Re: Sims 3 is stuck on second loading screen
@Chelseavandijk You can attach the dxdiag to a post here, and people can look it over for you.
Forum Discussion
8 Replies
Here it is!
@Chelseavandijk The Sims 3 errors are likely related to the driver for your integrated graphics chip. You can download a new driver here:
It's probably best to get the recommended (WHQL) one from January 29; the newer ones are optional, but you could update to one of those later if necessary. Download the driver, quit all other processes on your computer (or restart to end all tasks), and disable any real-time virus scanner you have. Run the driver as an admin: right-click on it and select "Run as administrator."
The fact is though, the game is never going to run perfectly on your computer. Your graphics card may struggle under the load of the heaviest packs: Pets, Seasons, then Isla Paradiso and Into the Future. It may help to disable rain and snow, and to avoid long-haired pets and possibly horses. You can also disable strays and wild animals in game options, which may improve performance. Although your processor is a bit better for the game than your graphics card, it will also benefit from taking some of the load off it.
Plus, with only 4 GB memory total, much of which Windows will take for itself, there's not a lot left over for the game. Your laptop will do better if you don't run anything else while you play. Playing while offline will decrease RAM use a bit as well. And in-game memories are a huge resource hog, so it's a good idea to disable them too.
Hopefully you'll be able to play well enough with some asjustments. If not, or if you don't want to make all the changes, here's a list of other steps that can help:
https://www.nraas.net/community/TIPS-FOR-BETTER-GAME-PERFORMANCE
- @puzzlezaddict I've done exactly what you said, but it's still stuck on the last 5% or so..
@Chelseavandijk Please try in another clean folder, even if you've been doing that. It's useful to keep the cache files and other data from a failed attempt to load out of the way, and your saves as well, at least for now. Try loading Sunset Valley or Twinbrook, and let me know whether it works.
Another possibility is that the game is now getting stuck on the task of placing community lots in a new save. This wouldn't explain why your earlier save wouldn't load anymore, but maybe you can load a brand-new save with the lots already placed. I can upload one for you to try later, base game only, if you're interested; you can add whatever you want to the world after the fact.
- @puzzlezaddict Do you mean I need to drag my "sims 3" folder to my desktop again and try to load it all empty from saves and mods? Because I just tried that and it's still stuck. I'm lost ☹️
@Chelseavandijk Yes, remove your entire Sims 3 folder from Documents\Electronic Arts and let the game create another new one. If the folder you're moving doesn't have any saves or other content you want to keep, you can just trash it; otherwise, move it to your desktop or somewhere else, but make sure it doesn't overwrite your original folder, if you still have that. You can't have two folders with the same name in the same location.
If this doesn't work, I can try sending you a save file, to see if that will load instead. Let me know if you want one.
Sorry it took so long. I’ve moved my sims 3 folder to my desktop and a new folder appeared in my Electronics Arts folder. I’ve tried to run the game, but no matter what it’s still having trouble with that last 5%. I’d like to have that save file you’re talking about.
Honestly my last hope.
@Chelseavandijk I apologize for the delay, I've been swamped the past couple days. These two saves are in Sunset Valley and Riverview, two relatively gentle worlds to load and play in, and they were saved with only the base game active. (In other words, they should be as simple as possible for your computer to load.)
http://www.mediafire.com/file/988878anmk733h8/Saves.zip/file
Click the Download button in the upper right corner, unzip the folder, and place either save (or both) into your Saves folder in Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3. You don't need any software to unzip—just right-click, select Extract All, and drag the saves to where you want them.
If the saves still don't load, please try again (after deleting the cache files) with your computer not connected to the internet.
If that doesn't work either, please run a new dxdiag, so I can see if there are any new errors.
