Anyone around for help with Sims2 PC game

[mxdi]

Hi all, have some issues with a new game which I just bought, the sims 2.
Tried it on all my computers, one doesnt have directx compatibility, the other the video card just crashes before I start the game, it worked on one computer but again game crashes the video card after a few minutes/hours play.
This computer is about 3 months old with what I thought was high spec, videocard was Intel 95*** or something.
Anyone got any ideas?

[bez_uk]

If you graphics is intel something you need a new one... It'll be onboard and from experience onboard's have a horrible habit of freezing. Get yourself a graphics 'accelerator' (ie a graphics card) this will almost certainly fix the problem.

Spending between 80-100 will get a a good piece of kit. You can speed between £30-1000+ on graphics... consider an £90 X850XT (www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/84934/rb/22003918712 for example) This is a truely amazing card for the money.

www.tomshardware.co.uk/graphics/charts.html to compare graphics cards. Note: if a graphics card is not expensive there is something wrong with it... check the type of card on that chart to see it its a bargin or just plain pants.

[Digby]

Does anything else show the same symptoms or is it only Sims 2 that's crashing?.

It seems you are not alone though hunting around the net.
It could be worth having a good read up on this thread for example.

http://help.lockergnome.com/general/S

[mxdi]

Thanks all
Have found out more deatils, its the ialmrnt5 driver that crashes, done searches for it on varoius net forums and the answer is to download the latest driver update.
However, for some reason the latest driver wont install on my computer!!
Gets to the end of install and comes up, this driver cannot be installed on this computer.
So I put another post on the main computer pages. No luck so far though

[D_Mike]

can you tell us the precise video card name and the operating system you are using?

[mxdi]

Graphics card
Intel R 82852/82855 GM/GME

On MS Windows XP Home with SP2

[D_Mike]

have you looked here? www.intel.com/support/graphics/intel852gm/

and here? http://mysearch.intel.com/support/def

[mxdi]

yup, looked around there as much as I could understand. thats where I downloaded the update from, the problem being it wont install on my computer.

it also said on the site that there is no known compatibilty issue with that card and that game, however theres a few people who are having problems

Edited by mxdi on Tuesday 26th September 22:34

[D_Mike]

so you downloaded this one?

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scrip*+XP+Home+Edition&lang=eng&strOSs=45&submit=Go%21

are you sure there is no other graphics card in the PC?

[mxdi]

I downloaded the top one on that link.

I also went on to the desktop that we have, its a similar graphics card, downloaded the update for that, again it wouldnt install, said I needed to speak to the computer manufacturer

Edited by mxdi on Tuesday 26th September 22:45

[mxdi]

D_Mike said:

are you sure there is no other graphics card in the PC?

if there is then it doesnt come up on system information, where else do i look?

[mxdi]

hold fire, I just double clicked to install, let me try it the way the readme file suggests....

[D_Mike]

if it's not there then there isn't one :/

it seems pretty weird that it isn't working.

is there a graphics config utility that comes with the sims (so you can change gfx options outside the game?)

[mxdi]

nope still no luck.
It is weird considering that its happening on both computers, in fact its trying to extract the files of the downloaded update, thats when it comes up with the message.

exact message is,
the driver being installed is not validated for this computer, please obtain the apprpriate driver fromn the computer manufacturer


anyway, thanks for your help mike

[D_Mike]

I think you can override that message?

[mxdi]

what do you mean?

[D_Mike]

it normally says that but you can still continue with the installation if you want to.

[mxdi]

doesnt appear to give me any option other than click ok which makes box dissappear and installation box dissappear.

[D_Mike]

hmmm.

I have a Dell and I know drivers can be got from there website... does the manufacturer of your PC have something similar?

[D_Mike]

and I've run out of ideas I'm afriad

and I have to go to bed now.

sorry I couldn't be more help.