rblog

Since EA Games was unable to provide any assistance in solving this problem (although they were responsive and friendly), I figured I should post my solution.

The problem:
You try to load Sims 2, but get an D3DERR_INVALIDCALL during the loading process (e.g. after Chlorinating Car Pools) message.

Other symptoms:
The problem vanishes if you delete your "My Sims2" folder - which, unfortunately means throwing alway your family.

Likely cause:
I believe the cause is that the game has been saved with video settings that are not supported by the current video card. This can easily occur if you swap in a better card, set the video settings to higher quality levels, but then go back to your original video card.

Resolution:
The key is to open the game and lower the video settings to the lowest quality, so that it can again be opened on your computer. Obviously, the problem is that you can't open the game on your computer. So, there are two approaches:
a. Buy a new video card, install the card, open the game, change the settings, return the card to the store.
b. Copy your "My Sims2" folder to another system with a better video card. Open the game. Change the video settings. Save the file (I played the game for a few seconds to make sure the file was changed). Copy the updated My Sims2 folder back to your original computer.

I used approach (b) to solve this problem. EA Games had responded:
"I'm sorry, but there is no other fix for this issue to save your families. It is most likley caused by corruption due to cheats or downloads.

Unfortunately at this point there may not be a fix for this issue. It may be a conflict with a file, utility, program, or hardware setting that we are not able to find and/or check."

Hope this helps anyone out there.