Re: Loading into households takes forever in The Sims 4

What version of Windows are you running and do you know the specs of your hardware?  Direct X is included with every version of windows and it is required by The Sims 4 therefore the diagnostic utility must be there. Here is an example of what the result should look like on Windows 10:

Select the "Save All Information" option then post the contents or upload the file to location where we can download it. You can use the "insert/edit link" option in the forum post editor to create a hyperlink.

Currently on Windows 8.1, as I downgraded from Windows 10 because 90% of my games couldn't run on Windows 10 at the time, and I just haven't felt like sitting there while it updates. My PC is custom built, running on an AMD FX six-core processor 3.50 GHz, 8GB RAM, x64-bit OS. And I do have DirectX 10 or higher, because other games I own depend on it. In the CMD prompt, however, I'm not in the "System_32" directory. Could that be my problem?

*Excuse the "_" in "System_32"

The System32 Directory is in your path variable therefore any executable under that directory can be located by windows without entering the full path or changing directories. If the error persists you can simply open your "C:\Windows\System32" directory and double-click on dxdiag.exe.

Now, I had to go into System32 and find the .exe, and I have the file.... but does it give any personal info? I mean, I read forums that said it isn't, but I'm still skeptical about it. What all info does it give?

The diagnostic tells us everything about your hardware and the general configuration of your operating system including installed hardware components, input peripherals, and software versions. It does include some personal information such as the name of your system on your Windows Network, the build version of your operating system and license type, The type and quality of your hardware, the system manufacturer if you've purchased a pre-built system, application associations for common multimedia types, and which recently loaded applications are causing windows to report errors.

None of this information really poses a file or communications security threat however it can be used to draw conclusions about your usage habits and possibly your skill level.

If you don't wish to share the entire file, we only need information from the following fields for problem analysis:

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System Information
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Time of this report:

   Operating System:

          Processor:
             Memory:
Available OS Memory:
          Page File:

    DirectX Version:

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Display Devices
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          Card name:
       Manufacturer:
          Chip type:
           DAC type:
        Device Type:

     Display Memory:
   Dedicated Memory:
      Shared Memory:
       Current Mode:

        Native Mode:
        Output Type:
        Driver Name:
Driver File Version:
     Driver Version:
        DDI Version:
     Feature Levels:
       Driver Model:
Graphics Preemption:
 Compute Preemption:
           Miracast:
Hybrid Graphics GPU:
     Power P-states:
  Driver Attributes:
   Driver Date/Size:
        WHQL Logo'd:
    WHQL Date Stamp:

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Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
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I need to see your list of hard disks so include everything in this section.

I also need everything in the "System Devices" section.

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System Devices
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Insert everything between these two headings. I need to see the type and data rates of your drive controllers.

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DirectShow Filters
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Could I possibly send this as a private message? I just don't feel right posting it publicly, even though someone can easily hack into your messages and retrieve it, but there's literally no point to that, lol.

I'm a gamer as you are and I don't represent EA therefore if you'd like to establish private communications regarding your support issue, you'll have to flag a member of the AHQ team and request private communication. @crinrict is likely the person you'll want to communicate with.

Oh, I have never tried to send a private message so I did not know how that works.

Erm, it let me send it to you....

The problem is likely your system drivers, especially if you've reinstalled windows recently. Try updating your display and chipset drivers at the websites for your motherboard and video card manufacturers. If you have multiple SSDs you may even want to try placing your save data on a separate SSD to maximize the performance of your drive controller. For example I run my operating system on a small partition on the first SSD, store save data on the second partition of the first SSD, and install game packages on the second SSD so I can fully utilize the bandwidth of my 6 gigabit controllers while the game is loading packages and content, but again, your problem is likely the result of outdated system drivers.

Edit: Additionally, the drivers and software for your onboard drive controllers might be listed separately from your chipset drivers. Be sure to download and install those as well.

Now, I was going to initially install TS4 on my "Games" HHD, but I couldn't find anywhere to change the installation path.

And do you know where I can find the websites for my drivers? Since I got a new drive, (Before I was just running on one 1TB HHD), I haven't had any prompts to update the AMD graphic card drivers. (I think that's what it was, but I would CONSTANTLY get the updater program pop-ups and I would install it than restart and they'd be updated).

If you're running a standard pre-built system (HP, Dell, Compaq, Alienware, ASUS, etc) you'll have to visit their website and search for 'Driver Downloads' under their 'Support' section. The downloads will also include the auto-updaters. Of course the ATI Radeon drivers are available from AMD at Support.AMD.com however I would recommend updating your system drivers first since the performance of your drive controllers is likely the problem.

Regarding installation path, @crinrict has a blog with instructions on configuration of the Origin installation path, however you cannot set the path for individual titles. It is possible to do this with 'mods' however you'll lose Origin connectivity and support from EA if you attempt this.

I have finally sorted out all my CC into three separate folders inside of a fold on my desktop.

Build_Mode-Buy_Mode

618 Files

Create-A-Sim

1,748 Files

Game_Mods-Other

67 Files

Looks like CAS CC takes up the most, and I barely use it. Build Mode and Buy Mode CC takes up a chunk but as a builder that is the most important to me. And game mods are like the icing on the cake for me-- not required but it's a bonus.

Note, all of that will not add up to the original number I said, as I deleted some items.

I haven't been able to find the right drivers, so I'm just going to limit my CC.

If there is a driver-related performance issue, it would be best to resolve it since it will affect the stability and obviously performance of other applications as well. Reduction of drive controller performance due to incorrect or non-existent drivers is common for controllers with advanced optimizations and you'll want to ensure that you're fully utilizing your graphic hardware as well even though you have a vast amount of spare resources.If you've never overclocked your system then memory and CPU performance shouldn't be an issue however it's a good idea to ensure that your clock frequencies and memory timing are set accurately as well. If you've never changed these setting in your BIOS then there is no need for concern.

Look at your motherboard for the brand and model number. you will be able to locate the manufacturer's website by name and you'll immediately locate driver downloads by model number.

Example:

Asus Rampage III Extreme Motherboard with no components installed:

If you look just above the memory module slots you'll see that it says "Asus Rampage III Extreme" in bold text. Every motherboard has this branding and if it isn't an extreme or special product you'll see a model number at that location. In this example the brand is "Asus" and the product is "Rampage Extreme" third edition. If there is no branding, search for labels which indicate that the components are from Intel or AMD. Third parties will purchase components from either of the two primary manufacturers and rebrand them however you will see the original component numbers on the components in locations which are easy to see without magnification.

Closeup of branding beneath CPU socket.:

Asus and Republic of Gamers branding on Intel chipsets:

So, I just removed the "Game Mods-Other" folder and it does everything just fine. Must have been a mod I suppose.

It's possible that one or more of your mods contained circular references or conflicts with cyclical processes during load however the result is usually an error which will either cause severe graphic distortions, or interface malfunctions which would be immediately recognizable. Would you mind sharing the list of what you have in your 'other' directory?

Yes, I do not mind. Now however I am having this problem where just playing in live mode is glitchy, like if I send my sim to go use the toilet, using it won't bring up their bladder need, and they can wash their hands from the toilet without being by the sink, and when I send him to paint, the canvas gets put there and I have to click "Resume" and then the painting just completes it self in under a second. I can record some footage if you'd like.

Game_Mods-Other:

• 67 Files, 0 Folders
• 12.3 MB (12,983,886 bytes)
• Consists mostly of custom traits

I don't know how I'd properly share the folder, but here is a list of the items. (.pkg=.package)

• artLover_bySimmu.pkg
• attractive.pkg
• blessed trait.pkg
• blob_remover.pkg
• BwanSpeedsterYL.pkg
• catherineatscabbage_CAS_trait_familyOriented.pkg
• Conka2000ParanoidTrait.pkg
• Conka2000SociallyAwkwardTrait.pkg
• CuteStuff._a_CAS_trait_materialistic_x.pkg
• DrChillgood-FlunkingKidsDontGetDeleted.pkg
• hipster.pkg
• IBY_nyannyanPose-CAS-Snob.pkg
• lazy_bySimmu.pkg
• loner_bySimmu.pkg
• MMD_Twerk_BIB_a2o_stereo.pkg
• MoonChoker - heckyeahsims.pkg
• More Traits-Version Eleven-Updated 1-13-16.pkg
• morgade-LargerInteractionQueue.pkg
• MTS_artum_1527967_SuperSpeedMod_0_4.zip
• MTS_clown_1459534_EnableDebugCheats.zip
• MTS_Scumbumbo_PutBooksAway_v4.pkg
• MTS_Scumbumbo_SimLotto_v1b.pkg
• MTS_SimserderDeutschen_1456917_NoIntro.zip
• No Intro.pkg
• SHimrodCheapAspirationRewards.pkg
• ShimrodNoDistanceBlur.pkg
• shortcuts.py
• SimstopicsFreeClubPerks.pkg
• SimstopicsFreeRetailPerks.pkg
• superspeedmod.py
• superspeedmod.pyo
• Tmex-ClubCredit.zip
• tmex-MoreFires.pkg
• TofundaWagon.pkg
• underwearwhiteBritfixedOK.pkg
• UpdatedSims4AbsentMindedTraitLilcasscass.pkg
• VornStallion.pkg
• YeYing_a_CAS_trait_clumsy_x.pkg
• YeYing_a_CAS_trait_creative_x.pkg
• Zerbu - Trick and Treat Restored.pkg
• Zerbu - Turbo Careers Mod Pack - Career Overrides.pkg
• Zerbu - Turbo Careers Mod Pack.pkg
• Zerbu - Venue List Mod.pkg
• Zooroo_ATM_v2

The last 27 are just traits by Zebru that worked fine before, but if you need their names I can provide that.

The mods which are most likely to cause what you're experiencing are the following:

DrChillgood-FlunkingKidsDontGetDeleted.pkg - This mod may be conflicting with service pool maintenance and causing delays or excessive repetition.

shortcuts.py - This likely isn't loaded by the game since it is neither archived nor compiled. Open with notepad to determine what it is.

superspeedmod.py - Clock multiplier and tick rate modifications cause failure of event scheduling and household state change triggering.

superspeedmod.pyo - Clock multiplier and tick rate modifications cause failure of event scheduling and household state change triggering.

Zerbu - Turbo Careers Mod Pack - Career Overrides.pkg - Overriding of career events, career lot data, and/or career timing may cause errors during loading of the household while career events are in progress.

Zerbu - Turbo Careers Mod Pack.pkg - Career Overrides.pkg - Overriding of career events, career lot data, and/or career timing may cause errors during loading of the household while career events are in progress. 

Zerbu - Venue List Mod.pkg - Custom venue lists will cause failure of party event scheduling and inability to use the social event options of the user interface.

Zooroo_ATM_v2 - I've never even heard of this one before. Custom bill scheduling may cause errors or data corruption during daily event scheduling if they're modifying the existing schedule rather than adding/subtracting and tracking funds within their own script, and even if they've created their own 'loan' schedule, their counter may be delaying core functions if the interval is too short (by making unnecessary calls per tick).

MTS_Scumbumbo_SimLotto_v1b.pkg - This mod includes customized autonomy and also requires custom scheduling. The current version has been listed as being updated for build 1.13.104 and if you've kept your game updated you should now be running version 1.15.55

Trait and tuning mods are pure text and the other content is mostly texture data so those shouldn't be affecting anything unless the creator used instance or object IDs which conflict with core functions or data sets. I've also noticed that you have duplicate mods and those may be conflicting with each other if they're not from the same creators so eliminate duplicates as soon as possible. Python objects and scripts must be archived therefore if you see files with .py or .pyo extensions which are not within a zip or a ts4script file they can be deleted.

• MTS_artum_1527967_SuperSpeedMod_0_4.zip
• superspeedmod.py
• superspeedmod.pyo
• MTS_clown_1459534_EnableDebugCheats.zip
• MTS_Scumbumbo_PutBooksAway_v4.pkg
• MTS_SimserderDeutschen_1456917_NoIntro.zip
• No Intro.pkg

Good luck to your sims!

Now my game in general is glitchy. It's hard to explain what happens, but lets say I send my Sim to "troll teh forums", they go and sit at the computer and just sit there and it says they're doing it but there' no progress in the action bar by their emotions. This applies to most things, but the thing that I really see is when I tell a sim to clean up the dishes, they pick up one, then go to the other one and right when he/she tries to pick up the second one he/she glitches and resets and drops the plates. I have in-game recordings if you'd like to see.

The queueing problem might be caused by the interaction queue mod since that mod was created for an older version however any of the items in your 'other' list could be causing it so you'll want to test those again in sets. I've encountered the plate cleanup problem in households where dirty plates had been left inside the wall or on shelves which had been placed with move objects enabled so search the house and verify that there are no plates in un-routable locations. You'll also want to try adding additional sinks and trash cans to ensure that they're able to empty the plates, then locate a sink or dishwasher to wash them with. With one of the older patches I had encountered a problem where I was forces to pile all of the dirty dishes, place extra sinks and trash cans, then let the sims cook a meal and cleanup autonomously before they would resume normal cleanup. The problem is that the state of one of the dirty meal objects is invalid and you can also try placing them all on a table or counter then deleting it.

But see the thing is I don't have the "Mods-Other" folder in my mods directory. So I don't have the queue mod installed. The plates he tries to pick are on the floor, and one is on the table where I didn't use moveobjects to place, as this house I built and I usually only use moveobjects for plants and lights. This happens with any other household I use and it does the same thing, but it's not just the dish clean-up glitch, there's many more. Like I'll send him to watch TV and he sits down like he's watching it, but he really doesn't watch it.

The state of your neighborhood data may be the problem - the values which were set by your mods prior to removal may have caused malformation of the data structure as the result of errors during saving or package updates. If these problems do not occur with a new file then you'll have to roll back to your last good save then verify that your mods are compatible before re-saving.

Well, I going to re-install and then put back my CC, and I'll see what happens. I started a new save and it didn't help all the way. Cooking is still glitchy and sleeping also.