Random crashes in create a sim

[Popo]

This game worked fine on my old windows 7 laptop, but I "upgraded" recently, and got a new laptop with windows 8. I knew I'd have to do some troubleshooting, but I wasn't ready for this.

Every time I go into create-a-sim, it eventually crashes before I can finish. Sometimes, it's when I switch tabs(hair/traits/etc.), sometimes it's when I make another sim. It's unplayable.

I've updated my graphics card driver, and checked for updates to every other relevant device in the device manager. I added the sims3 exe files to DEP exceptions, I've tried compatibility modes for every game exe. The only game expansion I have is Showtime.

Edit: I should mention that I can access premade sim families just fine, but whenever I edit/make a sim, it ends up crashing on me.

I'm running windows 8.1 64 bit, 8GB ram, with AMD Radeon HD 8550g 2.1Ghz for graphics.

I'm at a complete loss. Any help would be appreciated.

[cruinne]

There are a number of steps you can try -- a good list is here[modthesims.info].

There is also this list from over at EA.

If you try them, I'd try them in order. And if one works for you, please let us know :-)

[Popo]

Tried all of that already, no luck.

[UniNamer]

i'm having this problem too. only it's spacificly with editing clothes. i can create sims, it lags loading all the content and switching hair styles, if i even open up the clothes tab its already too late to stop it, it'll start loading the clothes and crash. I can skip the clothes and keep their defualt. but thats not alot of fun.

[cruinne]

OK, so you have:

• Tried running in Windowed mode?
  
  
• Done a factory reset on your game? This means you removed or renamed your Documents directory's "The Sims 3" folder, not just uninstalled then reinstalled?
  
  
• Deleted the following files?
  
  • In your main game folder:
    • CasPartCache.package
    • compositorCache.package
    • scriptCache.package and
    • SimCompositorCache.package
  • In your Thumbnails folder: everything
    
  • in your Content Patch folder's Downloads folder: any file of type .part
  
  
• Turned off the in-game store in your settings?

[Popo]

Through a mixture of about a thousand different attempts to fix it, I finally got it to the point where I can make a sim if I'm quick about it. Can't really edit clothing too much, otherwise the game gets unhappy. @cruinne: Already deleted the cache files and tried windowed mode, that didn't seem to help. Will try the other stuff and report back later.

[UniNamer]

yes same for me, i reinstalled and didnt install any custom content. if i fight through the lag i can pick some clothes, if i let it load too long it crashes. i tried some other sugestions like running it in compatability mode and administrator but nothing helps, seems to be some kind of memory leak, since it lags while loading then crashes.

[cruinne]

Sorry to keep asking, but no one's saying specifically: when you reinstalled, did you manually remove your "The Sims 3" folder from inside your Documents directory? Uninstalling does not remove that folder, and any problems with corruption or CC will remain through the re-install as a result.

[Popo]

@cruinne: Never did the documents folder, but since this problem started with a clean install on a new computer, I doubt it has anything to do with that.

[cruinne]

OK, well, I give up then. Hopefully someone else can help you.

[Popo]

Well, like I said earlier, a mixture of everything else seemed to at least postpone the issue long enough for me to get a sim made. There's still hanging/lag issues, and I'm sure if I tried to take my time with the clothing, it'd crash, but I'd say it's as fixed as it's getting for now.