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Sims 2 Does Not Respond at Startup

In the second installment of "The Sims" series, a player's creations exist from birth to death, making it possible to play through generations of a single family. However, loading problems can keep owners from playing "The Sims 2." The reasons behind a failure to load could include damage to the disc or CD/DVD drive or installation problems. Players should keep track of troubleshooting measures taken in the event of contacting EA Games' technical support team, which can help the staff rule out possible causes for a game's failure to load.

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the "Sims 2" disc from the CD/DVD drive and examine it. A heavily scratched surface may make the disc unreadable to a CD or DVD drive. Use a dry, soft cloth and rub the disc's surface in a circular motion to remove grime or buildup. Insert the disc into the drive again and wait for a response.
- 2
  Insert another disc into the CD/DVD drive. If the drive cannot read multiple discs, the CD or DVD drive is likely damaged. Download Microsoft's "Fix It" program, which automatically searches for and resolves problems related to the CD or DVD drive (see Resources). Insert the "Sims 2" disc again to test for responsiveness.
- 3
  Ensure that "The Sims 2" and its expansion packs were installed in the correct order. Installing games and expansions in the incorrect order can lead to loading troubles and other problems. If you do not own a game, proceed to the next game in the order. Players should first download "The Sims 2," "University," "Nightlife," "Christmas Party Pack," "Open for Business," "Family Fun Stuff," "Glamour Life Stuff," "Pets," "Happy Holiday Stuff," "Seasons," "Celebration Stuff," "H&M Fashion Stuff," "Bon Voyage," "Teen Style Stuff," "Free Time," "Kitchen and Bath Interior Design Stuff," "IKEA Home Stuff," "Apartment Life" and "Mansion and Garden Stuff."
- 4
  Select the "Start" menu from the desktop and navigate to the "Sims 2" folder. Select "Uninstall..." to uninstall all games and expansion packs. Install the game and all its expansions again in the order described in Step 3. Whenever prompted during download, choose to patch the game and its expansions to avoid further problems.
- 5
  Ensure that your computer's specifications meet the minimum requirements of "The Sims 2." The game should work with Microsoft's Vista operating system. Players need a 1.3GHz processor and 512 MB of memory. Players also need a support card that supports Direct X9.
- 6
  Close all background tasks if "The Sims 2" will load, but promptly crashes or freezes up. Attempt to run the game again. If "The Sims 2" remains unresponsive after troubleshooting steps, visit EA Games' official web site and select "Contact Us." Create or log in to your user account. Fill in the information required, including the name of the game for which you are experiencing trouble. Choose "Technical Support" as the category. Players can then enter a live chat or receive email from a technical support staff member.

Computer Games