Black screen of death

[Joria]

I know, I know, I HAVE to remember to save, save, save, like every five minutes.  But I forget, and after I've done a lot of wonderful stuff, I get black screen of death.  Everything goes black, goes to desktop, and all I have just done is gone to cyber netherworld.  Anyone know why?  I'm running Windows 7, have a compatible, new video card, compatible new driver, do not run any cc that is not store bought, am running WA but nothing else.  I can't tell you how many times I've restarted my legacy and it's really getting boring to keep doing this.

Once it goes black I can immediately go back into the game via the launcher with no problems.  It's like, "Who?  Little innocent me crashed your game? I'm hurt you would think so."  I can go in as administrator or just go in.  Either way it works great for hours until it decides to black screen me again.  PC too hot?  Just a regular glitch folks experience?  Your rabid reader wants to know.  Errmm, also, I'm technology challenged so if anyone has any idea make it for "dummies" please.

[Metropolis Man]

Heat can be an issue and something I don't ever see recommended on the forum is having a professional clean out your computer. I do this religiously once a year at my local Mac repair shop. It takes the tech about an hour, so he charges me around 75 or 80 bucks but it never ceases to amaze me how much dust he can suck out. Heat is a bigtime killer for anything electrical. Whether it's your issue or not, who knows? But, when computers do get too hot, their performance really suffers.

[Archer0]

Heh, I've been suffering the random crash to desktop for awhile now.  Usually only happens after I have been playing for over an hour.  I solved it some, by removing any custom content.  But, I tried lots of other things, including a complete reload of Windows 7.  Nope, still happens randomly, maybe a little less now.  And it's just the Sims 3.  No problems with any other games or applications.  I thought I had it solved by not installed the HELS pack.  But the problem returned with the latest patch and Ambitions. 

I would definitely start with things like a complete reinstall of the Sims 3 and updating hardware drivers, if you have not done so.

Some other things to try, and I will not be responsible if your PC becomes unstable or blows up! 

1. One thread I read suggested turning down the high quality adjacent lots(do not know the exact name) setting inside the game.  They suggested 4 or less.  Mine was already at 4, and I tried lower, but it didn't help me.

2. This thread mentions turning off DEP: Data Execution Prevention for the Sims 3 - http://www.carls-sims-3-forum.com/index.php/topic,1107.0.html  I've also read elsewhere that it works for some people.  Others, not so much.  Google for "Sims 3+DEP" and the first link will be to a thread on the Sims 3 official forums, with some basic instructions.  I actually did this, and it made no difference.

3. I really do not recommend this for most people, but it is kind of a last ditch effort for me, as I have tried so much else.  Verdict is still out so far.  I have not really had time to play Sims 3 lately and test stability.  The current thing I have done is to modify the Sims 3 exe file with a program that supposedly allows games and applications to work with PC memory amounts greater than 2gb(I have 4gb).  Supposedly this happens with many games.  Do a google for "games+4GB patch" and it should be the first link.  There's an explanation of why this is needed or works.  It might just be smoke and mirrors though.  Make sure to backup you Sims 3 exe file first! 

[Saltypaws]

Your right Metro, cleaning is very essential.  I buy the compressed air and take the side off at least once every six months and clean the fans and everything. There is usually a buildup of dust on the fans, and it works alot better.  When I use to smoke around my computer, it would get that sticky stuff on the fans and it took forever to come off.  Cleaning the inside is probably the most important thing that people don't even realize that they need to do

[Mrs.Laphalot]

Your right Metro, cleaning is very essential.  I buy the compressed air and take the side off at least once every six months and clean the fans and everything. There is usually a buildup of dust on the fans, and it works alot better.  When I use to smoke around my computer, it would get that sticky stuff on the fans and it took forever to come off.  Cleaning the inside is probably the most important thing that people don't even realize that they need to do

Ah, like you Salty, I clean my fans very regularly (I am a smoker myself) but I never knew about the heatsink and the importance of keeping that cleaned.    A professional to do the job is a great idea, it can be pretty scary messing around in there when ya don't have a clue what things are. 

Side note: Saw some guys siggy at another forum today that read: "I've burned up enough GPUs in my lifetime, I know what I'm talking about dude."  I lol'd at that. Ring of truth to the old "hands on training" technique? 

[KikiB]

I have a brand new computer and am suffering the same fate - death by black screen.

Everything is compatible and my heatsink and fans are clean so I don't think that's it.

Do you use any of the cheats?  I do.  I like to make my needs static so I don't have to stop all of the time to eat, sleep, bathroom break, etc.  I have learned to save often because I lost a 7 gen family on a save crash (my backup is corrupt, too) but I very often forget to turn the testingcheats OFF once I turn them on.  I'm beginning to think that might have something to do with the sudden crashes.  It would be interesting to know if others who are experiencing this horrible fate are also playing with cheats enabled.

[AriaGirl77]

I never use cheats, no mods or third party content, and I still occasionally get the Black Screen of Death on a fairly regular basis.

I haven't cleaned out my CPU in a while, so I'm sure that needs to be done, but my computer is only about 6 months old so it shouldn't be that bad.  And I've been getting black screen since the day I got the computer so I know dust isn't entirely to blame.

Honestly, I think there's probably a problem with the game, otherwise it wouldn't be such a common complaint among simmers.  The only solution seems to be saving regularly.  One thing I do, set the kitchen timer and save every 30 minutes AT LEAST!  Plus, it's good to get up that often and stretch the legs anyway. 

[Pam]

I think the Black Screen of Death is just something we have to live with.  It happens to me on a regular basis, too.  As for saving the game, I try to make it a habit to save every Sim day when they go to sleep.

[Saltypaws]

I do not know if this will work with anyone elses computer, but I found out, that when my computer goes black and then the game goes to the task bar, if I click on it fast enough, the game will come back up and I hurry and save it.  Sometimes I can keep playing and then sometimes, right after I save it will go away again.  Use to it would do that and I would just watch it go away and then I decided to click on it and found that out.  I know all of our computers are different, but if someone has suggestions that work, it might work for someone else.

[Joria]

Sigh.  Been there, done all that stuff, still dies.  I really think it is a game issue as nothing else ever crashes like that.  It's pretty clean in there as we do clean it out, and it is only new since May this year anyway.

 Last night I got my spare married and moved out with her new spouse, then married off the heir.  It was happy, happy days.  I had renovated the Goth mansion so it now looks like a fabulous, Victorian mansion meant to have babies and parties in with lovely gardens, (no spooky trees), to stroll around in.  The spare was delighted and since she REALLY hates the outdoors was quite content to move in to her new home with her handsome hubby and not have to garden anymore.  The heir was happy too because now she could think about having babies.  Mom and Dad decided  a huge family trip to France was just the thing for a wedding gift and off they went.  I had not saved.  STUPID.  They arrived, walked into the base and went off to black screen of death.  I figured it was the time to sleep at that point.  Hey, it was already 4 am anyway.  Sigh.  Now I get to do it all over again.  At least I had saved after I moved the spare out.  I think.

[AriaGirl77]

Yeah, I think I hate it the most when it happens after you've renovated a house or planned everyone's outfit.  Or in WA, have gone on a really complex adventure.

[Pam]

I do not know if this will work with anyone elses computer, but I found out, that when my computer goes black and then the game goes to the task bar, if I click on it fast enough, the game will come back up and I hurry and save it.  Sometimes I can keep playing and then sometimes, right after I save it will go away again.  Use to it would do that and I would just watch it go away and then I decided to click on it and found that out.  I know all of our computers are different, but if someone has suggestions that work, it might work for someone else.

Where exactly are you clicking that sometimes brings the game back?

[Saltypaws]

When the sims3 game goes in the task bar on the bottom left.  I was just sitting there until it went away and one day I clicked on it and to my surprise it came back on, so I hurried up and saved it, like I said, sometimes it keeps on playing and then sometimes, it just goes away anyway.  

[Pam]

I don't think the task bar comes up on mine.  I'll be playing just fine, then the screen goes black, then one of my other windows comes open on the screen and my Sims 3 is just gone.

[Saltypaws]

Ok, then that is different from what mine does then.  The black screen has only happened to me like once, I think, the rest of the time, it just goes to desktop and I think that is from background applications running.  Since I have starting turning mine off after a while, it has worked just fine.  Well, I hope EA comes up with something, because I know people that cannot even play their games at all.  Too expensive a game not to be able to play it.