How to fix Sims 3 Errors, Crashes, Disk Authentication Failure and Black Screen and Install Errors

If you encounter Sims 3 related problems that are not included in the list below, please post them in the comments box at the bottom of this page. Posting solutions (working or speculated ones) for Sims 3 on the comment box would be more than welcome. List will be updated as new problems and solutions become known. Before moving on make sure that you computer/laptop meets the minimum system requirements to play Sims 3. You can compare your system specs with Sims 3s requirements here: http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/876.page Problem #1: Sims 3 Error message Device 0 cannot run this title There is no video graphic card supported check your system hardware Solution A: If you are attempting running Sims 3 with a secondary monitor attached, The game wont work and you will get this error. Try to disable the second monitor via display properties or unplug it prior to running Sims 3 Solution B: Make sure that you have met the minimum requirements for Sims 3. If your system specs exceed that of Sims 3s minimum system requirements, post your system specs at the comment box at the bottom of this page. Solution C: If you trying out Sims 3 on a laptop make sure that the laptop has a dedicated video card installed. Intel GME has known issues with Sims 3. Solution D: Try solution to problem #4 Problem #2: Sims 3 crashes in Buy / Build mode Solution A: Disable and/or uninstall your anti-virus. AVG and Norton are notoriously known to conflict with Sims 3. Solution B: If Solution A doesnt work. Your best bet is to try the solution to problem #4. If you are experiencing this error, post your system specs at the comment box below and some details on how often you get this error Workaround: Play the game in window mode. If Sims 3 still crashes or freezes on build/buy mode, post about it in the comment box below along with your system specs. Problem #3 : Sims 3 data error CRC error (cyclic redundancy check error) Solution A: Run the Windows Defragmenter software on your system Solution B: It appears that in some cases, users that are using the EA download Manager version of The Sims 3 may experience this error if their download is paused. To resolve this issue, perform the following steps: *Log in to the EADM. *Click on the red x in the upper right part of the Sims 3 download to clear the EADM cache.

*Re-download the Sims 3; do not pause the download. Solution C: Try solution for Problem #6 listed above Problem #4: Sims 3 randomly crashes Solution A: Sims 3 has issues with old video card drivers. Make sure that your video card drivers are up to date. Heres a list of video card manufacturers along with the link to their driver update page. Make sure that you select the correct driver appropriate for your video cards model ATI Technologies Inc. http://www.atitech.com/support/driver.html Intel http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df/support_intel.asp Matrox http://www.matrox.com/mga/support/drivers/latest/home.cfm NVIDIA http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp S3 Graphics http://www.s3graphics.com/drivers.jsp SiS http://download.sis.com/

Solution B: Disable and/or uninstall your anti-virus. AVG and Norton are notoriously known to conflict with Sims 3. Workaround: Run Sims 3 in window mode and see if you still get these errors. If you do, then make sure that youve updated your video card drivers. Problem #5: Sims 3 freezing in game, during build/buy mode or immediately after creating your sim. Solution: Try the solutions listed for Problem #4 Problem #6: Sims 3 displays this error Disk Authentication Failure after pressing the Play button Solution: Sims 3 has problems running on Toshiba laptops and computers with MATSHTA DVD-RAM UJ-841S DVD drives mainly because it interferes with the DRM installed in Sims 3. Follow the instructions listed below Click on the Start menu on the Windows Taskbar. Click on My Computer. Right-click on the DVD drive letter you are using to run your game. Select Properties from the list of options. You should see a DLA tab in the Properties panel, where you can disable the DLA software on your machine.

Problem #6: Sims 3 displays this error A system error has occurred Solution: This is a generic error, post your system specs at the comment box below as this error can be caused by a lot of things Problem #7: Sims 3 black screen problem Solution A: No known fix. Your best bet is to try the solution to problem #4. If you are experiencing this error, post your system specs at the comment box below and some details on how often you get this error Solution B: Black screen errors are usually attributed to overheating video cards. Make sure your video card is properly cooled if this is the case. Problem #8: Sims 3 screen tearing / lines across screen when moving the camera or zooming in and out Solution: Enable v-sync. This will cause the game to slow down for some systems though - End of Sims 3 List of Errors -