Blue?

[ZombieRain]

I can never play the sims 2 for more than 10 minutes without it freezing.
When it freezes I get the problem that many others have gotten when I still hear music and can move the mouse but the rest of the game is frozen.
However after a few seconds my screen turns compleatly blue, and not the loading screen blue, a solid royal blue screen. If I press any button my computer will restart.
I only have one hack and I'v tried reinstalling the game without hacks or CC which makes me think that it may be my computer.
 
I have all eps and the stuff pacs I have are: GL, H+M, TSS
Comp specs:
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System Information
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Time of this report: 5/18/2008, 20:00:22
Machine name: UPSTAIRS
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: GBT___
System Model: AWRDACPI
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 370MB used, 2091MB 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
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Display Devices
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Card name: RADEON 9600 SERIES
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor AGP (0x4150)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4150&SUBSYS_0200174B&REV_00
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6727 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 9/29/2007 04:06:18, 268800 bytes Any help would help. Thanks...

[Tenshii~Akari]

BSoD maybe?  Does it have any text on it or anything?  If so, then you might want to try updating your video card drivers.  ATI has been famous these past few years for such an issue with certain files causing the blindingly-bright royal blue screen and system crashes.  (Mainly "ati3duag.dll" and sometimes "ati2dvag.dll".)  I still have this happen when I play my game, and I've been trying to find a way around this issue for two years... with no such luck so far.  (I DID have them stop for a while, but as soon as I upgraded to Seasons and needed to update all of my DirectX and graphics driver files, the torture started all over again... )

What brand of computer do you have, if you don't mind me asking?  (I don't see it in the info you have above... might be my imminent blindness preventing me to do so.  :lol:)

[ZombieRain]

No text message ever pops up, or an error message.
 
If its not in the info then im not sure what brand, I've moved the computer through several cases and the original case is gone.

[Tenshii~Akari]

So yours is completely custom built, and not anything like a Dell, HP, Intel, etc?  :scratch:  Huh... well, I guess if you go to the AMD/ATI site and try to look for an update for your graphics card, it should work.  If not, I know that the Omega Drivers series of updates have been pretty reliable when all else fails.  

[EKozski]

I'm just wondering if you have to turn your shaders off.

I know I have to, but, I've got NVIDIA graphics, you don't. I'm not sure if that makes a difference.

[ZombieRain]

Turn shaders off using the cheat? I dont do that
 
 If not using the cheat then I dont know how to.

[dreamcatchermwh]

I suggest install Nvidia and update your drivers.

[Dracoamie]

you could be running out of physical memory on your computer. Try closing down as many other programs as you can before running sims and see if that helps.

Failing that you'll have to save often and quit and reload your game every two hours maybe

[hjkjr2]

Mine got worse after I updated the driver for my Nvidia card...happens much sooner, and doesn't give me time to use the shader cheat anymore.  Now, when I try to disable shaders it crashes faster!:smt120
(Gateway, XP, Nvidia & lots of free memory...S2+Uni+Pets+Nightlife+GL+K&B+TSS)
not sure about my other specs


Update:  10-16-08
Just read on MTS2 that, if you have Norton AV, IT can cause the blue screen & crash thing.  Anyone know how to disable Norton while you play, then re-enable for going online?