crashing problems/blue screen of death/graphics glitches >_>

[Mr Heartache]

Er, hey guys.
For the last two weeks or so, maybe longer my game has been crashing on and off. Sometimes it'll play fine but then it'll give me the 'application has crashed' dialog box, or even a blue screen of death.
I'm trying to keep reinstalling as a last resort. :/

What I've done to try and fix the problem:

• Deleted the cache files over and over again, I normally delete them once a week anyway.
• Deleted CC I've downloaded recently/redownloaded and overwrote the original files
• Updated my graphics drivers
• Deleted some outdated/conflicting hacks

And I'm currently trying to compress some of my sub folders in my downloads folder.

I came across this in the 'logs' folder of my my documents/ea games/sims2 folder and was just wondering if it had anything to do with my problems.

=== Machine info ===
OS version:      Windows NT 5.1
CPU:             4188.799804Mhz, Name:GenuineIntel, FPU:1, MMX:1
Memory:          1024MB
Free memory:     404MB


I've underlined the line I'm wondering about. Does this mean the CPU has little/no memory? I've checked my harddrive and I've something like 109 free GB's of space left.
Is there anyway to up the 404MB at all? I don't really know how to do this, if anyone knows that'd be brilliant.

Here's what the log said about my graphics card if that's any help

=== Graphics device info ===
Number:          0
Name (driver):   ATI Radeon X300/X550/X1050 Series
Name (database): Radeon X600 Series
Vendor:          ATI
Chipset:         Vendor: 1002, Device: 5b62, Board: 06021002, Chipset: 0000
Driver:          ati2dvag.dll, Version: 6.14.10.6806, GUID: D7B71EE2-1822-11CF-2469-0826A1C2CB35
Driver version:  6806
Monitor:         \\.\DISPLAY1
Monitor aspect:  1.332258, 4:3
Screen mode:     1024x768x32BPP,60Hz
Texture memory:  256MB
HW T&L:          Fixed function:1 Programmable:2.0
Pixel program:   2.0
Texture stages:  8
AppControlledAA: 1
I checked and my card is supported, but last night, when it crashed to BSOD, ati2dvag.dll came up with an error attached to it.


I'm so frigging confused and frustrated... all I want to do is play again without crashing. HALP.

[caffeinated.joy]

The bit about the memory referrs to your RAM. When you have the game running you have 404mb of RAM free for the game to use. It should be enough, but if you want to free up more, just be sure to close down any programs running in the background and that should help.

Now the ati2dvag.dll error means there's a problem with your graphics card, or more to the point, the drivers. Updating your drivers can solve the problem, but if you're not sure how to do that and know someone tech minded who can help, I'd ask them.

[Mr Heartache]

Alrighty then. Should I just download the latest ones? I've done it before (with the wiki's help) and I've had errors loads of time with the last ones I installed >_>

The paging file (virtual RAM) came up as an error in the BSOD last night. So could the ati drivers be eating all the RAM I  have?


I'm so confused *cries*

[caffeinated.joy]

What seems to have happened is your current ati drivers have become corrupted, this can make memory work overtime to try a compensate for the memory your video card can't access because of the bad drivers...does that make sense?

I would update to the most recent, yes, and make sure you remove the old drivers first.

[Mr Heartache]

That does make a lot of sense actually. Thanks.

I'm downloading the new drivers now.
You couldn't point to a tutorial or something about removing the old drivers?

I'm sure I could do it, but a step by step guide would help.

[Tenshii~Akari]

The only thing I can suggest is to nix your paging files altogether and set them to "No Paging File".  I find that (unfortunately) it's the only way to be able to play the game with little/no BSODs.  I had to set mine that way because whenever it did crash to the BSOD, I could never bring windows back up without another BSOD popping up before the OS loads.  Let's just say from what I hear, it's between Microsoft and ATI/AMD involving where the blame should be placed, and the issue still has yet to be completely solved.  :?

[Mr Heartache]

Well, Tenshii that'll be a last resort for me. I'd like to keep the paging file, because I don't want to mess up the computer I use for the sims, because my sister uses it too, and we have all our music and other stuff on it >_>

I'm hoping that the new graphics drivers will help, if not, eeehhhh... don't wanna think about it.

[caffeinated.joy]

Take a look here, and be sure to do this before you install the new ones

[Mr Heartache]

I'm just after removing/reinstalling my drivers a while ago. I'm currently waiting for my game to load to see if it worked.
I found something on the wiki about removing the old drivers, so I used that. I've bookmarked your link though, Joy, just in case it doesn't work. Thanks for the help!

Let's hope I won't have to edit this post with more BSOD blues xD

[caffeinated.joy]

You're welcome. I hope it works !