Yeah, I have been having the exact same problem.
I did all the ""fixes"" and nothing worked.
I can download the base game perfectly, but every expansion comes up with that "Something went wrong" error. Except for Pets. That just stays on preparing and doesn't move.
@Sintodo @Gunter7777 and @58fb8c0867a71f82 Please uninstall Sims 3 using Revo Uninstaller (the free version is fine). If you have any user content—saves, mods, whatever—you'd like to preserve, first go into Documents > Electronic Arts and rename the Sims 3 folder to something that doesn't include "Sims 3," so Revo won't flag it. Then use Revo to uninstall Sims 3, and uninstall the EA App with Revo as well.
Restart your computer and create a new folder on the root level of the drive of your choice. For example, C:\Games is fine, but not C:\Program Files\Games. Reinstall the EA App, and when installing Sims 3, choose this new folder. Let me know whether the packs install too, and if not, what error you get. If any packs don't install, please also create an EA App error report, as described below, and post the report ID here.
https://help.ea.com/en/help/ea/ea-app/run-ea-error-report/
If you use a third-party antivirus, disable it before reinstalling the EA App, and don't reenable it until after you've installed and launched Sims 3 at least once. As long as you don't do anything else at the same time, your computer should be safe.
@Simlistic If you want to try the above as well, please let me know how it goes, and post an error report ID as well.
@puzzlezaddict I tried everything you stated, but no succes.
The base game installs fine, but then after that when I want to install the DLC the samen error occurs everytime.
I made a report. This is the report ID: 4db7dae1-0aed-4f68-8d1e-006e2f2f89f8
It s*cks.. I had the CDs and tried with them for the install. Not working.
I even tried to reinstall origin, and off course not working LOL.
I didn't have the Pet one from the app, only in Cd's so I just brought it, but it does the same thing. For every single one of them.
I tried everything as listed on your message. it is not working.
I opened a case with them. They told me to uninstall and reinstall the game but without luck; it's not working.
they also told me to try to download the DLC from my purchase history on Sims 3 website, but they are not even there.
Not sure what to do next.
Still the same.
"Something went wrong" error for all the add-ons, except Pets, which gives me a preparing but never does anything. The base game downloads just fine, though.
error report id
7f33678e-8f9b-45e1-b6b6-eafcdb35232a
I contacted EA, but they are not really helping. I've talked to 5 different agents for the same issues. Them asking the same questions or asking me to do the same thing I did several times without any lucks. It's frustrating.
@puzzlezaddictBonjour , excuse me if you have trouble understanding (I'm French) I did what you said but it didn't work for me either. I only have the base game and the same error occurs with each dlc. I can't wait for a fix so that we can play the old game. I've filed a report in France:
a0e67efb-dc14-448b-b382-a02e489401d3
I have the same problem. I followed the steps. The base game installed normally like before but when I clicked download on the first add on (University), I got the same error. "something went wrong try again later"
I tried the suggested steps here, as well as similar steps that had been recommended in another thread. The base game will install fine, but all the packs say "queued", except Pets which says "downloading" but then comes up with the "Something went wrong" message. My error report ID is b3a0ef82-1a1b-4ac0-afae-46d39abffbf3. I've also contacted the EA help desk and they gave me basically the same message everyone else is saying, along the lines of "we are aware of the issue, others have also reported this, please allow us some time to fix this" but time continues to march onwards and I am still without the sims 3 💔
I just followed all of your instructions to the letter including using the scan feature for any leftover game files but after reinstalling the EA app and d/ling Sims 3 to the new c:/games file I got the same Something Went Wrong error as soon as the main file finished and the first addon tried to d/l. I've been sending EA messages about this problem all week and have yet to get a fix or reply
I've done everything you suggested, carefully, 3 times. Yesterday, I even tried to use my old discs and that was FUBAR. Why does this sound like EA doesn't give a squat about a 14-year-old program when they can keep raking in the cash on the new stuff? Is it just not 'worth their time' ?? Sims 4 is just boring. It's hollow and pointless. Yes, I filed a report but I have a feeling that it's falling on deaf ears.
Thanks for trying to assist all of us struggling with EA!
First Report ID : f8aca876-20f4-4183-8f15-c6d5236b308a (submitted before I read your steps a couple days ago, EA won't let me add additional files to my case so I created a 2nd one)
2nd Report ID: 60da7d02-02a3-4d65-8c49-c52f25fc2daf (submitted after following your steps, and running the EA app as admin - EA desktop file).
i've tried this method through revo uninstaller and unfortunately it's still running into the same issue. obviously ea & the sims maxis team can't do much anymore for this retired game and it's sad seeing mentioned throughout the thread that some longtime players are having to buy the games again for the dlc packs to install properly.
i do have both disc copies as well as a few digital dlc conversions i bought through origin when the same thing was happening to me a few years ago back on origin. fortunately, at the time i did have a very helpful customer service helper from EA to help me with my university expansion pack not downloading previously, just wish the team would still be just as reliable when those life long simmers still play the older games here and there and want to experience the fun with the added content.
i hope someone on here or in EA land can finally help us simmers with a solution to this problem as it looks like it's only occured as of the ea app switch this year
I tried all of this and it didn't work for me either 😭
This worked! I had to do it 3 times for it to work, but it worked. I probably did something wrong the first 2 times.
@puzzlezaddict wrote:@Sintodo@Gunter7777and @58fb8c0867a71f82 Please uninstall Sims 3 using Revo Uninstaller (the free version is fine). If you have any user content—saves, mods, whatever—you'd like to preserve, first go into Documents > Electronic Arts and rename the Sims 3 folder to something that doesn't include "Sims 3," so Revo won't flag it. Then use Revo to uninstall Sims 3, and uninstall the EA App with Revo as well.
Restart your computer and create a new folder on the root level of the drive of your choice. For example, C:\Games is fine, but not C:\Program Files\Games. Reinstall the EA App, and when installing Sims 3, choose this new folder. Let me know whether the packs install too, and if not, what error you get. If any packs don't install, please also create an EA App error report, as described below, and post the report ID here.
https://help.ea.com/en/help/ea/ea-app/run-ea-error-report/
If you use a third-party antivirus, disable it before reinstalling the EA App, and don't reenable it until after you've installed and launched Sims 3 at least once. As long as you don't do anything else at the same time, your computer should be safe.
@Simlistic If you want to try the above as well, please let me know how it goes, and post an error report ID as well.
Now I have a new problem. The game opens to the sims 3 launcher and quits when I try to start the actual game. :/
***EDIT*** After noticing some posts that people who repurchased the base game were able to download everything, I'd like to add this:
I accidentally purchased The Sims™ 3 Starter Pack (which contains the base game) because of a mis-click. Had to ask for a refund. This is relevant, because I successfully downloaded everything *after* this purchase, in fact, I think it was the same day. So maybe my download success had to do with this instead of what I stated above. Regardless, the game is fully downloaded but I still can't play it.
this helped me thank you so much
@puzzlezaddict I can't believe I'm finally saying this, but...it actually worked!!! I have all my packs!!!
For some extra info, I had just done a factory reset on my laptop, then re-installed the EA app immediately after I'd re-installed Chrome.
I created a new folder in the C:// drive and just named it TheSims3, set EA app to download the game to that folder, and bam...everything went like a dream! I'm so excited, especially after waiting so long!
Thanks for all your suggestions and advice on this issue @puzzlezaddict, it's all been very much appreciated!
And I wish all my fellow Sims 3-ers luck in having it fixed as well!
Hi! I tried puzzleaddict's solution and it still doesn't work ☹️ I have made an EA report: 2e7445bf-cd69-4d6c-8c27-70a88421271f - please help as I bought an entirely new PC just so I could play the Sims 3 ☹️( (I also have a lot of EPs to download so it's going to suck if I have to buy the whole bundle on steam instead... but would that even work?)
@EA any word on a fix? It’s been yet another week
I tried all of this (like three times now) and it still won't work. I was just downloading games onto my new computer, and everything has been fine except for Sims 3. I even tried moving the folders from my old pc to my new one. I thought I could use origin to help me install the sims 3 DLC, but tat stupid ea app popup blocks me for even trying! I am at my wit's end--I might just try to buy the .99 cent ea play subscription, but i'm definitely not happy about it. I don't even get an error message anymore, it just tells me to retry and reach out to ea for help. Which I have already done several times now :/
@FujoshiRanger wrote:I tried all of this (like three times now) and it still won't work. I was just downloading games onto my new computer, and everything has been fine except for Sims 3. I even tried moving the folders from my old pc to my new one. I thought I could use origin to help me install the sims 3 DLC, but tat stupid ea app popup blocks me for even trying! I am at my wit's end--I might just try to buy the .99 cent ea play subscription, but i'm definitely not happy about it. I don't even get an error message anymore, it just tells me to retry and reach out to ea for help. Which I have already done several times now :/
You don’t need to install with EA or Origin if you do it that way! simply open the file folders on your new computer and open the installer.exe file. I had success with that and now EA recognizes that I have them installed. I believe I detailed this method on page 54 or 53
I follow what you wrote but sims 3 base game is downloaded but the add- ons ( all of them) turn it still downloading and nothing happen. It not catching on at all. It still pause game on all the addons and When I push resume button and say "something is wrong. Try." Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
