downloading sims 3 expansion packs via dvd with digital base game

@kettuplaysgames  There are two good options here.  One is to register the packs, if you can, in the EA App, then download everything through the App.  That gets around any issues with the install process or the patch level.  You would of course need to have unused product keys to register, or have the packs in your account already.

The other option is to install everything via disc, but in release order: base game, World Adventures, Pets, Supernatural.  If you want to go this route, please uninstall the game with Revo Uninstaller (the free version is fine) to remove hidden files and registry entries.  When installing each pack, you should be able to select the main Sims 3 folder, as in, the file path should be [install location] > The Sims 3 > [pack folder].

Once you've done that, run the Super Patch to manually patch to 1.67.  Don't rely on the launcher to patch for you, in fact it would be best not to allow the launcher to patch at all.  Here's a link to the Super Patch:

http://akamai.cdn.ea.com/eadownloads/u/f/sims/sims3/patches/TS3_1.67.2.0240xx_update.exe

Your browser may flag it as potentially dangerous because the address starts with http rather than https, but as you can see from the link itself, it points directly to EA servers and is therefore perfectly safe.

I bought the expansion packs secondhand so installing them through EA doesn't work. 

I attempted to install them the second way, but when i went to install world adventures after base game had finished, it said the base game wasn't installed correctly. During installation it didn't ask for a key so i think maybe that's why, but i have no clue how i would fix this. 

@kettuplaysgames  Try running the Super Patch after installing the base game.  And let me know exactly where you installed the base game, as in, the path to the Sims 3 folder.

Running the super patch seemed to fix it! 

the path for it is D:\the sims 3

i have it downloading on a USB drive.

I successfully downloaded world adventures and am now trying ambitions as thats the next one i own in order. 

I do wonder, I have two expansion packs digitally, university life and generations. would there be any way to install those?

@kettuplaysgames  You could try patching the game in the EA App, which should detect your base game install, and then download the packs you own digitally.  But I'm not sure that would work, and furthermore, you'd likely lose access to the packs you own secondhand.  The App tends to block any packs that it thinks you don't own even if you successfully installed via disc.

There's no harm in trying though; if it doesn't work, start over.