Problems since installing Seasons

James wrote:
> Hi,
> I have been running Sims2 with Pets for some time now. I have all
> the graphics options set to high and the game options also. I get
> smooth running on all lots and neighbourhoods.
> I just bought Seasons and I am now having problems with jerkiness and
> pauses on all but the smallest lots with one sim occupying it. I have
> not yet installed any Seasons contents on these lots.
>
> Question 1. What can I turn down without loosing to much quality.
>
> Question 2. Should my machine (spec below ) be having so much of a
> problem running the game with both Seasons and Pets ( all patched ).
> installed when it ran Pets perfectly.
>
> Microsoft XP Professional Media Centre 2005 with SP2.
> Intel Pentium Dual Core D940 3.2 GHz
> NVidia Geforce 7600 GS 512mb Ramdac
> 2 gigs of DDR2 Ram
> Realtek High Definition Audio
> 2X 300 gig Serial ATA Hard Drives 7200 rpm
> Direct X 9c v-4.09 0000 0904
> Phoenix Award Bios V-6.00 PG
> Asustek Europa 2 Hybrid Capture Device (TV Tuner Card)
>
> Thanks in anticipation for any suggestions.
> Regards
> James

I don't think you should be having trouble with a system like yours. My
suggestions are to make sure you do a reboot before opening the game, and
close everything that's running in the background (you might be surprised to
see what's running back there). In the game, you can reduce things like the
distance view and turn off shadows to see if it runs faster. But nearly
anything you can turn down in the game video display is going to greatly
affect your graphics quality. If you've been used to high graphics, it will
be disappointing to lower them. Also, delete the file called groups.cache
that is in My Documents/EA Games/The Sims2. It's just a file the game makes
to keep track of itself and will regenerate a new one if you delete the old
one. Sometimes that helps.

Jeanie