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Lil_ol_Meee's avatar
Lil_ol_Meee
Seasoned Novice
2 months ago

Sims 2 Legacy crash with no error code

The game randomly crashes with no warning and no error code associated with it. There is no lagging before the crash it just closes itself. This will happen within minutes or opening the game, after 20-30 minutes, or after 1-2 hours. It gets worse if I try to open the game again after it crashes. 

This is what I have tried to fix it but nothing has worked:

  • No mods or CC installed Disabled
  • “Optimizations for windowed games”
  • Turned shadows off
  • Regenerated Sims 2 user folder
  • Forced NVIDIA GPU usage in Windows graphics settings
  • Added Windows Defender exclusions
  • Tested administrator mode
  • Applied 4GB Patch to Sims2EP9.exe
  • Installed DXVK (d3d9.dll, dxgi.dll)
  • Switched from NVIDIA Game Ready Driver → Studio Driver
  • Closed ASUS/Armoury Crate background services
  • Switched ASUS GPU mode from Hybrid/Standard → Ultimate (dGPU only)
  • Deleted Sims 2 cache/thumbnails files
  • Added Sims 2 profile in NVIDIA Control Panel
  • Capped FPS to 58 Set Power Management Mode → Prefer Maximum Performance
  • Enabled VSync
  • Repaired the game through EA App
  • removed Sims 2 folder and created a new one

This has been happening for months. I did not have this issue when it first came out, but after the last 2 updates this started happening. 

6 Replies

  • Hello,

    I am experiencing an issue with The Sims 2 Legacy Collection on EA App.

    The game runs normally until I try to load certain lots. During the lot loading screen, the game suddenly closes and returns directly to the Windows desktop without displaying any error message.

    The issue is not related to a single lot. It happens with multiple different lots in my save game.

    I have already performed several tests.

    I launched the game only through the official Legacy Collection executable.

    I tested without suspected custom content by removing some CC-related files and folders.

    I cleared the game cache files.

    I tested the game in windowed mode.

    I repaired and verified the game files through EA App.

    Additional information:

    No Exception_.txt or ObjectError_.txt files are generated after the crash.

    The game logs show a graphics-related error:

    D3DError: Bad return code : D3DERR_INVALIDCALL

    in GZGraphic4ShaderProgramDX.cpp.

    This behavior seems more consistent with a graphics engine, DirectX, or shader-related crash in The Sims 2 Legacy Collection rather than a typical Sims 2 object error, custom content conflict, or gameplay issue.

  • I3ishweeb's avatar
    I3ishweeb
    Seasoned Newcomer
    1 month ago

    Game is in the worst possible state. Even after using the sims 2 fixer. I found that made my game worse. 

  • Lil_ol_Meee's avatar
    Lil_ol_Meee
    Seasoned Novice
    1 month ago

    I talked to EA support twice and they were not helpful. :(

  • Canada1771's avatar
    Canada1771
    Rising Newcomer
    1 month ago

    Same here. The game is completely unplayable. Why hasn't this been patched yet??

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