Sims 2 Mysterious Issue

[svpewing]

Here's one to rattle your brains. Today I installed the sims 2 and ALL the expansion packs. Upon completion and an attempt to start the game I get an error message telling me that it can't find any graphics card compatible with directx 9 features! This is a complete shock to me as I have a brand new (purchased last month) Intel i3 with Directx 11. I have tried all of the following with no luck thus far: Reboot, Update Drivers (already up to date), Install Sims 2 Patch, Sims website troubleshooting & uninstall/re-install everything. Here are some specs that may be helpful.

Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.110408-1633)

Language: English (Regional Setting: English)

System Manufacturer: TOSHIBA

System Model: Satellite L675

BIOS: Phoenix SecureCore Version 1.80

Processor: Intel® Core i3 CPU M 370 @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.4GHz

Memory: 4096MB RAM

Available OS Memory: 3890MB RAM

Page File: 1879MB used, 5899MB available

Windows Dir: C:\windows

DirectX Version: DirectX 11

Display Devices

Card name: Intel® HD Graphics

Manufacturer: Intel Corporation

Chip type: Intel® HD Graphics (Core i3)

DAC type: Internal

Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0046&SUBSYS_FD001179&REV_02

Display Memory: 1696 MB

Dedicated Memory: 64 MB

Shared Memory: 1632 MB

Current Mode: 1600 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)

[svpewing]

Oh and just so we are clear about the requirements of the game its self, here is what "can you run it" has to say.

CPU

Minimum: Pentium III or Athlon

You Have: Intel® Core i3 CPU M 370 @ 2.40GHz

PASS

CPU Speed

Minimum: 800 MHz with a T&L capable Video Card (2.0 GHz without Hardware T&L Video Card)

You Have: 2.4 GHz Performance Rated at: 4.32 GHz

PASS

RAM

Minimum: 256 MB

You Have: 3.8 GB

PASS

OS

Minimum: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7

You Have: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition (build 7600), 64-bit

PASS

Video Card

Minimum: 32 MB 3D accelerated video card (NVIDIA GeForce2/ATI Radeon VE/Intel Extreme Graphics or better)

You Have: Intel® HD Graphics

PASS

Features: Minimum attributes of your Video Card

Required You Have

Video RAM 32 MB 1.7 GB

3D Yes Yes

DirectX version

Minimum: 8.1 (included)

You Have: 11.0

PASS

Sound Card

Minimum: Yes

You Have: Realtek High Definition Audio

PASS

Free Disk Space

Minimum: 3.5 GB

You Have: 354.5 GB

PASS

DVD-ROM

Minimum: 8X DVD-ROM (This game contains technology intended to prevent copying that may conflict with some CD/DVD-ROM, CD/DVD-RW and virtual drives.)

You Have: MagicISO Virtual DVD-ROM0000

P

[Tripredacus]

DirectX is like .NET Framework. Just because you have a higher version installed doesn't mean you have the correct version. Install DirectX 9.0c onto your PC with DirextX End-User Runtime Web Installer or you can find the full download somewhere. Even there might be the DirectX 9.0c redist on your Sims 2 media.

[svpewing]

Did that this morning, still no luck. Same error message.

[Tripredacus]

Some important things I've found...

1. Sims 2 is known to have problems on Intel video chipsets on notebooks?

2. Did you try just install Sims 2 and run it? Also some say you need to install all the mods in order.

But EA support has some things you can try out too:

http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/15/345112.page

[svpewing]

Well I've contacted EA to hear what they have to say, and its a possibility that it just wont run on an Intel chipset. Which is a little unreal given the quality of the videocard for a laptop. I could run the Sims 2 Complete on my old desktop dell inspiron with and OLLLD standard factory chipset with little issues. Guess I shouldn't have bought a toshiba. Anyway, I appreciate your assistance, however I think I'm just gonna find a new game. Thanks.