Sims 2 and "unspecified error" message..

Have tried Googling.. http://tinyurl.com/2wemv7 unfortunately I need to allow full admin to my children for this game to
work, I know I can give up my password and use run as but would prefer not to do this, have also tried elevating their
status to power users but same issue?

Power Users is an XP account type, it's not used in Vista. However, the
solution to your problem is the same irregardless. You need to edit
permissions on the program's installation folder so that their accounts have
'read and execute' permissions.

I ran process monitor while I ran the program and paid attention to
DIR and REG writes, then I changed permissions in the registry and
folders. Still won't work.

Then you've missed something. I have sometimes found that it's easiest to
give the account 'full control' with some older, incompatible software.

I'll run process monitor again and finetooth the logs again, as far as
running kids in full admin it kind of defeats the purpose of limited
user. Don't you think?

No, don't convert them to admin accounts, just adjust permissions on the
program folder to give them full control of that folder (make sure it
propagates to subfolders as well).

I've done that Rick, still won't work..

But making them an admin does? Then I'm afraid you aren't going to be able
to do what you are hoping. Likely the program is trying to write to
protected system files or registry keys.

[Finar]

Right click on shortcut of Sims 2 and run as Administrator.

This fixed my problem.

Remember you have to have your disk 1 in there.