Forum Discussion
kyle_hetzel Try updating the driver for your graphics chip. Your current version is from 2021, as in, a couple months older than Windows 11 even. Here's the newest version from Intel:
Run the installer as an admin: right-click the download and select "Run as administrator." Restart the laptop afterwards and before trying to play. If you get an error when trying to install the driver (it's compatible, but Lenovo software may try to block it), use this workaround:
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000087660/graphics.html
If that doesn't help, let me know whether you're trying to play through the EA App or Steam. Please also look for new errors in the Reliability Monitor. Click Windows key-R and enter "perfmon /rel" without quotes, and you'll see a chart of errors and updates with a column for each day. Today is on the right.
Look for an error that happened at exactly the time of your most recent attempt to open Sims 1. If you find one, double-click it to see more details, then copy that info and paste it into a reply here. If you don't see a new error, check back in an hour or so—the Reliability Monitor doesn't always update right away.
Hey it was working after I followed your instructions with the installer! I played for a little bit with no problem, then saved, exited the game and closed my laptop. I just tried to get on again and the flashing returned. I'm not sure if I did the Reliability Monitor correctly. It didn't say anything about the Sims from what I can tell, but this is the error that most recently occurred:
Source
Settings
Summary
Stopped responding and was closed
Date
6/5/2026 8:30 PM
Status
Report sent
Description
A problem caused this program to stop interacting with Windows.
Faulting Application Path: C:\Windows\ImmersiveControlPanel\SystemSettings.exe
Problem signature
Problem Event Name: MoAppHang
Package Full Name: windows.immersivecontrolpanel_10.0.8.1000_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy
Application Name: praid:microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel
Application Version: 10.0.26100.8328
Application Timestamp: 07e4cea6
Hang Signature: c03a
Hang Type: 2097152
OS Version: 10.0.26200.2.0.0.768.101
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Hang Signature 1: c03aa0141cec49f0b8822b675cfd1773
Additional Hang Signature 2: d47a
Additional Hang Signature 3: d47acf99c137ac2fbf70cfc414caae91
Additional Hang Signature 4: c03a
Additional Hang Signature 5: c03aa0141cec49f0b8822b675cfd1773
Additional Hang Signature 6: d47a
Additional Hang Signature 7: d47acf99c137ac2fbf70cfc414caae91
Extra information about the problem
Bucket ID: c720909c7fe89db69e3e40798ec2dda9 (2179250160524254633)