core/activation.dll not found on sims 3 launch

Thank you thank you thank you!!!

I wish they made that thread easier to find, I tried at least four other things. This finally works.

Can't thank you enough but have a great new year!

@puzzlezaddict   First I stand by my statement that AIO (all in one) computers have limited upgrade potential. That computer was using a graphics chip integrated into the cpu chip. It has no true dedicated memory for frame buffer. A block of main memory is dedicated  for this purpose which reduces the amount of memory available to applications. Most AIO computers do not have the ability to add a graphics card. AIO computers usually have a non standard PSU (power supply unit) that is usually custom engineered for that model which would make replacement dependent on availability from the manufacturer. Direct X 9 was the last version that was a issued as a redistributable.package. Direct X 9 is backwards compatible to all previous versions of Direct X.  Direct X 10, 11, 12 are core components of the version of Windows it came with and Direct X 12 is backwards compatible to all version of Direct X. Direct X 9 is not a requirement to run Sims 3. Sims 3 runs quite well with Direct X 12 which is the version that comes with Windows 10. The bigger issue is The Sims 3 launcher requires .NET Framework 3.5 that comes with Windows 10 as a feature and by default is not activated. The user needs to go to the control panel and turn .NET Framework 3.5 on.

@roberta591  I believe you're referring to the person with the Inspiron, and not the other person in this thread who has a 9600KF and an RX 590, since you tagged that person twice.

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@roberta591 wrote:

@puzzlezaddict   First I stand by my statement that AIO (all in one) computers have limited upgrade potential.

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It doesn't matter if the computer in question doesn't need to be upgraded, as was my earlier point.  The hardware in question is more than powerful enough to run Sims 3 on ultra graphics settings.

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@roberta591 wrote:

That computer was using a graphics chip integrated into the cpu chip.

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No, that computer has a Ryzen 7 1700, which does not have an integrated graphics chip.  The graphics processing is handled by the RX 580.

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@roberta591 wrote:

It has no true dedicated memory for frame buffer. A block of main memory is dedicated  for this purpose which reduces the amount of memory available to applications.

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The RX 580 has its own built-in 8 GB of video memory.

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@roberta591 wrote:

Most AIO computers do not have the ability to add a graphics card. AIO computers usually have a non standard PSU (power supply unit) that is usually custom engineered for that model which would make replacement dependent on availability from the manufacturer.

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None of this matters when an AIO already has a graphics card.  AIOs are basically laptops in a modified form factor, and plenty of gaming laptops have dedicated cards.  They might be soldered to the motherboard, precluding any upgrades, but even a potentially cut-down AIO-level 580 is, as I've said, more than sufficient for Sims 3.  And the power supply will be sufficient for the existing hardware.

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@roberta591 wrote:

Direct X 9 is not a requirement to run Sims 3. Sims 3 runs quite well with Direct X 12 which is the version that comes with Windows 10.

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This is absolutely not true, and I don't know where this is coming from.  DX9 applications require DX9 to run; they can't use DX12 or any other newer version.

If you don't believe me, read the thread I've been linking: player after player has been unable to launch Sims 3, has manually installed DX9 and done nothing else, and has then been able to play.

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@roberta591 wrote:

The bigger issue is The Sims 3 launcher requires .NET Framework 3.5 that comes with Windows 10 as a feature and by default is not activated. The user needs to go to the control panel and turn .NET Framework 3.5 on.

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Installing Sims 3, or trying to launch it for the first time, will activate .NET Framerwork 3.5 if that hasn't already happened.  If you don't believe me, try clean-installing Windows 10 and then Sims 3: the last four times I've done it, I haven't needed to do anything with .NET 3.5.

In the four years I've been trying to help with Sims 3 issues, I can count on both hands the number of times activating .NET 3.5, or repairing it, or uninstalling and reinstalling it, has fixed a Sims 3 issue.  Some of the many players in the DX9 thread tried it first too, since I initially suggested it when I saw the error in their dxdiags.  However, that didn't help them, nor has it been necessary for any of the other players with that same error since it became apparent that DX9 was the issue.

@puzzlezaddict You are right - the AIO computer processor does not have integrated graphics so instead of the processor chip in this case they use the B550 chipset for graphics. The AMD B550 chipset finally got support for HDMI version 2.1. But it still does not support Ryzen processors. The result is basically the same as integrated graphics. You still can not upgrade the graphics in that computer. I didn't say that was a problem - I just mentioned upgrading is limited and I stand by that statement. DX 12 is a core component of Windows 10. Microsoft said it is backwards compatible  to all versions of Direct X. When you do a clean install of Windows 10 .NET Framework is not activated but included in the install. BTW Microsoft is advising you upgrade to .NET Framework 4.8 as support for version 4.5 will end in April. What is strange is support for version 3.5 won't end until 2028. Interesting - I JUST finished installing Windows 1o and .NET Framework 3.5 is NOT checked. What is also interesting is .NET Framework 4.8 is checked for WCF services by default. So again I stand by my statement that .NET Framework 3.5 IS included with Windows 10 but is NOT activated by default..

@roberta591  I did not say .NET 3.5 was activated by default, I said that installing Sims 3 or trying to launch it for the first time almost always activates it, that I haven't had to manually activate it before playing Sims 3 in the last four clean Windows 10 installs I've done, and that the number of Sims 3 issues solved by installing .NET 3.5 or otherwise addressing it is very low.

An AMD RX 580 is not an integrated chip, it's not part of any motherboard chipset or anything like that.  It's a standalone graphics card roughly on par with a GTX 1060 and about as old.  The computer of the user in question has a dedicated graphics card in the same way gaming laptops have dedicated graphics cards: the GPU might be soldered to the mainboard but is its own discrete unit with its own VRAM and the performance expected of a cut-down version of the desktop version of the same card.  This does not produce the same results as integrated graphics.

HDMI 2.1 has nothing to do with any of this since the AIO's monitor would be connected internally.  Besides, it's not connected to an iGPU, which this computer doesn't have, so the point would be moot anyway.

@puzzlezaddict I checked the service manual for that AIO and there IS NO graphics card in that computer. THERE IS NO PCIe x16 slot to plug one in. It doesn't matter. You can't replace it,upgrade it or anything else as it is part of the motherboard. If HDMI 2.1 then why doesn't the AMD chipset B500 series support it out of the box.There is NOW a flash for AMD motherboards. So if your building a system with an AMD 5000 series cpu be prepared to flash the motherboard. As I type this I have 2 - one Gigabyte and one ASUS and I had to flash both to recognize the 5600X AMD processor. Again - two Windows 10 installs and the 3.5 .NET Framework was not activated but the 4.8 was. At the very least it is worth checking when the report says Sims 3 launcher not working. I never said the AMD RX 580 was a bad gpu. Adain what I said upgrades are limited and by that I meant any upgrades..I have a NAS box with an unusual  PSU that took some doing to replace