The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection Won't Sart

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@barbarellab wrote:

I'm having the exact same problem, stuck in the Fun With pets loading page, music and everything.

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Let it sit for a long time. I let it sit for at least 20 minutes. I had some lunch and beer and when I came back, she was all ready to go.

When I try to run my Sims 2 Ultimate Collection it shows the cursor spinning like it is booting the game up but then it just stops. It doesn't get to graphical screens even. I have tried all of the many fix suggestions that I've found here and on other forums but nothing seems to have made any difference. 

When I try to run the game in XP service pack 2 mode I am not given the option of service pack 2...only service pack 3. So, I haven't actually been able to see if that would fix it. Also, when I right click on the exe file that is supposed to start the game under properties there is not a compatibiity tab at the top. I have read that some files don't have this tab for some reason. So, the only way that I've been able to try to adjust the compatibility is through the compatibility troubleshooter and like I said before service pack 2 is not listed there. I have tried it with Windows 7, Vista, and service pack 3 for XP with no luck. 

I have also tried running it as an admin and adjusting the graphics display to something lower. No luck. 

I am glad to see that EA is at least trying to come up with a solution and crossing my fingers that it works. I think most Sims fans are very excited about the Ultimate Collection and thrilled that EA is giving it away for free. 

Please please please don't give up on finding us solutions! 🙂

I have EXACTLY the same situation as you, apart from my troubleshooter does put it in service pack 2. I want to just freaking play it

Could you check if guys maybe have this issue: http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-2/Info-Request-Sims-2-does-not-start-at-all-Please-read-first-post/td-p/3204715/

Progress!!!! Thank you so much to @crinrict and @Zielonooka125.

My game wouldn't start at all (just show the cursor spinning and then quit after clicking play) and I used the fix that you suggested and now it has loaded up to the first screen after the opening movie that says Fun With Pets and plays music. It is still on that screen but it's the first progress I've had so I'm pretty hopeful. 

I have Sims 3 and Sims Medieval. I deleted the paul.dll file from Sims 2 Ultimate Collection Fun With Pets like you said and then I copied the paul.dll file that was in the base game of Sims 3 on my computer and pasted it into the Ultimate Collection. 

I've read that some people have to wait a long time to load it up so I'm just going to be patient with the start screen that I'm on and then try some other fixes if necessary. 

Thanks so much though for getting past the first obstacle. 🙂

One more thing...I thought I'd mention that I didn't delete the paul.dll file from the original Sims 3 base game or choose to "move" it. I copied it and pasted it so that the original would still exist. 

Progress update...

I used the paul.dll fix http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-2/Info-Request-Sims-2-does-not-start-at-all-Please-read-first-post/td-p/3204715/ 

and so far it has completely fixed my Sims 2 Ultimate Collection game. So, far I have loaded the game all the way to the point where I have chosen a neighborhood and now I'm adding vacation destinations and the business districts, etc. Yay!!! 

I am running Windows 8 by the way and have my graphic options set for the highest default settings like they were when I got my computer (which is only about 2 months old). So, I didn't have to adjust the graphics to get it to work. As it loaded up it seemed to adjust the graphics on its own. 

I am running the game as an administrator though. 

I think that is the only other change that I've made. 

🙂

The Sims 2 ultimate collection when I open the game turns itself off please help