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

@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 

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Dentface-ah wrote:

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

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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.

@holger1405 

Updated to current version of Windows successfully - game still hangs and stops responding just as before.

@dentfaceah  Try running DISM and sfc /scannow as before.  The point of updating was to repair an element of the OS—the component store, as @holger1405 mentioned—so you could then use the commands to (hopefully) repair the other corrupt Windows files.

Here's the post again, so you don't have to search for it:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/The-Sims-3-Stops-Responding-amp-Crashes-5-Minutes-into-Live-Mode/m-p/7967661#M236674

And if DISM doesn't work, another error report like the one you provided last time would be great.

@puzzlezaddict & @holger1405:

Both DISM and sfc /scannow completed successfully without any problems. Here are the logs anyway:

Loaded up the game after this, assuming it actually did repair anything - and the game had the same issues as usual.

@dentfaceah 

OK, now we know that Windows is fine as far as we can tell from online troubleshooting.

As said, this error is often caused by Registry mismatches and we already clean installed the driver.

Please preform a clean boot and test the Game in clean boot mode.

If that don't helps:;

• Make sure Origin is closed.
• Go here and download "Revo Uninstaller". (the freeware version, portable version also works.)
• Install and run "Revo Uninstaller" > Uninstall Origin (All games remain installed) At the end of the main uninstall process Revo will ask you which cleaning method you want to use. > select "Moderate" > Browse.
• If "Remaining Registry entries found"  is displayed > Select all > delete > Next
• When "Remaining Data and Folders" is displayed > Select All (IMPORTANT: Make sure that the "Origin Games" folder or the folder you installed your games to is not in the list !!! ) > Delete.
• Uninstall TS3 the same way. 
• Restart the PC.
• download this version of Origin installer.
• Run the "OriginSettup.exe" as administrator. (right click on the "OriginSettup.exe" > Run as administrator.)
• click right on the link Origin link on the desktop > Run as administrator.
• Install TS3 > Restart > Test.

@holger1405 

I did a clean boot previously and it didn't change anything. Should I try it again now anyway? If not, I'll just skip ahead to your other instructions.

@dentfaceah  Please try the clean boot again.  Even if it goes exactly the same way as before, that's still useful information to have.

Hey there. Just checking in. Taking a short break for a few more days before I try again. This has been a long process and it's wearing down on me a bit. I'm still committed to see this through, but I think it's good to take just a bit of a breather.

Thanks again for all your help. I'll reply again once I've done the clean boot and the other instructions.