You'll find DirectX here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.aspx
Download and install it.
You do not have a graphics card, rather yours is onboard (meaning it is part of the motherboard). In theory, your onboard Intel should be able to play Sims 2 though not as fast as if you had one that you would put into the AGP slot (presuming yours has AGP 2x or 4x.)

http://support.intel.com/support/graphics/sb/cs-016327.htm

Quote:Symptoms:
 
The Sims* 2 game will not run.
 
Error: "Failed to find any DirectX 9.0c compatible graphics adapters in this system! Please make sure you have a DirectX 9.0c compatible graphics adapter and have installed the latest drivers provided by the manufacturer. The application will now terminate."
 
 
Solution:
 
The following steps can be used to eliminate or minimize the issue(s) reported with the game:
 
1. Set the display to 16-bit color. To make this change, follow these steps:
 
a. Click on the Start menu and select Settings, Control Panel, and then double-click on Display. If using Microsoft Windows* XP: Click on the Start menu and select Control Panel, "Switch to Classic View" if the category view is shown, and then double-click on Display.
 
b. Select the Settings tab.
 
c. Change the Color Quality (Color Depth) to 16-bit color.
 
2. Run the game with the -w switch which forces the game to run in a window. To add this switch, follow these steps:
 
a. Right-click on the The Sims 2 game and left-click on Properties. You can do this either on the game's shortcut on the desktop or on the game's entry in the Start menu.
 
b. Add a space and -w to the end of the Target field, so that it looks like this:
"C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2\TSBin\Sims2.exe" -w
 
Note: The actual path may vary depending on where the game was installed. Make sure that the -w goes outside the quotation marks and that there is a space between the last quotation mark and the -w.
 
c. Click OK.
 
 
This applies to:
Intel 82810 Graphics Controller
Intel 82815 Graphics Controller

there are 2 ways you can do this
my first choice would be this one:
go to this website: http://www.soft32.com/download-Windows_XP_Service_Pack_2-992-5.html
and download windows service pack 2
 
IF THAT DOESNT WORK/ YOU DONT HAVE WINDOWS
right click on the sims icon on ur desktop
click on the 'shortcut' tab
find the box that has a drop down and says normal in it
change it so that it says minimized
Run: [Minimized \/]
although this will make the game screen be significantly smaller, i dont care, as long as i get my sims!!!
 
those are solutions that worked for me and i really REALLY hope they work for you!

can someone please help me
i can download the first 2 cds without problems
but when i get to the the 3rd cd it freezes on 72% it says cant download something
i have NO idea wat to do anymore
sims2_helpneeded ;(