Hi, everybody! 

I've been going through my downloads folder using the 50/50 method (sort of!).  I added the first batch of downloads, started the game, added the second batch, started the game, ectera.  Well, I'm half way through my downloads folder when I came across two files I had taken out of my game early in the process of finding the offending file or files.  I put these files back in my download folder and sure enough the game wouldn't load.  Took them out and loaded the game just fine.  Then I tried loading the game with each file seperately, and both times the game wouldn't load.  I'll continue redownloading the rest of my custom content a batch at a time and get back to you when I'm finished

P.S.  I don't know what the files are.  I just haven't taken the time to find out, yet, but will let you know.  The file names for both files are one of those really long number names if that helps. 

Again, "Thank you!" to everyone who has helped me with this!  Without my 'Sims 2 fix' I'de be a basket case of nerves and stress - I have 3 teenagers at home - one being a 16yr old girl!  With Sims2 I can create all the teenagers I want, turn off free will and they will do everything I tell them to do!  LOL!  If only real life was so easy!   

Sorry about that, Morriganrant! 

It got confussed.  I reread your comments and understand what you're saying to do.  I'll let you know what happens!  Thank you.

I removed the thumbnail folder, but that didn't work either.

I agree with you, Moriganrant.  I'm going to redo the downloads.  I'll divide them up into batches, make sure each batch works seperately, then put the batches together in different combos untill I find the combo that created my problem with the game and narrow it down from there, going first and last (individual download) as you suggested.

Again,  I'll be back with an update.  Thank you!

Hi, everbody!

I'm back from deleting all my hacks (I can allways reload them).  Game still doesn't work. 

I allready removed my downloads folder, divided it, created a brand new downloads folder in the game and loaded a batch at a time, started the game (which started each and every time), exited the game and started the whole process over again for each batch.  When I had tested all the batches, I created a new downloads folder loaded all my downloads into it and started the game.  Again, I got the same response, It would go only so far and stop running.  I also deleted the three folders Ritaxis mentioned above each and every time, Except the last two times I tried to start the game.  The last two times the three afor mentioned files didn't regenerate.

I'll cut and paste the thumbnail folder to my descktop and start the game to see if that will work.  Thank you, Ritaxis!  I'll be back in a little bit with an update.

Again, thank you to everybody who has taken the time to help me.  See you soon - with good news I hope!

I compressed my downloads to less than 1/2 the size they were and took out the 'group.cache' file as directed, but am getting the same response from the game.

Thank you, Cenoura.  As per your suggestion I will now try the Hack Conflict Detector.  See you soon with an update! 

Yes, gb means gigabytes and I bought the computer last April with Vista installed.  I guess I've been lucky I haven't had any problem running the game or any of the Sims2 programs I've downloaded (Sims PE, Clean Installer,Sims2 Robo Maid 3000, ect.) with Vista.  

When I add custom content to the Downloads folder I put it in a sub folder with that days date to make it easier remove if corrupt.  I removed any CC I had downloaded the last 3 days before my game took a dive.  I've been running the game with allmost 6 gb's of Custom Content for quite a while now with no problem, so I've ruled out the size of the CC as being the problem as I've read there's no limit to the amount of CC you can have in the game.

To the Compressor I go!  Thank you, Bleached.  I'll give that a try and get back to you as to wheather that worked or not.  As I said the game has been running with about the same amount of CC for a while now, but who knows.  I'll give that a try!

I have looked and looked for an answer to my problem and haven't found a thing, so I'm hoping maybe you could help me, please.

My game won't start. It worked fine untill a week ago. I went to load my game and got a strange little white box with a red circle with an "x" in it and the word "Sims" and an "ok" button.

I updated my drivers, took the Cache, Group, and one other file (forgot name) out and took my Downloads folder out and the game started right up.

From there I started to load my downloads back in. I opened a new downloads folder in my owner/documents/ea games/the sims2 folder and filled it with the first gb of custom content from my old downloads folder and ran the game. No problems. Took out that folder, started an other downloads folder in the game, loaded it with the next gb of CC and ran the game again. And again, no problems. I went thru all my CC the same way untill I had no CC left in the old folder. every time the game started with no problems. I loaded all my CC in a brand new Downloads folder in the game
file and started the game. I get past the splash screen to the Sims 2 screen and it won't load any farther.

I close all unessessary programs running in the background everytime I start the game. I have oodles of memory, quad processor and am running vista.
I've had non loading issues before and have been able to work them out, but am out of ideas on how to fix this one. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!