BleepingComputer.com: Strange Application Problem

Hi all,I have a pretty annoying situation..

A few days ago I installed The Sims 2 Double Deluxe. As soon as it was finished I played it for about an hour or so,exited the game and shut down my computer. The next day,I went to play it,and for some reason it refuses to launch now. The farthest it gets is to the launch screen,but after I hit "play" nothing happens. No error messages,no warning sounds,nothing. I hear my computer working like it should,but then it just stops for an unknown reason.I even watched it through Task Manager,and the application for the game just quits.

I've spoken with EA tech support,and they've determined the game is crashing. They've had me empty my Temp folder,stop all unnecessary tasks,and even update my video card driver. So far nothing has worked. Then after a day or so,I decided to try to launch the game for the hell of it,and it worked. Played it for a few hours,until it did infact crash with an error message.Tried re-launching,and it had gone back to not working again.

Now from what I've deducted,and if the game really is crashing on start-up,I dont see how it could be related to my video card driver being out of date. Because when I do play it there are NO issues whatsoever with gameplay. Another possibility it could be crashing is memory problems,but I have 16 GB free on my hard drive. Then theres sound,but,again,can't be that as my sound card is up-to-date.

I've tried everything I can think of so far,and what I'm not getting is why does it work sometimes,but then other times it doesn't?

I appreciate any help I can get.

<<...but I have 16 GB free on my hard drive>>

Memory doesn't exist on a hard drive, storage space does.

Under certain conditions a minor part of the hard drive can be used for memory purposes, but I don't think this is a recommendation for anyone who wants to play games on a system.

Right-click on My Computer and select Properties.

List the 4 lines underneath Computer.

If bonafide support personnel told you that your video card isn't up to the task...I suggest taking their word for it unless you are sure that they are wrong.

Louis

Minimum System Requirements for The Sims 2

If you have a T&L capable video card with at least 32 MB of video RAM then you need at least:

* 800 MHz processor or better
* 256 MB RAM if Windows Vista, XP, Windows ME, Windows 98 or Windows 2000
* At least 3.5 GB of hard drive space

If you have a non-T&L capable video card (an Intel Extreme Graphics or a Radeon 7000/VE Series) then you need at least:

* 2.0 GHz processor or better
* 256 MB RAM if Windows Vista, XP, Windows ME, Windows 98, or Windows 2000
* At least 3.5 GB of hard drive space

Get the most current driver for your video card. The manufacturers usually have the video drivers on their sites for you to download. Visit the nVidia site, the ATI site or the support site for your computer's manufacturer for the latest drivers for those video cards.

Supported video cards (and the more video memory the better):

* ATI RadeonTM series (7000 or better)
o Radeon 7000/VE series (non-T&L; requires 2.0 GHz processor)
o 7200, 7500
o 8500, All-In-Wonder 8500
o 9000, 9200, 9500, 9600, 9700, 9800
o X300, X600, X800

* Nvidia� QuadroTM series
o Quadro, Quadro2, Quadro4

* Nvidia� Geforce series (GeForce2 and better)
o GeForce2
o GeForce3, 3 Ti
o GeForce4, 4Ti, MX 420, 440
o GeForce FX 5200, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 5950
o GeForce 6600, 6800

* Intel� Extreme Graphics (non-T&L; requires 2.0 GHz processor)
o 82845, 82865, 82915

I had the same situation occur and fell well within the Minimum System Requirements for The Sims 2.
I ended up unistalling ,rebooting and then reinstalled ..but this time I shut down my anti virus (AVG) before the install. Then rebooted after the install and it played fine.
Hope it helps
Bob

Ok,so I tried deactivating my anti-virus for the installation. Re-booted and everything,still not working. I did notice however that everytime I try to launch the game and it fails,that this exception report gets generated,along with a file. Heres the report:

Exception time: 10/22/2009, at 16:05:06.
Exception code: 0xC0000005 (-1073741819) ACCESS_VIOLATION.
Current thread ID: 2328 (0x00000918).
Version information:
Application/module path: C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Double Deluxe\EP2\TSBin\Sims2EP2.exe
Application/module version name: The Sims 2 Deluxe
Application/module version: 1.2.0.375
System version: Windows NT 5.1
System memory: 2048 Megabytes total, 1596 Megabytes free.
Application/module configuration: ReleaseSRT

Exception module: C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Double Deluxe\EP2\TSBin\Sims2EP2.exe.
Exception address: 0x013ace0f. Section:Offset: 0x00:0x00000000.

Registers
EAX: 8c80adb2
EBX: 10000000
ECX: 10000000
EDX: 000001cc
ESI: 8c80adb2
EDI: 00000000
CS:EIP: 001b:013ace0f
SS:ESP: 0023:0220e0b4 EBP:0220e0f0
DS:0023 ES:0023 FS:003b GS:0000
Flags: 00010286

Loaded Modules
Address Size Module Path
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0x00400000 26251264 Sims2EP2.exe C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Double Deluxe\EP2\TSBin\Sims2EP2.exe
0x7c900000 729088 ntdll.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntdll.dll
0x7c800000 1003520 kernel32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\kernel32.dll
0x4fdd0000 1728512 d3d9.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d9.dll
0x6d990000 24576 d3d8thk.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d8thk.dll
0x77f10000 294912 GDI32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\GDI32.dll
0x7e410000 589824 USER32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\USER32.dll
0x77c10000 360448 msvcrt.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\msvcrt.dll
0x77dd0000 634880 ADVAPI32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\ADVAPI32.dll
0x77e70000 598016 RPCRT4.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\RPCRT4.dll
0x77fe0000 69632 Secur32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\Secur32.dll
0x77c00000 32768 VERSION.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\VERSION.dll
0x76b40000 184320 WINMM.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\WINMM.dll
0x76390000 118784 IMM32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\IMM32.dll
0x75a70000 135168 MSVFW32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSVFW32.dll
0x7c9c0000 8482816 SHELL32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll
0x77f60000 483328 SHLWAPI.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHLWAPI.dll
0x5d090000 630784 COMCTL32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\COMCTL32.dll
0x73b50000 94208 AVIFIL32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\AVIFIL32.dll
0x774e0000 1298432 ole32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\ole32.dll
0x77be0000 86016 MSACM32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSACM32.dll
0x77120000 569344 OLEAUT32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\OLEAUT32.dll
0x71ab0000 94208 WS2_32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\WS2_32.dll
0x71aa0000 32768 WS2HELP.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\WS2HELP.dll
0x73f10000 376832 DSOUND.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\DSOUND.dll
0x71ad0000 36864 WSOCK32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\WSOCK32.dll
0x10000000 188416 rafomife.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\rafomife.dll
0x773d0000 1060864 comctl32.dll C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\x86_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.2600.2982_x-ww_ac3f9c03\comctl32.dll
0x77690000 135168 NTMARTA.DLL C:\WINDOWS\system32\NTMARTA.DLL
0x76f60000 180224 WLDAP32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\WLDAP32.dll
0x71bf0000 77824 SAMLIB.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\SAMLIB.dll
0x76d60000 102400 IPHLPAPI.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\IPHLPAPI.dll
0x5ad70000 229376 uxtheme.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\uxtheme.dll
0x76d40000 98304 MPRAPI.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\MPRAPI.dll
0x77cc0000 204800 ACTIVEDS.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\ACTIVEDS.dll
0x76e10000 151552 adsldpc.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\adsldpc.dll
0x5b860000 344064 NETAPI32.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\NETAPI32.dll
0x76b20000 69632 ATL.DLL C:\WINDOWS\system32\ATL.DLL
0x76e80000 57344 rtutils.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\rtutils.dll
0x77920000 995328 SETUPAPI.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\SETUPAPI.dll
0x35670000 53248 D30E6DB8.x86.dll \\?\globalroot\Device\__max++>\D30E6DB8.x86.dll
0x76f20000 159744 DNSAPI.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\DNSAPI.dll
0x76fc0000 24576 rasadhlp.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\rasadhlp.dll
0x05d90000 1048576 DbgHelp.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\DbgHelp.dll
0x76bf0000 45056 psapi.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\psapi.dll
0x74720000 307200 MSCTF.dll C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSCTF.dll

Call stack:
0x0000:0x00000000 C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Double Deluxe\EP2\TSBin\Sims2EP2.exe struct PFNAPI_DATA_TYPE CDAPFN0506_cTSCommonCOMDirector__OnStart() + 1496455
0x0000:0x00000000 C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Double Deluxe\EP2\TSBin\Sims2EP2.exe struct PFNAPI_DATA_TYPE CDAPFN0506_cTSCommonCOMDirector__OnStart() + 1497318
0x0000:0x00000000 C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Double Deluxe\EP2\TSBin\Sims2EP2.exe struct PFNAPI_DATA_TYPE CDAPFN0506_cTSCommonCOMDirector__OnStart() + 394473
0x0001:0x0001cbfb C:\WINDOWS\system32\USER32.dll CallMsgFilterW() + 591
0x0001:0x0000d473 C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntdll.dll KiUserCallbackDispatcher() + 19
0x0001:0x0000eecc C:\WINDOWS\system32\USER32.dll CreateWindowExW() + 679
0x0001:0x0000ec58 C:\WINDOWS\system32\USER32.dll CreateWindowExW() + 51
0x0001:0x0004de8c C:\WINDOWS\system32\ole32.dll CoGetTreatAsClass() + 7295
0x0001:0x0001e031 C:\WINDOWS\system32\ole32.dll CoInitializeEx() + 198
0x0001:0x00021a46 C:\WINDOWS\system32\ole32.dll CoInitialize() + 15
0x0001:0x0091ef8f C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Double Deluxe\EP2\TSBin\Sims2EP2.exe public: virtual bool __thiscall cTSAudioCOMDirector::OnStart(class cIGZCOM *)() + 2787366
0x0001:0x0091fbbe C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Double Deluxe\EP2\TSBin\Sims2EP2.exe public: virtual bool __thiscall cTSAudioCOMDirector::OnStart(class cIGZCOM *)() + 2790485
0x0001:0x0089840e C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Double Deluxe\EP2\TSBin\Sims2EP2.exe public: virtual bool __thiscall cTSAudioCOMDirector::OnStart(class cIGZCOM *)() + 2235557
0x0001:0x00015fe7 C:\WINDOWS\system32\kernel32.dll RegisterWaitForInputIdle() + 73
0x0000:0x00000000 C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Double Deluxe\EP2\TSBin\Sims2EP2.exe struct PFNAPI_DATA_TYPE CDAPFN0506_cTSCommonCOMDirector__OnStart() + 571012
0x0000:0x00000000 .

Stack data: (ESP is 0x0220e0b4)
0x0220df34 00000000 e8f36caa a04784bf a4f46caa 1840e9bb f3ef80bf 00000000 00004e77
0x0220df54 00000000 16000100 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000088 94d24e77
0x0220df74 38c00000 00000000 28000000 2a000000 94d24e77 34f46caa 420b80bf 00000000
0x0220df94 dcf36caa 4cf46caa ffffffff 54f46caa 00000000 05c64d80 01000000 1840e9bb
0x0220dfb4 f3ef80bf 00000000 4c51aa89 00f12002 80f46caa 420b80bf 6cf080bf a4f46caa
0x0220dfd4 74ef2002 60f86caa 1840e9bb 00000000 a4f46caa 9fd94d80 e8010900 81000000
0x0220dff4 00000000 54f12002 00000000 9e020000 00000000 a0ef2002 14e5907c 000ddbba
0x0220e014 58ef2002 d8f02002 3b000000 aa94417e 1b000000 46020000 c8f02002 23000000
0x0220e034 00000000 000065ba 23006d89 23006589 0a000000 13010000 88453602 01000000
0x0220e054 b0f76caa 3b000000 81000000 18403602 00000000 10f12002 3b000000 aa94417e
0x0220e074 1b000000 02020000 00f12002 23000000 40e76d89 02000000 34f66caa 970265ba
0x0220e094 7f022001 0000c901 a6a9ff00 18f832e2 b8f532e2 24000000 801f0000 00000000
0x0220e0b4 a0b00210 a0b00210 f4ce3a01 d2d03a01 b0ad807c 00000010 a0b00210 08000000
0x0220e0d4 0000ffff 744b8901 00b00210 00000000 a0b00210 00000000 00000000 acf02002
0x0220e0f4 6ed13a01 00000010 0ce12002 0ce12002 00000000 a00f0000 00000010 0000807c
0x0220e114 0000907c 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0220e134 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0220e154 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0220e174 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0220e194 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0220e1b4 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0220e1d4 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0220e1f4 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
0x0220e214 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000

Instruction data: (EIP is 0x013ace0f)
0x013acd8f 6f cd fb ff 83 c4 14 ff 75 08 8d 45 84 50 ff d6 68 40 c6 b8 01 8b f0 e8 57 cd fb ff 59 57 ff 15
0x013acdaf a3 32 bf 01 83 fe 04 75 03 6a 02 5e 6a 00 e8 6e e2 ff ff 83 f8 01 75 03 6a 04 5e 85 f6 74 05 83
0x013acdcf fe 01 75 03 6a 02 5e 8b c6 eb 15 68 e8 c5 b8 01 e8 1e cd fb ff 59 57 ff 15 a3 32 bf 01 33 c0 40
0x013acdef 5e 5f c9 c3 56 57 8b f0 33 ff 85 f6 75 12 eb 18 0f be c0 50 e8 01 18 24 00 6b ff 1f 03 f8 59 46
0x013ace0f 8a 06 84 c0 75 ea 8b c7 5f 5e c3 55 8b ec 56 8b 75 08 85 f6 75 04 33 c0 eb 37 8d 45 08 50 6a 40
0x013ace2f 6a 04 56 e8 5f 30 f5 ff 85 c0 74 ea 8b 45 10 85 c0 74 04 8b 0e 89 08 8b 45 0c 89 06 8d 45 08 50
0x013ace4f ff 75 08 6a 04 56 e8 3c 30 f5 ff f7 d8 1b c0 f7 d8 5e 5d c3 8b 44 24 04 c1 e0 0b 33 44 24 04 53
0x013ace6f 33 44 24 0c 56 b9 eb 06 00 00 8b f1 33 d2 f7 f6 57 6a 0a 5f 8b f2 8b c6 99 8b d9 f7 fb 8b 14 d5





So thats it.Does this make sense to anyone? I'm assuming it has to be related to the problem im having. Thanks