Sims stopping collectively

@fvf6tr753oi9  Please run a dxdiag and attach it to a post.

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

@fvf6tr753oi9  First of all, your dxdiag shows a few Windows errors, including with updates, so it's a good idea to clean those up.  Start with a couple of basic checks on your Windows system files:

• 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 into the window, 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 into the window, 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.

Once you've done that, update your graphics driver, which is from 2020.  You can get the newest one from Intel here:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/122589/intel-core-i78550u-processor-8m-cache-up-to-4-00-ghz/downloads.html

You'll want the standard driver, dated May 22, rather than the newer beta driver.  Run the installer as an admin: right-click on the download and select "Run as administrator."  Restart your computer after installing and before trying to play.

The above is basic maintenance and worth doing even without any trouble with Sims 4, but I can't say from your dxdiag that the problems flagged in your dxdiag have anything to do with your in-game issues.  If you don't notice any improvement after doing the above, please move the entire Sims 4 folder out of Documents\Electronic Arts and onto your desktop; the game will spawn a new folder the next time it loads.  Don't add anything to it yet; just start a new save and let me know how it runs in comparison to your current save.  Test in one of the base game worlds.

I've run into something before I can update the graphics driver, on the website you sent me to it doesn't list an option from 5/22. I don't expect you to know how to proceed but I thought I'd ask. Additionally, you said to add the message I got after the second scan, and I got "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations." Thank you again for the help.

@fvf6tr753oi9  Sorry, I meant May 25.  (I don't think I'll ever get used to the number pad.)  But if your game is fine now, that's great.  The errors in your dxdiag are real, and they should be addressed sooner or later.

However, there's something to be said for not updating yourself into a problem, or another problem in this case.  I'd just suggest that if you do see any more issues with Sims 4, you update the graphics driver first.  That same download page should always offer the newest graphics driver available for your hardware, and you'll always want the stable driver, not the beta.

@fvf6tr753oi9  If you'd like to keep your saves, you can move them over from the old Sims 4 folder to the new one.  Your saved households and builds are in Tray, and there's no harm in moving them over either, and you can save Screenshots if you like.  The rest, I'd leave out: the game will regenerate the other files as necessary.

If your old save runs poorly but the new one runs great, that means that something about the old save is a problem.  It can be anything from an overly complicated lot (too large, too many objects) to the Eco Lifestyle footprint to playing in a world that has issues (San Myshuno and possibly one Henford neighborhood) to the custom content your sims are wearing.  So it's not always easy to troubleshoot.  But if you're interested in help and the save is in fact problematic, let me know.