Cider Preferences Folder Mac / Clean Install

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@SunnySyde14 wrote:

So I believe I am going to have to uninstall reinstall sims along with every expansion pack.  Looking at the instructions online and making sure I can do all the steps there is a step in there which says to go to your library preferences and delete a folder entitled "cider preferences".  This folder is no where to be found, where is another location where this folder might be and should I be concerned that it is hidden or missing or for whatever reason they say I am supposed to have it but I dont.  My game works and all expansions work, just having some issues that it is causing my computer problems and need to do a clean install.  Also it says to save a copy of the saves folder, but does that save all my households I created as well, because some of my households are not in my games that I have playing, just in my library of households to pick from.  Same as my houses that I have built.  And last thing, when I reinstall the game do I need to just install sims 3, lauch it, patch, close, then install world adventures, launch it, patch, close, etc... doing that for all 20 expansions/stuff packs that I have? Or what would be the best way to install everything again?

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Hi

It's best to cleanly uninstall, then install the base game and patch it up to date, then install the expansions in publication order. See the next post for details and follow the links to yet more details.

Your Saves folder will only retain your saved games. To keep hold of the other things (houses etc) you may need to retain other files from within Documents/Electronic Arts/TheSims3

Caspin

1. Clean uninstall and reinstall

When you uninstall TS3 games on your Mac using the uninstaller, the game leaves behind stray files and isn't completely removed from your computer. These files may conflict with future installations. It is best to completely remove them. BluebellFlora's website provides a guide on how to do this:

http://bluebellflora.com/the-sims-3-on-a-mac/how-to-do-a-clean-uninstall-and-reinstall-on-a-mac/

After cleanly uninstalling, install the base game and patch it up to date. If you cannot update via the Launcher, download and apply the latest cumulative manual patch (called the superpatch) for Mac. Be sure to choose the right file - there are various 'regional' files for disc-users and one designated region 7 for Origin-users.

Check that your game works properly. Then install any EPs and SPs that you own, in order of release date.

2. Further information on the cumulative manual superpatch

Many simmers find that patching their game via the Game Updates tab of the Launcher does not work properly. It is then better to download and apply the manual superpatch. It is important to download the Mac version rather than the PC version, and to pick the right one for your region. Be aware that if you are using a disc you need to choose the correct 'regional' file but if you are using digital download through Origin then you should use the file designated 'region 7'.

Instructions and the links to the downloads can be found in the Mac section of the forums at thesims.com here:

http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/549552/official-ea-download-links-for-the-sims-3-cumulative-manual-update

If you use any mods or custom content, be sure to remove them before patching.

3. Using Origin to install games on Mac

Download and install the Origin client for Mac and make sure it is up-to-date. If you already have Origin on your Mac but are having problems with downloading or installing games, delete the client and download a new copy (this sometimes fixes issues with downloading). The latest version can be downloaded from here: http://www.dm.origin.com/mac/download

Additional advice on how to download games (thank you Tremayne for this tip):
When downloading from Origin, do NOT use the first install icon. Move your cursor over the game cover and click on the information (letter i) and then click on the install button from there. For some reason, downloads from Origin frequently become corrupted. Using the i reduces the chance of your download being corrupted. If you have already been unfortunate and have a corrupted download, then it is important to remove all traces of this before trying again, by doing a thorough, clean uninstallation first.

Are you running anti-virus software or any clean-up applications? If so, disable these, as they might be deleting files that Origin needs. A fast, stable internet connection will also help you.

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@SunnySyde14 wrote:
I do not have anti virus or any clean up applications. There really isn't any sketchy apps or anything. I have maybe 6 apps from the App Store, Adobe products, entire office suite and that's it. Sims is the only game I even play. It has some how caused issues with my ram over loading and not dumping any files not being used and causing cooling issues due to what Apple says is "leaking" from the code or corrupted files. I have every pack except sweat treats so it's a lot and I want to make sure that it is done right this time. That's why I mentioned that the instructions say delete cider preferences folder, but I do not have such a folder. I have everything else and have found all the other files and folders when the time comes to do it just not that one.

On the reinstall, when I just install the base game and run it for the first time it should automatically patch right? How do I know if I need to use the super patch instead at this point or is the super patch for after I install all ep and sp because the site says ep and sp will no longer have patches. So is there a need for doing each one at a time and running it then closing it then going to the next one etc.

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Hi

Yes, it's tricky to be sure of a clean uninstall. The preferences folder is usually hidden and you have to undertake certain steps to discover it. The link below explains how do this for most of the variants of the Mac operating system:

http://bluebellflora.com/how-to-do-a-clean-uninstall-and-reinstall-on-a-mac/

That's the best source of information I have regarding uninstalling all files.

Regarding the patching, once you have installed the base game you have two options. You can either try to patch it using the automated system (which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't - I have used it successfully every time, but a lot of people find that it fails) or you can proceed manually by using the downloadable superpatch. Either way, your aim is to get the base game patched to 1.67, then test the game works before adding expansions. If the automated patch fails to bring the game to 1.67 (check the lower left hand corner of the launcher for the patch number to determine this), then you can use the superpatch. Some small updates may then run as you add the expansions, but the main job will have been done.

There will always (unfortunately) be issues with RAM usage and memory leak with this game - it's just the way it was made. Once you have got everything installed and working again, see the tips below, which have kept my game in tip-top working condition on my iMac for years now. I can play all day with no issues as long as I save often and purge the RAM manually (it takes only about 3 seconds to do this, so it's not onerous and it really helps).

Good luck!

Caspin

Tips for Mac simmers

Unfortunately a lot of TS3 players encounter problems when playing the game on their Mac. These can include crashing and freezing. A lot of these issues can be avoided or at least improved by the following measures.

Firstly, manually reset your RAM while playing. See BluebellFlora's guide on how to do this: http://bluebellflora.com/the-sims-3-on-a-mac/resetting-ram-during-gameplay/

I restart my computer before I play TS3. Close down other things that are running in the background. The memory used as seen in Activity Monitor is at about 3GB after the restart. If I open the Launcher it goes up to around 11 GB (that's all I've done - just opened the Launcher!). At this point I reset the RAM. Then I hit play and get through the opening sequence. I then press cmd-return to put the game in windowed mode from time to time while playing (and always before saving or using CAS). That way I can keep an eye on the memory and reset RAM if necessary. Being in windowed mode also allows you to close the game using force quit if it freezes up - it's better to crash the game than your whole computer.

Second tip is to save frequently. I save at least once per sim day. Use the option to Save or Save As, rather than the combined Save and Quit.

Make sure you are patched up to date. The 1.63 patch included fixes for Mac simmers that did actually improve the stability of the game on our operating systems, so it is well worth updating to at least that level. The current patch is 1.67.

The game runs better if you switch off the memories system and disable the in-game Store and social features.

For general advice, information and tips on how to play TS3 on a Mac, read BluebellFlora's guide here: http://bluebellflora.com/how-to-play-the-sims-3-on-a-mac/