Forum Discussion

3 years ago

Solved

After installing the EA app I can't get TS3 to launch at all

Tried to start the Sims today, I have played it on this computer before, but it told me I needed to install the EA App instead of Origin so I did. I hit play and it opens the launcher, I hit play there and the screen goes dark like it's about to start but then bounces back to the EA App. Literally nothing has changed on my computer besides the Origin -> EA app change. This is a pretty powerful and new Alienware desktop computer it's never had trouble it the past it HAS to just be this app.

I don't understand, I own everything on discs which are all installed on my computer, why won't it work? Why do I even NEED this stupid app? Am I seriously not going to be able to play this game anymore because I have to be connected to the EA app that doesn't work?

Please someone help I'm gonna be so upset if there's no way for me to play anymore.

technical issues

puzzlezaddict
3 years ago
@powderjr There's no way to scan the folder, at least not for the kind of problem that would prevent the game from starting. But please do check for NRaas Cupcake and remove it if you haven't installed the store bakery set (or it's not loading properly). If you have the MC Progression module, you need both the base MasterController and StoryProgression modules or else the game will crash on loading.

You don't need to test the mods one at a time though. The 50/50 method is much faster:

https://modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Finding_Problem_Custom_Content#The_50.25_Method

5 Replies

puzzlezaddict
Hero+
3 years ago
@powderjr As a test, please try playing in a clean user folder. Move the entire Sims 3 folder out of Documents > Electronic Arts and onto your desktop, and when you open the launcher, a new folder will spawn with no content. Don't add anything to this folder yet; just see whether you can get far enough to start a new save, and we can go from there.

If the game doesn't open even in the clean folder, please run a dxdiag and attach it to a post.

https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/pc/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information/

@roberta591 The original poster mentioned they installed via discs and are now using the EA App, so this is by definition not a Steam install.
powderjr
3 years ago
@puzzlezaddict hello, thank you!! The first suggestion worked so far, I was able to open the game and fully start a new save! What next?
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
3 years ago
@powderjr You can start moving your content from the old Sims 3 folder to the new one. Store stuff needs to be installed fresh; saves should be fine; mods could easily cause this problem, so test them first. Where the game has created a new file or folder, it's best to leave that in place, and in the case of a folder, just move over the files you want to keep rather than the entire folder.

If you need more specific help with this process, just ask.
powderjr
3 years ago
@puzzlezaddict So after moving everything back over I've spotted that the issue is definitely within my mods folder, there is a lot in there though. Is there anyway to scan for the problem files or am I going to have to move them into the folder one-by-one, and then open the game each time to what the issue is?
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
3 years ago
@powderjr There's no way to scan the folder, at least not for the kind of problem that would prevent the game from starting. But please do check for NRaas Cupcake and remove it if you haven't installed the store bakery set (or it's not loading properly). If you have the MC Progression module, you need both the base MasterController and StoryProgression modules or else the game will crash on loading.

You don't need to test the mods one at a time though. The 50/50 method is much faster:

https://modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Finding_Problem_Custom_Content#The_50.25_Method