Woah there are tons of them. Since there are so many different kinds of them it might be neater for everything to post them here. Then we can figure them out easier.

Thanks to About.com Here are some things to help us keep this game going smoothly and to install it.

"The Sims Hot Date Expansion Pack" Installation Help

You've probably heard about the many problems of attempting to install "The Sims Hot Date Expansion Pack." Many of the problems can be avoided by following a few steps before installing the game. You have probably completed many, if not all, of the steps in normal computer maintenance.


Before installing complete these steps:

Run Disk Cleanup
Run ScanDisk
Run Disk Defragmenter
Close All Programs
For more details about these steps, and how to complete them, read my article about preparing your computer for installation.

Installation Process
It's important to note that it is recommended that you install the expansion packs in the order that they were released ("Living Large," "House Party," "Hot Date"). For this reason, I recommend uninstalling "The Sims" and the expansion packs, and reinstalling them in the correct order. If you choose to do this please remember to back up your families/houses and downloads.

Place the CD in the CD drive. An autorun menu should appear. If it doesn't click the start button on the task bar, click Run, then type d:\start.exe (substitute 'd' for your CD drive letter), then click OK.
Click Install
Read installation guidelines.
Enter serial number from the back of your CD-ROM case. Remember to never give this number out!
Important! You may be asked to insert your previous version of "The Sims." Insert your CD and click OK.
Files will be copied from your previous version. After the copying is completed, you will be asked to insert "The Sims Hot Date" CD in.
Files will be copied from "The Sims Hot Date" CD.
Installation will complete.
Note: After you install "Hot Date," the "Hot Date" CD will be the only one you need to use. Even if you install "Living Large" and "House Party" afterwards.

Problems After Installation
When playing "The Sims" you should close or disable your anti-virus/crash guard programs. You should also close out any programs that you are not using. The more background tasks you have running, the less resources you have available for "The Sims" to use.

"The Sims Hot Date" requires at least 64 MB RAM and Virtual Memory enabled. But if you are using the other expansion packs, you should have at least 128 MB RAM. RAM is very cheap right now. Even if you do have 128 MB RAM, it may be wise to buy some more. Slow, choppy graphics are often the result of needing more RAM, and maybe a faster video card.

Video cards need to have at least 2 MB of video memory and be compatible with DirectX 7.0. Problems with video cards often result from not having the latest version of DirectX and video drivers. To update your video drivers you'll need to visit the manufacturer of your video card.

Your sound card will need to support DirectSound and DirectX 7.0. Sound cards not supporting these will produce choppy sound, or sound that comes and goes. If you have a problem with sound in "The Sims," check your sound card's manufacturer's page for updated drivers. This may seem silly, but make sure you check that your sound is plugged in correctly. Sometimes that could be the problem.

You may also want to try running The Sims File Cop. It will take out the bad files (you probably a have a couple if you have a lot of user creations). The Sims File Cop can be downloaded at Website.




Keep Your Games Running Smoothly

Don't let a sluggish computer ruin your gaming experience. Learn how to keep your computer and games running smoothly by following these tips. This how to was written with Windows 98 in mind. The tips will work on other operating systems, however you may find that the locations of the utilities are in different locations.

Disk Defragmenter
The defragmenter will organize your files so the computer can use the files you are accessing faster, since it won't have to search as long. Run this program with as few programs running in the background as possible. I suggest defragging your drive(s) every couple of weeks, before you install a program, or after you uninstall a few programs.

Find it here: Start - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Defragmenter

ScanDisk
This system utility checks for surface, folder and file errors and corrects them. Run this program if you computer was not shut down properly, creating a lot of error messages, or if programs seem to functioning abnormally. I suggest using scandisk about once a week to keep your drive(s) in top shape.

Find it here: Start - Accessories - System tools - Scandisk

Disk Clean Up
You can find a useful function in your drive properties that will clean up your hard drive. It will get rid of internet files (if you use Internet Explorer), temporary files, and files in the recycle bin. If you another browser, like Netscape, you will need to find the cache or temporary files folder within windows explorer to delete the unnecessary files. Delete cookies in your internet folder. You don't need them, and after awhile you may have a lot of cookies just hanging out on your drive. Uninstall programs you don't use anymore. You're just wasting drive space, when you could be using it for something else. Do this after you delete lots of files; use the internet for a long time, and/or at least once a week.

Find it here: My Computer - Right Click on C Drive Icon - Disk Cleanup

Keep Operating System Software Up to Date
Use the Windows Update in the start menu to keep your system updated. New security patches usually available to download along with other software you may find useful.

Check Hard Drive Space
Keep clutter off your drive. If you don't need it, get rid of it. Save files you won't be using for a while to a CD or disk. Not only does it give you more disk space for new files, you won't have to go sift through so many files.

Minimize Number of Programs Running
If you are trying to play a game, surf the internet, work on your report, read email, and listen to mp3 files, you are using to much of your system resources. If your computer is trying to run too many programs when also trying to play a graphic intensive game, the graphics will be choppy, and figures will move slowly. Whenever possible play with only the game open.

Clean Out Add-on Game Files
If game allows for add-in files, like The Sims, clean out the files you don't absolutely need. If you don't play a particular saved game, save it to a disk or CD and delete it from the hard drive. If you play The Sims, you probably have tons of wallpaper and objects that you rarely use, get rid of them. You'll be amazed by the space you'll recover, by moving saved games, cities, and other custom files to CDs.

Shut Down Properly
Always shut your computer off using the shutdown option in the start menu. If you don't you will cause errors and sometimes lose data.

Find it here: Start - Shutdown - Shutdown

Antivirus Program
Sometimes your anti-virus program will slow down the loading and playing of games. So if you aren't on the internet, go ahead and disable it. But remember to turn it back on if you logged back on to the internet.


Hope this helps.

This message was edited by volleyballchicka on Mar 17 2002.

Erm... My first post here, but I am experienced with other forums so I know the rules.

Anyways, I have a problem with Hot Date. I've installed it and it seemed to be working fine until I tried to go downtown (getting a cab).

The Taxi came, an action was added to the queue (the top left list). A notification alerting me that my house would be saved in order for me to go downtown appeared and I accepted it (pressed Yes). As soon as I clicked yes, the action (top-left) was cancelled (dissappeared from the list) and my Sim did not enter the cab. Instead, he went for a bez on his guitar.

Any ideas why this is happening?

Thx all!
( )
-- Fuegan29 --

Well, if this happens the best thing to do is clck on the taxi again for him to "go downtown", and if he tries to do something before that, cancel the action by clicking on the action on the top left screen where the list of actions for him to do.

hi its rachael:rainbow:
i am having trouble getting my sims to date i have spent hours trying to do it and i would like you to help me and tell me what i have to do to get them to go out.:anglewings:
thanks luv rachael:thick:

You have to get them to like eachother a lot. It takes a lot of time. Give them gifts and don't be too overpowering. Also buy them a lot of stuff and go downtown a lot.

I got beat up my first time trying to get into the hottub with a guy.

I tried to install Hot Date, and a thing popped up almost right away that said I don't have enough disk space free. I know that I have more than enough free space on my hard drive, though. Do you have any clue what the problem could be?

How much Free Space do you have? If you can find out.

I have 27 GB. I'm thinkin that's enough.

The exact message that pops up is:

"Sorry, there's not enough disk free space on . 524288000 bytes are required and only -1 bytes are free."

I've been going out of my mind trying to figure out why it's saying that.

hey, ive been having this annoying thing going on downtown. Ya know the fancier dining booths? Ok, well Whenever i build my own restaurant downtown and use those booths and i take a sim DT, this is what happens: They go to the podium and get a table and all that, right? and then they order and sit there... la dee da dee da... the problem starts when they get their food. the waiter guy comes to give them their plate, but he doesnt give it to my sim. So my sim starts eating an invisible plate of food and after a few bits they disappear out of the booth and i find them spacing out somewhere else downtown. Why is it doing that? its driving me CRAZY!!
Thnx 4 ur help!

When I try and install hot date I get a message asking for data2.cab, does anyone know how to fix this?

my hot date always freezes when i choose to go downtown...and i ahve no idea why it does that

quote EhrgeizBahamut

my hot date always freezes when i choose to go downtown...and i ahve no idea why it does that

i think you use winzip...but i dont remember my sister did it for me...

Most sim sites for downloading reqiure winzip. You just download your files to there...... If you still dont know how ask and i will tell how to use winzip.