@ITurner_Anzac Have you tried disabling Origin in-game? Sims 4 will usually hang a bit earlier in the load process when this is the issue, but it's worth trying anyway. Hover over your username in Origin, select Application Settings, then the Origin in-game header, and disable the option at the top.
If that doesn't help, please move your entire Sims 4 folder out of Documents\Electronic Arts and onto your desktop. When you launch the game, a clean folder will spawn with no content. Don't add anything to it yet; just see whether you can get far enough to start a new save and play for a bit. Let me know either way.
If you can't start a new save in a clean folder, please run a dxdiag and attach it to a post.
https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/pc/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information/
Please also let me know whether you use a third-party antivirus, and if so, which one.
Hello @puzzlezaddict Many thanks for your reply.
I have tried disabling origin in game but via the sims game in my library i.e. right click on the game icon, goto game properties then can disable it there. I tried your method but it won't let me do it as in "restricted access mode"??
I've also tried multiple times deleting the Sims4 folder from my documents/moving it to desktop - given that it won't start at all I don't currently have any games saved. But this still doesn't work ☹️
I've attached my dxdiag file which I ran the other day. My PC is currently running McAfee antivirus - not sure if this is causing an issue?
Many thanks for your help! :D
@ITurner_Anzac There's a global setting for Origin in-game and a game-specific one; either should work. The global one is under Application Settings > Origin in-game, and it's worth trying regardless.
Still, you should be able to turn off restricted access mode in Origin: hover over your username, select Application Settings, and under Application (the first header), scroll all the way to the bottom, under Advanced. If you can't disable the setting, run Origin as an admin: right-click on the Origin shortcut and select "Run as administrator." If that doesn't help either, clear Origin's cache and repeat the above.
https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/faq/clear-cache-to-fix-problems-with-your-games/
The driver for your graphics chip is also out of date, and that may be causing the Sims 4 errors, although Origin in-game and/or restricted access mode could also cause the issue. It's a good idea to update the driver either way though. You can find the newest one on the Dell download page for your laptop:
I haven't heard of McAfee causing any Sims 4 issues, at least not recently, but if none of the above helps, try disabling McAfee just long enough to test. As long as you don't open anything other than Origin and Sims 4, your computer shouldn't be in any danger.
Hi @puzzlezaddict I have updated the drivers as per the link you sent, but sadly this still has not resolved the situation.
I've run another DxDiag (attached) - I don't know how to tell if the driver is out of date, hopefully this one shows un updated driver?
Otherwise looks like I may well have to look at what McAfee is doing... I don't get how installing and running a game from new can be so difficult!! Many thanks for all your help so far!
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