Tenshii~Akari and pandasan,
Tenshii~Akari:Your graphics card drivers aren't up to date
You computer doesn't have enough available virtual memory while running the game
pandasan: That would be a logical conclusion, but my first gut instinct when I saw your post of 'flashing red and black' was a graphics issue.
I have an updated graphics card, and I have one of the top Vaio desktops that is supposed to be
just for media - essentially for movie making - with a shite load of memory so I'm sure this is not the problem.
So wait, you did not install a lot recently? What was the very last thing you did before this problem started occuring? (A new EP? New hardware? Any changes to your game or computer itself...)
You know, I can't remember. My Sims started having problems last year actually. It could have been the installation of OFB but I don't know. But nothing as far as I remember but wait... I did have my computer completely checked out right around this time or maybe it was June of last year. I had the guys pull out everything and then reinstall everything to combine my C and D drives together and I had them clean my computer real good. I also attached a Seagate to it. Then I had them install Webroot for me and Norton as opposed to McAffey (what I had before) and I do remember hearing that running these things during game play could cause problems. Could the check up have anything to do with these problems?
The result of moving in a Sim family (created by maxis) into a house and then gradually adding CC is so far working. No blackened squares or toolbar going on, yet. I'll keep trying this and see if it is indeed CC. This is in Veronaville (the neighborhood I have never played in and only use as a test subject), so if it is a problem with Pleasantville, I won't know by doing this of course.
I tend to associate flashing red or black with a graphics issue, which may or may not be CC related. Have you perhaps installed any mods, such as lighting mods, which do not get installed in the CC folder? I once tried to install a lighting mod with an incompatible version of the game and it made my game flash RED.
A lighting mod? I don't even know what a lighting mod would do, but no. I have other mods and only ones related to Sim schools, family reactions and teen pregnancies. I really don't have any mods that would effect anything else. I did consider the mod and hack thing, but I had specifically taken out all my mods and hacks just in case.
*Is your computer running hot? Since things are blacking out over time and not immediately, it suggests to me you may be having a hardware failure somewhere.
Tenshii~Akari: You might also want to make sure that your computer has a good and cool airflow by it's fan. If it gets too hot, all of that can also mean some slight damage could've been done.
To tell you the truth, this may be the cause for it. I'm no computer genuis so I can get duped by things that aren't necessarily true about what I should do with computers. I have a friend who honestly knows a lot more about computers than me and she told me "go ahead and leave it on through the night, I do and its fine. Just shut off the screen." Well, I have been leaving on my computer quite a bit, and not always turning off my screen, so I'm hoping I didn't do to much damage. If I have, how do I fix it, if I can? What do I do now? But also, could my game crash because of this?
Tenshii~Akari:Thanks for the Sims Wardrobe link. I'll check it out. There is a ton of stuff I could clear out - especially in CAS. I've just been too lazy to go in there and take out clothing that's not showing up.
What I will do next:
Run the Sims with all CC and see if Pleasantville, for sure, is the only neighbourhood with these problems.
If it isn't the only one - I will continue to gradually add CC to that family in Veronaville and keep tabs of what I'm doing.
If it is just Pleasantville, I don't know. I may have to either move everyone to a different neighborhood and erase Pleasantville completely or just start Pleasantville all over again somewhere else. Any suggestions on this option?
As I said before, my computer could be running a little slower and graphics could be a problem because of the computer over heating. I think you guys are right on this suggestion.