Not trying to continue this ancient thread but many people have been PMing me as I said. So this is from a community manager (with additions of my own):
- Can't pick household, checkmark is grey (melynir, MelissaSh, magiccookie, trekkie78, cyrynpen)
--> Try deleting tmp files in DCCache and starting game bypassing the launcher
--> Try factory reset on first page.
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/686687.page
For DCCache - it's a folder in your sims 3 file.
Factory reset: http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/FAQ-Troubleshooting-Steps/td-p/714
