Vista - Sims 2 Issues

I've been having issues with the Sims 2 crashing when I use it. It's usually when I'm trying to load something (eg. moving a family into a house) that it crashes. I'm pretty computer illiterate, so bear with me as I attempt to give you my system specifications... (I'm just copying them down from the DirectX Diagnostic Tool screen)

OS: Windows Vista Home Premium
Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: HP Pavilion dv6700 Notebook PC
Processor: Intel Cor 2 Duo CPU T5750 @ 2.00 GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.0 GHz
Memory: 3062 MB RAM
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
(Display Tab, Under Device)
Name: Mobile Intel 965 Express Chipset Family
Manufacturer: Intel
Chip Type: Mobile Intel 965 Express Chipset Family
DAC Type: Internal
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 800
Monitor: Generic PnP Monitor

I'm not really sure if that's the info you need. Any help would be greatly appreciated, though. (Please keep it simple, I'm really not very good with computers.) Thanks so much!
Edit: It ran fine for months before this. I didn't use it for a while, and when I tried it again today, it didn't work. I've tried running it as an administrator, but get the same problems.

Hello xomanadaxo,
when you say it crashes, does it just crash to desk top (CTD) or does it lock up the computer, also do you get any error message with the crash ?, since you last used it have you installed or uninstalled any software/hardware ?

I don't get any error messages, and the computer doesn't really lock up. The game appears to be loading (ex. the "in between screen" when you go from the neighborhood to a house, house to a community lot etc.), but it just sits there and loads, never doing anything (It'll continue to appear to "load" for hours...I've checked.) Then when I hit Ctrl + Alt + Del the task manager says the game isn't responding. I don't remember if I've installed/uninstalled any software, if I did it would have been something unrelated (I assume) like Skype or AIM. No new hardware though, I'm not that tech-savvy!

I have a few Sims games, but not that one. You might try http://support.ea.com there is a lot of things you can do that might help