I recently started having issues with my sims 3 games after installing the latest windows 11 update. Save files not saving and getting error 16 along with the save files getting straight up deleted or replaced with the .bad at the end of the save file name. This doesn't just happen to my larger save files, it occurs to every single new household I create. Then, finally, I saw a Tumblr post regarding Windows 11 update and Sims 3, and how they were also having similar issues with error codes 12 and 16.It's been more than 10 days and I can't recover to the previous version of windows, I'm at a loss here as to what I can do to play my game again. I would like some help or to get EA's notice with this error code occurring in their game since the latest windows update. Please, PLEASE help a fellow simmer out, or also add if anyone else is experiencing this error.

After doing a bit of...ehem....completely legitimate code searching my friend did through the latest patch to Windows, turns out certain games that use pretty old instruction sets were given support in the latest 22H2 patch with microsoft apparently telling no one, make sure EVERY .exe file is set NOT to run as admin and to NOT run compatibility mode and it SHOULD work.If that doesn't work, play around with the compatibility modes with the .exe until you manage to get it to work.In theory (Again, IN THEORY), Alder Lake and later CPUs should also no longer need the patch if they have Windows updated to 22H2 also, but that warrants testing to confirm and frankly, I'm burnt out on this as is (and don't have an applicable CPU to test this on) and am just glad that I got the game to work and seeing it surprisingly work better too.Edit: Played the game for several hours with no error 12 and 16 errors.Edit 2: Also make sure you have all the latest cumulative windows patches, this seems to help also.Edit 3: Sorry for so many edits, just as a reminder, may need to also have OneDrive uninstalled or disabled in addition to this too, there also seems to be a link there still as well.

Sometimes on Windows 11, you'll get error code 16 while trying to save your Sims 3 game. The only workaround is going into map view and letting the game run unpaused for a few seconds, then saving. Another workaround is setting TS3.exe and TS3W.exe files to Windows 8 compatibility mode. Is there a possibility that this will be fixed?

So I was looking on twitter to see if there were any fixes for this issue, and I think I finally found one that is working for my game!I've only played for about 30mins but saving multiple times worked!I swear this was something i tried too but now it's working so i'll take it!All I needed to do was change the sims 3 compatibility settings!So find where your sims 3 application is, right click, then click properties.Then you can click the compatibility tab and change it so it runs in a different windows verison!I tried windows 8 first but my game kept crashing, so now i'm trying windows 7.Fingers crossed!EDIT:I was able to play for a few hours, but then Error 16 reared it's ugly head again ;-;

Oh, I forgot about the venues, thank you!Yes, and maybe the size of the save also matters(?). I've now tried running a new save with store content and only the basic nraas mods for better performance. And it's playable. I get error 16 maybe 1 out of 3 times, but am able to save after a while.What was most interesting to me, though, is that my heavy save with everything installed/mods/cc/2:nd generation of sims, also became playable after I used Regul Save Cleaner on it again. I previously wrote about how I though it messed up my game and that some objects disappeared. Turns out that is just another bug I'm getting and it has nothing to do with the cleaning program. Sometimes my store content won't show up in the launcher (despite being installed and working fine last time I played). Might be the EA-app or something. I often get the error still, but I can save after a couple of attempts.@PandaLover1698 I'm glad you can play without any errors! Yes, I've tried windows 8 compatability mode, but I can't really tell any difference in how the game behaves on my end. But maybe I should try again and see now that my main save is smaller.

Hi everyone, i think the Windows 11 update KB5020044 fixed this issue (error code 16 at least). I played a bit and game saved normally, but i'm not sure yet. If someone want to test it the update is optional right now in Windows Update.Spoiler (Highlight to read)Maybe problem was caused by thisFrom Update page "It addresses an issue that affects the CopyFile function. It might sometimes return error 317: ERROR_MR_MID_NOT_FOUND."because error 16 is file copy error.Maybe problem was caused by thisFrom Update page "It addresses an issue that affects the CopyFile function. It might sometimes return error 317: ERROR_MR_MID_NOT_FOUND."because error 16 is file copy error.

Error code 16 after new windows 11 update.

102 Replies

rockstarxspark
3 years ago
I bought a new laptop a couple of weeks ago. I reinstalled the Sims 3 and expansion packs with no problem and was able to successfully move my previous game files/downloads over. When I go to save, I kept getting error code 16. This prevented me from saving my game unless I saved it under a new name; which I did. However, the error message continued to display every single time when I tried to save my game. So I scrapped my old game files and started with a brand new Sims 3 folder in my Documents thinking there was an issue with my previous game files/downloads. I am still getting this error. This is a brand new laptop that I am using so I know space is not an issue. I never had this problem on my old laptop. The only difference is the old laptop was a Windows 10 and 32GB ram, this current laptop is Windows 11 and 16GB ram. I read through the specifications needed to be able to play, and this laptop meets the minimum requirements, so why, even after using a brand new laptop on a clean game, am I still getting this error code???
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
3 years ago
@rockstarxspark Do you use a third-party antivirus, and if so, which one? If you only use Windows Defender, is Controlled Folder Access active? Is OneDrive active and syncing the contents of Documents?
not-gurim
New Traveler
3 years ago
@rockstarxspark if the win 11 version you're running on is 22H2, its likely just that... a windows issue, so either play on an older version, or wait for it to get fixed, hopefully?
rockstarxspark
3 years ago
@puzzlezaddict - I use a third-party antivirus - AVG, but it's the same antivirus I had on my previous laptop and the Sims isn't blocked or anything by AVG. OneDrive is not active, I made sure to disable that and nothing has synced to it either.
rockstarxspark
3 years ago
@not-gurim I just checked, and I am running on 22H2, someone else mentioned that it might be a windows issue since Windows 11 is so new and the Sims 3 hasn't had an update in years. I considered installing Windows 10 to see if that would fix the problem.
not-gurim
New Traveler
3 years ago
@rockstarxspark yeah, there's a blog dated around 4ish months back warning people about 22H2, there's users on steam sims 3 discussions asking to find a cause/fix for this error 16, happening in new save files... and sadly, i am also having it, which is the 2nd save error i've ever had in 10ish years of playing sims 3. win 10 is possibly the best route as it will be supported until october 2025. its also likely that this is a wider issue that affects 32bit games in general? who knows. hopefully it will get fixed...
rockstarxspark
3 years ago
@not-gurim Thanks for the help, and suggestions. I tried to get help directly through EA, but they were less than helpful lol. I'll probably go the Win 10 route then and hope for the best in 2025. I am trying to hang on to the sims 3 as long as I can lol
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
3 years ago
@rockstarxspark It's worth setting exceptions for Origin.exe and TS3.exe (Origin install) or TS3W.exe (disc or Steam install) just as a test. This guide is for Sims 4, but the principle is the same:

https://crinrict.com/blog/2020/10/add-exceptions-to-anti-virus-programs.html#avast

If that doesn't help, you can also try creating a new admin Windows account. Make it a local account, as in, don't tie it to a Microsoft account of any kind. @not-gurim I'd try the new account too if you haven't already gone back to Windows 10.
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
3 years ago
@mushroomsara Please try enabling Windows Defender's Controlled Folder Access, allowing Sims 3 as an exception, and disabling CFA again. If you play through Origin or the EA App, allow TS3.exe as well as Origin.exe or EADesktop.exe; if you have a disc or Steam install, allow TS3W.exe, with the W. This guide is for Sims 4, but the principle is the same:

https://crinrict.com/blog/2019/03/windows-10-defender-controlled-folder-access.html

If that doesn't help, please create a new admin Windows account and try playing in that. Make it a local account, as in, don't tie it to a Microsoft account.
ladyoverlord123
3 years ago
Ea is kind of dragging their tail on this one it looks as if they are trying to end sims 3 cant get any real solution to this error 16 problem from anyone