Lot freezing at the end of load

[puppy45341]

today when i started up my game, i went into a lot, and when all of the bars filled up and turned blank, my game just sat there... and i waited for about 5 minutes, and decided to quit because it usually starts right after all the bars load up. I booted up the game 4 more times in every neighborhood, including their community lots, and the same thing happened. i then got frustrated and went into my other account since i have windows xp, and the game worked with ease and i quit because i wanted to fix the problem with my main account.... i dont know what happened because a couple days ago everything was working fine, but now nothing works on this account.... so i dont know if anyone has found a solution but please steer me in some direction so i can fix my game...... :fallen:

[xo_michelle]

I know this is a really stupid question, but what file does the downloaded lots go into? I just need the name of the file is all!
Thanks! :)

[Twisted Disco]

The reply to xo_michelle, although your question really had no relevance here, is that you put most downloads in the downloads folder in MyDocuments/EAGames/Sims2?Downloads if the folder doesn't exist, just create it. Most downloaded files such as clothing, sims, and lots come as Sims2 package files, (they end in '*.package' , where * is the filename). These should install automatically when you click on them.

However you may have downloaded a zipped file (*.zip) or a rar file (*.rar) these can both be 'unzipped' using WinRar, available for free trial download (just Google for it!). Zipped files can be unzipped with WinZip, which I think even comes with Windows now, right click and choose open with WinZip. When the files extract themselves, put the package files in the downloads folder.

Hope this helps.

[Twisted Disco]

And now for my problem, which is somewhat more related to the topic...

I have just begun experiencing similar problems. Yesterday I built a new community lot and for some reason it won't load. When any Sim tries to go there, I just get the loading screen with a yellow taxi in it for ages and ages. All my lots usually load fairly fast, especially if the game hasn't been running long.

The lot I created had lots of custom content and also lots and lots of residential objects in it, which I managed using the download from mod the sims 2 "residential items in community lots".

Is this why the game won't load it? Or is the file just so huge that I'll have to wait. I've waited about 10 mins so far and nothing. Just have to reset my computer!

Please help, if anyone can...

[daysies]

If you have a lot w/ tons of new meshes and furnishings, it will take a while to load. I haven't experienced this because I don't have a lot that's overstuffed with custom content. Plus, some new meshes are fairly big and may take time to render (but that's usually when you're already in the lot and you notice a bit of slow down when you pan over it).

Have you tried just letting the lot load? Grab something to eat, watch a movie - kidding.

Just as a test, have you tried removing your Downloads folder and just tried to enter that newly made community lot? If it takes you no time to enter, then it's a download that's causing the delay during load. I've notated quite a few things that cause lots not to load in my University Installation FAQ. Check that out.

[jessmb]

ok, if someone could help, that could be great. Ever since I installed the university, when I click on the house I want, IT WON'T LOAD! I let it sit for 4 hours and it still won't load. I un-installed it and re-installed it and it still won't work!!! It's really frustrating, so pleeeeaaazzz, someone help!! The game is being so :blah:

[Silvermane]

I don't know if its the same problem as in the community lot thread but heres how I got past it there.

I found how to get past it now and decrease loading time at the same time. Delete any custom carrers you may have in the downloads folder even if they are uni compliant. enter the game and choose your neibourhood then hit ctrl+Shift+c and enter this command line "boolProp testingCheatsEnabled true" without the quotes. When it loads it will tell you if theres anything blocking the loading of the lot and give you the option to delete it. Be very careful what you delete however as sometime stuff pops up that is sapposed to be there. Once you finally get access to your lot go through all you custom content and delete anything that conflicts with another object or doesn't load proberly (It will appear solid blue or solid black with no detail at all). After this is done exit the game and then re-enter, you should notice a large decrease in the loading time of the game, and you should be able to enter most lots without incedent. However enter the "boolProp" code before entering a lot just incase. Finally download the clean installer so that in the future it is much easier to get rid of game conflicting downloads.

[VAMPY BITES V^^^^V]

Run Sim2PackCleanInstaller,check for DUPS & HACKS <---custom careers. Object recolor & game object!

Then run SimPe and scan your folder(s)and look for "Origianal Maxis or Not Ep ready"
***DON'T DO WALLS,FLOORS,TERRAINS,or anything for BODY SHOP!!!!*** (I'd sort them out,and put somewhere out of the folder you may have them in)
Sort them by clicking "STATE" they will show on the bottom of the list. Hightlight and then click "EP READY",it will then convert them.
See if that works,I had the same problem.

BACK YOUR FILES UP!



"S"
V^^^^V

[nfergson]

I would also double check any downloaded furnished houses. I took out all custom careers & still had to use "boolprop testingcheatsenabled true" to get any houses to load...even the ones that claimed to be "hack free" weren't. I still had an error coming up about a bad "athletics" career even though all custom careers had been removed manually. I ended up dumping my downloads file & reinstalling from scratch...which took hours......now I am very leery about installing *any* hacks or mods.
From my experience, if you reach the point where you have to use "boolprop testingcheatsenabled true" just to load your house you have major hack problems, and in my experience they will only get worse.

[Kwiat1974]

Well, when I e-mailed EA Games this is what I got back:

Thank you for contacting us here at Electronic Arts Technical Support,

We do apologize for the inconvenience. However, upon looking at your system information your video card which is Trident Video Accelerator Blade 3D/ProMedia with an 8.0MB memory is not a supported graphics card that would run this game properly.

The Sims 2 University is an expansion. You must have The Sims 2 installed in order to install and run the game. Your system must also meet these requirements as a minimum configuration for running the game.

Windows XP, ME, 98, or 2000.
800MHz processor.
256 MB RAM.
At least 1 GB of additional hard drive space (4.5 GB if installing The Sims 2 and University).
A T&L -capable video card with at least 32 MB of video RAM and one of the supported chipsets.
Supported video cards:

ATI Radeon series (7000 or better).
7000, 7200, 7500.
8500, All-In-Wonder 8500.
9000, 9200, 9500, 9600, 9700, 9800.
X300, X600, X800.
NVIDIA Quadro series.
Quadro, Quadro2, Quadro4.
NVIDIA GeForce series (GeForce 2 or better).
GeForce 2.
GeForce 3, 3 Ti.
GeForce 4, 4 Ti, MX 420, 440.
GeForce FX 5200, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 5950.
GeForce 6600, 6800.
If you have a processor running at 2.4 GHz or faster, the following cards should also work with the game, provided the newest drivers are installed. Note that some display options will be lowered or not available.

ATI Radeon VE series.
Intel Extreme Graphics 82865, 82915, and above.

Should you choose to upgrade your system, kindly contact your system manufacturer or local computer vendor on how to do this.

If you do not wish to upgrade your video card for any personal reasons and would like to return the game, please follow the warranty information which can be found on the second to the last page of the instruction manual.

Should you require further assistance about this or any Electronic Arts games in the future please visit our website and review our extensive Self Help knowledgebase (http://eatech.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/eatech.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?)

Now, I am seriously thinking that your solution, Silvermane, might be the more realistic one. I mean, I don't mind unistalling both of the games and starting over, but it would be a real shame (not to mention a pain in the ass) to have to start all over and re-acquire all my hacks and downloads and game objects. Still, If I have to do it I will. I'll try your suggestion though, and see what happens.

[Kwiat1974]

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have tried your suggestion, Silvermane, and it has worked! My lot loaded and I was able to delete career hacks I had missed using my clean installer.

[Kwiat1974]

Okay, now it's finding problems with characters on my lots, and asking if I want to reset them delete them or cancel the operation. What gives?

[Twisted Disco]

Are the characters actually there or are they kind of 'phantom NPCs'?