[The Sims 2] SIMS 2 compaitability with windows 8

Okay I've tried everything listed in this thread and I keep running into the same problem: I go to create a new sim and either it would crash as soon as I selected her hair color or clothing, or prior to trying the above mentioned, I got as far as being able to play, but then the game would crash on one random screen or another, and finally the sim I created somehow got corrupted and everytime I would click on her lot the game would crash. So I uninstalled the whole thing, reinstalled using the tips listed above, and now this is where I am currently re: crashing when I try to create a sim. 

I'm guessing I won't be able to create a sim without the game crashing on me, I'm very disappointed as I have this game and all the expansion packs and can't play it on my old laptop... too slow, and my previous vista desktop crashed and burned years ago. So now I guess I'm just SOL. I'm going to try running as administrator and windows 7 compatibility and see if that works. And I'm going to try NOT creating a new sim and see what happens if I try playing with one of the game characters. 

I installed using the C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 path and also followed the manual install tips. 

---

@nopeekiepeekie wrote:

I hope this will help other people out there.  I couldn't get passed the base install of TS2, and I'm pretty sure I figured out why.  The game does not like the (x86) in the file launcher address.

What you need to do is a custom install.

After you enter in your installation code and click next, click the ADVANCED USER - SELECT DIRECTORY radio button

Change it from this

C:\Program Files (x86)\EA GAMES\The Sims 2

to this

C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2

then click next.  it'll ask you to select a Program Folder, just default to what is already populated in the Program Folders box and click next.  if it hasn't already been created, it will ask you if you'd like to create it.  For any secondary installs, you'll just default to the name that is already popluated and click next, it won't ask to you create again.

remember if you do a custom install for the base game, you'll have to do it for all your EPs SPs

I was able to get the base game to run on Windows 8 with no changing of the compatability to Windows XP.  Of course, when I went to go install University, I got the darn updater error. So I did a little more searching and found these wonderful gems on YouTube

How to install the Sims 2 manually

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO5-PQ...
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9SHn9...
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da6AeSlAl1o
Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0uBWr...

I'm not sure if the patches are still functionable for Windows 8, but if you'd like to give them a shot, here they all are.

http://modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS2_Patches

---

This, as well as changing it to xp service pack 3 worked for me, FINALLY.  Thank you!