Can't Launch Sims 3 after Origin Update

[searamoon37]

So I've been playing Sims 3 (Late Night Expansion Pack)/Sims Supernatural for awhile now. Today, when I was getting on to Origin to play an update was made automatically. Since then, I cannot get the game to launch. I've tried launching it (using Origin and also bypassing Origin altogether) and everytime I get an error message that just reads "unknown error" or something like that. I tried resetting Origin, uninstalling, reinstalling, and re-downloading both Sims games. If anyone has any idea what could possibly be going on here your help would be most appreciated.

I am playing on an iMac that's running on Mountain Lion OS.

[yahel_1]

Hi @searamoon37

You can try Safe Mode https://support.apple.com/en-ie/HT201262 maybe helps to resolve your issue.

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My Opinion is no more important or right than yours.I'm a gamer like you, trying to help you (i'm not an EA employee).

If you want to know us or/and come up with ideas to improve the Origin platform or/and talk about anything and many more besides,you could also visit the NEW section Origin General Discussion http://answers.ea.com/t5/General-Discussion/bd-p/origin-general-discussion-en

[searamoon37]

Unfortunately, starting in safe mode did not fix the problem. I then tried the nest recommended thing for "incompatible log-in issues" and that didn't work either. I am at a loss.

[puzzlezaddict]

@searamoon37  Unknown error messages are to be expected when installing TS3 in the more recent versions of mac OS, although Mountain Lion is older than most of those issues.  What would be most helpful is if you could provide your mac's complete specs, as described in the following post, along with a list of the packs you would like to run.  Please also mention whether you'll be installing via Origin or disc.

https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-Mac/READ-FIRST-Sims-3-Mac-Help-Guides-and-Troubleshooting/m-p/475...

In the meantime, since you've already tried uninstalling and reinstalling, it's a good idea to do a clean uninstall before proceeding.  If you don't delete the hidden library files that get left behind, you may have trouble launching the game going forward.

https://bluebellflora.com/how-to-do-a-clean-uninstall-and-reinstall-on-a-mac/

[searamoon37]

Thanks so much for your reply. I don't think I'll be able to do a clean install/uninstall as it wouldn't let me last time. I had to just drag the games I had into the trash and delete them. I am on an iMac manufactured in late 2015. I was going to be re-installing them via Origin. Here are the tech specs for my computer. (Oh, and which files do I delete after manually deleting the games in order to be able to do a clean install? Thanks.

macOS High Sierra, version 10.13.6

Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5

Memory: 8 GB 1867 MHz DDR3

Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 6000 1536 MB

Serial Number: [deleted]  It's best to keep this information private -puzzlezaddict

[puzzlezaddict]

@searamoon37  The clean uninstall will work whether the uninstaller is cooperating or not—that's part of why the guide I linked was written.  But it is important to remove all the files listed before trying to reinstall.

Once you've uninstalled, reinstall the base game only and run the Super Patch.

https://bluebellflora.com/sims-3-manual-super-patch-for-mac-1-67/

With your model mac, you'll need to edit the game's .sgr files to force it to recognize your graphics card.  This is a bit complicated, but there's a guide for that as well (also written by Bluebellflora).  You'll need to find your mac model—I believe it's an imac 16,1 or a macbook air 7,1 or 7,2—on the list and then follow the instructions.

https://bluebellflora.com/fix-for-incompatible-graphics-for-the-sims-3-on-mac/

When you can get the base game launched, you'll probably get a connection error.  You can ignore this, if you want, and just install Late Night and Supernatural.  There are two more workarounds to apply, both simpler than the .sgr edits.  The first one is easy:  Create an alias for Late Night in Applications, if one doesn't already exist.

https://bluebellflora.com/sims-3-packs-not-showing-as-installed/

The second fix is to move some files from Late Night into the folder for Supernatural.  You can follow this video guide:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-Mac/CURRENT-ISSUE-Sims-3-Unknown-Error-in-El-Capitan-Sierra-High/...

If you have trouble with any of these steps, please feel free to ask for help.  Just describe what isn't working, and we'll walk you through it.

P.S.  I edited out the serial number in your post, since that's not the kind of thing you really want visible in a public forum.

Edit:  I'm moving this thread to the dedicated Sims/mac forum, so you can get help more specific to mac OS.  You should get another notification for the tag (sorry about that).

[searamoon37]

Okey. I tried creating a new administrative account on my iMac from late 2015 running on Sierra. I then tried launching The Sims base game on it (after superpatching it). Well, the game launcher window popped up, which is the furthest I've gotten with the game in days.......but my excitement was short-lived. I launched it and got an error message again. Also, shortly after creating and beginning to use the new Adminsistrator Account, my computer started behaving very oddly. It was running much more slowly than it should've had. Don't know exactly what happened. I ended up deleting the new account and uninstalling The Sims 3 Base Game and Origin. I am so frustrated with this. I'm wondering if I should just forgets about any of the Sim 3 games and move on to Sims 4. Would Sims 4 possibly work better on my iMac than the Sims 3 Games?

[puzzlezaddict]

@searamoon37  How much free storage do you have?  You can find out by clicking About This Mac as before, and then selecting the Storage tab.

Creating a new administrative account is a necessary workaround only when the clean uninstall doesn't work, or doesn't appear to work.  There's no reason you shouldn't be able to reinstall TS3 on your original account, provided it has admin rights as well.  A clean uninstall really isn't that difficult, as long as you follow the instructions.  You just need to find the files listed and trash them.  This works whether your uninstaller is cooperating or not.

https://bluebellflora.com/how-to-do-a-clean-uninstall-and-reinstall-on-a-mac/

There are two different errors you might be getting, given your description.  The unknown error with just the base game means that TS3 doesn't recognize your graphics card.  Again, with your model of computer, there's a guide to editing the .sgr files; all you have to do is find your model on the list and follow the instructions.  This fix has been confirmed to work by several users with your particular graphics card.

https://bluebellflora.com/fix-for-incompatible-graphics-for-the-sims-3-on-mac/

If you get a connection error instead—you press play and the plumbob icon shows up, but then the game hangs and gives you an error message—you can fix it with this workaround, also confirmed to work by a number of players:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-Mac/Sims-3-quot-There-is-a-problem-connecting-to-the-server-quot/...

Yes, this is kind of a lot, and it doesn't include the issues with installing certain packs (Ambitions, Late Night, Fast Lane, and Outdoor Living).  It also doesn't account for your relatively weak processor or your integrated graphics card.  TS4 doesn't need most of these workarounds—it will recognize your card and install rather easily.  But it also stresses underpowered hardware, more so with each pack.  You may for now be able to get decent play out of the game, depending on your graphics settings, but that probably won't always be true.  The demands of TS4 have already almost caught up with those of TS3, so it's likely that your computer will struggle with the newer game sooner or later.

Of course, you can always try out TS4, especially if you already own it, and decide for yourself.

[searamoon37]

Okay. I'm having trouble with the uninstall/reinstall for Sims 3. I'm right clicking on The Sims 3 folder and nothing is coming up saying "show contents". Could I get some guidance please? Thank you.

[puzzlezaddict]

@searamoon37  Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner.  You want to right-click on the green plumbob icon that's inside the Sims 3 folder in Applications.