ALL Sims 3 families are gone!!

[MyNameIsTay]

Hello! So I started my Sims 3 games today and everything started up perfectly fine and normal. Once it got to the menu I noticed NONE of my families were there (I had about 8 of them). All of my expansion packs were there and all that. I then updated my game thinking it was a glitch. I got back on and my families were still gone. I played this game 2 days ago and saved it and everything was fine! Is there any way I can get my saved games back? Thanks!

[MissPlaying]

Are there folders in Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Saves?

If there are, are there files with .backup?
Delete/move the original save file, and remove .backup from the other files
Start up your game and see if that works

If there are no documents in that folder, then your save games have been deleted somehow, try checking your recycle bin but otherwise they're lost

[rumbutter]

you might be able to find them searching the computer

edit to add see crins blog post here about that http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2011/09/error-saves-are-gone-options-are-reset.html