Just another shot in the dark
LOL
I'll give that a go and report results.
Edit: I don't have such a file and I don't think there's a line like that. I think my shaders are on because I have fish in the aquarium (?)
What about the loading screen pictures? Lots, families etc don't show up.
Another odd thing is that one house in particular (the one I played when this thing messed up) does not appear to have walls in the neighbourhood view. It has roofs and everything else, but missing the walls and windows. Very strange indeed.