No matter what neighborhood, or Sim family, or Sim, when I select the Sim and try to perform any action, the menu disappears before I can select an action. I've uninstalled and reinstalled and I have no hacks or custom content.

This is so confusing!

System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 5/28/2008, 15:46:54
Machine name: ILLUMINATI
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_qfe.070227-2300)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Inspiron 1501
BIOS: BIOS Version 2.4.1
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor TK-53, MMX, 3DNow (2 CPUs), ~1.7GHz
Memory: 894MB RAM
Page File: 396MB used, 1771MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: ATI Radeon Xpress 1150
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI Radeon Xpress Series (0x5975)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5975&SUBSYS_01F51028&REV_00
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Res:
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6648 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 10/11/2006 11:44:10, 260608 bytes

Do you have some sort of wireless or laser mouse, or perhaps a programmable mouse? If so, try recharging/ changing the batteries, and also shut down any mouse software that may be running. My niece saw this on her new PC, and right clicking> exit on the taskbar program that was installed with the mouse helped.

No luck so far.

I did shut down the mouse software (it's a wireless but has always worked before this) and changed the settings through the control panel but it still flashes the menu for a moment and then it disappears. Nothing else is weird - I can buy/build/etc.

Argh!

Okay, has this ever worked? What have you changed on your PC immediately before this began happening? Think- windows updates, software installation- even custom content/ hacks.

It worked perfectly for about 6 months before this started and when it started I hadn't changed or installed anything on my laptop at all, it just ....started. I'd been playing every night for weeks and in the middle of one game ...there it was. I used to have a fair amount of hacks and customs but I wiped them all and deleted *everything* after uninstalling all my Sims games the night before laste and doing a fresh install. Now i have no hacks, nothing custom - just what a clean install would give me.

Everything else in the game functions normally, I just can't click on the Sims and have them interact with each other, or anything else.

Not sure I could follow that- are you saying that this started after you reinstalled, or before? Is it possible to disable the touchpad on the computer before playing? Does it work okay with the touchpad and no mouse?

It started before I reinstalled and continued after. It's still there with the touchpad, too - and also when I disable it. :/

In that case the only thing I can really recommend is to update your system drivers. Unless you can think of another system change that's occurred, I can't really specify anything else. Sometimes Windows updates will install new drivers, so that may be something that has happened- also run virus/ spyware/ malware scans.

When you tried it with the touchpad, were you tapping the touchpad itself or using the buttons attached to it? If the former, try the buttons.

Do you mean tapping the touchpad to scroll and then using the right click and left click buttons to select the Sim/interact?

I'll try that.

ETA UPDATE:
It happens with the touchpad, too. :/

Last edited by eisdamme : 20th Jun 2008 at 06:04 PM. Reason: Adding update