May 2014
Hello. I try to run the Sims 2 in compatibility mode in Windows 8 but get an error message saying "Direct3D returned an error: E_INVALIDARG!". I'm running it on a laptop and my graphics card is all up to date.
September 2014 - last edited September 2014
Recently I've got a The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection from Origin. It worked well on my PC, but since I have moved onto an acer laptop I keep getting E_INVALIDARG error when running the game via NVIDIA GPU. I have tried reinstalling drivers, updating windows, updating net framework, repairing Sims 2, chaning compatibility settings, I have also asked both ACER and NVIDIA for help but with no effect so far. Now I ask you if you know how to fix this issue. It happens only when using NVIDIA GPU, the game runs fine but very slow on INTEL graphics.
My laptop:
Acer Aspire v5-573G
Intel Core i5-4210U 1.7GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M with 4GB Dedicated VRAM
8GB RAM
September 2014
I don't have DXSETUP in _Installer folder, I also don't have installation files(origin deleted them after the game was installed). I have ugraded DirectX with with a web installer from Microsoft site. I have also reinstalled drivers using clean install but with no effect.
September 2014
So, can anyone help me on that? I heard E_INVALIDARG is a .NET Framework related proble. I have NET Framework 3.5 installed by default(it contains older versions as well) but I have also installed newest frameworks as well. Still without success.
May 2015
If I am reading right, you have the same computer as me. It has an NVIDIA graphics card and Integrated graphics, right? For some dumb reason, the computer is designed to run the NVIDIA card THROUGH the Integrated Graphics, and you can't turn this off. I did find a solution, however:
For me, what fixed it was to go into the Nvidia Control Panel, click "Manage 3D settings", click the "Program Settings" tab, and then add Sims 2 (Default path if you have the ultimate edition is Program Files -> Origin Games -> Sims 2 (Ultimate Collection) -> Fun with Pets -> SP9 -> TSbin -> Sims2EP9. You then want to tell it to run off the INTEGRATED GRAPHICS instead of the Nvidia Card.
That being done, you should be able to run it in compatability mode (I used Windows 7) and also as an administrator. I have been troubleshooting this problem for the past three days, and as such have fiddled with a lot of things, but it wasn't until I did the above thingy that it would run for me. Good luck!
August 2016
EA_Barry, I am trying to do this with The Sims: Life Stories. It has a DIAG.EXE file on it. Is this what you mean?
November 2017
THANK YOU SO MUCH! YOU REALLY SAVED MY DAY
June 2022
Nvidia Ayarlarından
3D Ayarların Yönetilmesi>Tercih Edilen Grafik İşlemci>Otomatik seç
From Nvidia Settings
Managing 3D Settings>Preferred Graphics Processor>Auto select
Aus den Nvidia-Einstellungen
3D-Einstellungen verwalten > Bevorzugter Grafikprozessor > Automatische Auswahl
Das configurações da Nvidia
Gerenciando Configurações 3D>Processador Gráfico Preferido>Seleção Automática
Desde la configuración de Nvidia
Administrar la configuración 3D>Procesador de gráficos preferido>Selección automática
June 2022
@ndmozj4dx7o2 , I'm afraid there is not a Turkish language support form. Can you please start a new post in English and explain what problem you are having?