Infinite loading screen (DxDiag attached)
Infinite loading screen when trying to load save files. I have done everything possible as listed here: Removing all CC & Mods Deleting the Sims 4 folder in Documents Updating my video card driver...
Forum Discussion
@SoyokoAnis As I mentioned in my original post, I have already updated my drivers. Please carefully re-read my post to see everything I have already done. Everything I have done has taken several days for me to complete. Furthermore, your link led me to a post specifically for white screen issues. As I also mentioned in my post, my game is not loading my saves, ergo I have no white screen issues.
@GrumpyKitten4295 When you updated your graphics driver, did you do so through Nvidia or through another site? The driver is new enough (dated September 29) that it should still work, but it's not the newest version. And the Sims 4 errors in your dxdiag are most often related to the GPU driver, although they can have other causes.
This is the latest driver available from Nvidia (December 15):
https://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverResults.aspx/167753/en-us
Restart after installing but before trying to play.
If installing it doesn't help your game, or you can't install it at all, please run a couple of basic checks on your Windows system files. The dxdiag itself crashed, which could be a random blip, but it could also indicate an issue with Windows.
- Hit Windows key-X
- Choose either “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Command prompt (Administrator),” whichever option is offered
- Inside the window that appears, copy and paste “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth” without quotes into the window, and enter
- The system will start validating soon. If it throws an error, please list it here
- After it reaches 100%, hit Windows key-X again
- Again, choose “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Command prompt (Administrator)”
- Inside the window, copy and paste “sfc /scannow” without quotes into the window, and enter
- Post the message you receive here
Again, restart before trying to play.
If you still get a white screen while trying to load a save, please try playing while your computer is completely offline. You can sign into Origin and put it in offline mode, then disable wifi and/or disconnect the ethernet cable before launching the game.
Finally, is there a reason you're not using your TV's native resolution? Such a nonstandard res might not work well with the game, even if it's worked in the past. If you're willing to switch to 1920x1080, please try it.
@puzzlezaddictThank you for your reply, I appreciate it. I updated the Nvidia driver in December, I'm not sure why the DxDiag says September 29. I remember because my son's Chromebook wasn't working and I had to turn on my computer (the desktop which contains my Sims 4 game). As soon as I turned it on, the notification for the Nvidia update popped up. It was the week before Christmas break. I use my computer almost daily for processing photos for photography, and it is oftentimes not powered down for days on end. All of that to say that I didn't miss a driver update because I use my computer a LOT. So again, not sure why the DxDiag says September 29. I will try downloading the update again, but it will just be re-installing the 480.86 (or whatever) version again.
I cannot use 1920x1080. If I could, I would be using it, but doing so makes the screen (of Windows 10 desktop) run off the sides and does not fit the screen into view. Ergo, I cannot access the Start menu nor any of my pins on the taskbar. I don't know why it does this, maybe because the TV is old, but the native resolution doesn't work either way. I don't do it for TS4, I do it simply because it's the only way to view the entire screen. EDIT: Maybe I can't use 1920x1080 because of the Nvidia GeForce? I remember changing the resolution for the Nvidia to match the TV but it didn't work for some reason. I can't recall, as it was over a year ago.
EDIT: Also, when should I try the PowerShell process you recommended? Should I try updating the Nvidia drivers again first or should I do the PowerShell process before trying to update the drivers again? Please advise. Thank you. 🙂**Sorry, 460.89 version. I had the numbers wrong.
@puzzlezaddictHere is another DxDiag after I re-installed the drivers for the Nvidia. Also, I didn't answer your earlier question pertaining to where I downloaded the drivers from: I always go through Nvidia directly. On my Nvidia app on my desktop it will pop up and let me know when there is a driver update available. I click on the link and it will take me to the Nvidia website every time. If there is a third-party route that can update Nvidia drivers, I wouldn't know of it. *shrug* I hope that helps.
@GrumpyKitten4295 I don't think BlueStacks would have anything to do with the Sims 4 issues, and almost certainly not with the dxdiag crash, but it's easy enough to kill it in the Task Manager before trying to play. Your dxdiag didn't crash this time though.
As for your driver version, the dxdiag is still reporting that you have 456.71, dated 9/29, installed:
Driver File Version: 27.21.0014.5671 (English) Driver Version: 27.21.14.5671 DDI Version: 12 Feature Levels: 12_1,12_0,11_1,11_0,10_1,10_0,9_3,9_2,9_1 Driver Model: WDDM 2.7 Hardware Scheduling: Supported:True Enabled:False Graphics Preemption: Pixel Compute Preemption: Dispatch Miracast: Not Supported by Graphics driver Detachable GPU: No Hybrid Graphics GPU: Not Supported Power P-states: Not Supported Virtualization: Paravirtualization Block List: No Blocks Catalog Attributes: Universal:False Declarative:True Driver Attributes: Final Retail Driver Date/Size: 9/29/2020 6:00:00 PM, 1039376 bytesHowever, I went over the driver components in the dxdiag, and all except for two have a December date. (This was not true for your previous dxdiag, where the components were dated October 1.) The two still dated 10/1 are a .dll for the Nvidia Control Panel and a license file, so it does seem like this is just an error of reporting. Still, it's worth installing the newest driver, dated yesterday:
https://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverResults.aspx/168778/en-us
Run it as an admin: right-click on the download and select "Run as administrator." If you have a third-party antivirus, disable any real-time scanning before installing.
By the way, I was asking where you got the driver because most manufacturers and most assemblers provide drivers for their products for at least a little while. However, they don't usually post every single new driver, more like one every few months or for each new Windows 10 build or when there's an identified issue with the last driver they offered. Point is, Cyberpower might have an older driver on its website, but there's no reason for you not to download straight from Nvidia instead.
I still think it's worth installing the newest driver not only because of the discrepancy but because there are at least a couple new errors in your dxdiag that most often point to a driver issue. If that doesn't help though, please set the game to launch in windowed mode. Open your Origin game library, right-click on the Sims 4 icon, select Game Properties > Advanced Launch Options, enter -w (with the hyphen) in the command line box, and save.
If that doesn't help, please undo that setting. Then load the game to the Main Menu, open the graphics settings, and change the in-game resolution to something lower than 1768x992 on both dimensions. (At the very least, 1024x768 and 1366x768 should be available.) Please try in both fullscreen and windowed modes and let me know whether either one works.
While testing, please only start new saves, just to keep things simple. If you have your old saves available, you can try adding them back later, once the game is working again.
- @puzzlezaddict Thank you! I will try to answer everything you have mentioned.
OK, when I install the update for my drivers, as I said previously, they *are* directly from Nvidia's website. Yes, I have a CyberPower PC, but I have never gone to their website, and I'm not even sure if one exists for them. I have Nvidia GeForce GameReady software on my desktop, and the Nvidia software is the one that takes me to the update links, all from the Nvidia website.
As for the crashing vs. the non-crashing, any further thoughts? I find it odd that it crashed before but didn't this time. Is there anything else in the DxDiag that can tell you (me) why there was a crash previously? Thank you.
Also, regarding saves: I was able to start a new game/new save, but still cannot open my old saves. Updating the drivers didn't change that. I can try un-installing and re-installing the game again, I guess I'm willing to wait for the ~3 hours it takes.
I seriously don't see how it can be a driver issue because I already installed the update THREE TIMES now (four times if you count the week before Christmas break when I initially updated the darn thing). I know because I had to watch my screen go blank and have a mild panic attack all three times because I wasn't paying attention and was taken by surprise.
I started a new game, did all my sim customizations (no CC and no mods because I never use those, anyway), got her a flat in which to live, etc. I saved the game, backed out, closed TS4. I re-opened TS4, loaded the game perfectly in a matter of seconds, as per usual. It is only my old saves that will not load.
None of my other gaming platforms (Epic Games, Bethesda, Battle.net, Steam) have trouble loading, for what it's worth.
If I can't figure out a way to play my old saves, I guess I'll just have to big-girl-panty it up and start over again. It's a shame because my kids also have saves that won't load. Not to mention that one of my rags-to-riches sims had finally built a store and had earned many perks for it. ☹️ It's times like this I wish I stayed in touch with my buddy Tom Bertalan who graduated from MIT and Yale. ^_^;
Oh well, thanks for everything. I guess I'll just put my big-girl panties on and suck it up. Maybe my save files are just...corrupted somehow?
Thanks again!
- @puzzlezaddict OHHHHHHHHH DUDE I JUST REALIZED SOMETHING: I downloaded BlueStacks so that my kids could play a game...Among Us, I think? Could the Blue Stacks be affecting the DxDiag? You said the DxDiag crashed. Just wondering if that had anything to do with it.
@puzzlezaddict I was wondering: would you be willing to test my save files with your game and see if you also are stuck on an infinite plumbob screen?
I'm willing to try most things/many things if it means being able to play my old saves.
Community Highlights
- EA_Cade11 months ago
Community Manager
