the sims 2 base game crashes whenever I try to load any neighborhood

[nocturnal_kaos]

Every time I try to load any neighborhood I receive the error message - (The application has crashed. The application will now terminate.)
The problem is also affecting The Sims 2 Bodyshop and when ever I try to create a sim I am unable to do any manipulations to the faces. When I try to alter faces they all revert to the heart shaped base face and I am unable to save the new sim.I have tried the http://www.modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Game_Problem link and have still been unable to fix the problem. I have uninstalled the game and I have even gone as far as to revert my computer back to factory settings. I searched through the forums to see if anyone else is facing the same problem and I couldn't find a forum that provided had the exact problems I'm facing. Also I have tried patching the game. I receive a message that says the game is up to date.
My operating system is windows 7 64 bit
My computer specs are
OS Name Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Version 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name K-OXPS
System Manufacturer Dell Inc.
System Model XPS 8300
System Type x64-based PC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2300 CPU @ 2.80GHz, 2801 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Dell Inc. A03, 2/15/2011
SMBIOS Version 2.6
Windows Directory C:\Windows
System Directory C:\Windows\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume2
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.1.7601.17514"
User Name K-OXPS
Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 6.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 5.98 GB
Available Physical Memory 4.53 GB
Total Virtual Memory 12.0 GB
Available Virtual Memory 10.3 GB
Page File Space 5.98 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
I hope I provided all the required information

[Mootilda]

Do you have a graphics card? Which one?

[nocturnal_kaos]

sorry about that
Card name: AMD Radeon HD 6450
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x6779)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_6779&SUBSYS_909D1B0A&REV_00
Display Memory: 3817 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1010 MB
Shared Memory: 2807 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (85Hz)
Monitor Name: Dell D1626HT
Monitor Model: DELL D1626HT
Monitor Id: DEL515B
Native Mode: unknown
Output Type: HD15
Driver Name: aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx32,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1077 (English)
Driver Version: 8.850.0.0
DDI Version: 11
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 4/20/2011 03:07:48, 795648 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-2439-11CF-8F7C-97B0BEC2C535}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x6779
SubSys ID: 0x909D1B0A
Revision ID: 0x0000
Driver Strong Name: oem12.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64.6.1:ati2mtag_NI:8.850.0.0:pci\ven_1002&dev_6779
Rank Of Driver: 00E62001
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C

[Darby]

I don't see a thing wrong with your computer's specs. (Need Mootilda's input on it, though.)

If indeed your specs are good, and you really did every part of the FAQ and learned absolutely nothing, that's truly baffling. The only thing I can think of to account for this is that something's not installing correctly from the discs.

Actually, another idea: Even though the graphics card looks to be adequate, maybe it's not truly compatible with the game.

Or, something else is wonky with your computer in general.

Have you ever been able to play Sims 2 with no issues on this particular computer? Are you having issues with any other games or programs?

[Mootilda]

I'm definitely not the person to ask about hardware. However, a quick google seems to indicate that the card isn't adequate for playing games. For example, from: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_6450/AMD Radeon HD 6450 is targeted at the entry-level market with OEMs and office system builders in mind.Or, from: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2385821,00.aspThough most consumers buy video cards with the intent of doing some kind of gaming, it can't be stated often enough that that's simply not the 6450's strong point. We ran through our usual suite of tests, and got almost exclusively unplayable results.
I would recommend that you post your specs in our Hardware section, to see whether your computer can be updated to play the game for a reasonable price, or whether you'll have to invest in a new computer:
http://www.modthesims.info/forumdisplay.php?f=563

[whiterider]

It should be able to cope with Bodyshop, though. Have you checked to see if there are updates to your drivers? When you reinstalled, did you keep your user data or start fresh?

[Darby]

Yes, it's an "entry level" card, but I think that's a highly relative term. Today's "entry level" handily outstrips the "mid-level" and perhaps even "high end" of 7-8 years ago, when Sims 2 was first released. From what I recall back then, a halfway decent graphics card might have a quarter GB of RAM. The AMD Radeon HD 6450 has a full GB of its own RAM which is waaay beyond what most (any?) of us had several years ago.

Admittedly, beyond seeing how much of its own RAM a graphics card has, I understand little else about them. So I could be totally out to lunch on this one. I do recall, though, having an AMD Radeon card from the older 5000 series that ran the game very well indeed.

[nocturnal_kaos]

When I first bought the computer in September, The Sims 2 ran perfectly. It wasn't until late December it started running in the background of my computer instead of opening. The game would eventually open but it lagged really bad or would freeze.

"I'm definitely not the person to ask about hardware. However, a quick Google seems to indicate that the card isn't adequate for playing games."
I hope that isn't true I'm not very good with computers and I asked the salesman specifically for a computer that can handle games.

"It should be able to cope with Bodyshop, though. Have you checked to see if there are updates to your drivers? When you reinstalled, did you keep your user data or start fresh? "
When I uninstalled the game I accidentally deleted my user data. I am currently checking to see if there are any updates needed

[Darby]

Do you regularly run anti-virus/anti-spyware software?

How about Disk Cleanup and defragging?

How much hard drive space do you have, and how much of it is still available?

Are any other games or programs giving you trouble?

[nocturnal_kaos]

"Do you regularly run anti-virus/anti-spyware software?

How about Disk Cleanup and defragging?

How much hard drive space do you have, and how much of it is still available?

Are any other games or programs giving you trouble? "

I am running AVG anti virus software and it does a virus scan every Friday.
I ran disk cleanup and defragged a little bit after I reset the computer. It is currently stating there is no need to defrag.
computer space
capacity: 919GB
used: 84.0GB
free:835GB
No I am not having any trouble with any other games or programs

[Mootilda]

When I first bought the computer in September, The Sims 2 ran perfectly. It wasn't until late December it started running in the background of my computer instead of opening. The game would eventually open but it lagged really bad or would freeze.This could be an indication that you've done a lot of damage to your computer, trying to run the game on a computer which can't handle it.

"I'm definitely not the person to ask about hardware. However, a quick Google seems to indicate that the card isn't adequate for playing games."
I hope that isn't true I'm not very good with computers and I asked the salesman specifically for a computer that can handle games.Salespeople aren't the best source of reliable information. After all, they are being paid to sell you things. If they sell you something which is underpowered, then they can get paid again to help you upgrade.

Which other games do you play on your computer? Do you do anything else on your computer which is graphics-intensive?

[nocturnal_kaos]

I haven't tried any other games on my computer. I do create a lot of digital artwork, don't know if that counts

[Darby]

I'm afraid I'm completely stumped. :(

[nocturnal_kaos]

it's cool probably something I did to the computer

[nocturnal_kaos]

I took the computer back to the company and they were able to fix the problem. The tech guy told me AVG had removed something vital to the game and all he had to do was restore it. Either way thanks everyone for the help