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flaviia's avatar
flaviia
Rising Newcomer
2 months ago

Problems with starting The Sims 4

Hi everyone, I tried to start the game but it always displays a window (I'll attach a photo to this post) and The Sims 4 doesn't start. I tried to restart the game or repair it, but nothing has changed. I would like to avoid uninstalling the game to not lose the downloaded expansions, is there another way?

  • flaviia  Please provide a dxdiag.  Hit Windows key-R, enter dxdiag in the run box, wait for the scan to finish, click "Save all information," and save the file to your desktop.  From there, you can attach it to a reply using the camera (Insert Media) icon included with the other formatting buttons.

    • Ziafar's avatar
      Ziafar
      New Scout

      I have the exact same problem. It happened once several weeks ago and I ws told to update NVIDIA (which I did) and revert dot DX9 (which I did also). Problem solved......temporarily....because I have the same problem since yesterday. I sent you my DxDiag file

    • flaviia's avatar
      flaviia
      Rising Newcomer

      Where do I find a dxdiag file? Or how can I create it?

  • Ziafar  Is DirectX 9 mode still enabled?  Please check in the EA App, under Sims 4 > Manage > View properties.  Two other players have reported that their command line argument (-dx9 or -dx11 , I believe one each) was removed.

    Nvidia also offers a much newer graphics driver than the one you have installed.  Go here:

    https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/

    Choose GeForce, 700 series, GT 730, Windows 7 64-bit, and you should see a driver from July.  Run the installer as an admin: right-click the download and select "Run as administrator."  Restart your computer after installing and before trying to play.

    Your computer should also support Windows 10 (not 11), if you'd like to upgrade at some point.  That would be another way around this particular problem.

    • Ziafar's avatar
      Ziafar
      New Scout

      Thank you for your detailed answer. I will try all of this and let you know if I had success. As for Windows 10 it will be with my next PC. One of my two hard drive is in terminal condition. 

       

      I went to get the driver. The result is terrible. Everything on my computer is distorted. I am quite desesperate. I tried changing the resolution but nothing worked. Can I delete the new driver and get the old back?

       

       

       

      I

  • Ziafar  Click Windows key-X, select the Device Manager, open Display Adapters, right-click the Nvidia GT 730, choose Properties > Driver, and you should see the option to roll back.

    Having said that, I don't see any distortions in your screenshot.  Maybe it's too subtle, or the screenshot is fine and you only see the problem in person, so to speak, but I'd still be interested in trying to fix this problem rather than simply reverting the driver.  However, it's your choice.

    • Ziafar's avatar
      Ziafar
      New Scout

      Thank you so much for trying to help. On my side the icons are not round. They appear oval and they are huge. If I try to make them smaller they are too small. Also the text and the pictures in word and on Internet  are stretched hyorizontally. Perhaps the screenshots do not show it. For now I will go back to the old driver because I have to work on my computer (I am a translator)and the new text strain my eyes. But if you find a solution I will try again. 

       

  • Ziafar  My suggestion would be to change the monitor's resolution (Windows Settings > System > Display), restart your computer, and change it back.  And if that doesn't help, to change the DPI scalings, both system and user, to 96 (100%), and restart again.  Sometimes the system does show strange behavior like this the first time a new driver is installed but then fixes itself after a restart, or after you force it to recalibrate for new settings.

    Still, the underlying issue may be Windows 7, and the only fix (other than upgrading to 10) may be to play in DirectX 9 mode, which you should be able to do with the older driver.  So this could be a project you come back to when you have some free time.

    • Ziafar's avatar
      Ziafar
      New Scout

      You know you were right. my change to directX9 had desappeared. I made the change again and the game runs fine. But I will keep in mind your suggestion about the the driver and the monitor resolution. Where do you change the DPI scalings?