Re: Sims 3 wont open with origin at all anyomore

Maybe the window to still use origin was permanently closed just last week?

@BillFlowerpot It looks like EA has finally completely cut off pc users from using Origin. The bigger problem is the EA app is uninstalling store content AGAIN! So now you can't go back and you get hosed if you go forward. Mac users need Origin so Origin is still there because the EA app doesn't run on mac (yet?). You can reinstall Origin but Origin just redirects you to the EA app.

@vt102a It's been a while but I heard Origin was going away by Christmas. But the EA app does not run on macs (yet?). Haven't heard how that is going to end. 2 days ago the EA app was working great. Last night I launched the game and all my store items are uninstalled AGAIN! The work around was to still use Origin but that ship has sailed. Kind of looks like the mac users have the game all to themselves. I have spent more time trying to keep the game running then playing it. This is a busy time of the year for me and I can't keep putting hours into a game EA obviously doesn't want pc users to play.

For me the bigger problem is that my PC is too old to run the EA app...I just get a grey screen. (see pic)  So I literally have to buy a new computer just to run the program.

And I use sims3 for real world interior design, not just for fun...No joke.

Hi Thank you roberta591 for you response.  I have for some time been signing off line. When I clicked on the Sim3 logo shortcut it has opened opened Origin and I have had (See shot 01), as usual I selected the last option not to update and open in offline.  Moments after I got (See shot 02). I entered my Address and password, moments later I got (See shot 03). After some five minutes possibly longer there was no change.  As it stated in the little box that 'the mandatory update had gone live' I thought that there was no going forward until I did update.  To be continued because I have more shots

To continue:  I closed all windows and started again by clicking the Sims 3 shortcut.  When I had got (Shot 01) I opted for the middle one.  While the update was in progress I got (shot 04). Nothing out of the ordinary so fare, however, when the update was complete I got (shot 05). This is as described by simmer vt120a. Again I thought that there was no going forward until I did install the new app so I clicked to install.  The app installed without problem.  I took me some time to discover my library of games (it is under 'my profile' and not my library).  I was able to launch the game and open a saved game, however, non of my Custom Content was in the game. I quit the game without saving and re-opened launcher.  I clicked on the 'Installed Content' and it showed that my CCs where there.  I opened the Sims3 folder and had a look in folders DCCace & DCbackup Both were full of condense, as can be seen (Shot 06). To be continued.

To Continue:  I have read that it is possible to have both Origin and the AEapp installed at the same time so I thought that I would re-install Origin.  I clicked on a saved OriginThinSetup It started to install and told me that I needed the latest version, so I accepted to download same.  Upon trying to install origin, OriginSetupI got (Shot 07).  I was not able to install Origin.  The message stated that I need to be online while Origin was installing, however, the shot shows that I was connected and that I had a good signal.  This is most likely an internet problem and as edge is no longer being supported for windows 8.1, people like myself with older machines may not be able to re-install Origin at any time in the future..

I opened the Electronic Arts folder and re-named 'The Sims 3' I started the game by clicking the Sims 3 shortcut and got the new EA app. I Entered my data and selected 'The Sims 3' from my profile and was able to get the launcher.  All of my expansion and stuff pack where there no problem. I installed some Custom Content and when into a new game. The CCs had installed successfully.  I quit the game re-opened the launcher and installed the rest of my CCs.

I find that opening a folder with saved CCs in, highlighting them and pressing return works very well, After they have been installed DON'T close the installer, but select 'Installed Content' to keep an eye on the contents.  I then (While the installer is still open), highlight some more CCs and press return.  they won't list in the installer's window, however, you will see them being installed in the installed content window.  I find that this is much quicker than closing the installer which takes quite some time and quite some time to open again for the next bunch. Don't try to install too many items at one I set myself a limit of 10 items. I also periodically delete the contents of the Download folder in the Sims 3 folder.  This has worked for me on several occasions it may work for you.  This way I was able to install over 250 items including worlds and venues in under 3 hours.  Before I discovered this method it took me more than twice that amount of time.

@BillFlowerpot  You'll need to redownload and reinstall your store content; this is a known issue.  I'd suggest deleting everything in DCBackup and the .ebc and .ebc.tmp files in DCCache first, as they're now all just taking up space without being useful.  Since you're starting with a clean folder, this isn't necessary, but the point stands: the old .ebc files and the contents of DCBackup are now extraneous.

In case you're curious, the .ebc files are bundled store content, and the .tmp files are supposed to be deleted when the launcher finishes installing.  The files that end in .dbc correspond to custom content installed through the launcher.  The ccmerged.package file in DCBackup is necessary to make your premium store content work, but since you're reinstalling all your store stuff, you can delete it and let the game create a new one.  The other files in DCBackup are duplicates of the items you've installed through the launcher, and they have no purpose unless you upload creations to the Exchange and you use custom content in those creations and you want that cc to stick to your uploads.

Thank you Puzzlezaddict for you response.  It is nice to know that I have done the correct things. At the moment I am a HAPPY Simmer, but, for how long.  I can empathies with simmer vt120a when he states that he may have to buy a new computer, for I had to do the same when I wanted a new printer to send a printed document though the Royal Mail, as the new printers at that time would not work on XP.