What worked for you? I feel like a sim when someone removes the pool ladder! I just don't understand computer stuff at all, which really isn't helping, but I've been trying to follow advice with no success. I was just wondering if anyone else on here has had this issue and successfully solved it? For me it comes up when trying to load an occupied lot. I've tried windowed mode, turning shadows off and running in compatibility mode (I selected Windows 7 as my game ran fine back in those days, but should I have chosen something else?)). It's a brand new laptop so drivers (?) should be up to date. It's my old Ultimate Collection I'm trying to run. Would buying the game from Steam be the way forward? I hear there are hoops to jump through if you do that to get IKEA stuff and various music tracks working again, and I resent having to pay for the game all over again when I bought all the packs as they come out. I will if that's the answer though! Please do let me know what was the breakthrough for you!

Don't know personally, but I found another thread on the subject. https://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=541543

Thanks Charity! Yes, deleting the userprops.xml file was one of the first things I tried. No good unfortunately.

I'm also having issues with this same problem, got a new laptop a week a go and the few times I played Sims 2 it appeared to be fine (had issues with the resolution for a brief period). But tonight I'm constantly getting that 'D3DERR_INVALIDCALL! The application will now terminate'. Deleting userprops.xml didn't fix it, I can't turn the shadows off because I can't enter a lot without the game crashing and I have no idea what this graphics rule maker is that I've seen people mention.

I'm rather stupid when it comes to computer terms so I can't find anything that's simple to understand.

graphics rule maker:
https://www.simsnetwork.com/tools/graphics-rules-maker

(Before you edit the GraphicRules file, save a backup of it, just in case).

Aww, I know how you feel - I'm utterly in the dark with computers! Is it Legacy Collection that you're having trouble with, or Ultimate? LC is working for me, albeit at the expense of some graphics quality (which I'm sad about :-(). At least it's playable though!