[HOW TO] Fix problem when Sims 3 or 4 won't reinstall [ Edited ]

[Simsalot99]

After losing both Sims 3 and 4 due to trying to reinstall them and seeing many people had the same problem over the years and never got a solution I thought I should pass the solution on.

I attempted to move my Sims 3 and 4 folders to relocate them to a different drive, and chaos ensued. I followed every manual uninstall, got on the phone with EA, live chat, scoured the internet, edited my registry, got cc cleaner and revo uninstaller, only to find no solution. Over and over, day after day, the same issue, no matter how much I deleted, downloaded, or reinstalled Origin, followed directions and manually fussed.

Origin will prompt that the game can be installed, but clicking the install button will not work, and the process gets as far as that. Infinite install button clicking.

The solution is to make hidden files visible, go to "Program Files (x86)" then "Common Files" the "EAInstaller" Inside the "EAInstaller" folder you will see "Sims 3" and "Sims 4" folders, depending on your game. Delete these folders and your game will install as it should once again.

Someone, anyone, on planet Earth, please add this do the manual uninstall pages EA has for Sims 3 and 4 so no one ever has to go through this again.

I uninstalled Origin and reinstalled it after deleting these folders. Unknown if this is necessary as I did not try. I suspect not, but it is the course I took in case any one else tries.

[Simsalot99 · Accepted solution]

The game implies it is installed by the progress bar at the bottom of Origin.  However, the orange install button you use when you hover over the game remains "install" forever, and the game is never really installed or playable..  You never get a "play" button.  Always an "install" button.  No amount of deleting or re-downloading fixed the problem.  These folders remained, even after using software to clean things up, and made the game uninstallable.    

[crinrict]

HI @Simsalot99

thanks for this info.

Is this the error where the install buttons instantly goes back to saying it's installed after you press it ?

[Simsalot99 · Accepted solution]

The game implies it is installed by the progress bar at the bottom of Origin.  However, the orange install button you use when you hover over the game remains "install" forever, and the game is never really installed or playable..  You never get a "play" button.  Always an "install" button.  No amount of deleting or re-downloading fixed the problem.  These folders remained, even after using software to clean things up, and made the game uninstallable.    

[crinrict]

Great.

Thanks for posting :D

I'm going to accept your second post as solution to highlight the thread.

Also making sure your thread gets added to the index