SOLVED - Sims 2 - Win7 - DX9.0c error

[zagood]

edit: solved by starting in windowed mode. See post below.

Rebuilt my wife's computer and trying to get this sorted. I've installed Sims2 but it won't start, I'm getting a ""Failed to find any DirectX 9.0c compatible graphics adapters..." error. This problem is pretty rampant, checked google but can't find a solution that doesn't have to do with replacing their onboard video.

Relevant components:
e4300
P965-DS3 (updated audio drivers)
9600GT (197.13 drivers)
2gb ram
Win7 Ultimate 32
DX 11

I've updated DX via both the web updater and the full redist. package.
Updated all drivers.
dxdiag is clean, all acceleration enabled.
Ran the Sims2 patch.

Pretty frustrated. Anybody?

p.s. Compatibility mode didn't work. Tried XP and 98/ME.

 

[zagood]

update: uninstalled/reinstalled all drivers. uninstalled/reinstalled game. ran patch - patch says game is up to date (which is impossible since I installed from CD). No bueno.

 

[shortylickens]

Wish I could help.
Theres some dude on here that claims to have over 400 games installed and working on his Win 7 computer. Maybe he'll stop by and help out.

 

[zagood]

Solved - start first time in windowed mode (add -w to shortcut target). Opening full screen after that works fine. Display flashes a few times when loading, not sure what that's all about, and still can't run the patch.

At least now I'm making progress.

 

[zagood]

p.s. I am never EVER switching OS's on my wife's machine again unless she gets into a new game that doesn't have 16 expansion packs.