Yeahhh we are back,, thanks Pescado  and to all that helped get site back up and running !!!

This is the very same problem I too had with Seasons,,that has been around for a while now as Downunder2006 has stated ,, but even after sending Emails to EAGames and filling out there Bug Reports before the Third Patch came out, they said the would Fix in the Third Patch,,,,,HA HA, they didnt and then moved on as they do and bring out another EP aka FreeTme,,, that also if you have Seasons on and FreeTime you  cannot buy clothes, so they bring another Two patches still does not fix,, so they again move on and bring out Apartment Life,, and Two patches, still with allot of Problems,,, But hey they dont care they got your Money and thats the only bottom Line EA Care about,,

But do as Downunder2006 said to try without Seasons and or No Downloads content and see if you can buy clothes,
Then with Seasons Fresh install and you still wont be able to buy clothes,,


EDIT - Important Make Sure you BackUp everything before attempting above, in case you want to go back to the game as was,,,

Unfortunately even the Patches for Seasons dont fix this problem even with NO HACKS or NO Custom Content the Problem seems to still persist .
Just another one of EA Games Sims2 Problems that they never really got fixed, like allot of others, there have been may posts on this problem on many of the Sims2 Forums too.

But hey what do they care ,, They got your Money,,

here is a review on the GF8500, http://www.guru3d.com/article/ecs-geforce-8500-gt-512mb-review/
it is very Low end cheap card and for the little extra you would be better getting what I suggested

And the GF9600GT 512 review here , http://www.guru3d.com/article/xfx-geforce-9600-gt-xxx-512mb-review/

also the GF8800GT512 here, http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-8800-gt-512mb-sli-review/

the newer GF9800GT X2 512 review here,  http://www.guru3d.com/article/xfx-geforce-9800-gx2-black-edition-review/

@Cocytus ,, even if the suggested better cards are not quite in your budget, then I would definitely wait until they are as you will be just throwing money awa getting the GF8500

GF9800 GT price http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130384

GF8800GT 512 price  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130412

GF8600 GT 512 price  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130292

Also to consider that anything below a GF8800 they are only 128bit and the GF8800 and above are 256bit.

Hope this helps your choice of card


JS

All depends on what your PSU capabilities are ,, but would suggest you get better than the GF8500, go for something like GF8800gt 512 or 9800GT but your PSU will have to be capable of running these cards minimum of 500W and 18Amps per 12volt Rails on PSU and have the PCI-E 6-8pin power connector for the PCI-E Graphics cards,

If your PSU is not up to par for them it may well be ok for a GF8600GT512mb, as HP dont have very good PSU.s in there systems.

fireaye,, Re the Reinstall

When you have uninstalled all your game files you will have to check and make sure that there are NO stray folders and tsdat, tsbin files left behind as sometimes there is and when you reinstall it will be all a waste because the ones left behind will corrupt the New ones.
If you find any Delete them,
Run Registry Mechanic or similar too, to clean up old Registry entries before New install
My partner just went through all this with problems with Apartment Life,  also dont use AL Patch as it is still to Buggy, and doesn't fix half of the problems that are in AL, as with patch installed it freezes some lots when loading them.

good luck

Thankyou very nice

Yeah it sure does and can get a 8600Gt 512meg DDR3 600/1400core @ only $30Au more than a 7600GT 256meg card.

here is a pic of what happens, see at the edges of movies and at bottom




This is what should look like





Does it when playing for a short time and before anyone asks the is no dust build up on either the CPU or Vid Card fans, but IMO the card does seem abit warmer then it should and the fans are all working 1 front case intake + 1 side case multi speed thermal control venting out + 1 venting at rear case also thermal controlled,
But from what I have read about this particular card from other gaming sites including  3Dguru is a POS,   So thats why going to get better Nvidia card for her, hopefully no more problems

Jolly Swagman

ancienthighway. I have had a look at TS2 sight but they are way behind the times with cards as they still only show the older ones. thanks for the reply altho the 8500 has 512meg ramm its only got 16 bit shader  compared to 32 on 8600 and the core speeds are much higher too

any other comments welcomed

Jolly-Swagman

Was just wondering what your opinion would be and do you think these cards Nividia 8500GT 512meg DDR2 pci-e , Nividia 8600GT 256meg DDR3 pci-e .would be ok with the Sims2 as the wife currently has an ATI X1300 256meg DDR2 pci-e card, and are not happy with its performance with the Sims2 and ATI's lack of support that we have had even tho the latest drivers are installed there still seems to be a problem with Sims2 and ATI
So any input would be much appreciated or would it be better going for the slightly older 7600GT/GS or better cards

thanks in advance
Jolly Swagman            :worship:

beosboxboy, was just wondering what your opinion would be and do you think these cards Nividia 8500GT 512meg DDR2 pci-e , Nividia 8600GT 256meg DDR3 pci-e .would be ok with the Sims2 as the wife currently has an ATI X1300 256meg DDR2 pci-e card, and are not happy with its performance with the Sims2 and ATI's lack of support that we have had even tho the latest drivers are installed there still seems to be a problem with Sims2 and ATI
So any input would be much appreciated or would it be better going for the slightly older 7600GT/GS or better cards

thanks in advance
Jolly Swagman

Yeah where do you get the pants from

just a question on changing a Nod file since reinstalling game  and taking out the old Neighborhoods to backup file,
I have a NOD 002 Neighborhood that regularly play, but would like to put back Stangetown NOD 002, now here is the problem my Hood has the same NOD # as Strangetown.
So is there a way of changing either of these to another NOD # succesfully, coulndnt find any answers on this any help would be appriciated.

thanks Squinge, I will tell sunshine the info and that unfortunately she has to just redo some of her families,

Jolly-Swagman

my wife had a problem in her Game so I have moved the ofending Nod file to another folder in her backups for EA Game files , her game run ok now with thw current NOD003 file she is using, but would like to get some of her families  and lots from the other NOD001, tried using SIMPE to due this but to no avail could someone help out please,

Jolly-Swagman