Re: Sims 3 dim screen after installing Sims 4??

@roberta591 Well yeah, there's a desktop icon, but if I'm not logged on to Origin when I double-click it the Origin login box pops up, so does it matter if I'm logged on to Origin or not?

@FirePrincess917 I have Origin set not to run at boot so I have to double click the Origin icon and manually start Origin then minimize Origin. This is to check that there are no updates for the games. Origin is required as that is the DRM for the game. Do you have any cc or mods in the game? Here is a link to the game reset I referred to - reset Sims 3 game  This will clear all user data. If the game runs correctly now there is something was wrong in the user data for the game.

@roberta591 I do have some Store content, but the dim screen was a problem before I even downloaded and installed it...

@FirePrincess917 Did you try the game reset?

@roberta591 No, I'd like to see if there's anything else I can try before I do the reset. That's something I kind of see as a last resort...

EDIT: I just tried turning off compatibility mode on my Into The Future icon, and it didn't work...

@roberta591 OK, I tried the factory reset, but it didn't work...

@FirePrincess917 The posts I have read relate to solutions that can not be taken as the solution. Like in my case one day I started the game and the issue was gone. I still think it is a video driver issue that relates to the way the graphics chip handles the chroma element of the video signal. Intel does not issue frequent video driver updates like Nvidia and ATI (AMD) so you can't update the video driver because you have the latest driver from Intel. If you do the game reset correctly you should be able to return the game to the condition it was in when you started very simply. The only other solution I saw is about deleting files from the user data and reinstalling store items. I don't think this is the correct path to take until it it is known that user data is causing the issue. BTW this issue seems to only affect Windows 8.1 and that leads right back to the video driver. Again Intel HD Graphics 3000 is known to have issues with this game. Your computer is very weak and as your free space on the system drive I feel is critically low for normal operation there are going to be issues. Trouble shooting computer issues l\is like being a detective.

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains however improbable must be the truth - Sherlock Holmes

IMO Windows 8 was poorly designed (tiled start screen) and even more poorly supported so bad that by the time Windows 8.1 was released the damage was irreversible. Microsoft had to give away free upgrades to Windows 10 to even get users to start using the new Windows. This giveaway was well publicized I can't understand why people are still using Windows 8. Windows 7 main support is over and on extended support. While Windows 8 is still a Microsoft product - it's user base is much like Microsoft Vista was - small and declining.

You have to eliminate the game as being the issue before a solution can be looked for in a poorly supported device driver pool. This is why for gaming Intel graphics is a poor choice.

@FirePrincess917 After the reset did the game start like the first time you played?

@FirePrincess917 I just spent about half an hour reading posts about Sims 3 dim with Windows 8.1. I could not find any posts with Intel HD Graphics 3000 only. I did find many posts about this issue but no posts with any solutions that will positively work. Many posts about this issue was this worked for me. The only thing that comes to mind now is to restore the game to the problem state. Then Google Intel HD Graphics 3000 and download an older video driver and install and test. At this point game user data is not causing the issue so that leaves the core game and the video device driver. As this only seems to affect Windows 8.1. One poster suggested down grading to Windows 7. This points to a video driver issue. IMO knowing that it's more then likely an operating system issue and knowing there probably won't be an updated video driver in the near future it may be time for an upgrade. The problem is the laptop you have is very entry level gaming specs and upgrades may not add value. I think it is time for someone to put hands on - preferably someone with gaming experience.

@roberta591 Well, tomorrow my dad's gonna call a technician in - he's not totally game savvy but he might be able to work out what the issue is...

@roberta591 OK, so the technician thinks it's an issue with the monitor itself and I may need to hook up an external monitor to my laptop...

@FirePrincess917 Your laptop has a LGD038E screen that is LED back lit. As you didn't indicate issues with other programs I would guess the screen is working properly. Normally this technology works or it don't work. According to Acer your computer has a VGA and a HDMI post. The 15 pin VGA is fading fast because of the limitations of the technology. HDMI (the same ports that are on most of today's TVs) is the same technology as DVI except DVI does not have audio and HDMI does. While this may be the problem there is a simple test to determine if it is. Just hook it up to a tv with HDMI. I have seen some VGA monitors in resale shops for $20. Borrowing someone's monitor (or tv) with the proper inputs (or go to them) could be hooked up fast. Let us know how you make out.