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PORTCITYGIRL41's avatar
PORTCITYGIRL41
New Novice
5 hours ago

Sims 4 can't start

I have the same issue as  the above users. I checked drivers, done a complete uninstall and reinstall. deleted all mods and CC content. repaired the EA app even changed to -dx11 in the properties of the game. Ive also installed fresh versions of the 2015 and newer VC++ runtimes.

Ive also followed the instructions here :

  • Hit Windows key-X
  • Choose either “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Windows Terminal (Administrator),” whichever option is offered
  • Inside the window that appears, copy and paste “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth” without quotes, 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 “Windows Terminal (Administrator)”
  • Inside the window, copy and paste “sfc /scannow” without quotes, and enter
  • Post the message you receive here


Restart your computer, hit Windows key-i, select Update & Security, and click the box to check for updates.  If any install, restart again afterwards.

this was my report:

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.19041.3636

Image Version: 10.0.19045.5440

[==========================100.0%==========================] The restore operation completed successfully.
The operation completed successfully.
PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> sfc /scannow

Beginning system scan.  This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 100% complete.

Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
For online repairs, details are included in the CBS log file located at
windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For offline
repairs, details are included in the log file provided by the /OFFLOGFILE flag.
PS C:\WINDOWS\system32>

5 Replies

  • PORTCITYGIRL41  I've split your post into its own thread because it's easier for me to keep track of one crashing issue per thread at any given moment (or two at most).

    Thanks for providing the dxdiag, which does show some Sims 4 crashes, but nothing obvious.  When are you seeing the crashes, and do they happen if you create a new save with fresh sims?  Please try it if you haven't already, and don't use any sims or houses from the Gallery.

    If you notice some kind of pattern to the crashes, for example they happen during travel transitions or on a certain lot or in a specific world, let me know, whether this is universal or confined to one save.

    Please also disable Game Mode and Game Bar, both under Windows Settings > Gaming.

  • PORTCITYGIRL41's avatar
    PORTCITYGIRL41
    New Novice
    4 hours ago

    At start up the Sims 4 load screen, I dont even see the Main screen to pick my Sims or move them in.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    4 hours ago

    PORTCITYGIRL41  Please try playing in a clean boot, with your antivirus temporarily disabled.  Since you're not running anything else at the same time, your computer should be safe.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-da2f9573-6eec-00ad-2f8a-a97a1807f3dd

    The one service to leave enabled is the EABackgroundService, which the EA App needs in order to run.  Disable the rest as described.

    When you reboot your computer, go through the Task Manager's background processes list shutting down any service that doesn't absolutely need to be running, for example anything from MSI Afterburner to RGB software might still be enabled.  If you accidentally kill a critical process and it doesn't restart on its own, just reboot your computer again.

    Don't open anything other than Sims 4 and the EA App while testing, not even a browser window.

    If this helps, you can selectively reenable services until you find the culprit, then either leave that disabled or (if it belongs to an app you want to keep using) let me know what it is so we can try to fix the underlying issue.

    If the game freezes or crashes in a clean boot, please try again, except with your computer offline.  You can sign into the EA App and put it in offline mode, then disable wifi and/or disconnect the ethernet cable before pressing Play.

    If this doesn't help either, please create a new admin Windows account and try playing there.  Make it local, as in, don't link it to your Microsoft account or any email address.  Repeat the above: clean boot, AV disabled, offline, and then if it helps, start adding back some of those features.

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