Re: Sims 3 stops when I click "start playing household"

I tried the factory reset and playing not logged in but that didn't work. I have now unistalled everything and only reinstalled the base game and am still getting the same problem. 

So the tick staying grey continues even if you remove all user files and NOT putting them back for the moment ?

(just making sure I understand right)

I completely unistalled all the games and deleted the files to start from scratch. Reinstalled only the base game let it patch and update. Loaded up fine and starting a game through CAS worked fine but when I started a new game and clicked choose a household it stopped at the greyed out tick.

Did you try playing in offline mode ? Not logging in or turning off the ingame store while playing ?

I am having the same problem I have tried it on 3 different computers as well and still no progress.

I am having the same problem I have tried it on 3 different computers as well and still no progress.

Do those computers all have a different set of user files or did you move anything over ?

Did you try all the suggestions in this thread ?

I am attempting to play off of a purchased starter pack not the downloaded one. So could it be a problem with the disk itself?

Or maybe the data on the disk, and yes I have tried the above solutions.

It's the same data. That should not make a difference if everything got installed properly.

Are you logging in when trying to play ? If so, can you try without.

i have tried both with and without.

Could you post your Computer's DxDiag?

To gather a DxDiag on your computer, please follow the steps here: http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/HOW-TO-DxDiag-for-Sims-3-PC-Only/td-p/1049584/

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 9/16/2013, 23:03:40
       Machine name: USER-HP
   Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.130801-1533)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
       System Model: HP Pavilion g6 Notebook PC
               BIOS: InsydeH2O Version CCB.03.61.17F.44
          Processor: AMD A4-3320M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics (2 CPUs), ~2.0GHz
             Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3562MB RAM
          Page File: 1481MB used, 5642MB 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 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
          Card name: AMD Radeon HD 6480G
       Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
          Chip type: AMD Radeon HD 6480G (0x9648)
           DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9648&SUBSYS_169B103C&REV_00
     Display Memory: 2024 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 499 MB
      Shared Memory: 1525 MB
       Current Mode: 1366 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
       Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
      Monitor Model: unknown
         Monitor Id: CMO15A7
        Native Mode: 1366 x 768(p) (59.989Hz)
        Output Type: Internal
        Driver Name: aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx32,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1191 (English)
     Driver Version: 12.104.0.0
        DDI Version: 11
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 3/28/2013 19:37:02, 1155264 bytes
        WHQL Logo'd: Yes
    WHQL Date Stamp:
  Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D508-11CF-2B77-9136BEC2C535}
          Vendor ID: 0x1002
          Device ID: 0x9648
          SubSys ID: 0x169B103C
        Revision ID: 0x0000
 Driver Strong Name: oem69.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64.6.1:ati2mtag_Sumo_Mobile:12.104.0.0😛ci\ven_1002&dev_9648
     Rank Of Driver: 00E62001
        Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C
   Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
       D3D9 Overlay: Not Supported
            DXVA-HD: Not Supported
       DDraw Status: Enabled
         D3D Status: Enabled
         AGP Status: Enabled

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Speakers and Headphones (IDT High Definition Audio CODEC)
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_111D&DEV_7605&SUBSYS_103C169B&REV_1001
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: stwrt64.sys
         Driver Version: 6.10.6365.0000 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 9/8/2011 06:42:28, 535040 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: IDT
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

            Description: Communications Headphones (IDT High Definition Audio CODEC)
 Default Sound Playback: No
 Default Voice Playback: No
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_111D&DEV_7605&SUBSYS_103C169B&REV_1001
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: stwrt64.sys
         Driver Version: 6.10.6365.0000 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 9/8/2011 06:42:28, 535040 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: IDT
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: Internal Mic (IDT High Definition Audio CODEC)
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: stwrt64.sys
         Driver Version: 6.10.6365.0000 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 9/8/2011 06:42:28, 535040 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x1
           Format Flags: 0xFFFFF

            Description: Stereo Mix (IDT High Definition Audio CODEC)
  Default Sound Capture: No
  Default Voice Capture: No
            Driver Name: stwrt64.sys
         Driver Version: 6.10.6365.0000 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 9/8/2011 06:42:28, 535040 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x1
           Format Flags: 0xFFFFF

            Description: External Mic (IDT High Definition Audio CODEC)
  Default Sound Capture: No
  Default Voice Capture: No
            Driver Name: stwrt64.sys
         Driver Version: 6.10.6365.0000 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 9/8/2011 06:42:28, 535040 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x1
           Format Flags: 0xFFFFF

-------------------
DirectInput Devices
-------------------
      Device Name: Mouse
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Keyboard
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

Poll w/ Interrupt: No

-----------
USB Devices
-----------
+ USB Root Hub
| Vendor/Product ID: 0x1022, 0x7807
| Matching Device ID: usb\root_hub
| Service: usbhub

----------------
Gameport Devices
----------------

------------
PS/2 Devices
------------
+ Standard PS/2 Keyboard
| Matching Device ID: *pnp0303
| Service: i8042prt
|
+ Terminal Server Keyboard Driver
| Matching Device ID: root\rdp_kbd
| Upper Filters: kbdclass
| Service: TermDD
|
+ Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad
| Matching Device ID: *syn1e49
| Upper Filters: SynTP
| Service: i8042prt
|
+ Terminal Server Mouse Driver
| Matching Device ID: root\rdp_mou
| Upper Filters: mouclass
| Service: TermDD

------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
      Drive: C:
 Free Space: 538.7 GB
Total Space: 677.1 GB
File System: NTFS
      Model: Hitachi HTS547575A9E384 SATA Disk Device

      Drive: D:
 Free Space: 31.9 GB
Total Space: 31.9 GB
File System: FAT32
      Model: Hitachi HTS547575A9E384 SATA Disk Device

      Drive: E:
 Free Space: 6.1 GB
Total Space: 6.1 GB
File System: FAT32
      Model: Hitachi HTS547575A9E384 SATA Disk Device

      Drive: Q:
      Model: n/a

      Drive: F:
      Model: hp DVDRAM GT50N SATA CdRom Device
     Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 6.01.7601.17514 (English), , 0 bytes

--------------
System Devices
--------------
     Name: Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_7808&SUBSYS_169B103C&REV_11\3&2411E6FE&3&9A
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1719&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&3&C7
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1701&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&3&C1
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Broadcom 4313GN 802.11b/g/n 1x1 Wi-Fi Adapter
Device ID: PCI\VEN_14E4&DEV_4727&SUBSYS_1795103C&REV_01\4&16F9DD14&0&00A9
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_7808&SUBSYS_169B103C&REV_11\3&2411E6FE&3&92
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1718&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&3&C5
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1700&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_43\3&2411E6FE&3&C0
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&SUBSYS_169B103C&REV_05\4&39FB9FE0&0&0020
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_7807&SUBSYS_169B103C&REV_11\3&2411E6FE&3&98
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1716&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&3&C6
   Driver: n/a

     Name: AMD Radeon HD 6480G
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9648&SUBSYS_169B103C&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&3&08
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Realtek PCIE CardReader
Device ID: PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&SUBSYS_169B103C&REV_01\4&42C02CE&0&00AA
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_7807&SUBSYS_169B103C&REV_11\3&2411E6FE&3&90
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1709&SUBSYS_12341022&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&3&20
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_780F&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_40\3&2411E6FE&3&A4
   Driver: n/a

     Name: AMD SATA Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_7804&SUBSYS_169B103C&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&3&88
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1705&SUBSYS_169B103C&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&3&00
   Driver: n/a

     Name: High Definition Audio Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_1714&SUBSYS_17141002&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&3&09
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard ISA bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_780E&SUBSYS_169B103C&REV_11\3&2411E6FE&3&A3
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_43A2&SUBSYS_00001022&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&3&AA
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1704&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&3&C4
   Driver: n/a

     Name: High Definition Audio Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_780D&SUBSYS_169B103C&REV_01\3&2411E6FE&3&A2
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_43A1&SUBSYS_00001022&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&3&A9
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1703&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&3&C3
   Driver: n/a

     Name: AMD SMBus
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_780B&SUBSYS_169B103C&REV_13\3&2411E6FE&3&A0
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_43A0&SUBSYS_00001022&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&3&A8
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1702&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&3&C2
   Driver: n/a

------------------
DirectShow Filters
------------------