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mw1525's avatar
mw1525
Seasoned Ace
5 years ago

The Sims 3 Device Config is Blank. Can't Launch Game.

Recently, I had to uninstall my entire TS3 game.

A few days ago, I reinstalled it, launched it to make certain it did install correctly. It came on just fine. I didn't paly the game, just made certain that it loaded through the loading screen. The only thing I did not do at the time I re-installed was change the SGR files to accept the new graphics card. Since I had a copy of the altered SGR files, I simply copied and pasted them back into the bin folder. The result is now a blank configuration file and a game which won't launch.

Any idea what went wrong?

BTW, when I put the original files (also copies) back in, the game launched. When I manually updated the 'copied original files, the game is back to not launching and the DeviceConfig file is blank again.


OS: Win10
Path: Program Files (x86)>Electronic Arts>The Sims 3>Game>Bin

**Both the GraphicsCards.sgr & GraphicsRules.sgr are appearing with the notepad icon in the 'Name' column and the 'SGR File' in the Type column.

The Exception information (TXT) in the 'The Sims 3' folder states:

[Exception info]
date: 2021-07-23
time: 09.24.40
type: ACCESS_VIOLATION writing address 0x0000000c
address: 0x004e5be6 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe":0x0001:0x000e4be6

[Call stack]
C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe
0x004e5be6

pc
technical issues

8 Replies

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    5 years ago

    @mw1525  The deviceconfig is just output, so here it's a symptom of the issue and has nothing to do with the cause.  The cause is pretty clearly the .sgr files, or something about them.  As a test, try using each edited .sgr file separately, i.e. pair one altered file with one original and then swap.  If the game launches with one of the edited files but not the other, you'll know which file is corrupt.

    If it doesn't launch with either one, you may have a different issue, for example it's possible that your antivirus, if you use one, is flagging the altered files and blocking the game's access to them.

  • mw1525's avatar
    mw1525
    Seasoned Ace
    5 years ago
    @puzzleaddict -

    Hi.

    Okay, I tried mixing the files and received the same blank deviceconfig file each time. When I put the originals back in, the game starts but I get the 'Your card isn't recognized' warning. I know those .sgr copies aren't corrupt because I used them the last time I had to make a change to the file (changing the gpu rating).

    Could any parts of Windows Security be affecting this?
  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    5 years ago

    @mw1525  I suspect that this is some kind of security issue or that the files were corrupted when you moved or copied them.  But either way, the next step is to make a backup copy of the original files, edit one of them, and see what happens.  Graphicscards.sgr is easier to edit, but it doesn't matter which one you start with.

    If you apply the same edits as before and get another error, start again with an original file, make sure the game works, and then change one character in one file in a different location than you'd normally edit.  (For example, you could edit the device ID of one of the AMD GPUs in graphicscards.sgr, since the game doesn't read that section unless you have an AMD card.)  Let me know how it goes.

  • mw1525's avatar
    mw1525
    Seasoned Ace
    5 years ago
    @puzzleaddict - Sorry, it has taken me so long to respond. I had to walk away from this problem for a bit, nothing worked. The game still will not launch. Both files were saved using *all files* and not text. The text (TXT) does not appear, the 'SGR' does as file type.

    When I place the copies of the original in, it works. When I alter those very same copies, it stops working. This is really baffling to me.
  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    5 years ago

    @mw1525  It's baffling to me too, but it does sound like either an antivirus issue or something about how the files are being saved.  Please double-check the Task Manager for any antivirus services, including in the background processes list; it's possible something came pre-installed on your computer even if you never fully activated it.

    I can also send you a copy of my files, just to see whether the issue is that yours are being corrupted when you save them.  Since my files work in my game, they should work in yours too.  Let me know whether you're interested.

    And take your time; I'll be around.

  • mw1525's avatar
    mw1525
    Seasoned Ace
    5 years ago
    @puzzleaddict - Firstly, Thank you for your generous offer.

    There are a few things I want to try first to see if I can get this game to start. I feel like the answer to whatever is wrong is staring me right in the face. I am going to look at all of the updates or programs added to this PC from the last time the game was working to before it was re-installed. Including all security updates.

    I will check task manager to see what is running, or what 'jumps' when I try to start the game. Since this game is installed on an MVme ssd, there shouldn't be any residue from the uninstall which could be messing with things.

    One of the last things I am going to try on my end, if I get nowhere is to uninstall the base game and re-install it to get a fresh copy of both of the .sgr files. Currently, I am using copies of copies of copies.

    If all my efforts fail, I will gladly accept your offer and we can give that a try. My last ditch effort will be to do a manual uninstall and I really don't want to do that simply because I do not like messing about in the registry.

    I will write back once I have a look at things.

    Thanks so much for your help and hanging in there with me as I try to get to the bottom of this 'out-of-the-blue' mystery.

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