First time having issues.. grr!

[WickedKitti]

Sorry if this isn't the right spot for this... but..

Last year I got Sims 2 Holiday edition. It's worked like a charm ever since.
A couple months ago I got the Pets expansion pack. During the install, it suggested I back up my Sims 2 files. I didn't.. I don't care if I never play Sims 2 again. I just wanted a cat, lol.
So yesterday I got the Seasons expansion pack. It gave me the same suggestion. Again, I didn't do it.
Then it got to 10% and said there was an error. Asked to retry or cancel. I retried a few times, then canceled it. The next time it got to 23%. Same thing.

To make a long story longer, lol, I ended up uninstalling Pets, then unistalling Sims 2.
When I tried to reinstall Sims 2, it gave me the same error. I tried to manually copy the files and do the autorun, and that didn't work.
Finally I discovered that the DirectX wasn't on my computer, so I got that, and the install went okay until it was at 77%, on the 4th CD.
I copied that CD manually into a file, then clicked retry, and it worked.
Yay! I tricked it.

So when I got it to load, Pleasantview's color is all messed up, and there are big white squares all over it... Strangetown's ground has weird peaks all over it, and it was freezing up when I was trying to enter a family.

My question is- what's wrong with it? lol.

More importantly- does it matter that that one is messed up? I don't care that it is, because I'll probably never play it again....
But would the Seasons expansion pack work, even if Sims 2 is jacked up?
I don't want to try installing Seasons and then messing something up further.

Any info would be appreciated!
Thanks in advance!

[tylersada]

Probably a silly question but did you unistall through the control panel (add remove programs)?  I know if an uninstall is not done properly stuff is left in the registry that is still picked up when you try to install another EP or stuff pack.  I'm not good enough with the technical side to tell you if this is the problem.  Ancient Highway would probably be your best source for this type of situation.

[WickedKitti]

Thanks.

I took a chance and went ahead and installed the Seasons one.

It did okay at first, but after a few hours when I went back into the neighborhood, the graphics were messed up again.
The fields were big white squares with letters and slashes. That can't be good, lol.
It did the same thing this morning, but inside the lots the graphics are fine.

I don't get it! lol. Now what's wrong?

I'm helpless, hehe.

[caffeinated.joy]

Have you tried updating your graphic drivers?

[WickedKitti]

No, I haven't updated my graphic drivers.
And just how do ya do that? lol.

This is crazy. I'm not totally computer illiterate, but I've just never had problems before. It's so aggravating!

[caffeinated.joy]

You should be able to find updated drivers on your graphic card manufacturer's website.

[WickedKitti]

Thanks for the info.
I went ahead and uninstalled it all again. It wasn't working for crap.
I then got the Sims 1 out, and was able to play for a while, but when I went back into the neighborhood, the screen went black and it was like it just exited the game. It did it again this morning. There were no other issues with that one though- the graphics weren't messed up or anything.

Soooo I'm thinking my computer is definately the problem, lol.
Thanks again!

[Nokomys]

What graphics card do you have and how old is it?
Perhaps it's buggered and you need a new one?

[trl]

Joy is correct about updating your drivers. Also see this thread here it explains the system specs that each EP requires for them to run on your computer. Seasons is very demanding graphically (as is Pets) so you need a good graphic card for it to run properly. I hope this helps.