More Awesome Than You!

Hello? Could anyone help me with this problem?

I recently bought Freetime expansion pack. I installed and played the game for a while. Then, I exited the game.
So far, there weren't any problems.
When I tried to restart the game, my laptop started to make this clicking sound and was unable to read the CD.
If I click Freetime icon, it would say 'there is no disk in CD-rom.'
First, I thought there might be a problem with my CD drive. So, I tried running few of my previous expansion packs. They worked fine.
Then, I thought that the CD might have been scratched. So, I tried running Freetime with my sister's computer. It ran without any problems.
I was pretty sure my laptop meets all the system requirement since I did play Freetime for a while and was able to play all the other expansion packs without problems.
But, I checked anyway by running DirectX Diagnostic Tool. I met all the system requrements except that I had DirectX 10 instead of DirectX 9.
I don't know if that's problematic.

Then, today I got Sims IKEA as a gift.
I tried to install it, and now I have the same problem.
My laptop made some cliking noises and was unable to recognize the fact that there is a CD in the laptop.

It looks like the expansion/item packs that are newer than Bon Voyage don't seem to work.
I sent questions to EA people, but all they told me was to terminate background tasks and emply temp folder. I tried them and they didn't work.
I checked EA website and followed their instructions on updating driver. When I started installation, a message saying 'The driver being installed is not validated for this computer' popped up. I tried updating driver through Windows Update, and it said my driver is already upto date.

I'm so frustrated because even EA people don't seem to have answers for this problem.  Did anybody encounter similar problems?

Are they CDs or DVDs?
If it's a combo drive it's perfectly possible for one laser to be broken, so that it reads CDs but not DVDs or vice versa.

This strongly suggests that your system was compromised by Securom, which was introduced in BV.
I'd remove Securom first (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,9929.0.html), before I try anything else.

You seem to be a victim of SecuROM. Have you tried a noCD?

Thank you all for the suggestions.

First, yes. My drive is CD/DVD. But, I had no problem with all the previous ones. It's just these two latest ones that are driving me insane.
The thing is I already erased all my expansion packs, thinking maybe previous expansion packs were crashing with Freetime and IKEA.
(This method didn't work, either) So, no-cd crack wouldn't be helpful since the game isn't even installed in my laptop now.
I'll try removing SecuRom. I've never heard of it, but if it helps I'll try it. I've been thinking that there must be some kind of locking
system either in my computer or in those CDs. Maybe SecuRom is it. I asked EA people if there are any locks in the CDs, but they didn't really tell me anything.
Anyway, thank you all again for your help.

Never heard of SecuRom? *jaw drops*

1) Click the link in my sig.
2) Go to the removing SecuRom thread in this forum and follow the directions.

Good luck!

Even if the suck isn't the cause of your issues, you still want that ticking timebomb off your rig.

"There are some things money can't buy. For everything else there's Mastercard"

I had a very similar problem.  SuckRom is the most likely cause.  I would backup your hard drive just in case.

My problem is similar. I was getting the no cd in drive message so now I reinsert the cd every time I start up the computer, then the game realises there is a cd there.  Then I wait. If I click the icon to start too soon I get one of two different messages, either "Insert original disk, not a back up" or " unable to verify disk in available time". It can take several tries before the blasted thing works. I find starting the game from the launcher icon in the TS Bin is the most successful way to get the game working.
My hope is that I have a corrupt desktop shortcut, as it was working until recently. I do know in my heart that it is probably SecuRom though. I am just too illiterate to manage installing emulation software, so I have to hope that L&P Appartment Life will have a friendlier shortcut.

Sounds like a SuckUROM issue.  I haven't had any problems (yet) with Vista and Freetime but one of these days I should get my arse into gear and remove the sucky-sucky-poo-poo.

Delurking for this one.  I agree with all the suck-off-rom theories.  Saw a friends system, (brand new p4 2.8 gig) start to act like it was a 386 with an anchor on it.  follow the directions from the thread on removing suck rom, then google Game copy world and search for a cracked no-cd exe.  use that instead of the laucher.   I have doing that since Eaxis put that piece of crap in their games.

Birman Kat

Honestly, vecki, you're going to cause softening of the brain all 'round.  A little decorum, if you don't mind.

SuckUROM does that to me.  Can't be helped.

It's not the shortcut.  I mean, they're nought but a redirect anyway.  It's not like there's anything in them.  For this, I'd use a noCD crack.  Works like a charm and Securom doesn't get a look in.  Don't expect AL to be any better.  If anything, it'll be worse.