Re: Game does not load

by crinrict
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Original Post

Game does not load

★★★ Newbie

I just reinstalled the sims 3 with all my expansion packs. It did not open by bypassing the launcher and when I opened the launcher the launcher crashed. So I did the same thing again; reinstalling The Sims 3 with my expansion pack it did not work so I tried for a third time without my expansions but the same thing happened. These are the expansion packs I have:

The Sims 3 World Adventures

The Sims 3 Ambitions

The Sims 3 Generations

The Sims 3 Pets

The Sims 3 Showtime

Outdoor Living Stuff

Message 1 of 9 (356 Views)

Re: Game does not load

Hero

Do you get any error messages ? Are you using custom content or mods ?

 

My suggestion is to try this (reinstalling does not remove the user data most of the time)


Resetting the game to factory settings without reinstalling

Many problems can be pinpointed on custom content or corruption in your user data. There's an easy way to reset your game to factory settings without going through the ordeal of reinstalling the whole thing (Path can be different depending on your OS):

  • Make a backup of theSims3 folder in Documents\ElectronicArts to an external drive.
  • Rename your theSims3 folder in Documents\ElectronicArts to Sims3_Backup
  • Start the game or the launcher (All your save games will be gone, your options will be reset to factory settings and all your store content will be gone. Not to worry, it's all still there in that backup folder).
  • A new Sims3 folder will have been recreated in your documents\electronicArts folder. Some folders might be missing for they are only created when you need them.
  • Quit the game and the launcher
  • Move the options.ini file from your backup folder to your newly created folder in documents\electronicArts\thesims3 to recover your graphic/sounds/gameplay options
  • Go to programs(x86)\electronicarts\thesims3 and make sure you DO NOT have a mods folder there. If you do, move that to your desktop. Also make sure that there is no resource.cfg on that level (there will be on in your game\bin folder, don't delete that one).
  • Repeat above step for every expansion you have.
  • Start your game. You will need to start a new game for the other one is still missing right now.
  • See if your error is gone. If so, you can put starting the folders back, starting with your saves. Check your game after every folder.
  • This file UserPresets.package is all your custom styles you created in game, so you need to copy that one back as well.
  • The files PassportData.package and ChallengeData.package contain your SimPort and Achievements progress. Make sure to put back.
  • The folder Collections contains your collections. Make sure to put that back.
  • If you had a mods folder in your programs folder, don't put it back. Custom content does not go there any more.
  • If you find a mods folder in your documents folder, make sure you only put the stuff back that you know to be compatible
  • ALL custom content can potentially cause problems. If you found out which folder is causing problems, put your stuff back in groups or one by one until you find the guilty party.

Good Luck
Crin

Trennlinie

I don't work or have any association with EA. I give advice to the best of my knowledge and cannot be held responsible for any damage done to your computer/game.
Please only contact me via PM when asked to do so.



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Message 2 of 9 (355 Views)

Re: Game does not load

★★★ Newbie

Does not help and ps I don't use mods and I have not moved my folders back.

Message 3 of 9 (346 Views)

Re: Game does not load

Hero

Are your game and computer (java, .net, flash player, etc..) updated ? 

 

Do you get any error messages ?

Good Luck
Crin

Trennlinie

I don't work or have any association with EA. I give advice to the best of my knowledge and cannot be held responsible for any damage done to your computer/game.
Please only contact me via PM when asked to do so.



Important Threads


Message 4 of 9 (343 Views)

Re: Game does not load

★★★ Newbie

Everything is updated.

 

The only error message I get is when I open the launcher and it says Sims 3 has stopped working

Message 5 of 9 (339 Views)
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Re: Game does not load

Hero

Did you clean the registry after you've uninstalled ?

Good Luck
Crin

Trennlinie

I don't work or have any association with EA. I give advice to the best of my knowledge and cannot be held responsible for any damage done to your computer/game.
Please only contact me via PM when asked to do so.



Important Threads


Message 6 of 9 (335 Views)

Re: Game does not load

★★★ Newbie

What registry? How do I do that?

Message 7 of 9 (333 Views)

Re: Game does not load

[ Edited ]
Hero

This only applies if you have a PC

 

The registry is part of Windows where all your important info about installed programs are stored. When you uninstall programs, often stuff is left behind in there.

 

There are tools out there like revo uninstaller or ccleaner that help you clean out such entries. You can also do this manually as described here: https://help.ea.com/article/manually-uninstalling-the-sims-3

 

Make sure to backup your registry before trying cause if you delete the wrong entry it can cause your windows to malfunction.

 

Check if you have don't have any invalid entries, it might be worth to uninstall everything again, clean the registry so that no traces of the game are left and then reinstall.

Good Luck
Crin

Trennlinie

I don't work or have any association with EA. I give advice to the best of my knowledge and cannot be held responsible for any damage done to your computer/game.
Please only contact me via PM when asked to do so.



Important Threads


Message 8 of 9 (330 Views)

Re: Game does not load

★★ Novice

Hey,

Made you a video tuorial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJLnuVqcTOU

Message 9 of 9 (323 Views)