How to Fix the "Sims 2: Bon Voyage" Error

Your computer should meet the recommended requirements for the game to run smoothly.

The "Sims 2: Bon Voyage" is an expansion pack that adds three vacation destinations to the Sim world. It gives Sims time to relax and enjoy activities like camping, axe throwing and tours. The game is installed from a CD or digital download, but sometimes the installation fails. The game might also crash during gameplay, which can indicate old drivers, incompatible hardware or buggy software.

Instructions

1. Check the system requirements to see if your computer can handle the game. Even if your PC meets the minimum requirements for free space, memory and CPU speed, it is often not good enough to run the game as intended. The game requires a 1.3 GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and at least 1.5GB of free space. The video card needs a minimum of 32 MB, and will be less likely to produce errors if it is officially supported.

2. Re-enter the serial number carefully testing if the installer insists that it is invalid. "Sims 2: Bon Voyage" requires a 20-character serial during installation. It consists of random numbers and letters that must be entered exactly the way it is printed on the manual. If the code is rejected after repeated attempts, call customer support to see if they will issue you a new one.

3. Update your audio and video card drivers if the error mentions anything about DirectX. If the drivers are outdated, the hardware might be incompatible with the game. The game uses DirectX version 9.0c, which installs automatically. Click "Start," "Control Panel," then "System and Security" to find "Windows Update." Run the update to install newer versions of the files, which may improve the stability of the game.

4. Uninstall the game and reinstall from scratch If your game is missing objects or thought bubbles. Start with the "Sims 2" base game, then install the remaining expansions in the order according to their release dates. If the problems persist, start a brand-new game or delete the Sims folder from "My Documents." Deleting this folder removes all saves and resets the neighborhood to its original state.

5. Remove all custom content and restart the game. Custom content includes downloads such as clothing, furniture and building objects. With each new expansion, many downloads become incompatible with the new game structure. This results in random errors while playing the game. Go to "My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2," and move the "Downloads" folder to the desktop. Return the downloads a few at a time to isolate the problem file.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean the disc with glass cleaner or alcohol if you receive a "cyclic redundancy check" error. This error is also caused by a scratched disc.

• If all else fails, go to Simsvip.com to download patches for the game.

References

• EA; What is The Sims 2 Bon Voyage?; July 2007
• EA; What Happens if I Already Have Custom Content Installed?; September 2007
• EA; DirectX - Why You Should Upgrade Your Drivers; June 2005
• Lasalle University; The Sims 2 Vacation; Vanessa S. Levros; March 2008
• EA; How Can I Prepare My PC for Installation?; September 2007

Resources

• EA; What Are the Minimum Requirements; September 2007
• EA; Patches and Updates for the Sims 2; September 2007
• EA Support: Sims 2 Install Order
• Sims VIP: Sims 2 Patches