Forum Discussion

middinatr's avatar
2 years ago
Solved

Can't load Sims 3 launcher from EA app

Hi everyone.  I'm a sims 3 addict.  You all helped me with the Alder problem but now I have a new one which I'm hoping you can help me with.  On 2-13-24  when I tried to launch the Sims 3 from the EA launcher it forced me to update/install something.  Unfortunately I didn't write down what it was however now when ever I try to launch the Sims 3 from the EA launcher it just takes me right back to the EA launcher.  I'm so depressed I asked ea help but nothing they've suggested has worked.  Any ideas please.  Thank you so much.

  • @middinatr  The dxdiag shows an error that's usually related to .NET Framework 3.5, a runtime Sims 3 uses, but not always.  Please run a couple of basic checks of your Windows system files:

    • Hit Windows key-X
    • Choose either “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Windows Terminal (Administrator),” whichever option is offered
    • Inside the window that appears, copy and paste “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth” without quotes, and enter
    • The system will start validating soon. If it throws an error, please list it here
    • After it reaches 100%, hit Windows key-X again
    • Again, choose “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Windows Terminal (Administrator)”
    • Inside the window, copy and paste “sfc /scannow” without quotes, and enter
    • Post the message you receive here

    Restart your computer, hit Windows key-i, select Update & Security, and click the box to check for updates.  If any install, restart again afterwards.

    Next, uninstall and reinstall .NET 3.5.  Hit Windows key-R, enter "appwiz.cpl" without quotes, click "Turn Windows features on or off," and you'll see .NET 3.5 near the top of the list.  Click the filled-in box to uninstall, restart your computer, and repeat the process, this time clicking the now-empty box to reinstall.  Restart again before trying to play.

    Please also clear the EA App's cache:

    https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/faq/clear-cache-to-fix-problems-with-your-games/

    and repair the game: open your App game library, choose Sims 3, and select Manage > Repair.

    For now, use the Task Manager method to get Sims 3 running, that is if you get that far.  The Alder Lake patch is great but occasionally doesn't work, for reasons that aren't always obvious, so it's best to stick with the most reliable method until all other problems have been addressed.

    If the game still won't open, please look for new errors in the Reliability Monitor.  Hit Windows key-R and enter "perfmon /rel" without quotes, and you'll see a chart of errors and updates with a column for each day.  Today is on the right.

    Look for an error that happened at exactly the time of your most recent attempt to launch Sims 3, specifically after you've done the steps I listed.  If you find one, double-click it to see more details, then copy that info and paste it into a reply here.  If you don't see a new error, check back in an hour or so—the Reliability Monitor doesn't always update right away.

7 Replies

  • @middinatr  Reapply the Alder Lake patch.  The update likely repaired the game, which means it reverted the effect of the patch.

    If that doesn't help, please move the Sims 3 folder out of Documents > Electronic Arts and onto your desktop.  When you open the launcher, a clean folder will spawn with no content.  Your existing saves and other content will be intact but not available, which is exactly the point of the test.  Let me know whether the game launches, and of course let me know if you get an error when trying to move the folder, or it copies instead of moving.

    If it still won't open, please run a dxdiag and attach it to a post.

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

  • middinatr's avatar
    middinatr
    2 years ago

    I never ran the Alder lake patch.  I just do the change affinity thing where once you get the Sims 3 launcher you change the cpu to 1.  How do I do the Alder lake patch please and thank you soooo much for trying to help me.  It really means a lot

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    2 years ago

    @middinatr  The dxdiag shows an error that's usually related to .NET Framework 3.5, a runtime Sims 3 uses, but not always.  Please run a couple of basic checks of your Windows system files:

    • Hit Windows key-X
    • Choose either “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Windows Terminal (Administrator),” whichever option is offered
    • Inside the window that appears, copy and paste “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth” without quotes, and enter
    • The system will start validating soon. If it throws an error, please list it here
    • After it reaches 100%, hit Windows key-X again
    • Again, choose “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Windows Terminal (Administrator)”
    • Inside the window, copy and paste “sfc /scannow” without quotes, and enter
    • Post the message you receive here

    Restart your computer, hit Windows key-i, select Update & Security, and click the box to check for updates.  If any install, restart again afterwards.

    Next, uninstall and reinstall .NET 3.5.  Hit Windows key-R, enter "appwiz.cpl" without quotes, click "Turn Windows features on or off," and you'll see .NET 3.5 near the top of the list.  Click the filled-in box to uninstall, restart your computer, and repeat the process, this time clicking the now-empty box to reinstall.  Restart again before trying to play.

    Please also clear the EA App's cache:

    https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/faq/clear-cache-to-fix-problems-with-your-games/

    and repair the game: open your App game library, choose Sims 3, and select Manage > Repair.

    For now, use the Task Manager method to get Sims 3 running, that is if you get that far.  The Alder Lake patch is great but occasionally doesn't work, for reasons that aren't always obvious, so it's best to stick with the most reliable method until all other problems have been addressed.

    If the game still won't open, please look for new errors in the Reliability Monitor.  Hit Windows key-R and enter "perfmon /rel" without quotes, and you'll see a chart of errors and updates with a column for each day.  Today is on the right.

    Look for an error that happened at exactly the time of your most recent attempt to launch Sims 3, specifically after you've done the steps I listed.  If you find one, double-click it to see more details, then copy that info and paste it into a reply here.  If you don't see a new error, check back in an hour or so—the Reliability Monitor doesn't always update right away.

  • middinatr's avatar
    middinatr
    2 years ago

    I tried the Sfc/scannow and it said "resource Protection could not start the repair service

  • You are awesome.  I uninstalled and reinstalled .net 3.5 and it is working now.  I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your time and patience and help.  I seriously hope you are having a wonderful life because you deserve only good things.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.