Hard Crash - Any help would be appreciated

[smallbridge]

Hello All:

I have been trying to resolve a problem, I am having with the Sims 3 since January...

here is a description of the issue.

Sims 3 played fine for ages, until I updated in January. I am a casual sims 3 player, so I have no clue when the update actually took place. Now the issue, when I click the play button from the launcher or manually launch the exe, Sims 3 loads. I get the maxis/EA splash screen then the cinematics load, then the actual loading screen. Then when the game gets to the neighborhood selection screen (within 2 seconds) my game crashes. I don't mean blue screen of death, or a crash to desktop... A good old fashion crash... your computer turns off and restarts type of crash... I haven't had that happen in YEARS... :faceslap:

I get the same result regardless of what expansion packs are installed... Regardless of if I update the base game or not... In theory I can install any and all of the expansion packs...

now on to what I have tried... :report:

1- Restart
2- Running without custom content, including content bought from the sims store
3- Tried running as admin
4- Tried running with xp sp3 compatibility
5- Ensured that my OS and Video Card drivers were 100% up to date
6- Double checked all bios and hardware drivers for recent updates
7- Removed all temporary files, caches & etc.
8- Tried Safe Mode
9- Tried uninstalling and reinstalling in the suggested order from disc
10- Tried uninstalling and reinstalling in the suggested order from download via Origin
11- Tried uninstalling and playing with no expansions, just the most recent updates, from CD
12- Tried uninstalling and playing with no expansions, just the most recent updates, from Origins
13- Tried uninstalling and playing with no expansions, just the most recent updates, from Steam
14- Tried disabling all startup tasks I felt I could do without.
15- Tried disabling all startup tasks MS feels are non-essential
16- Sent 3 dxdiag’s to ea tech support.
17- Changed DEP settings per EA Tech Support
18- Changed Affinity settings per EA Tech Support
19- I changed my graphics card, thinking an upgrade might resolve the issue.
20- setup new administrator acct
21- uninstalled AV program & restarted then, reinstalled Sims 3
22- manually adjusted my nvidia 3d Settings to force off vertical sync

Now my system :report:

I have a cyberpower pc, Win7pro64, Intel i7 CPU 2.67ghz, 6 gb RAM, Nvidia GTX 560Ti 1gb memory, Intel SSD 250 GB (os on this drive), WD 2 TB Hardrive 7200 (for data), WD 1 TB Harddrive 7200 (for backup) My system exceeds the minimum requirements.

I have absolutely no issues playing many other games (skyrim, Oblivion, Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas, RAGE, Mass Effect 3, Victoria 2, EU3, Crusader Kings, Sword of the Stars 1, Witcher 2, etc, etc...

Any thoughts???

[ellacharmed]

General - Post System Specs
We need more information before we can help with your issue.
Please post a Quick summary of your System Specs
Instructions on finding them are here: Game Help:System Specs.
Please Do NOT post your complete DxDiag report in your thread.


What version is base game on, exactly? Game Help:Patch_Table And you have all the EPs and SPs released up to Showtime at this point?
I need to see version number and date of the drivers, please. So post specs as shown.

Run through the checklist if there are things you have not tried. Game_Help:Sims 3 Crashing Checklist
Especially if after having done DEP on ts3W.exe, you need to bypass Launcher. Or did you add Sims3LauncherW.exe to DEP, too? Next post, include the other info that I've asked for. Like version number and world you tested this with. Does it occur on every default EA world? Does the unpatched, retail base game (only) loads without crashing at least? So, for sure a vanilla, cc-free Sunset Valley.world would crash on 1.0? As does a patched base game, still cc-free base game on 1.31/1.32 ?

It would also be helpful if you turn off Auto-restart so you can see the Blue Screen and take down the STOP code. That may point us somewhere to start troubleshooting, at least.

ps: game won't run on Safe mode (no graphics drivers), how does it crash? ;)

[smallbridge]

Thank you for the help... I am happy to give any info you folks think might help in resolving my issue...

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 3/9/2012, 14:11:55
Machine name: GOODWIN-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.110622-1506)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: BIOS Date: 08/18/09 12:03:51 Ver: 08.00.15
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 920 @ 2.67GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.7GHz
Memory: 6144MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 6134MB RAM
Page File: 2044MB used, 10222MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 64bit Unicode

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GTX 560 Ti
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_1200&SUBSYS_089810DE&REV_A1
Display Memory: 3804 MB
Dedicated Memory: 993 MB
Shared Memory: 2811 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: E2350
Monitor Id: GSM5790
Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (60.000Hz)
Output Type: DVI
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 8.17.0012.9573 (English)
Driver Version: 8.17.12.9573
DDI Version: 11
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 2/9/2012 22:13:00, 17642816 bytes

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_104383C0&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 65535
Type: WDM
Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
Driver Version: 6.01.7601.17514 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 11/20/2010 04:44:23, 350208 bytes
------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
Drive: C:
Free Space: 30.9 GB
Total Space: 114.4 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: INTEL SSDSA2CW120G3 ATA Device

Drive: H:
Free Space: 549.6 GB
Total Space: 953.6 GB
File System: FAT32
Model: WD 10EACS External USB Device

Drive: Y:
Free Space: 953.7 GB
Total Space: 953.9 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: WDC WD10EARS-00Y5B1 ATA Device

Drive: Z:
Free Space: 1026.9 GB
Total Space: 1907.7 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: WDC WD2002FAEX-007BA0 ATA Device

Drive: D:
Model: CD-ROM Drive
Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 6.01.7601.17514 (English), 11/20/2010 03:19:21, 147456 bytes

Drive: E:
Model: CD-ROM Drive
Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 6.01.7601.17514 (English), 11/20/2010 03:19:21, 147456 bytes


I have tried Sims 3 with all recent eps (up to showtime) but right now I only have the base game installed... After a full complete manual uninstall per EA's directions, I reinstalled the base game. The Base Game - Sims 3 is patched to 1.32.3.015001

Deleted all cache files and thumbnails? - yes
Removed ALL custom content? - yes
Did you also remove custom content from DCCache folder? - yes
Loaded a NEW game with new user files and no CC with any of the default EA worlds? - yes
If you're on a PC (Windows XP, Vista, or 7), have you done DEP tweaks? - yes
Is the game OK in CAS/Buy/Build mode but crash only when you switched to Live mode, with or without the "Sims3Launcher has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience." error ? - No
Those on Windows PC can also do the above steps (step#6) - with CCleaner. - No CC
How do you start the game: using Launcher or bypassed it? Tried both ways - No Difference
Tweaking options.ini - Yep, the windowed version does NOT crash, but if I try to changing the options.ini to fullscreen, CRASH

OK, Then... after successfully starting the game multiple times... I can reproduce the crash... If I try to start the game in fullscreen it crashes... It does not crash if I convert to fullscreen while playing... so I can play the game... I turned off autorestart and but no crashlog is in the sims3 docs folder... The crash is still the same... restarts...

Good News is I can Play... bad news is it still crashes...

I truly appreciate the help... Thank you for giving me the ideas... If anyone has any further ideas... I would love to completely correct the issue...

Thanks again :p