@brokenbr4straps Use the Super Patch, which was released by EA for this exact purpose. You can find it here, under "Cumulative 1.67 Base Game Super Patcher":
In case you're wondering, you do NOT need to use Origin or the EA App, so if you have either and it tries to update Sims 3, cancel the update. An all-disc install still works fine.
@puzzlezaddict I've already tried that and nothing happens. I have no blockers on my laptop and everything else sims related downloads fine. Do you know if it could be due to my location? I am located in New Zealand and I am wondering now if maybe the patch only works for those located in the US? The version number my sims 3 currently has is 18.0.126.021001
@puzzlezaddict I get a message the the super patcher can not be securely downloaded. When was the last time you tried it? I tried Firefox, Chrome, and Edge.
add: btw there is no updates tab in the launcher.
The poster says he gets a message to update the game - the update page does not work AND you don't need it if you have a legitimate copy and an EA account. On the back of the jewel case it says to activate this game to an EA account (I just read it) and it says an online connection is required. If this poster can post to these forums that tells me he's online. So it's not a stretch to guess way he doesn't have an EA account and if he has an EA account then he can ACTIVATE THE GAME AND GET THE DOWNLOAD VERSION AND HE DOESN'T NEED THE PATCHES!
@brokenbr4straps If your cousin used the codes - the code can NOT be reentered. These codes are exactly what they are - activation codes. Once a code is entered into the system it can not be reused. The super patch should be worldwide. For some time now the patch page has not worked right. The one page says to use the updates tab in the game launcher - there is no updates tab in the game launcher. I tried the the 1.67 super patch and I get an error that the file can not be securely downloaded. I tried three different browsers and get the same message.The patch page is out of date. if you have a legitimate copy and is activated to your EA account, you don't need the disc. If you install this game from your account it will install the latest version. SafeDisc works on the principle that you need the latest released to market disc in the optical drive to play. But again this went away with the 1.69 patch. What you need is a legitimate activation code activated to a legitimate EA account.
@brokenbr4straps When you say nothing happens, do you mean that the Super Patch doesn't download, or it doesn't start? After downloading it, you actually need to run it, and probably to manually point it to the game or specifically to TS3W.exe. I had no problem downloading it just now, or at least starting the download; I didn't bother to let it finish. I'm also using Firefox, but the most important thing is to use a different browser than the one where you've set up blockers or anything else. This is the direct download link:
http://akamai.cdn.ea.com/eadownloads/u/f/sims/sims3/patches/TS3_1.67.2.0240xx_update.exe
It should work for any region—the xx at the end of the patch number is where the region would go, but this is supposed to be universal.
If it's necessary, I can download it and provide you a link; just let me know.
Since your packs were already registered, you won't be able to play through Origin or the EA App, at least not without access to the account that owns the packs. But that's fine, you can still patch the game and play using the discs. The only difference is that you won't have access to the few online features such as Simport and badges.
@roberta591 I try the link every once in a while just to make sure it works, but since you mentioned it, I tried just now, and the download started fine. I'm using Firefox. And really, no one needs to play through Origin or the EA App. The discs still work fine, and many of us would prefer not to depend on a game launcher for access to our games.
@puzzlezaddict I did get the 1.67 super patcher to download BUT I still got the "file not downloaded: Potential security risk" message. I had to change the security settings to get it to download. Also as I'm reading the back of the jewel case the Sims 3 disk came in "acceptance of end user license agreement required to play." It is known that if you never patched the base game not all expansion packs would work. And if you need a disk in the optical drive to play not many computers today have a way in internally install an optical drive. The three computers I just built to replace aging computers don't have drive bays for an optical drive. I still stand by my answer that the fastest and easiest way is to download and install for your EA account.
@puzzlezaddict Yeah, I tried that link already. But went ahead and tried again with all the possible browsers. It doesn’t even attempt to download, I even tried it on a different laptop that JUST had the sims 3 on it and literally nothing else and even that didn’t do anything. I’m very confused hahahaha
@brokenbr4straps I'm confused too, but maybe it's something about your ISP. If you'd like, I can upload the Super Patch to my Google Drive and link it for you. It's a large download at about 1.7 GB, but once you have it, it should patch your game in a few minutes.
And unfortunately, there's no other way for you to update the game since you can't register your discs. The launcher's attempts to update are often unsuccessful, as you've seen for yourself.
@brokenbr4straps When you look at the instructions on the page to download the graduated patches it says to download through the updates tab. The pc version of this game never had an updates tab in the launcher that I can recall. When you try to download the super 1.67 super patcher - the page wants to send it as a HTTP protocol. That is an unsecure protocol and nothing is checked. The accepted way is to send executable files is to use the HTTPS protocol. I normally use Nightly browser which is a Mozilla (Firefox) build. I also tried Chrome and Microsoft Edge. None of these allowed a HTTP file to download. The error message told me it was a browser issue blocking an executable file transfer using the HTTP protocol. I then changed settings to allow the transfer and the file downloaded. After all this I don't know if the game will automatically patch to version 1.69 like it's supposed to. I am unaware of any manual pc download of the 1.69 version patch. I will repeat - the least complicated and easiest way to install this game is through the EA app. One button to version 1.69. Mac users did not need Origin for The Sims 3 until the 64 bit version came out. Mac users were required to use Origin to download the 64 bit version through Origin. The rights to this game is owned by Electronic Arte. EA still supports this game so it is NOT public domain. Even when you purchase the game you do NOT own it - what you are paying for is a license to use the software under the EULA (end user license agreement). hth
