Okay guys...this is the scoop...sometimes sims work and sometimes it doesnt....I had to go out and buy a new pc jus to get it to work.....the biggest problem with these games is the video card...they need a LOT of memory for this game....now sims life stories is supposed to be made for laptops...so if your having problems...try uninstalling it and reinstalling it...other than that, its the luck of the draw...and wait..sims3 is coming out next spring.....I dont even know if my new computer will run it.