fix this.

 

[vierasniper]

How are you updating it? have you done all sequential updates?