Sims 3 randomly goes black

[yeamon]

So i've been playing in windowed mode for a while because I've been making houses and using pictures from google as a guideline. Since I've started doing this, my sims game will randomly go black. I'll be playing fine, switching back and forth from google, and then eventually I'll go back to the sims game and everything will be black. I can still hear the music, if I click with my mouse I can hear noises (for example if I click and drag it makes the noise of placing a wall) so its as if the game is still running perfectly fine, the screen is just black.

I tried fixing the power settings on my computer to avoid overheating and my computer is never overheated now (although it originally did overheat and created random lagging issues). I also tried removing some background programs in case they were interfering or something

The game never lags and I know I have all the right system requirements (in fact, my requirements go above and beyond)

Its starting to get really frustrating when I start building a house and then have to force close my game and lose everything just because I cant actually see. I played for 8 hours one time and had to force shut everything. It SUCKED.

For now I've started saving frequently but I dont know how long I can do that for. I just want to build!

EDIT: I think I may have put this in the wrong section? I have Windows 7

[ellacharmed]

General - Post System Specs
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Are the graphic drivers up-to-date?

ps: thread moved.

[yeamon]

------------------
System Information
------------------

Time of this report: 11/20/2011, 13:29:16
Machine name: ADMIN-HP
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.110622-1506)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: HP ENVY 17 Notebook PC
BIOS: InsydeH2O Version 03.61.01F.16
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2630QM CPU @ 2.00GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.0GHz
Memory: 8192MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 8140MB RAM
Page File: 3485MB used, 12792MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 120 DPI (125 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: UnKnown
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode


--------------- < copy+pasted info >
Display Devices
---------------

Card name: Mobile Intel(R) HD Graphics
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: Intel(R) HD Graphics Family
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0116&SUBSYS_159B103C&REV_09
Display Memory: 1696 MB
Dedicated Memory: 64 MB
Shared Memory: 1632 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: LGD02C4
Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (60.000Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: igdumd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igdumdx32,igd10umd32,igd10umd32
Driver File Version: 8.15.0010.2291 (English)
Driver Version: 8.820.5.1000
DDI Version: 10.1
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 1/27/2011 13:57:14, 7470080 bytes


-------------
Sound Devices
-------------

Description: Speakers and Headphones (IDT High Definition Audio CODEC)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_111D&DEV_7605&SUBSYS_103C159B&REV_1004
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: stwrt64.sys
Driver Version: 6.10.6328.0000 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 3/4/2011 07:05:34, 520192 bytes


------------------------ < copy+pasted info >
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives < starts from >
------------------------ < here >

Drive: C:
Free Space: 1137.1 GB
Total Space: 1410.8 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: RAID-0






Hopefully I did that right. I tried to update my graphics driver once from an unrelated problem and it basically made my entire computer poop out. I had to call HP and have them walk me through the process to fix it to which they simply said "Guess you just cant update your driver"

And thank you for moving the thread.

[whiterider]

It looks like that model is available with switchable graphics - do you have switchable graphics? If so, are you sure that the graphics card is actually being used when you're playing TS3?

[yeamon]

I'm not actually sure. Is there any way to tell?

[ellacharmed]

Which is your laptop? Full model number list - http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/ProductList.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&taskId=135&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=4149943

Post the Full DxDiag report then. I'll put in the spoiler tags for ya.
If you're still having issues, that is.