I know a fix! Right click on the Sims 2 and click properties. Then go to the compatibility tab and check the box named 'compatibility mode' then set the drop down menu under it to Windows XP (service pack 3).
I have the same problem. I tried switching my windows to xp (service pack 3) but still did not work. any help please because I really like this game and its not fair I cant play it anymore because of compatibility issues when I even have older games than this one and they play just fine with windows 8.
I right clicked the short-cut item on my Desktop, (mind you I have double deluxe) and I came up with a list and pressed Trouble Shoot Compatibility. I pressed it, and it ran through, showed the whole scanning for blah-blah. From there, I selected the bottom one which said, "Troubleshoot Program." I checked off the box that said, "This program worked in earlier versions of Windows but won't install or run now." If the second one which states, "This program opens but doesn't display correctly." applies to you, then check it off. Just check whatever off that is happening to your game. From there, you press next. (obvious step, lol) I assume you have Windows 8, so you press Windows 7. It will ask you to test the program, and when you press Test Program, it will launch Sims 2 in the version you have selected. Test it out, go to where it usually crashes, see if it still does. Mine crashed in CAS after pressing on my Sims Bin. So I exited out of the game and pressed Text Program again and it worked fine after I tested it twice!
