Common Problem for "Expansion Pack Data". [SOLVED]
I've recently had an error with a custom town for two of my sim families, I've saved a copy of my entire sims 3 folder and made duplicates for my tests and corrupted saves to post onto desktop, but after I copy and replace my .nbh and package files from the corrupted file into a saved test file, all I've managed to get as a positive result is my sims household icon and their residential lot (for one of my households).
After that, I'm lost and don't know what to do. I didn't make a constant backup folder of them. All I have is their most recent save, which is corrupt, and some sims I salvaged from exporting.
The reason, I think being was a possible random world deletion from my game after I was in the process of saving an unrelated sim file, while trying to clean my cache files (I know, not the smartest move). Outside of gameplay, when I tried building a different lot, my game would lag (I cleaned them prior to playing), so I figured I'd do that to help it run smoother. I've probably did this before with no problem, then that's when I noticed greyed out saves and that I couldn't see my custom world (lesson learned).
Anyways, I've tried methods involving these: https://modthesims.info/t/513635
https://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=579710
https://modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Restoring_Backup_Saves#Restoring_a_disabled_save
But, I can't figure out what I'm missing here. Perhaps I'm just slow and overthinking, but I've tried taking files from my corrupted file to my test saves, then tried the travelling method (involving the mod or not), but either nothing would change or I'd get the "restart application" error, if the family icon is an empty cut-out piece. My current corrupted file I can see, it's just that the residential icon and the checkmark is greyed with the "cannot load saved game, expansion pack data" bullsh*t.
@omgyamisocringe I realize that you may have done some of the suggestions below already, but please try them in order, one at a time, just to be totally thorough. Sometimes combining steps or adding or removing the wrong content at the wrong time can have unforseen side effects.
Please also try all of this while your computer is offline. If you play through Origin, you can sign in and put it in offline mode, then disable wifi and/or disconnect the ethernet cable before launching the game.
Please start over with a completely clean Sims 3 user folder. Move the one currently in Documents\Electronic Arts to your desktop, open the launcher to spawn a clean folder, download and install a new copy of the custom world your save takes place in, and see whether it loads properly. While you're at it, make sure all your installed expansion and stuff packs are loading too; the easiest way is to go into Buy mode and check the pack filters.
If all your content is in place, move a copy of your corrupt save into Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Saves. (You may need to create the Saves folder, but create it rather than copying it over.) Don't add any other content, at least not yet. Delete the five cache files in your user folder:
- CASPartCache.package
- compositorCache.package
- scriptCache.package
- simCompositorCache.package
- socialCache.package
Let me know whether the save loads. If it does, great; if it doesn't, please post the exact error message you get.
If the save does not load, delete the cache files again, as well as anything in the CurrentGame folder. Load a new save in the same custom world, save your progress, and quit. Then go into the Saves folder, remove the .nhd file from the new save, and copy over the .nhd file from the old save. Don't move over anything else. Again, see whether it will load.
