Odd code graphics

[SneakyD]

I have a very odd problem with my game. I read through the FAQS that were supposed to help, but none of them addressed this issue. I downloaded the Sims 2 double deluxe through amazon in early January and haven't had any problems with it until the other day when I installed a new anti-virus program, mcafee. All of my landscape, and parts of my sims aren't right anymore. The things that are supposed to be there are instead replaced with words, which I assume are the codings for these items? I'm not sure if anyone can help me, but it would be much appreciated if anyone could!

I've already tried uninstalling and reinstalling my game to no avail, and since I've tried playing it have encountered other problems like items disappearing, but the code pictures are the main problem. I have no custom content in my game, just what came with it.

[simsample]

If this is only occurring since you installed your new antivirus, then I would say that's the problem. Close your game, clear your caches and set your game install location as an exception in McAfee. You do not want your AV to scan or read those files at all whilst you run the game, otherwise the game cannot read them.

Add your Documents/ EA Games folder, too.

Also you could see if there is a 'silent/ game mode' setting in the AV that you can use whilst you play.

[SneakyD]

If this is only occurring since you installed your new antivirus, then I would say that's the problem. Close your game, clear your caches and set your game install location as an exception in McAfee. You do not want your AV to scan or read those files at all whilst you run the game, otherwise the game cannot read them.

Add your Documents/ EA Games folder, too.

Also you could see if there is a 'silent/ game mode' setting in the AV that you can use whilst you play.

I tried all of these, but nothing really helped the problem. I suppose I'll just switch back to AVG because I had no problems with that. Thanks for the help anyway!

[SneakyD]

So I uninstalled mcafee and reinstalled AVG, but that didn't help at all, so I uninstalled and reinstalled the game, but it's the same. I'm beginning to think that I won't be able to return it to normal. Has anyone else had this problem before? Or is my game just totally whacked out?

[Mootilda]

I know that I've seen threads about this problem before, but I'm afraid that I don't remember the solution. I'm pretty sure that there is a solution, though. Take a look through this forum and you may be able to find it.

[SneakyD]

http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=465600

Are you talking about that thread? I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the game twice already, so I'm not really sure what else I should try?

[Pixelhate]

So I uninstalled mcafee and reinstalled AVG, but that didn't help at all, [...] Did you uninstall via the control panel ? Are you sure it's completely removed ? Unistalling totally an anti-virus can be sometimes uneasy so your problem can be due to residual Mcaffee files.

Otherwise it's an interesting Matrix variation ! :D

[SneakyD]

I uninstalled it through the control panel and then used the executable in this article: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/completely-remove-norton-mcafee-computer/ , which is supposed to clean up the rest? I just used that, so should I try uninstalling and reinstalling my game again?

[Pixelhate]

Well, I'm far from an expert but AV should be correctly uninstalled the way you did.
If the re-installation of the game you did after AV change went OK I don't see the need of re-install the game again.
Is it possible to restore your computer as it was before installing Mcafee ? (via system restoration)
And lastly did you check if your computer specs are meeting game requirement ? (http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=330402)

[SneakyD]

I'm not sure about how to do the system restoration, but I should probably see if a friend could help me, because I would think that would be the last thing I could try.
I would think my computer would have the right specs because I played the game for a while before I lost my disc and had to reinstall it in January via a download, and it worked fine up until last Saturday when I downloaded Mcafee

[Pixelhate]

I hope system restoration will solve your problem, nevertheless I advice to check the specs; many people assume that their computer is fine "because it has worked fine before" when actually their specs are on the edge. So the computer was working with extra strain and start to break or act strangely from "exhaustion" after some time.
If it's your case you should want to know it before total breakage.
If not, then you're fine and it will narrow down the possible cause of your problem... it will help you in any case. :)