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- Other - Trying to make the UC work properly
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Keep the game in the Origin as "offline"/"not update" (or something like that I did not opened that program for... ages). And making backup of working installation is a good idea.
Instead of renaming Sims 2 folder you can just make shortcut to it, simpler & safer. It is what HDCU needs.
EDIT:
do not mess with swap file size (aka: "Virtual Memory")
does the game still loads slow on SSD?
favorite quote: "When ElaineNualla is posting..I always read..Nutella. I am sorry" by Rosebine
self-claimed "lower-spec simmer"
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The game (without CC) loads in less than a minute on the SSD.
Before I did the Virtual memory, at least one lot that contained a pool loaded as pink-flashing, but after Virtual memory, the same lot loaded fine.
My stories: Anna's diary - Memories are forever - Little Fire Burning
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Let the system decide how many actual Virtual RAM is needed, since W7 Windows does it (finally) rather properly. Most of the time. Messing with that will only lower your system efficiency (and it's quite possible, that some security/feature update just will set it up back).
SSDs may become slower if content on the drive reach circa 60-70% theirs capacity - it's expected and vary from model to model (on crucials, for example, you should not notice this until 80-90%). Well - in this case "size matters" is actually true.
* OK, it does not matter much now, SSDs are cheaper every day
favorite quote: "When ElaineNualla is posting..I always read..Nutella. I am sorry" by Rosebine
self-claimed "lower-spec simmer"
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Technically it shouldn't be a problem, but the VRAM change did seem to help with the pink-flashing (it happened after the 4GB switch, but disappeared with the VRAM change - considering the game was a fresh install with no CC and only two lots loaded, the memory shouldn't be bloated at all). The VRAM was set pretty low to begin with. I followed one of the "what to do if you have Win10 and and your game flashes pink" guides posted above, and it did mention the VRAM issue as something that should be fixed, but did not mention whether it was a difference between doing it with a HDD and SSD. I've never had a computer with a SSD, so consider me a relative noob on how to handle that (but I do know some of the differences between a SSD and HDD, so I'm not completely ignorant).
How would I swap the VRAM over to the HDD? Do you have an explanation or a link to a tutorial, maybe?
I've never used the UC before (I've used my regular single CDs on 3 different computers, no UC or collection packs), but the new laptop doesn't have a disc drive (I do have an external one), so I thought I'd give UC a chance simply to not be dependent on the CDs, and so that I'll have the CDs as a backup in case the UC in the future should become unavailable.
I have toyed with the thought of setting up a partition drive running Windows 7, but that's also something I've never tried before. I have Win7 on my old laptop, and by the looks of it I never had to apply the 4GB patch, so I know Win7 is better to use with TS2 than Win10 considering the RAM usage. However, considering support for Win7 is discontinued within the nearest couple of years, I decided to get Win10 as the main system. I had a feeling there would be issues with TS2/UC, and I wasn't wrong...
My stories: Anna's diary - Memories are forever - Little Fire Burning
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'start ms-settings:' in "search" or via PowerShell should (?) work). It was in the "System and Security/System/Advanced[TAB: Advanced]". If you point another disk, the old swap will be deleted and the new created elsewhere. But with 32G RAM it's not necessary.
In theory the newer version should be better, but Windows 10 works in mysterious, unknown ways, anyway with such memory there should not be problems. I suppouse there's rather some kind of weirdness in W10 than actual Virtual Memory problem.
If you have "Pro" version, you're entitled to running Windows 7 virtual machine for testing and developing, not commercial purposes, which is better than running the one via VMware or OpenBox because that kind of "machine" has access to your real hardware. And you avoid the mess with 2 Windows installations fighting each other and rebooting hassle. Particular instructions are on MS site.
I would not encourage keeping any connected daily driver with anything importand on unsupported system (still users have time to make a decision, though), but not be hysterical. W7 never was particular safe in the 1st place and neither is W10. Honestly - I'd never allow installation of W10 on any critical system (or any Windows in any case), it's just suicidal.
But common user, behind NAT, with proper antivirus and reasonable behaviour, will be mostly fine. Windows always were duck and tape systems
(you know... not counting NT line, that was the XP which leave glorious '80 of the previous century and CPM legacy, and 16bit code, well... mostly; the Vista/7 were the iterations in which legacy stuff was really gone), now when the newest one is official constant beta, any "fix" should be considered only temporal. This particular one (lost memory) was addressed by some of the updates as the Company said ("Creators" one?) - but apparently not. Or was broken again. #roll_eyes
favorite quote: "When ElaineNualla is posting..I always read..Nutella. I am sorry" by Rosebine
self-claimed "lower-spec simmer"
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I know Win10 is not an ideal OS, but atm it's what I've got. From what I gather, it's more of a hassle to get the Sims games to run on a different OS (for instance Linux), and I'd never in a milllion years consider getting something running a MacOS (Tried a Mac at school and the hate was mutual, so I'm not a fan of Apple products. Never owned one, not planning to get one, and their pricing compared to what you get is usually ridicolous). I wonder if Microsoft sometime in the future manages to release a better and more stable OS than what they've produced so far (which I doubt, because their track record is only going down). I liked XP, hated Vista, liked Win7, never tried 8, and am currently struggling to beat 10 into submission (but so far my opinion of it is that it's possibly worse to work with than Vista).
My stories: Anna's diary - Memories are forever - Little Fire Burning
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if you have Origin infected game it is unfortunatelly "normal", the only cure is to roll back to the old executable (if you have pre-patched version). Tere's no difference between them, except the "updated" one calls Origin, just typical malware behaviour. |
This interests me. I have Windows 7 and, apparently, this pre-patched exe, so I have a couple of questions for you. First, would the game work, if I had to install from Origin on a new computer with whatever OS, to replace just the exe file of that new install if it does call Origin (would it?) with the one I have now? If that's true, I wonder why more people haven't done that.
Second, what does this refer to in the context of what you are talking about? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_13tAJnYXLI
What is it saying was fixed? Has it been?
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Yes, that video without explanation confused me. It did show an Origin popup apparently while playing so I kind of guessed that was its point but have no clue why. |
I understand it says that they removed the SecuRom. I just don't know if it's true or what exactly the effect of that is because people still say that their games connect to Origin. Mine doesn't, and hasn't in years, but I installed before the update that @ElaineNualla refers to, I assume.
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https://crinrict.com/blog/2017/11/s...es-securom.html
Thanks to Crmelsimlover for sharing these rare Christianlov mods for TS2: Cpack editor with working face DNA fixer and Skin Selector Painting Prototype. Instructions for adding custom skins to Skin Selector at post #5 here. Instructions for using the DNA fixer at post # 2662 here.
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Microsoft dropped support for SecureRom and other similar forms of DRM in Windows 10, so games with those protections won't run right in Windows 10. What EA did was to patch the Ultimate Collection so that it no longer uses SecureRom. https://crinrict.com/blog/2017/11/s...es-securom.html |
Oh, ok, so that was the same update that caused the new installs to need Origin. That clears it up. Thank you.
I'd still like to know if the old (non-Origin) exe file can be substituted for the patched (requires Origin) exe file. Anyone know that?
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To roll back to old executable you need either (Windows case):
1) backup of old file (for example made by "4GB patch" executable)
2) good friend with that file who will be happy to share (only this file, nothing else needed)
3) going into bad behaviour and making things about a good simmer openly won't dare to speak there (right?)
favorite quote: "When ElaineNualla is posting..I always read..Nutella. I am sorry" by Rosebine
self-claimed "lower-spec simmer"
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I've already turned off all the Win10 "send/collect data" I could find in the settings - I know it might not be quite enough, but it's a start. I have an antivirus program, and don't use browsers without adblock, and I'm usually very careful which sites I visit and what I download. So far I've not had malware problems, and the few attack attempts I've seen have been beaten down by the antivirus program before they could do anything. I also tend to clean out the computer regularly (temp files and the like) just to be on the safe side. I know Win10 is not an ideal OS, but atm it's what I've got. From what I gather, it's more of a hassle to get the Sims games to run on a different OS (for instance Linux), and I'd never in a milllion years consider getting something running a MacOS (Tried a Mac at school and the hate was mutual, so I'm not a fan of Apple products. Never owned one, not planning to get one, and their pricing compared to what you get is usually ridicolous). I wonder if Microsoft sometime in the future manages to release a better and more stable OS than what they've produced so far (which I doubt, because their track record is only going down). I liked XP, hated Vista, liked Win7, never tried 8, and am currently struggling to beat 10 into submission (but so far my opinion of it is that it's possibly worse to work with than Vista). |
You will get used to Win10 - especially when you realised you never have to go and look for a driver again
Windows 10 and the Ultimate Collection
http://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=568275
http://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=614833
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you cannot turn it off;* even with "basic-basic" settings W10 sends back tons of data [ https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/wi...and-fields-1809 ], guys 'ya know that actually reading licenses or even developers informations is not something what average common user ever do (and that's why companies exploit that to the maximal extend), but please...
Since around W8 all Microsofts' clients are unpaid betatesters (which actually are paying themselves for that honour, 1st buying the system, 2nd sharing the data) and most of them are pretty fine with that, I suppouse the humanity is doomed. Brilliant Microsoft, you implemented the free-to-play economy into world of OS without going into any "free" territory. Finally your jerkiness outperforms Apple.
There's serious differrence between just bad design and terrible design, MS created it's own a new category below "terrible".
*you can only go dark, which is a bit nonsense for normal user
favorite quote: "When ElaineNualla is posting..I always read..Nutella. I am sorry" by Rosebine
self-claimed "lower-spec simmer"
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Having used Windows 10 since the day it arrived on my pc, I am simply happy with it - it also has improved since then.
I have no problems using it for my business - and I also have no problems playing the UC on it.
Rolling back to Windows 7 is probably not a thing that is going to happen on my pc.
Of course, if others want to roll back, it is their choice. Just not mine.
Windows 10 and the Ultimate Collection
http://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=568275
http://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=614833
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Oh, ok, so that was the same update that caused the new installs to need Origin. That clears it up. Thank you. I'd still like to know if the old (non-Origin) exe file can be substituted for the patched (requires Origin) exe file. Anyone know that? |
Yes it can. If you switch them out you will not be tied to Origin in any way. You will need to make a new shortcut on your desktop for the non-Origin one. Did it myself, then promptly uninstalled Origin.
if you did not point swapfile location into HDD (which you should in such configuration), you just shortened your SSD life* messing with "Virtual Memory", how little actual RAM you have got anyway? 2GB? 3? Because if you have 8 that situation should not happen until something is really messed up with the system settings. |
Many of us get pink flashing on our newer better machines when we never had it before. Most of us with pink flashing are not on a measly 2 Ram but 12 and up (I checked and I have 16) with everything tweaked including extra virtual memory. I've tweaked my set up again by setting virtual memory under Performance settings to be 35-40,000. Normally I have to delete the thumbnails every two weeks to stop it, so I don't know yet if it's gone away for good or will turn back up again since it's only been about a week now.
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The virtual memory is probably needed, because I had pink flashing before I did it, which disappeared after changing it. I'm only wondering if I should set the virtual memory to the HDD instead of the SSD because SSDs don't handle wear and tear from moving files around quite as much as HDDs do.
I'm also wondering if anyone has tried that "Memory Allocation Fix" the video talks about. I used something similar called "Memory Improve Master" on my desktop computer (running Vista, which also had the pink-flash issue, but to a smaller degree and only with a lot of CC), which would free up memory at a certain set time (I think I had it set to 10 minutes), and it would run in the background whenever I played TS2.
My stories: Anna's diary - Memories are forever - Little Fire Burning
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BTW I have 32 GB Ram, i7-processor and 3 SSD (C:, D: (for Documents) and G: (for programs)). My card is a Asus Nvidia GTX 970.
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Many of us get pink flashing on our newer better machines when we never had it before. Most of us with pink flashing are not on a measly 2 Ram but 12 and up (I checked and I have 16) with everything tweaked including extra virtual memory. I've tweaked my set up again by setting virtual memory under Performance settings to be 35-40,000. Normally I have to delete the thumbnails every two weeks to stop it, so I don't know yet if it's gone away for good or will turn back up again since it's only been about a week now. |
My understanding is the the pink flashing needs more texture memory allocated in the GraphicsRules.sgr file - not the same as Virtual memory.
Ex: My graphics card has 2GB available so mine says this:
if (not $useSoftwareRasterizer)
# failed to obtain device texture memory size, force to 32MB
if ($textureMemory = 0)
seti textureMemory 2048
# setb textureMemorySizeOK false
endif
Have you done that as well? Or am I just confused?
I do understand the issue with the exe files now, and, for the first time, put it all together, with "George." Slow, I know.
The virtual memory is probably needed, because I had pink flashing before I did it, which disappeared after changing it. I'm only wondering if I should set the virtual memory to the HDD instead of the SSD because SSDs don't handle wear and tear from moving files around quite as much as HDDs do. |
Yes, you should. I asked my daughter who has been building computers since grade school to explain this to me, so I'd understand this, too. She's very smart.
Btw, to those answering my questions, thank you, my game is fine and has been for years. I'm just hoping to understand how it all works for the next computer and to be able to help newer simmers.
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The game is old and sometimes must be tricked for it's own good to work properly. With most of the old software it's the same melody (with a different tunes ofc).
@Justpetro
it's OK, if you're fine with literal overlord (the MS have direct above admin level access to your machine at any time and unlike previous versions they actively excercise that power) with strange inclinations for candy crush on your machine, that's fine. I'd personally swallow (with serious "bleh") the idea of mandatory security updates - apparently MS see it's customers as brainless or severely challenged, the mandatory features' updates are not acceptable on any production or critical machine. At last "in my book". Not mentioning mandatory data collection (ok, we're living in an age of constant surveillance, so "paranoid" is apparently a "new normal"), and just typical screws up - results of extremally poor (or rather: lack of) quality control.
But if you're happy, it's OK. Even if in general it's very, very bad for the future fate of consumers.
favorite quote: "When ElaineNualla is posting..I always read..Nutella. I am sorry" by Rosebine
self-claimed "lower-spec simmer"
^ The problem seems to be Win10's handling of memory for 32-bit programs. WinXP and possibly also Win7 would switch over to virtual memory to compensate (I remember my very old laptop would do this, and I'd get a warning - it had only 512 MB memory). This seems to have disappeared again with Win8 and Win10. The virtual memory is probably needed, because I had pink flashing before I did it, which disappeared after changing it. I'm only wondering if I should set the virtual memory to the HDD instead of the SSD because SSDs don't handle wear and tear from moving files around quite as much as HDDs do. I'm also wondering if anyone has tried that "Memory Allocation Fix" the video talks about. I used something similar called "Memory Improve Master" on my desktop computer (running Vista, which also had the pink-flash issue, but to a smaller degree and only with a lot of CC), which would free up memory at a certain set time (I think I had it set to 10 minutes), and it would run in the background whenever I played TS2. |
Except I am on Win 7, I purposely asked the guy who built this PC for me to put on win 7 and not 10. There is more to this pink flashing business than 4 gb patches or RAM. My mistake was getting a highschool tec to build me a gaming computer, he had no clue.
manually setting virtual memory was another tip I found here: http://marasims.tumblr.com/post/172...flash-crash-fix and so far it appears to be working. They suggest 25-30,000 but I was able to set it higher.
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Except I am on Win 7, I purposely asked the guy who built this PC for me to put on win 7 and not 10. There is more to this pink flashing business than 4 gb patches or RAM. My mistake was getting a highschool tec to build me a gaming computer, he had no clue. manually setting virtual memory was another tip I found here: http://marasims.tumblr.com/post/172...flash-crash-fix and so far it appears to be working. They suggest 25-30,000 but I was able to set it higher. |
Did you check the texture memory I was asking about above? Because that's something other than the 4GB patch, RAM, or Virtual Memory.
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Windows 10 and the Ultimate Collection
http://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=568275
http://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=614833
Posts: 1,129
Thanks: 108 in 1 Posts
Well, except when I just created the problem by myself by missing the file. The "pink curse" is a kinda strange territory for me.
favorite quote: "When ElaineNualla is posting..I always read..Nutella. I am sorry" by Rosebine
self-claimed "lower-spec simmer"
Who Posted
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