Ok I've had my computer for a while now about 5 years at least so I want to no if I should update my computer or graphic card. Or just buy a whole new computer.

CPU: Intel (R ) Celeron (R ) CPU 1.80GHz
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 6600
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Memory: 256.0 MB

Also I have a huge problem with my game. I restarted my whole system again and i never use to have graphic problems with the Sims 2. But now I;ve restarted the graphics have gone all weird like this


Is there anyway it can be sorted or would i need a new graphic card or something.

Oh and I have no idea about computers it just all goes over my head so you'll have to explain slowly lol.

I'm not sure if you can change an intregrated graphic card

try reading this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphics_card

your graphics card is either a) completely fine and you fucked up a setting
or b) starting to die and a new one is needed

BUT the graphics card you have is a decent card and the same one or next one up is good for playing sims (i would know as i have a lower down geforce and it is fine after about 6 years)

but check your settings and set them back to defalts before touching the inside of your pc

1) Do you have graphics problems like that any other time, or only when you play TS2?

2) Is that a desktop or a laptop? Please tell the manufacturer and the model of the computer.

3) You said you had a "huge" problem and then restarted and that's now what the graphics look like? What was this huge problem.. Sorry if I misread that, but that's what it sounded like.

Your ram is really low, your CPU is weak, your GPU is fair.. I would reccomend not putting any more money into that computer however, if that's what it comes to. But we shall see what else we can do in the meantime.

Something you can always do is update your video drivers: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

[QUOTE=callistra]1) Do you have graphics problems like that any other time, or only when you play TS2?

2) Is that a desktop or a laptop? Please tell the manufacturer and the model of the computer.

3) You said you had a "huge" problem and then restarted and that's now what the graphics look like? What was this huge problem.. Sorry if I misread that, but that's what it sounded like.

1. No only when I play TS2 the graphics are completely fine for every other game.

2.My computer is a desktop computer.

3. The huge problem was I got a virus on the my computer and it completely destroyed most of my computer. I had an expert fix it (though i am not sure what he did because my dad had it fixed for me, but i think it was something to do with the C drive) Sometimes my pc does restart itself and i recieve a notice saying your system has recovered from a serious error. This is only started happening since I installed the new Nvidia graphic card.

I think it’s likely you have some damaged data leftover on your hard drive from the virus. It's possible that your sims 2 data is part of the damaged files, but we'll cross that road later if it comes to that. There's obviously something else going on to if your computer is restarting itself and having to recover like that. Let's try a few things here.. I want to try to get your computer stable before we address the TS2 issue or it could just come back again.

In this order..

1) First let’s just make sure there’s nothing left of the virus.
What kind of antivirus software do you have? If you have Norton or McAfee I do not trust it. One good free scanner is AVG.
First before we do this go to start menu and then click on the “help and support” icon in the menu. Under “pick a task” click “undo changes to my system using system restore”. You’re not really going to do that. To the left there should be a “System Restore Settings” option in blue underlined link. Click that. Check the box next to “Turn off System Restore” click apply, then ok, then ex out of all that. Some viruses will hide in system restore and Microsoft will automatically reapply them at startup acting like it was a damaged system file that needed to be restored. This assures that ones the viruses are gone they will not be reapplied.

Download these two programs. Run the update utility for each first. And then use each to scan your computer.
http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Sp....html?tag=lst-1
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/downloads?prd=aff

Just do one at a time. This will make sure you have no viruses or spyware remaining on your computer. Once you’re done scanning with each, restart your computer. If you have another antivirus scanner like Avira, Nod32, or Kaspersky you can just use those to scan. Or you already have AVG installed you can just scan with it. If it finds and removes anything, afterwards restart your computer. Once both scans are done and your computer is restart, you can go back into system restore the same way you did originally and uncheck the box to turn it back on. Also once you're done scanning I would reccomend to uninstall the anti-spyware. If you already have an anti-virus program you can choose to keep AVG and uninstall the other, or you can just get rid of AVG. Just don't keep both running at the same time because that can cause some instabilities.

Download this program: http://www.merijn.org/files/HiJackThis_v2.exe and save it onto your desktop or some place with easy access. Then right click on the file and hit “rename” Type in literally whatever you want then .exe. So I could use my name and name it Callistra.exe Then run it and hit the bolded button scan. Do not try to fix anything or you will really mess up your computer. After it’s done scanning.. takes like 2 seconds.. click the ‘save log’ button that replaced the scan button. Copy and paste the log in here and I will be able to verify for sure you have no bad processes left.



2) go to my computer -> right click on your c drive and hit properties -> click on the tools tab and then under "error checking" click "check now" button. When the box pops up check BOTH boxes automatically fix file system errors and the recovery of bad sectors. It will prompt you to restart. Do so. I should but I can't remember how long the scan takes.. I'm going to estimate 1-3 hours. It will depend on the size of your hard drive.

3) I hope you have your Windows operating system cd? Get it from your dad or whoever and pop it in whatever CDrom type drive you have. go you start menu and click 'run'. In the box that pops up type copy and paste the following exactly:

sfc /scannow

This will automatically scan for and fix damaged or missing system files. You will have to restart when it's done.

4) Go to start menu again. Control Panel and then Add/Remove program files. Scroll down until you see “nvidia drivers” and uninstall those. Uninstall any other software marked Nvidia. Restart your computer. Go back to here:
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us and install the newest drivers.

Now if all that doesn’t work I have some more thoughts but let’s start there. That's quite a lot to do and should take you some time anyway.

you covered nearly everything i could think of callistra..if that doesnt work then..thats something to worry about....

also would it be worth while reinstalling the sims 2 after all that callistra? Im sure EA did a program to remove ALL traces of sims being on the computer...dont know where to get it though...

If it doesn't work that's what I'd get to. I think it's possible the TS2 files are damaged so if we go through alll of that and it still doesn't work I'd recommend backing up the game files and installing a fresh copy of TS2. Run the game, and if it runs okay they could put the backed-up game files back in and see if the problem comes back or not.. Also could check the ram. Virus coming at the same time the ram fails could just be a coincidence.. data loss and the things being described could be the ram too. Just gotta rule that other stuff out first.. since it's obvious from the restarts and necessary recoveries that something other than damaged TS2 files is going on with their computer. If we can't get the computer stable first the problems could keep coming back. Plus obviously one of these days it's possible the computer wont' be able to recover after having to restart.

Ok so i've done the scan thing and got rid of any virus most of them where ads. And here is the result of the log thingy.


Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.0 (BETA)
Scan saved at 16:47:37, on 11/02/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLacsd.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgemc.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RunDll32.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1180777434\ee\AOLSoftware.exe
C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\D-Link\AirPlus G\AirGCFG.exe
C:\Program Files\ANI\ANIWZCS2 Service\WZCSLDR2.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLDial.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\AOLSPY~1\AOLSP Scheduler.exe
C:\Program Files\Lexmark 2400 Series\lxcrmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Lexmark 2400 Series\ezprint.exe
C:\Program Files\USBDRIVE\shwicon.exe
C:\Program Files\Nokia\Nokia PC Suite 6\LaunchApplication.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\Program Files\PC Connectivity Solution\ServiceLayer.exe
C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lxcrcoms.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WLLoginProxy.exe
C:\Program Files\AOL 9.0\aoltray.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\iWin Games\DesktopAlerts\DesktopAlerts.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Sims2\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\07HBQI7X\HiJackThis_v2[1].exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.co.uk/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Lexmark Toolbar - {1017A80C-6F09-4548-A84D-EDD6AC9525F0} - C:\Program Files\Lexmark Toolbar\toolband.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {7E853D72-626A-48EC-A868-BA8D5E23E045} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: IEHlprObj Class - {8CA5ED52-F3FB-4414-A105-2E3491156990} - C:\PROGRA~1\IWINGA~1\IWINGA~1.DLL (file missing)
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O3 - Toolbar: AOL Toolbar - {4982D40A-C53B-4615-B15B-B5B5E98D167C} - C:\Program Files\AOL Toolbar\toolbar.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Lexmark Toolbar - {1017A80C-6F09-4548-A84D-EDD6AC9525F0} - C:\Program Files\Lexmark Toolbar\toolband.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Cmaudio] RunDll32 cmicnfg.cpl,CMICtrlWnd
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HostManager] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1180777434\ee\AOLSoftware.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RealTray] C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe SYSTEMBOOTHIDEPLAYER
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [D-Link AirPlus G] C:\Program Files\D-Link\AirPlus G\AirGCFG.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ANIWZCS2Service] C:\Program Files\ANI\ANIWZCS2 Service\WZCSLDR2.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AOLDialer] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLDial.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AOL Spyware Protection] "C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\AOLSPY~1\AOLSP Scheduler.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [lxcrmon.exe] "C:\Program Files\Lexmark 2400 Series\lxcrmon.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EzPrint] "C:\Program Files\Lexmark 2400 Series\ezprint.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LXCRCATS] rundll32 C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\LXCRtime.dll,_RunDLLEntry@16
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ShowIcon_Just Rams_USB Device Driver v1.25r004] "C:\Program Files\USBDRIVE\shwicon.exe" -t"Just Rams\USB Device Driver v1.25r004"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ShowIcon_JustRams_USB Product Driver v2.33r005] "C:\Program Files\USB Product Driver v2.33r005\shwicon.exe" -t"JustRams\USB Product Driver v2.33r005"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PCSuiteTrayApplication] C:\Program Files\Nokia\Nokia PC Suite 6\LaunchApplication.exe -startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [!AVG Anti-Spyware] "C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe" /minimized
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Veoh] "C:\Program Files\Veoh Networks\Veoh\VeohClient.exe" /VeohHide
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [AVG7_Run] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgw.exe /RUNONCE (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [AVG7_Run] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgw.exe /RUNONCE (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [Nokia.PCSync] C:\Program Files\Nokia\Nokia PC Suite 6\PcSync2.exe /NoDialog (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [Nokia.PCSync] C:\Program Files\Nokia\Nokia PC Suite 6\PcSync2.exe /NoDialog (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: IMVU.lnk = C:\Program Files\IMVU\IMVUClient.exe
O4 - Startup: iWin Desktop Alerts.lnk = C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\iWin Games\DesktopAlerts\DesktopAlerts.exe
O4 - Global Startup: AOL 9.0 Tray Icon.lnk = C:\Program Files\AOL 9.0\aoltray.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: AOL Toolbar - {4982D40A-C53B-4615-B15B-B5B5E98D167C} - C:\Program Files\AOL Toolbar\toolbar.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: AOL Toolbar - {4982D40A-C53B-4615-B15B-B5B5E98D167C} - C:\Program Files\AOL Toolbar\toolbar.dll
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: Run IMVU - {d9288080-1baa-4bc4-9cf8-a92d743db949} - C:\Documents and Settings\Sims2\Start Menu\Programs\IMVU\Run IMVU.lnk (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {20A60F0D-9AFA-4515-A0FD-83BD84642501} (Checkers Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binar...kr.cab56986.cab
O16 - DPF: {21BB8360-F943-447E-98F3-3C22345375A7} (CPlayFirstChocolatierControl Object) - http://webgames.d.tmsrv.com/c=e498d...eb.1.0.0.13.cab
O16 - DPF: {48DD0448-9209-4F81-9F6D-D83562940134} (MySpace Uploader Control) - http://lads.myspace.com/upload/MySpaceUploader1005.cab
O16 - DPF: {5C051655-FCD5-4969-9182-770EA5AA5565} (Solitaire Showdown Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binar...wn.cab56986.cab
O16 - DPF: {5D6F45B3-9043-443D-A792-115447494D24} (UnoCtrl Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/EN-GB...1/GAME_UNO1.cab
O16 - DPF: {67A5F8DC-1A4B-4D66-9F24-A704AD929EEE} (System Requirements Lab) - http://www.nvidia.com/content/Drive.../sysreqlab2.cab
O16 - DPF: {67DABFBF-D0AB-41FA-9C46-CC0F21721616} - http://go.divx.com/plugin/DivXBrowserPlugin.cab
O16 - DPF: {74DBCB52-F298-4110-951D-AD2FF67BC8AB} (NVIDIA Smart Scan) - http://www.nvidia.com/content/Drive...iaSmartScan.cab
O16 - DPF: {B8BE5E93-A60C-4D26-A2DC-220313175592} (MSN Games - Installer) - http://cdn2.zone.msn.com/binFramewo...ro.cab56649.cab
O16 - DPF: {C3F79A2B-B9B4-4A66-B012-3EE46475B072} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binar...nt.cab56907.cab
O16 - DPF: {CE3409C4-9E26-4F8E-83E4-778498F9E7B4} (PB_Uploader Class) - http://static.photobox.co.uk/sg/common/uploader_uni.cab
O16 - DPF: {D54160C3-DB7B-4534-9B65-190EE4A9C7F7} (SproutLauncherCtrl Class) - http://www.iwin.com/global/premium/...outLauncher.cab
O16 - DPF: {F2D35D99-63B1-46D3-970C-6E22320D5DCB} (kSoloCntrlIE Class) - http://www.xfactorchallenge.co.uk/p...kSoloIEHDSD.cab
O16 - DPF: {F5A7706B-B9C0-4C89-A715-7A0C6B05DD48} (Minesweeper Flags Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binar...er.cab56986.cab
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: ANIWZCSd Service (ANIWZCSdService) - Alpha Networks Inc. - C:\Program Files\ANI\ANIWZCS2 Service\ANIWZCSdS.exe
O23 - Service: AOL Connectivity Service (AOL ACS) - AOL LLC - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLacsd.exe
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: AVG Anti-Spyware Guard - GRISOFT s.r.o. - C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG E-mail Scanner (AVGEMS) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: ##Id_String1.6844F930_1628_4223_B5CC_5BB94B879762## (Bonjour Service) - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Macrovision Europe Ltd. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: lxcr_device - - C:\WINDOWS\system32\lxcrcoms.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: ServiceLayer - Nokia. - C:\Program Files\PC Connectivity Solution\ServiceLayer.exe
O23 - Service: WAN Miniport (ATW) Service (WANMiniportService) - America Online, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe

--
End of file - 11405 bytes

WOW you have a whole TON of unnecessary crap running which is undoubtedly significantly slowing down your computer.. but no bad processes.. Unless you count AOL which will reak havoc on a computer much the way bad spyware does LOL. Do you actually use your AOL to get online? If not get rid of it.. At the very least get rid of the AOL tool bar and AOL anti-spyware programs, and any other AOL programs you see listed in add/remove programs. Just keep the minimal AOL program if you absolutely have to have it to get online.

In hijack this.. click these two and select fix:
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {7E853D72-626A-48EC-A868-BA8D5E23E045} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: IEHlprObj Class - {8CA5ED52-F3FB-4414-A105-2E3491156990} - C:\PROGRA~1\IWINGA~1\IWINGA~1.DLL (file missing)

Also go to your add/remove programs and uninstall the Windows Live Sign-in Assistant .. pretty sure that’s the exact name of it. It will not effect your ability to use MSN messenger.

Also.. go to start menu -> run -> type ‘msconfig’ in there and go to the startup tab. Can you expand the window so I can see everything that’s checked to run at startup at once and put screencaps here? We can disable some stuff and get your computer running a lot more smoothly..

You can go ahead with the steps 2-4 up there too since at least you don't have any spyware/viruses left.