The Sims 3 not loading - BLACK SCREEN

[JiffyJam]

I bought The Sims 3 a few days ago and have had no issues playing the game. I tried to log on to play just now and I get a black screen then back to my desktop. My computer is new, WIN 8.1, x51 Alienware i7 2 GB vid card, 16 GB Ram. Anyone else have this issue? I have restarted the computer, still black screen then desktop, the game is still down on the task bar, if I click it, the black screen appears then goes back to desktop. Very frustrating.

[JiffyJam]

The Sims tab on the taskbar will not close either. I have to restart the computer to shut it off.

[cruinne]

Instead of restarting your computer, bring up the Task Manager (control + alt + delete), select the Sims process, and "End Process" there. It might take a couple tries, but it's easier than restarting the computer.

As for what's wrong -- do you have custom content installed? If so, does it work when you play without it?

[JiffyJam]

When I bought this game I did not realize I would be playing it through a 3rd party (Steam) platform. Guess I should have spent the extra 10 USD and bought it straight from EA. Another lesson. Sighs!

[JiffyJam]

引用自 cruinne：

Instead of restarting your computer, bring up the Task Manager (control + alt + delete), select the Sims process, and "End Process" there. It might take a couple tries, but it's easier than restarting the computer.

As for what's wrong -- do you have custom content installed? If so, does it work when you play without it?

I have not installed any custom content. Also thanks for reminding me about task manager. Win 8.1 has thrown me off, it's so different than my last pc. Any other ideas?

[JiffyJam]

引用自 cruinne：

Instead of restarting your computer, bring up the Task Manager (control + alt + delete), select the Sims process, and "End Process" there. It might take a couple tries, but it's easier than restarting the computer.

As for what's wrong -- do you have custom content installed? If so, does it work when you play without it?

I tried launching the game again, the same way I have been logging in since I purchased it. I double click the Sims3 icon, the Sims 3 CD key launches, I click PLAY, then The Sims 3 Game Launcher appears, I click the blue triangle arrow button.black screen appears for 2 seconds then the window minimizes and I am back to my desktop, The Sims 3 tab is showing on my task bar, I click it, I get the black screen for 2 seconds. The only way to shut this off is restart or close on the task bar.

[cruinne]

引用自 JiffyJam：

The only way to shut this off is restart or close on the task bar.

No, that's not correct. Your Task Manager will do it (it's partially what the task manager is for).

Anyway, next up: If you temporarily move or rename the "The Sims 3" folder inside your computer's Documents folder, does the game work then?

[JiffyJam]

引用自 cruinne：

引用自 JiffyJam：

The only way to shut this off is restart or close on the task bar.

No, that's not correct. Your Task Manager will do it (it's partially what the task manager is for).

Anyway, next up: If you temporarily move or rename the "The Sims 3" folder inside your computer's Documents folder, does the game work then?

I am unsure where to locate the folder. When I right click on the sims icon it shows.... steam://rungameid/47890

[JiffyJam]

引用自 cruinne：

引用自 JiffyJam：

The only way to shut this off is restart or close on the task bar.

No, that's not correct. Your Task Manager will do it (it's partially what the task manager is for).

Anyway, next up: If you temporarily move or rename the "The Sims 3" folder inside your computer's Documents folder, does the game work then?

I found the folder in the Documents folder. I renamed the Sims 3 folder, then launched the game, I got a prompt to install a patch, so I clicked YES, same issue, black screen. Next I deleted the new Sim 3 folder that was created and launched the game again, this time I clicked NO on installing the patch, same issue. I thought maybe installing the patch was the culprit, but apparently not.

I am stumped.

[cruinne]

OK, EA usually suggests running the game in Windowed mode and seeing if that gets it to start up properly.

Since you can't get the game going to get into its settings, you'll have to edit a file. Inside that Documents directory's The Sims 3 folder, look for a file called Options.ini. Right-click it and choose "Edit".

Inside the file, find the line that reads, "fullscreen = 1", and change the 1 to a 0 -- a zero. Save it, and try the game again.

[Gostovah]

I am in the exact same boat 100%, even tried the fresh start without running patches, always has the exact same outcome. I hope this thread keeps going and an answer is found as I spent 60 bucks on the steamsale for this game and it's expansions

[Gostovah]

引用自 cruinne：

OK, EA usually suggests running the game in Windowed mode and seeing if that gets it to start up properly.

Since you can't get the game going to get into its settings, you'll have to edit a file. Inside that Documents directory's The Sims 3 folder, look for a file called Options.ini. Right-click it and choose "Edit".

Inside the file, find the line that reads, "fullscreen = 1", and change the 1 to a 0 -- a zero. Save it, and try the game again.

you magnificent bastard! THAT WORKED!!!

[JiffyJam]

引用自 cruinne：

OK, EA usually suggests running the game in Windowed mode and seeing if that gets it to start up properly.

Since you can't get the game going to get into its settings, you'll have to edit a file. Inside that Documents directory's The Sims 3 folder, look for a file called Options.ini. Right-click it and choose "Edit".

Inside the file, find the line that reads, "fullscreen = 1", and change the 1 to a 0 -- a zero. Save it, and try the game again.

I followed your steps and the game launched, in a very small screen. :)

What does this tell you?

[cruinne]

Fantastic!

Though I'm really wondering what the censored word there was

[cruinne]

引用自 JiffyJam：

I followed your steps and the game launched, in a very small screen. :)

What does this tell you?

That your game got really confused about something, god knows what. You should be able to use the game settings now to re-adjust the display to a more comfortable size.

[JiffyJam]

引用自 cruinne：

Fantastic! :D:

Though I'm really wondering what the censored word there was :infectedparty:

Do I go back into that file and change the 0 to a 1? Or do I change the screen size within the game?

Also would you happen to know how I can get the game to ask again to install the patch?

Thanks so much for your time, I am grateful for your help. :)