Also, it always resets my game options (graphic settings, etc.). For example, everytime I load the game, I get the pop up boxes about how my sims are now in 3d!!!
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Also, a lot of times it takes me several tries to get my game to load. I launch the game, the hour glass shows up...then nothing. I go into task manager and kill the process and try again. Sometimes it works right away, sometimes I have to wash, rinse and repeat 15-20 times before it will actually launch.
Have you cleared your cache files? Because that sounds like a cache file problem. I'm sure you've probably already done this, though.
"When troubleshooting a computer, always begin by checking that the computer is plugged in" is what I always say.