CHeck your temps to make sure overheating is not the culprit.  Also, try the beta drivers if you're not using them already.

Daemon creates virtual drives on your system in order to mount cd images.  If you simply delete Daemon without first removing the drives, said mount points still exist and will be detected by some SecuROM and SafeDisc checks.  To remove the mounts, you can go through the registry (frustrating) or reinstall Daemon and make sure to set number of devices to zero from the right click menu (easier). 

Yet Another Securom Utility (YASU) attempts to stop SecuROM and SD from seeing virtual drives.  Some people are having a problem using it with BV, although I personally have experienced no issues. 

There could be other programs causing the error message.  If you have CLoneCD or Alcohol 120, they might be giving you problems.  Also, old registry keys left over from Daemon or any other emulation software might trip the protection.  Use a reg cleaner to try and eliminate these.

As Pescado mentions, using a No-CD crack seems to be the easiest way around the issue you are having.

As a final note, if you are trying to play from a legitimate cd, make sure you send EA a note criticizing their use of invasive copy protection.     

If you can give me an English translation for "aller sur un terrain.../terrain communautaire" and "aller à pied.../maison", I'll keep an eye out for them when looking for other text strings in SimPE.

It is Spyware, and you should avoid it.  The Pop-Up you are describing is the new Maxis "Launcher".  To disable it, edit your BV shortcut (right click on it, then properties, and then alter the Target) so it points to "Sims2EP6.exe" instead of Sims2Launcher.exe".   You will not need to change anything else in the path, since both files are in the same directory.

It is possible.  You will need to get SimPE to edit package files.  You will then browse through the various game files and alter any "text lists" you come across.  I imagine it will take you quite a while. 

Out of curiosity, what language do you want to use?

Before deleting Daemon, did you remove the mount points?  Also, what is the exact text of the error message you are getting?

Your best bet at this point is probably to use YASU to block the SecuRom check.

If your server didn't keep crashing my game, I could take more turns!  Anyway, I just played two, and am inches away from death.  Unfortunately, I'm looking at houses for the next few days, so I'm not sure when I can play again.

Easiest way is to right click the desktop and select "NVIDIA Control Panel" from the menu.  The settings Madame Mim refers to can be found under 3D Settings->Manage 3D Settings.

I believe most package files containing text lists are stored in the following directory:


"Live.package" seems like a good first stop.

In case it helps, I was running vanilla with all EPs and SPs when I tested the grand and stand-up.  I've now installed DC, and will run another test just to confirm.

By way of contrast (and perhaps reassurance), I have been running BV using an Nvidia card for the past five days with no issue.  I'm using the latest beta drivers alongside two 8800GTX in SLI. 

Try using Nvidia's beta drivers:
If you are running XP 32 bit click here.
If you are running Vista 32 bit click here.
All other Operating Systems, click here.

Looks like it.  I'll check the pianos again, and primping definitely appears to be borked in my game.

Edit: Scratch that.  Both pianos give appropriate boosts to creativity and fun.  Apparently, the issue I read about was someone having a problem with the noise level.  So at least EA did not totally wipe out changes from the Seasons patch!

It sounds like your game is not able to write information to the disc when saving.  Thus, so long as you stay in the game (and information is cached) you are fine, but after exiting and reloading, the hoods disappear. 

Try running CHkDsk and see if it shows any disk integrity issues.  To run chkdsk:

• Click "Start" and select "Run"
• Type "cmd" (no quotes) in the dialog box, and hit "Enter"
• At the prompt type "chkdsk C:/r" (without quotes, and only using C:/ if it is the volume on which your game is installed) and hit "Enter"
• You'll get a message that your computer needs to restart to run ChkDsk.  Hit Y to confirm this, and then restart your system

Doing the above will rule out a disk integrity issue as the source of your problem.

Try this.

Try to find him via the neighborhood browser in SimPE.

Nice job!  As Denimjo said, it does work, and the Grim appearance actually works out well.  You should post this in Peasantry.   

Yes.  In fact, EA named the new premade family "Traveller" to spare us the inconvenience of opening CAS.

I have only tried placing ocean lots in vacation hoods.  I'll experiment with a clean base hood when I next play to see if the option exists.

It is not just you.  "Primp" is screwed up.  So are the pianos.  It just goes to show how much EA appreciates us!  Fixes should be out shortly (if they aren't already).

I turned off free will.  No pool steps are required, although since the drop off is rather steep it looks like sims are walking down stairs to reach a swimmable depth.

Edit for clarity (maybe)

Don't know yet.  I had to go to class and so I didn't see what ended up happening.  I will check when I get home.

That would certainly explain the issue I'm having.  I guess it's time to start reintroducing my hacks.

See, I thought about this, but I also seem to remember having dormies die at Uni from energy failure in a ladderless pool.  Since the "lodges" have a similar structure to dorms, I thought it would be possible to die in the ocean. 

That was my understanding as well.  It seems like the game forces sims to stay alive while in the ocean by little boosts to the various needs.  I'm wondering if this same manipulation occurs on all vacation lots.  I also seem to remember seeing a promo vid where a sim dies in the ocean, which doubles my confusion.  Clearly, more experimentation is required.