The Sims 2 after installing Pets or Seasons EPs uses pixelshader 3.0 technology, not pixelshader 2.0
Oh......!
How does that explain the fish on the one lot? LOL.
Anyway, I still won't go and buy a new video card. Because that would make no sense, I'd have to build a comlpetely new machine, no more upgrading this one. And so it has to wait until there's money... which can take a while...