Sims 3 crashes without warning?

Question

I have an Asus computer. I've had it for a little over a year.
I got some computer info, not sure what you need to know, so I'll post some things that seem important, haha.
-Windows Vista
-Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU
-Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GS
-Chip type: GeForce 9800M GT
-Display Memory: 2289 MB
-Dedicated Memory: 497 MB
-Shared Memory: 1791 MB
-Current Mode: 1366 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)

I installed the sims 3 and then later the sims 3 world adventures.
Everything was working fine, until recently.
I noticed my laptop had been getting really hot near the fan area.
Then today, I started the sims, and selected my town, and as soon as it loaded, it crashes to my desktop?

What could be the problem?
I uninstalled all custom content that I didn't purchase myself from the sims store.
I also uninstalled all of the sims 2 off my computer, in hopes to free up space.

I did a system check through the sims3.com, and it says I exceed the minimum requirements.

So, my question is, why is it crashing randomly now, after working fine for so long?
When I bought my laptop, the saleswomen said that it was a computer good for gaming...?

Answer 1

Well I am on the same boat here. I use a desktop and I have run all the tests and my pc has all the necessary requirements.

It played fine for ages, and then it started crashing ( I am not 100% sure but I think it was after i installed world adventures.

I can spend hours creating a sim or building a house but as soon as I try to play within seconds it crashes and takes me back to desktop, no warning and no error message.

Sooooooo frustrating!

I have uninstalled the game and every thing file I had on the pc and when I installed it back nothing had changed. I want to scream! So annoying, I just wish EA could work out what the problem is. I installed my Sims 2 just to check if perhaps it was my pc but it played spot on...I have contacted EA technical help and we have been exchanging emails, so far haven't had any luck but fingers crossed help is on the way!!!!





P.S I have been told that games are not really tested on laptops and even if your laptop has all the requirements nothing guarantees the game will run smoothly. To play games the best option is desktop :-)

Answer 2

Does it crash immediately even when cool? Or when trying to re-start after you noticed it got hot?



Make sure you are putting the laptop on a hard surface. If you play on a bed, or on cushions, your laptop isn't able to cool the video card or CPU. Mine does the same thing. You might look at reviews for laptop fan units that run off USB power. I don't know which one would be the best, but I'm pretty sure if your system is otherwise healthy, it's a matter of cooling. Not that it can't handle the graphics, it's all in the cooling.



Again, my laptop (a Vaio) does the same thing if I don't put it on a hard surface when playing Rollercoaster Tycoon or anything else that gets really big as you play and starts eating more and more CPU cycles and greater use of the video card.



If it's cool and now crashing, it's possible a component inside got damaged by the extreme heat.

Answer 3

each growth has its very own patch. Get each patch for all of them. you will could get them online (not from foundation). i can't particularly make it easier to recognize the rest until you are trying this.