It seems like there are many problems in this one thread... some can be easily... though expensively fixed... I had these same issues.. but mine was the fault of my graphic's card.. it didn't support dirctx 9c... granted... mine was a dinosaur and needed replacing long ago.. voodoo3.... but it still worked everything til now...
I put in a Verto G-Force 5200 AGP into it today... and the Sims 2 booted right up....
Just my experience with this problem and my solution... hope it helps :0))
Shayla