Help! Black screen when playing the Sims 3

Are you playing on a desktop or laptop ? Is the computer getting hot at all ?

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/

Thank you for replying, I am playing on a Laptop which does not get hot. Have tried the game on several surfaces and the same problem always happens about 10-15 mins in. Have attached some of the dxdiag report but excluded info on sound or keyboards, which I am presuming should not be affecting my Sims 3 game.

System Information ------------------
Time of this report: 9/15/2013, 23:40:56       
Machine name: BRANCATOHOME-PC   
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: TOSHIBA       
System Model: Satellite L750               
BIOS: InsydeH2O Version 03.60.451.90          
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2410M CPU @ 2.30GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.3GHz             
Memory: 8192MB RAM Available OS Memory: 8140MB RAM          
Page File: 3598MB used, 12679MB 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.           Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------- Display Devices ---------------           Card name: Intel(R) HD Graphics Family        Manufacturer: Intel Corporation           Chip type: Intel(R) HD Graphics Family            DAC type: Internal          Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0116&SUBSYS_FC501179&REV_09      Display Memory: 1696 MB    Dedicated Memory: 64 MB       Shared Memory: 1632 MB        Current Mode: 1366 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)        Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor       Monitor Model: unknown          Monitor Id: SEC5541         Native Mode: 1366 x 768(p) (59.998Hz)         Output Type: Internal         Driver Name: igdumd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igdumdx32,igd10umd32,igd10umd32 Driver File Version: 8.15.0010.2353 (English)      Driver Version: 8.15.10.2353         DDI Version: 10.1        Driver Model: WDDM 1.1   Driver Attributes: Final Retail    Driver Date/Size: 4/5/2011 13:09:00, 7473664 bytes         WHQL Logo'd: Yes     WHQL Date Stamp:   Device Identifier: {D7B78E66-4256-11CF-F87B-5ADCA9C2C535}           Vendor ID: 0x8086           Device ID: 0x0116           SubSys ID: 0xFC501179         Revision ID: 0x0009  Driver Strong Name: oem9.inf:Intel.Mfg.NTamd64:iSNBM0_Q0:8.15.10.2353😛ci\ven_8086&dev_0116&subsys_fc501179      Rank Of Driver: 00E60001         Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeWMV9_C ModeVC1_C    Deinterlace Caps: {BF752EF6-8CC4-457A-BE1B-08BD1CAEEE9F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend DeinterlaceTech_EdgeFiltering                      {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend 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 VideoProcess_AlphaBlend                      {BF752EF6-8CC4-457A-BE1B-08BD1CAEEE9F}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend DeinterlaceTech_EdgeFiltering                      {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch                      {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend                      {BF752EF6-8CC4-457A-BE1B-08BD1CAEEE9F}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend DeinterlaceTech_EdgeFiltering                      {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch                      {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend                      {BF752EF6-8CC4-457A-BE1B-08BD1CAEEE9F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend DeinterlaceTech_EdgeFiltering                      {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch                      {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend                      {BF752EF6-8CC4-457A-BE1B-08BD1CAEEE9F}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend DeinterlaceTech_EdgeFiltering                      {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch                      {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend                      {BF752EF6-8CC4-457A-BE1B-08BD1CAEEE9F}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend DeinterlaceTech_EdgeFiltering                      {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch                      {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend                      {BF752EF6-8CC4-457A-BE1B-08BD1CAEEE9F}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend DeinterlaceTech_EdgeFiltering                      {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch                      {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend                      {BF752EF6-8CC4-457A-BE1B-08BD1CAEEE9F}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend DeinterlaceTech_EdgeFiltering                      {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch                      {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY VideoProcess_AlphaBlend        D3D9 Overlay: Supported             DXVA-HD: Supported        DDraw Status: Enabled          D3D Status: Enabled          AGP Status: Enabled

Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives ------------------------       Drive: C:  Free Space: 111.5 GB Total Space: 595.3 GB File System: NTFS       Model: TOSHIBA MK6475GSX

      Drive: Q:       Model: n/a

      Drive: D:       Model: TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-L633F      Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 6.01.7601.17514 (English), , 0 bytes

Is this enough information?

Did you try lowering your graphic settings and maybe turn off mirror reflections ? Seems your computer only has a graphic chip and not a graphic card in there.

How do I do that?

Start the game, go into options, choose the graphics tab and lower the settings there.

Your graphics chip only has 64 mb of dedicated video memory. The minimum required is 128 mb.

I just don't understand why it was running fine up until a few days ago? Would system restore help in any way?

Did you change anything ? Install a patch ? Update your System ? Install new Software ?

Did you try lowering your settings as suggested ?

Hi there,

sorry it has taken me so long to reply. I did install a patch, which was recommended through Sims 3. I also for the first time used my Sim points and bought an object online. However since then I have both uninstalled the object, changed my screen resolution, restored my system to a previous time before installing the patch.. all to which have not helped my situation. I have tried lowering my graphics settings also. I did just get a message when I tried to start the game, which I have never seen. It said:

it looks like you have installed an unofficial game modification that does not match your current version of the sims 3. uninstall these modifications or get updated versions of them - or you may experience crashes or significant bugs.

Can you help me to figure out what this message is talking about? I am not sure what I must uninstall.

Is it better to backup my games, uninstall the last expansion pack and then reinstall?

This message usually appears if you have an incompatible core mod in your game.

Do you have any mods in ?