The Sims 3 Stops Responding & Crashes 5 Minutes into Live Mode

@holger1405 

Turns out, I did have an audio driver that needed updating. I downloaded and installed the new driver, restarted my computer, tested the game, and I still have the same problem.

I'm unable to replicate the exact instance that this occurred from my last post because this app hang is completely random. It isn't connected to the fact I turned the radio on. The radio just happened to be on at that time.

I've had all sorts of things seem to "trigger" the freezing to the point that I think it's random. I used to think it was caused by loading a lot or several objects all at once, but I can spin around and hop to different points on the town with no issue, and then 5 minutes later have a random freeze.

Any other ideas?

@dentfaceah  Holger1405 asked me to let you know that he needs to rethink the issue, and he'll get back to you.  He hasn't forgotten or moved on (neither have I), just needs to work on it a bit more.

No worries. Take your time. The both of you have been so incredibly helpful.

@dentfaceah 

OK, lets try this:

• Press the Windows key > write "event" > Open the "Event Viewer"
• Expand "Windows logs" > Expand "Application"
• Search for a TS3 errors. (Check if the time of the event matches a crash.)
• Right click the "Error" entry > Copy > Copy details > past it to a text file.
• Check the "Information" entry next to the error entry. (It should have more info about the crash)
• Right click the "Information" entry > Copy > Copy details > past it to a different text file
  
• Check if the other TS3 errors are of the same kind. (If not load different errors up as well) 
• Load the text files up.

If there are "Attached files" shown in the "Information" entry look if a "*.dmp" file location is shown and load the dump file up to a free filehosting site.

@holger1405 

Alright. I've attached the two .txt error logs, one for the Error and one for the Information.

No .dmp files listed in either .txt file. Errors match older error logs as well.

@dentfaceah 

Ok, that was also not really helpful. The important info is missing from this files as well.

To fix the problem we could get trough all possible troubleshooting steps in order, or we could try to get a crash dump.

I can not promises you that a dump will contain the necessary info, but the chances are good.

But you would need to install a software package from Microsoft to obtain a dump in this case, because as you rightly assumed, it is not created because the game only hangs.

Let me know what you prefer.

@holger1405 

Let's get that crash dump. What program do I need?

@dentfaceah 

• Go here.
• Download "ProcDump v9.0"
• Unzip the file.
• Copy "procdump.exe" and "procdump64.exe" into the "C:\Windows\System32" folder.
• Press the Windows key > write "CMD" (Without the quotes) > right click "Command Prompt" in the search result > Run as an Administrator.
• Copy and paste "procdump -h TS3.exe hungwindow.dmp" (Without the quotes) to the command prompt. > ENTER.
• Play he game until it hangs.
• You should find the dump under "C:\Users\>your user name<"

@holger1405 Okay, I followed the instructions, but it doesn't seem like the dump file is actually being created. Searched everywhere for it.

According to this, the file should be in my system32 folder, but there is no .dmp file to be found there or in my user folder as you suggested. Am I doing something improperly?

@dentfaceah  Is File Explorer set to show hidden and system files?  If not, that could be why you aren't seeing anything.  Here's how to change the setting:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4028316/windows-view-hidden-files-and-folders-in-windows-10

@puzzlezaddict @holger1405

Nope, that's already been checked for months. I even tried checking and unchecking it.

@puzzlezaddict @holger1405 

I moved Procdump out of System32 and into its own folder and the dump was created without issue.

Here it is, it's a bit beefy, 21 MB. Let me know next steps whenever you can.

https://mega.nz/#!iaIVTYDS!NObNvSaZ5lQHfbrN4sZDTirGg8DSO35Gjf4PZAc3uZw

@dentfaceah 

---

Dentface-ah wrote:

I moved Procdump out of System32 and into its own folder and the dump was created without issue.

---

OK, that is strange.... but great that you found a workaround. 👍

This is the error:

FAILURE_PROBLEM_CLASS: BREAKPOINT

FAILURE_SYMBOL_NAME: TS3.exe!Unknown

FAILURE_BUCKET_ID: BREAKPOINT_80000003_TS3.exe!Unknown

A breakpoint error means, in simple terms, that a point was reached at that a normal execution of the program was not longer possible.

This error is normal caused by a Registry mismatch and/or drivers missing/corrupt/not compatible with the hardware running the program.

You wrote on the first side that "Disable Game Mode" doesn't show up as an option in the game mode settings area. There's no switch to tick it on or off. I ticked "Disable fullscreen optimizations" as suggested in the link you gave."
Could you provide a screenshot of the entire "Gaming" page in WIndows settings?

You don't use a Windows "N" version?

Run "chkdsk /r" on your C: and D: drive.

• Hit the Windows key and "X" at the same time > choose "Power Shell (Admin)"
• Type or copy and past "chkdsk /r c:" (Without the quotes) into the Power Shell Window > Press ENTER.
  (You will have to reboot to run chkdsk on the C: drive, so don't do that if you have important stuff open) 
• Do the same with the D: drive.
• Here is a guide how to find the chkdsk logs.
• Upload the log files like the DxDiag in text file format.

Furthermore:

• Hit Windows key and X.
• Choose either “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Command prompt (Administrator),” whichever option is offered.
• Inside the PowerShell or CMD, enter “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth” without quotes. > ENTER.
• The system will start validating soon. If it throws an error, please tell us.
• After it reaches 100%, hit Windows key and X again.
• Again, choose “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Command prompt (Administrator)”
• Inside the PowerShell or CMD, enter “sfc /scannow” without quotes. > ENTER.
• Post the message you receive at the end of the processes here.

Hello, @holger1405:

Here's what I see in the Windows Game Mode settings. As you can see, there's no option to turn it on or off.



Windows "N" version is exclusively sold in Europe, I believe. My computer model is GL702VSK Signature Edition by ASUSTek Computer Inc. Other specs were listed in my first post in this thread.

I have attached the logs of chkdsk for both the C drive and the D drive. Both appear normal.

For the DISM Restorehealth, there was this error:

I looked in dism.log and there's just tons of stuff going back to May 2018. If there's anything you need to see from inside there, let me know.

Here is the sfc / scannow log. No issues here.

Let me know if there's anything else you need.

@dentfaceah 

Do you have a installation medium for Windows Build 17134? (Version 1803)

@holger1405 

I'm not entirely sure what an "installation medium" is. Could you explain further please?

@dentfaceah  Holger1405 means do you have a DVD or USB that you could use to install Windows 10, specifically build 1803, which is the one you currently have.  You could create one; it's not that hard.  But let us know if you already have one.

@holger1405 @puzzlezaddict My PC doesn't have a disk insert, but I could use a USB, only problem is I don't believe I have any USBs on hand that hold very much data. What would be the purpose of doing a Windows 10 reinstall?

@dentfaceah 

It wasn't so much about a Windows 10 reinstall but to repair the component store.

The error the DISM command gave you renders the SFC scan practical useless because SFC uses the component store to repair defective Windows files. 

The USB stick would need at least 8GB.

I unfortunately do not have a USB stick with 8GB. The best I have is 4GB. Is there another way to do this?

@dentfaceah 

You would need a iso file of the Windows install DVD.

But the newest build is 18362, there are no official MS sources for 17134 anymore and the build looses support in november anyway.

So it might be a good idea to update to the newest build anyway.

I however can't promise that a update will help with the error. But we most probably would have a working component store and purged other possible error sources as well.

@holger1405 Been trying all day to update to the newest build, and it won't let me.

Getting this error:

Tried everything in this link (which has some instructions you gave me before), and none of it resolved the issue.

https://www.howto-connect.com/fix-error-0x80073712-in-windows-10-some-update-files-are-missing/

I'm gonna keep digging. If you have any advice, let me know.

@dentfaceah  If you're attempting to update through the usual interface in Settings, try going through Microsoft's website instead:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

There's a button to update to 1903 right at the top.  This often works when the normal method doesn't.

@dentfaceah 

What @puzzlezaddict said.

If that also fails let us know.

Edit: You have more than 20GB space on your C: drive now, right?

@holger1405 Yep, sitting at ~40.0GB free. Will try the link @puzzlezaddict suggested now.