More Awesome Than You!

I have been playing with AwesomeMod installed for some time now and really like it.  In the past couple of days, I decided to enable the Supreme Commander function, and I love it for the ability to track my Sims.  I am playing a legacy style family which has now branched off into five separate households.  I had been experiencing the missing school/work syndrome, and enabling Supreme Commander did indeed help with that issue since I was able to see where they were at all times.  

However, enabling this option also caused some Error 12 save failures, extremely long save times when successful; and now I find that when I am playing I will get stuck often (inability to switch from the active Sim, or perform any action at all, and this has caused me to have to shut down the game via Task Manager).  I really find Supreme Commander valuable in tracking all of the Sims involved in this family, but obviously it is maddening to have to quit the game in this manner, thereby losing all play leading up to it.

Has anyone else been experiencing this issue?  Any help you can give would be most appreciated.

Thanks to Pescado for all the work and effort he is putting into this, to make the game more enjoyable for all of us.  Thanks to all of you who are "more awesome than me" ... I've been lurking and learning.

I have never encountered the error-12 failures as linked to the current version of Supreme Commander, and I play a rather loaded neighborhood, so not a clue. Given that I am tracking the entire neighborhood this way, of maybe two dozen sims, it's hard to say these two are really related issues. Are you certain that you are using the latest version?

I do have the most recent update of AwesomeMod installed.  I keep updating it as I see you post them.  Any guidance on the other issues?

Thanks for your response!

Just went to check on the time of the currently installed version.  Updated twice yesterday - last one says 6:25 pm (this may be my time - EST).  I'm in the U.S.

Check the thread below this one in regard to save game issues.

Error 12 is completely random and you get it without AM or SupComm and has been reported since the game was leaked, before AM was around.  For me it usually starts when the save games start getting bigger, such as having a large household with lots of objects. Once you start getting it, it seems to keep showing up unfortunately.

Thanks, Anach!  I just thought it might be related to having enabled Supreme Commander, since the long save times and freezing (forcing me to quit the game via Task Manager) only started when I enabled that option.  And I really hope it can be resolved so that I can continue to use it.  The legacy family home is large and does have a lot of content.  Also, one of the daughters married Mortimer Goth and so that house is also (slightly redone) active in the game.

Another player on another forum I frequent has been having the long save issues without any mods installed. She discovered that disconnecting her game from the internet before playing seems to stop the 20 minute saves from happening instead reducing to 1 minute.

Does your computer have access to the internet when you are playing?

Yes, it's a laptop with a wireless connection.  I'll try disabling ithe next time I play to see if it helps.  (I am running a store-bought game, with the disable CD check through AwesomeMod so as not to have the DVD drive interaction.)  Thanks for the info!  I hope this helps.

But, the more problematic issue I'm facing is the freezing ... where I cannot do anything and I am forced to shut it down via Task Manager.  It happens pretty much every time I play now.  I'm extremely frustrated, to say the least!  I'm starting the heat monitor program from Mod The Sims before playing to check that it's not a heat issue and I've updated my video driver for the second time.

Don't know what else to do.

Well, I tried the suggestion to disconnect from the Internet to see if that helped on the save time, but unfortunately the game once again froze and I had to use Task Manager to shut down the process.  I have three files, one generated by the HWMonitor application suggested to people on Mod the Sims to monitor temperatures; and two others pointed out in Windows Problem Reporting, one a text file which I have attached, below, and the other is a file called TS3.exe.xml, which cannot be attached.  If anyone with knowledge of these issues (obviously a lot more awesome than me) has the time to take a look at these files, and can offer any suggestions on what might be going wrong here, I would really appreciate it.  (Have also attached the entire DxDiag file from earlier today.)

My computer does, in fact, seem warmer than it should be and I certainly don't want to destroy it with this game.  This is crazy.

Thanks again, everyone!

Just chiming in here with some information - I run on a wireless connection on my workstation (tuned well with extra antennas for base and card), and never disconnect during TS3 gameplay.  I never have the save slowdowns you describe either.  I have a hard time believing that the internet connection is somehow responsible for delays in pushing data to disk.

@coconner your temperature seems a bit high (even though specs  (http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Core_2/Intel-Core%202%20Duo%20Mobile%20T7500%20LF80537GG0494M%20%28BX80537T7500%29.html) for your CPU claim operation temperatures between 0 and 100C as normal)
You might pay attention, not to block the bottom slots for air circulation (put it on a flat surfaces rather than, say a blanket etc.)
Depending on age of the notebook and the environment in which its operated (esp. in areas with cats or bunnies) there might be already some dust buildup in the heatsink which needs attention sooner or later.

-le

Thanks to both Leticron and JBoat for information, below.  Even when it does not immediately solve your problem, I always find the information here at MATY is a pleasure and a learning experience, and these are both good in my book.  Used to think I was pretty good at computer stuff ... have some friends that think "I know so much" ... but lurking here makes it apparent this is not quite the case.  I find it fascinating, actually, to see what you all accomplish and know.  I believe their perception of my technical proficiency stems more from knowing how to use Office applications and being able to troubleshoot general problems, like spyware, internet connections and obvious lacks; but certainly not the more technical aspects.  And, I am certainly not in the "awesome" category when it comes to the modding that I see Pescado perform, or any of the other modders we have, for that matter.  I have great respect for all of you.  Since they have made it rather easy to recolor what already exists in the game, I can do that, but meshing is another concept that I have never had the time nor technical proficiency to really even contemplate.  I didn't think this could be about the Internet connection either, but since I seem to be unable to get past the "freeze" problem, can't tell for certain.

I do think, at this point, that the problem is stemming from the heat issue, and also, most likely, because I have been trying to use the Supreme Commander to track what is currently 19 Sims (6 children stemming from the legacy family plus marriage partners, immediate family members (Mortimer Goth's mother) and spawn of said unions.  Additionally, the rather large legacy house used to contain the original family (two adults and six children), in addition to the Goth house which one of the daughters married into.  And, I am too controlling, and hands on with all of them.  Can't be homeless, can't be jobless, must progress, etc.

Thanks to all for your help with this issue.  Hope to be able to resolve it without having to "begin again".  Monsieur Pescado, I certainly did not mean to imply that this was caused by Supreme Commander (which I love by the way, when having to deal with all these Sims), but rather wondered whether it was possible that I was doing something obviously wrong, being that it began when I enabled that option.  Hope you don't mind if I ask for advice in reinstalling or whatever I have to do to resolve this.  Have already backed up game files.  And, I think I will make it a point to have them live less "lavishly" going forward.  

Naw, your control freakery has nothing on mine. :P

Thanks, Pescado.  I really appreciate that ... especially coming from you.  Had a feeling that was, indeed, the case.

On another note, I find I am also having to learn the "internet lingo" you guys use throughout your posts.  I sometimes have to go the online "Urban Dictionary" to figure out what you mean.  And. sometimes even that is rather obscure!  I am feeling distinctly "non-awesome".  But, I thank God that I seem to have found people I can learn from.  That sometimes seems (at least) to be a very rare commodity these days.

And, quite amusingly, earlier today, I found that I went from being a "Tasty Tourist" to an "Asinine Airhead".  Although I cannot find the place on the site that defines at what post you progress to the next level, I did find it rather amusing.  What will I become next?

I am, however, very glad that I was not assassinated by the "Grammar Police".  I lurked for a long time before posting, having seen what happens to some people.  I think you are all wonderful.  I like being part of this.  THANK YOU!

The Grammar Police may not have gotten you (yet), but somebody else will, if you don't stop with the ass kissing. I'm just sayin'.

Sorry to offend.  Didn't think of it as ass-kissing.  Just giving credit where credit is due.

All that lurking and you still triple posted? There is an edit button for a reason.

Will do better next time.  Actually, I have never posted on Internet forums before so, I am not used to the format.  Have found and read the FAQS.  Will certainly try to improve.

I asked this in another forum if it was possible, They told me to ask here.

My question is, is there anyway that Just the Supreme Commander Could be mixed with Indie's Story progression?

I prefer the Indie mod, But I've heard the Supreme Commander is quite useful.
If there is any possible way that it could be done. I'd be most grateful.

Whoever sent you here is not keeping up on the news. :P

Many people have asked. It is being worked on but apparently the Indie people were busy with rl and had not been able to get Pescado the info he needed to make the two mods play nice. I believe something should be coming along relatively soon though last I heard. For the time being you just have to decide between one or the other though.

Eh, It happens.

I'm Glad to hear that though!
I'll try to keep my ears open for any word of it getting done.
The places I lurk tend to be slow on this kind of information.

No, the other site wasn't slow in getting the information on the AM and Supreme Commander. You asked at that site to have it modified. And we said no because for:

1. Permission would have to be gotten to modify the mod. I don't think Pescado likes that, but I could be wrong.
2. The mod wasn't hosted at that other site.

You were told that it is best to ask here to see about Supreme Commander being a separate mod or being redesigned or made to work with Indie Stone's mod.

It is just a matter of respect and courtesy to ask the creator, not another modder, if he or she can fulfill the request or not.

I didn't say that site was slow, I said The Places I "Lurk" are slow.

I mostly hang around SS and such, they don't update so much on mods.
So please don't assume I meant that Site.

I'll try not to ask for things in Requests so much.
Simply was curious if such a thing was possible, not that it had to be done by them.

You're wrong. :P Awesomeware is distributed under a usage policy of "Meh.". My overwhelming indifference, apathy, and not-caring-itude simply leaves me no time or energy to care what people do with it afterwards. They're the ones who are going to have to keep repatching when I fix it.

Update:  Thanks to all that assisted me earlier in this post.  I am glad to report that it seems to be working well now.  All seems to work as planned and I'm happy with AwesomeMod and Supreme Commander.  Will keep watching for further updates.  I can be a control freak once more!

Larku - Pescado has been working with the Indie Stone modders on a compatibility link between AwesomeMod and the Indie Stone mod, which, in fact they are testing right now.  Shouldn't be long.

@coconnor,
So, what was the actual cause of your issues? 

It seems that the laptop was just running too hot.  Can't be certain; however, issues have stopped for now at least.

Cool, what have you done to curb the heat problems?  I'm just curious. I don't own a laptop for gaming, just a MacBook for doing everyday stuff so I rarely push it enough to overheat it. Just interested in what steps you took to cool it down since it seemed to "resolve" your issue to the best of your knowledge.

Leticron suggested that heat seemed to be an issue after looking at a report produced by a program called HWMonitor (which I opened and ran before playing the game).  He gave me some suggestions, one of which was to clean the heatsink.  I have done this in the past on a desktop (a lot more room in those), but on a laptop I didn't know where to start.  So, I went to the manufacturer's website and found the information I needed for my particular machine and then followed the directions.  Hopefully will not have to do that again any time soon!  The heatsink & fan are hard to get at.

I had previously purchased and installed additional RAM to it though, which involved removing the keyboard since one module is installed under that; and then opened the back to install the other, but this seemed more tedious and involved.

Thought about taking it to "The Geek Squad" for a few minutes ... then decided I would try it myself.

Get a high quality (i.e. expensive) laptop cradle/base with some decent fans on it to cool those laptops!  They were never meant for extended gaming in the first place, and sitting on a flat desk or in a warm room is just asking for trouble.  :)

Any in particular you would recommend?  I have actually been trying to find one of these for some time, but every one I know of currently has bad reviews, mostly related to the durability and effectiveness of the fan units.

I just picked one up for a client (a non-gamer), which is made by Belkin.  It ran around $25-30 if I recall, was powered by a USB cable (so you could roam with it in your lap), and had a fairly large fan.  It of course wasn't a really good one, like a gamer might need when they push their system.  I don't personally game on laptops, so it's hard for me to recommend one.  But *any* laptop base with cooling is an improvement over nothing.

I have just recently gotten my first laptop and after seeing the issues my sisters had on theirs with fan coolers, I ended up getting this heat pad with crystals in it that absorb the heat and turn to gel, then turn back to crystals when they cool. So far I haven't noticed any slowing issues but I think elevating it off the desk might be a good idea too because I'm sure at some point it will get so hot it can't absorb any more. I don't use it on my lap for this reason, so it won't absorb body heat, but I'm not sure if a fan is actually a better idea or not. Don't want to ruin it...

Yes, I've seen that one.  The reviews tend to claim that the fan breaks almost immediately.  I will keep looking, and hopefully find something soon that works well.
Yes, I've read about these, too, and it seemed like it might be a good option except I tend to use the laptop mostly when I'm sitting up in bed.  That kind of defeats the purpose since it would also have to absorb the heat from either my lap or the blankets.

I have a Belkin lap-fan-thing, it's been working and I've had it for months.

Just a side note-- in addition to getting a laptop cooler, download smcFanControl if you haven't already. I use it on my macbook, and it helps you control the temperature and fan speed of your mac.

Thanks for the information!  Good to know.  I may just go get one since I have been unable to find anything else yet.

I have a Dell 1720 laptop running Windows Vista and from what I can see, SMC Fan Control is only for MAC's.  I have downloaded another program and am trying it.  It is called Speed Fan.  We'll see how that works.  Thanks for the information!

I have a belkin for my Dell Inspiron 1525 (which means i can't see who is fat, preggers or muscular! rrGHHH!) I go one step further and prop up the laptop so there are 2 levels of space involved. And I have a room fan nearby that is usually on.

It is still very hot - I assuming the graphics card is in the vicinity of the touch pad, as that is where things get the hottest. As I am computer from a laying on my side position for 99% of the lat few months, even if i had a desktop, it wouldn't be an option for me.

I have also thought of cold packs (the kind one puts in the freezer, to use in picnic coolers, body parts, etc) put underneath the offending area, but manage to keep things on a tight rope.

My laptop started to get very hot a few after i got it last summer - and I wasn't using a high demand on my laptop. It did start getting worse playing Sims Life Stories,

Love to hear what people have done to try to rectify the situation!

I only downloaded and installed this program earlier today, but it appears to work pretty well.  It is a free download and here is the link:  http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php (http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php)

My laptop (according to this program) appears to have 3 fans.  If you are thinking about replacing anything in your laptop (you said it is a Dell 1535) you can go to their website, put in the Service Tag and they will show you the configuration as originally shipped.  You can then see suggested upgrades to the original configuration (including video cards, if applicable).  Even if you don't buy it from them, at least it will give you a starting point from which to do some research.

 I have just opened the tab to dl. Dell will be next on the list! Thanks a bunch for the tip!

[/quote]
I only downloaded and installed this program earlier today, but it appears to work pretty well.  It is a free download and here is the link:  http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php (http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php)

My laptop (according to this program) appears to have 3 fans.  If you are thinking about replacing anything in your laptop (you said it is a Dell 1535) you can go to their website, put in the Service Tag and they will show you the configuration as originally shipped.  You can then see suggested upgrades to the original configuration (including video cards, if applicable).  Even if you don't buy it from them, at least it will give you a starting point from which to do some research.
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You're welcome.  Hope it works out.  

I went to a couple of stores in my area this afternoon, and ended up buying a laptop chill pad made by a company called Xbrand (never heard of them before).  I also saw the Belkin and an Antec which which were both too small for the 17" laptop.  

Anyway, I brought it home, put the laptop on it and turned on the Speed Fan program and now everything beside the video card fan (GPU) has blue down arrows on them.  I don't think it is possible for it to be too cold for the laptop, but in case anyone reads this that is tech saavy, I'd feel better with some verification.  I know from work though that computer equipment (mainframes & servers, etc.) are typically kept in very cold rooms, so I'm not really too concerned.  I've attached the print report from the HW Monitor program for verification.

Thanks to everyone for your help!

I bought the belkin for a smaller laptop, but I've found my boyfriend's rather large computer (he thinks it's 17" but I don't feel like verifying) can sit on top of it; the edges aren't at the edge of his computer, but it lifts it up so the air current can move under it, and the way it's curved, the moving air can continue to flow under the rest of the computer. I'm sure there are better solutions but the main issue he has is that even under normal circumstances, running Vista makes it eventually too hot to sit on his lap properly without the fan.

Yes, I figured that, but I mainly use the laptop when I'm sitting on the couch or on my bed so I didn't want to chance it sliding off.  This one can either be flat or raised up to create more airflow and has a piece in front where the laptop actually engages, so it seemed like a better option.  It was $40 in BJ's Wholesale Warehouse, so it was a little more expensive, but I'd rather spend ten more dollars than have the laptop slipping off.  That would be "a very bad thing"!  So far, so good.  Hope it lasts!

Very true. To be fair, I got mine from Best Buy's going out of business sale for like, $15, so for that I'm more than pleased with the results.

Stay away from the Targus ones you see everywhere.  I replaced the cable twice in 6 months.  They really are as bad as the reviews say.

AFAIK, SMC is a mac-only application-- I was responding to OpiumGirl since she referenced her macbook. However, it's very handy, so if there is a windows-equivalent it's definitely a good idea to give it a shot.

Just a note for mac laptop users:

- if you use something like SMC fan control, take care not to bump up the fan speeds TOO much -- that'll only wear out your fans while having no positive effect (there's no point in running the fans at 4000rpm while the temp is still low). Worn-out fans can be 1. loud and annoying and 2. expensive to replace.

- make sure you're up to date with system updates. At least for my MBP there was a firmware update this April or May that reconfigured the fans; I believe they kick in earlier since then. This may make third-party apps obsolete. The temperature on my MBP is stable; I only started to monitor it after that update so I can't compare but it definitely doesn't hurt.

- in my experience, AppleCare is almost guaranteed to pay off, particularly with laptops. Also, again in my experience, Apple don't ask questions -- "normal" insurances will often try every way they can to wiggle out of payments for repairs. In that context, it may become a problem to have a broken fan and a 3rd party fan control app installed.

It's been like 2 months since I played TS3. I have the updated Awesome Mod, but I can't remember how to enable the Supreme Commander. Any help would be great :)

Why the fuck did you perform necromancy on this thread?

Why don't kiss my ass and speak english, fool.

Do you not know what necromancy means?  Raising things from the dead.  Threads are dead after a month and the last time anyone posted in this was back in July.

What difference does it make. I have a question about this very thing, so what the hell is the big deal?! BTW, he's still a fool.

1. You don't know the definition of "necromancy"- here of ALL places - and you call Silent Dreamer a fool?

2. Silent Dreamer is a female, twat.