Re: Sims 4 Keeps Flickering?

I tried but it couldn't install

EDIT: I updated it after doing more research on why it didn't work, but it still flashes. I also figured I'd add that it's been doing this since January 2017. My game kept booting me to the map screen so I did this trick I found on one of these forums of copying and pasting the Sims file to create a new one. I can't really explain it but that's basically what you do. Anyway after I did it one time it just started flickering when I clicked on the screen.

@bpeddle321

I do not really understand your problem? The other people in this post did not have a problem with installation but a flickering screen..
Did you find a fix that worked for you or are you still having a problem? 🙂

@bpeddle321

please post a DxDiag:

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

@bpeddle321

Oh I'm sorry! Now I also understand your previous post. I got confused as other people with similar issues have been using your thread, and you were gone for a while so I didn't get you were the same person lol! Now I'm with you!

Well, it's still strange that the dxdiag cannot find your nvidia card. The problem could be that if a tool like dxdiag cannot find your graphics card, how can the game do it. But you checked that the game ran on the nvidia card, can you post a screenshot of you Nvidia control panel and the sims?

When you mean copying and pasting the Sims files, is this what you mean?

Maybe you should try this again if you have not done it since a year ago.
Also try changing graphics settings are set to low quality. You can change your settings a bit and see if it works, like enabling/disabling vsync/fullscreen mode.

@bpeddle321

And what are your in-game graphics settings?

Here it is

@bpeddle321Okay.
You could make a clean installation of your graphic drivers, maybe then your computer will be able to detect it like normal too
https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/pc/how-to-perform-a-clean-installation-of-your-graphics-driver/

I know your game should be able to play on your nvidia-card with those settings, but just to make sure, can you just try for a minute to change to low settings and laptop mode, so that we can know more about the cause of the problem?

I changed the settings and it still flickers. I'll go try the driver thing now.

EDIT: I did the driver thing then added my game to the card and it still flickers.

@bpeddle321

Your dxdiag states that you have something called irstrtsv.exe that crashes sometimes. If you open your task manager and look at processes, can you find it there?
End the process and see if that makes a difference in your game.

Also tagging @roberta591 for help and opinions 😇

@bpeddle321 I looked at both your dxdiag posts and neither have drivers for the Nvidia chip installed. To make sure you have the drivers that work with that laptop I recommend you go to Dell's support site and download Dell drivers. You can try other drivers later but use the Dell driver's if you have issues.

@bpeddle321  Laptops sometimes (most of the times) have complex drivers. Laptop manufacturers take the reference drivers and sometimes change them to use special features such as switchable video chips. This software was most likely developed by Nvidia and the reference drivers from Nvidia may not work correctly. What you need to do is get drivers that are known to work and if the manufacturer's drivers don't work you may have a hardware issue. Tearing of the image is usually (but not always) due to issues creating or reading the frame buffers. Do you have a flat screen monitor connected to your laptop? The laptop may be having issues playing the 1080p resolution. Did you try to lower the resolution? Have you tried running a benchmark program like 3dmark (there is a free version)? It is possible you dl'd newer drivers then Dell has but your looking for stable drivers so you may have to roll back drivers. Again I didn't see any Nvidia drivers in either of your dxdiag. The Intel 4400 HD Graphics (the graphics chip that is integrated into the cpu) should work with the base game. You need to get the laptop Nvidia chip working and that should be done by downloading and installing the Nvidia driver from Dell. There should be a section in the dxdiag near the top describing the Nvidia driver probably right below the Intel driver section. Running a program like 3dmark will show if the issue is related to just TS3 or a system issue. According to the dxdiag I don't think the Nvidia chip is not working correctly if at all. You need to check to see if the Nvidia chip is being used for 3D games. The driver can be set to switch video chips when certain programs start. If this is not working correctly you are probably using the Intel integrated video chip which is not desirable for 3D games.

@bpeddle321  I apologize if I seem ruff but most computer gamers have a basic knowledge of the operating system they are using. You have to know how to update the operating system. Updating and troubleshooting video drivers are a basic routine for gamers. The Sims 3 has a complex structure and knowing the basics of your operating system file system is almost a most especially when you add mods and cc to this game. Device drivers are required for unknown hardware to interface to the Windows operating system. If you don't know the basics you need to find someone to teach and/or help you. Either your computer does not have an Nvidia chip or the dxdiag has extra hints that there is one but the driver data should follow the driver information right after the Intel video chip driver information in the beginning of the dxdiag. Nvidia provides a driver that switches video chips on the fly for laptops. When you have trouble with a laptop it is a good idea to return the laptop to a known state. That means disconnecting any hardware that didn't come with it and install drivers from the manufacturer - this means go to Dell and download and install any drivers for hardware you are having trouble with. There are many programs that can isolate what is causing video issues. 3dmark (there is a free version) is a benchmark program that will exercise the video system. If you have trouble running the 3dmark program you probably have a system problem (bad hardware - missing device drivers - file corruption (drivers). Is it possible your computer doesn't have a Nividia chip? Many (cheaper) laptops don't have a dedicated video chip. The specifications of your laptop should list this. If this hardware exists it will need a device driver so Windows will know how to talk to the hardware (welcome to Windows for dummies). There are many small computer stores popping up all over and there usually is a neighborhood guru around (the phone call usually starts you want a beer and by the way my computer is doing this funny this - could you look at it while your here). You have picked probably one of the hardest games to play on a laptop with 2 video chips. You have to verify your hardware is working correct first then make sure the game is installed correctly. I suspect you may need some help just verifying what you have and if it working correctly. We can help but you need to be able to help us to help you. If your computer does have an Nvidia video chip you need to go to Dell support and install the graphics driver for the Nvidia chip. The can be done by finding the driver in Dell support and download it and install it and test it.

@bpeddle321  I have attached the dxdiag from my Dell XPS 14z. You can see that there are 2 display devices. This section gives information about the device and driver information. Your dxdiag does not have this information about a Nvidia device. This could mean that the driver files are installed (later in the dxdiag) but the driver itself is not being detected or corrupt. First the Dell driver for Nvidia chip needs to be installed. Updating device drivers is a very basic computer maintenance procedure for Video drivers and printer drivers. The Dell support site has the driver for download. This driver could be the driver that came with the laptop or a newer driver that was updated after the laptop was produced. Microsoft is calling Windows 10 a service. MS is pushing out major updates (a new name for service packs?) semiannual. These updates will introduce new features and probably include fixes. I recommend getting the updates. As the old service packs took some time, be prepared to spend some time (an hour - maybe more) installing these major updates. When there are issues with the operating system it is very helpful to have some knowledge (or someone who has some knowledge) to help if things go south. Sometimes a hands on rather then long distance troubleshooting is required. You have to know if your laptop is working correctly before troubleshooting the game. Today's computers are very complex. This is the reason consoles are so popular. You need to correct the system issues and confirm that the laptop is working correctly. If you don't do that you may never fix the game. You need to confirm the video drivers are correct - is the laptop overheating (another common issue) - is the operating system (Windows 10) up to date and free of issues - is the computer connected correctly (video system). Dell has a help section about updating device drivers. Google is your friend (google it). The reason you have to have a basic idea about what to do is not all systems are the same and there may be different procedures (especially for laptops). Again you need to determine that the Nvidia chip is working correctly. That means making sure the correct device driver is installed and running a benchmark program the determine the hardware is working properly.

@bpeddle321  google dell support -  click drivers and downloads - enter your computer information