Why does EA SUCK so badly?
 

I'm just now getting my new PC up and running.

Loaded World of Warcraft with no problems. I've loaded other games with no problem.

Now I'm trying to load The Sims 2 and it doesn't work - seems like a copy protection thing. I can install the game, but it seems to lock up at the splash screen. That's usually a sure sign of a copy protection issue.

I've been on their website for the last hour - can't find a damn thing that helps solve the issue and there's no email address or phone number to call for tech support. None. It seems that if you can't find it with the online help, you're totally SOL.

The only thing this encourages me to do is illegally download their software from now on rather than pay for it. Because if I can't get the software I paid for to work properly, then what's the point of paying for it?

I had a similar problem when I bought the game. I had the DVD version, and the only thing that worked was a real pain in the ass, having to download Daemon Tools which created some kind of image on my hard drive, etc. Probably caused massive damage to my PC. I've since reformatted and given the game back to my brother.

If I remember correctly, Sims 2 checks to see if you have any reference to Alcohol 120% or CloneCD in your registry at all. If you have either program installed, or once did, and your registry hasn't been purged of all traces of the programs, Sims 2 will bomb out.

Daemon is actually a very good program so I wouldn't worry about it causing any damage to your PC :)

Thanks, but that's not it. This is on a very clean (new) PC with neither of those programs having ever been installed.

Blackadar: have you tried D/l a no-cd patch? that might fix the problem if it is software protection related.

Try this; hxxped because it's a game site and some people crack down on games.

hxxp://eagames.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/eagames.cfg/php/enduser/sims2_std_adp.php?p_faqid=15784&p_created=1095289526&p_sid=wyD_-zyh&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9NzEmcF9wcm9kcz00NzQmcF9jYXRzPSZwX3B2PTEuNDc0OzIudTAmcF9jdj0mcF9