Issues with Grey/Opaque windows playing sims on Windows PC

@Emrys107  Do you have any custom content, and if so, have you tried testing in a new save with no cc at all?  When you changed the graphics settings, did you restart the game afterwards to see whether it helped?  Many of those settings won't go into effect until you've quit and relaunched.

Please also run a dxdiag and attach it to a post.

https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/pc/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information/

Hi thanks for helping, I have saves with no cc that still have the windows grey but I made a new save and removed all cc from my folders instead of just switching them off and the windows were still grey. I do close and reload the game every time I change the settings and nothing has changed. I've attached a copy of the Dxdiag I got. 

@Emrys107  The driver for your graphics chip is a couple years old now.  Lenovo doesn't offer a newer one, but AMD does:

https://www.amd.com/en/support/apu/amd-a-series-processors/amd-a12-series-apu-for-laptops/7th-gen-a12-9720p-apu

Download the Recommended (WHQL) drover from September 16, not the newer optional driver.  Restart your computer before testing the game.

I've now updated the driver from the link you sent and restarted my computer, sadly it seems my windows are still grey in sims. I restarted the game a few times with different graphics settings hoping it would make a difference once the driver had updated but there is no change. I've completely removed all CC from my files and only tested in new saves but there has been no such luck. Thank you for all your help thus far though, my game does feel a bit bit quicker after the driver update so that's something. I have no idea what to do about the windows though

@Emrys107  If you're playing on battery, please instead play with the laptop plugged in.  The energy-saving settings can do some strange things to graphics.

Please also test in a clean Sims 4 folder.  Move the existing folder out of Documents\Electronic Arts and onto your desktop, and when you launch the game, a clean folder will spawn with no content.  Don't add anything to this folder yet; just see how EA-made windows look.  If you have Seasons, please test in summer, on a sunny day, just in case weather is playing a part.

It's also a good idea to patch the game before testing, just in case something changed.  The patch should be out soon.

If none of this helps, please attach a couple screenshots, so I can get a better idea of what you're seeing in-game.

Hi, thanks again. I play with my laptop plugged every time with the energy-saving settings turned off all the time so it doesn't seem to be that. I got the new patch update and tried a new save (again no CC/mods in folder) and the windows still were grey. I then did the clean sims 4 folder like you suggested and it also had no effect on the greyed windows. I don't have seasons, just city living, eco lifestyle, tiny living and journey to batuu. Therefore I've attached some screen shots of when I made a new save in the updated clean sims 4 - I just did four walls and windows to show - when I am on a certain level in a build I can see through the windows but not through any other level. If I have the roof up all the windows are grey. My uploads and saves to my library and the gallery also display my builds as having greyed windows. Interestingly, I also just realised that although all windows are greyed out, I have no problems seeing through the glass on doors. I haven't added a screenshot for it but I also thought it would be useful to say the windows are grey no matter what windows I use and no matter what mode I'm in (build/live).

@Emrys107  That is quite strange.  If that building is still in the Gallery later, I'll download it and have a look.

Does it make a difference if you place a light right inside the window, where it you'd normally be able to see it?  What about adding or removing ceilings, floor patterns, internal wallpaper, etc.—does that ever make a difference either way?  I'm just kind of guessing here, since I can't see what's going on in your game.

Please also take a couple screenshots with lighting, object details, and draw detail on high, just to see whether it makes any difference at all.  Performance might be bad, but you don't have to play for very long.

So there has been some interesting borderline successful developments. I quickly made a new save and lot to test different windows on a house with lights roofing and all the standard stuff. Despite me changing nothing since my last message (aside from putting laptop mode back on as it kept crashing yesterday) I was surprised to find when I added a window to the ground floor despite not being on it, the window did in fact stay clear. I then added a different window (a larger one floor to ceiling) and this greyed out as soon as I placed it (see first photo). I then played around with different windows to varying results and decided to try increasing my object and lighting settings to high as you suggested. I did so and it obviously told me I needed to reset the game but before I did I tried the windows again and to my surprise they were all clear. I have tried all the settings on high multiple times with everything turned off before and the changes you've suggested and nothing had changed it previously. I was especially surprised considering I didn't even reset the game for it to take effect so I have no idea what happened. I thought maybe this was problem solved but I found I was quite zoomed in when placing windows and the second I went past a certain small distance they greyed out again (I've attached photos of the one scroll difference in distance changing the window (I do use sims 3 camera controls)). I have tried to save to library and the windows seem to stay clear on there. I tried to increase the view distance to fix the grey windows from zoom out and it did not change it. 

So to summarise I'm playing in a blank new sims game having removed my original folder; updated to new patch and repaired in origin; no CC; my settings are now on low for everything but objects and lighting which are on high and laptop mode on and so the windows now seem to be sort of working in most circumstances because of which of the settings I have no idea lol. At this point I want to be relieved but because I'm not entirely sure what fixed it I'm worried it'll reoccur. I'm not planning on using CC anyway but yeah so sort of fixed? 🤔

@Emrys107  I can't see the screenshots because this site's virus scanner is currently not working.  But I think I follow what you're saying.  I kind of wonder whether the issue is a combination of graphics settings, the type of windows, and the angle you're viewing the window.  And maybe the time of day.  I don't know; this is a weird issue, and I haven't been able to duplicate it.

I'm not sure what to tell you, sorry, except that maybe save your builds often and be ready with the undo button if a window looks wrong and can't be fixed.