The Sims 2 DirectX Error

[bravenewgirl]

Hi there!

I was wondering if you could help me. I bought The Sims 2 today and went through the installation process and everything. Then when it asked me to insert disk #1 to start the game it came up with this error: http://brave-new-girl.org/thesimserror.jpg. I put in the System & Driver disk I got with the computer and went through the installation for DirectX but it's still not working. I'd appreciate any help you could give me =)

Vicky.

[smurfy]

Hi Vicky, that error isn't worrying about your version of DirectX, is worrying about the version of your drivers for your video card which are not DirectX 9.0c compatible.

Go Start>Run
Type dxdiag and press ENTER
The first page should tell you what version of DirectX you have installed.
The Display page should tell you about your Video card and it's drivers.
You'll need to tell us what sort of video card you have (the display page should tell you) so we can find out if there are any DirectX9.0c drivers for your video card. The potentially bad news may be that your PC may not have a graphics processor capable of running the Sims2 (and we thought it was Doom3 that was going to make everyone upgrade!).

[cheezit]

Check out this page (http://eagames.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/eagames.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=15779&p_created=1095272769&p_prod_lvl1=&p_sid=6Rh29Umh&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfc m93X2NudD02MyZwX3Byb2RfbHZsMT00NzQmcF9wYWdlPTE*&p_li=).

[bravenewgirl]

Hi! Thanks for replying to me, I know very little about computers so I really do appreciate the help! I went to run and followed your instructions; I've taken a screencap of what I found: http://brave-new-girl.org/displaypage.jpg. Do you know what that means or is there another section I should have capped instead?

Also, if you find I need to upgrade, how much do you think that will cost me? If you don't know or if the price varies then my cousin is an IT technician so I can ask him :)

Thanks! Vicky x

[smurfy]

Hi again Vicky. The screenshot of teh System page tells me you have DirectX 9.0c installed (good).
What we need is a shot of the "Display" tab in DXDIAG. This will tell us whether we can get your system to run the Sims2 or whether you'll need a new Video Card.

[bravenewgirl]

Hey, here's the screencap of the display tab: http://brave-new-girl.org/displaypage2.jpg

This is really annoying because I remember when my cousin had to look at the computer he said that there was something with the graphics missing that should be there, and when I went to the shop I bought the computer from and told her, she said that every model comes with the lastest graphics or something. The Time hotline is £1 a minute so I'm avoiding them because last time I had to phone them it cost about £26! But I'll see what you've got to say about it anyway and see whether I need to phone them or how to get a graphics card.

[bravenewgirl]

Hey, has anyone had a chance to look at this yet? :)

[tosha114]

I have the same problem with the sims 2. I have an emachine computer. I downloaded the updated directx 9.0 c then once I ran the game I encountered the same problem that it's graphic adapters were not compatible. I have a S3 Graphics ProSavage DDR. I would just like to know what I would have to do to be able to play The Sims 2.

Thank You,
tosha114 :disgust:

[smurfy]

Hi Vicky, sorry I have been out of town on business.
Yes I took a look at your screenshot but couldn't reply at the time.

What it tells me is you have NO proper drivers installed for your Video card/chip.
Please download and install Aida32 (http://www.cybertechhelp.com/html/downloads/download.php/id/30) from our downloads page.

It will scan your system and report under Display>PCI/AGP Video exactly what you have. Report back what it finds. We should then be able to find your latest available drivers to download and install.
Note, this still may not help with the game unless it is a compatible card.

tosha - no, sorry, that graphics chip is not supported. You would need to buy a new Video card in order to run the game. You should also download AiDA32 from our downloads page and report back what motherbord model it says you have. We may be able to come up with a recommendation for a card for you.

[bravenewgirl]

Hey,
Thanks for replying. I tried to download that thing from the link but everytime I click the link to download it just keeps re-directing me to the index.php page :dizzy: and when I clicked the link to the product's website it no longer exists.
Just wondering do you know why it's not letting me download?
Vicky x

[jdc2000]

The CyberTech Help link to Aida32 works a little differently than most. You need to single left-click on it, and then you should get a box allowing you to download the program.

[bravenewgirl]

Hmm it's still not working, perhaps it's my firewall blocking the download? Is there any other means of me downloading it? Would someone perhaps be able to email the download to me?

[jdc2000]

Send me an e-mail with your e-mail address and I'll send you a copy of the diagnostic program file.

[bravenewgirl]

Email sent, thank you! :)

[jdc2000]

File sent. Let me know if you did not receive it.

[crystilizing]

hi, my name is evelyn and i have the same problem that she has. i did everything you told her to do already and the aida shows that i have an intel i752 video adapter, i know it probably is not what i need, since i need a graphics adapter. i have windows cs ( i bought off of ebay) and it already has a few bugs i've spent so much money on this computer already, what could i buy that won't be expensive at all that will still let me use THE SIMS2!!!

[crystilizing]

oh, and i also have a intel 810 chip, an intel 810 video accelerator adapter string.. if that makes any difference

[bravenewgirl]

Hi, I received your email and I have downloaded Aida, here's what I found under the link you gave me previously: http://sailing-away.org/display.gif

[confuzedchick]

Hi! I have the exact same problem and it is driving me nuts! I have followed your instructions and here is what I have... VIDEO ADAPTER Intel i752. (it's the same as this other girls lol) Anyways, I really need help! PLEASE RESPOND SOON! I want to play the Sims 2... Send me the e-mail if you want, thx! Luff ya. :wave: Lol

[confuzedchick]

Come on... someone please post? I really want to play this lol ^_^ Btw, my VIDEO ADAPTER Intel i752

[confuzedchick]

This font better? Hmm... *waiting lol* :wave:

[smurfy]

Hi again ladies. Unfortunately I have bad news for you all.

The Sims 2 has pretty steep requirements for Graphics processing power.
You are all running computers with very limited on-board graphics which use shared RAM and not one of them meet the minimum requirements set by EA.

Evelyn & confuzedchick - The intel i810 (i752 chip) motherboard you have is capable of running some 3D games at low resolutions (I have one and I have successfully run Colin McRae2.0 on it with a Celeron 500Mhz CPU). Anything that came out at least 2 years ago may run on it. The Sims 2 won't have a chance. Even worse, chances are your motherboard will not even have an AGP slot to allow you to buy a new card and upgrade your PC's graphics power. You will be limited to PCI graphics cards which are conisderably more expensive, harder to find and less powerful.

Tosha and Vicky - you have S3 chipsets which are also not supported.
Vicky, You may be in luck and you may have an AGP slot. What does AIDA32 report about your motherboard make & model?

(I reitterate my earlier comment : "and we thought it was Doom3 that was going to make everyone upgrade!").
If it's any consolation to you all, I have 5 working PCs in my house, none of them will be capable of running the Sims2 (even if I wanted to ;) ) without an upgrade of CPU, Motherboard, Graphics card or all of them.

[bravenewgirl]

Thank you for the reply :)

Yeah that's a bit of bad news...at least there may be some hope for me. I'm so mad with the shop I bougth the computer from, they said it had the latest in motherboard, graphics etc. grr, me= mug lol!

Here's a cap of what it says under the motherboard bit: http://brave-new-girl.org/motherboard.jpg

*prays there's something I can do* I'm soooo craving The Sims!

[bravenewgirl]

Has anyone had chance to look at this yet? :) xx

[jdc2000]

The latest info you posted didn't have any AGP specific info in it, however, it looks like your AGP slot (assuming that you have one, which is most likely), should handle any of the latest video cards. I'd check to see if The Sims 2 has any recommendations. If not, you should be OK with one of ATI's video cards.

[bravenewgirl]

Okay, thanks very much I'll take a look at that. Thanks for your help :) xx