help with sims superstar

[Ddg3Player]

Hey,
I'm new here so i'm not sure if I'm even writing in the right section. I've got a bit of a problem. I've got windows vista and I've been trying to run sims superstar with a few issues. Firstly i can run the original sims with no problems whatsoever. I can install the sims superstar with no issues and it will load without any issues and i can get to the buying window without too many issues and from there the game freezes. Are there any patches or something that is needed for this game?

I've tried so many different things. Firstly i changed the compatability of the program (right clicked the program and clicked on the compatability tab) This helps but not enough. I've tried turning off the firewall this helped but again not enough. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling the program but this did absolutely nothing.

Also, I'm getting an error message when i try to save the house: An error was encountered saving the house. I've had this issue for months and months now and I've emailed the people at EA games without much luck. I know the game was made before windows vista but isnt there a way to play it? It was one of my favourite games.

[The Star Hermit]

Hi Ddg3Player, welcome to the forums.

There's probably nothing we can do here if the EA Support have already gone through all the possible solutions with you. I currently have it installed on Vista and have come across some odd message, however I've not played it extensively and have been able to save and run the game on the few occasions I've had reason to boot it up.

There is one other thing that it's worth pointing out, I discovered quite by chance that the game had copied some of the user data folders to another hidden location on under my Vista username, as well as the normal location under Programs/Maxis etc.

It can be located at:

C:\Users\Your Username Here\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\Maxis\The Sims

It's a hidden folder so you'll have to show hidden files, open any folder and choose the Tools menu, choose Folder Options, select the View tab, scroll to the Hidden Files and Folders section, select Show hidden files and folders, click Apply.

What these extras UserData folders are doing here and how we can use this information I don't yet know, I haven't got around to experimenting yet. If you know what you are doing you may be able to find out if you can do anything with these folders or ask anyone else who can look into it for you. If all this seems gobbledygook to you then I'd leave it well alone.

There's not really anything else I can advise, other than going back to the EA Support team if you still have problems.

[Ddg3Player]

Hey,
the thing is though when i contacted them (several times) they gave me the same answer over and over and over again so its frustrating. I had a look at what you suggested i deleted the file and tried the game again didn't seem to make much of a difference at all ahh well thanks for your help though its greatly appreciated

[Ddg3Player]

I forgot to ask you did you have to download a patch or anything in order for it to work? I don't seem to be getting the house error anymore but its still freezing on me very badly. I don't understand why the original sims works on my computer but theres an issue with superstar

[The Star Hermit]

No I didn't, there isn't one available for Superstar anyway. You can find all available patches here on The Sims website.

Funnily enough though, I did have a similar problem with Superstar when I originally switched to XP, in the end I un-installed the game and deleted all the remaining The Sims folders in C:\Program Files\Maxis.

I was able to install the game and all the expansion then with no problem, which suggests to me I had corruptions to my game files.

It may be worth trying, if you don't want to lose any of your current sims, go to C:\Program Files\Maxis and move The Sims folder out to another location before you uninstall, to save it. If re-installing and creating a new set of neighbourhoods solves the problem then you've got an idea where the problem lies.