Sims 2 Mini-Image w/ XP Media Center

[buroja]

Briefly, here is the problem:

I recently upgraded my system from Windows XP Professional to Windows XP Media Center 2005. All of the games which previously worked with XP Pro work just fine (with original discs and mini-images,) except for The Sims 2 (and each of its two expansions). These games just crash when I try to run them. I see the splash logo, then Windows tells me that they've crashed and asks if I want to submit an error report or not. The only way for me to play The Sims 2 is to use both the No-CD crack AND the original disc or the mini-image. Neither of the expansions will work at all, with the original discs or the mini-images. I'm going half-crazy because the problem doesn't make any sense. Media Center isn't really any different from Pro whatsoever. It's like Pro with the Plus! pack, only Media Center. Has any one else had this experience, and/or have any suggestions?

[00hammer]

Media Center does come replete with both service packs, tho I really mean SP 2, that is/was the one we all had some probs with, tho this iteration seems ok. Have you tried re-installing them (the games) in MC ? It may be that the Registry or something is a bit different.....

[buroja]

Yeah, I uninstalled the games, deleted their directories, then I reinstalled them all, and still no go. Then I backed up my documents and whatnot, formatted the drive, and did a clean install of XP MCE 2005. Installed the games, and they still don't work. All of my other games work just fine, no problems at all. But The Sims 2, and its expansions, will give me absolutely no love. I am mystified by this problem.

[LoedD]

Got the same problem since I use SP2.

[buroja]

Well I will be seriously damned. I just updated my ATi Catalyst drivers from XP MCE 5.10 to XP MCE 5.11 and, even though the release notes say NOTHING about The Sims 2, all of my problems are fixed. What. The. Hell.