@mw1525 Does this also happen in a clean user folder? I ask because my Steam install is thus far unaffected by any changes to the Store that came with the EA App. The only issue I run into is when I forget to unblock the game from writing to the FeaturedItems folder, which causes the installer to hang and corrupts most of my already-installed Store content.
@mw1525My guess is your problem has to do with DRM and a couple of side issues. As I'm guessing I will not go into detail. Version 1.69 of the Sims 3 game runs under Windows 11. The problem here is your not running the game as prescribed by the publisher. You do not own this software. What you paid for is a license to use the software. Please read the EULA. The DRM has changed since this games release. I'm not going to bore you with the history. With a new version on the horizon this may have something to do with recent changes (one of my guesses). There have been several store patches that may solve your issue. The EA app installs the game differently then Origin. What worked under Origin may (or may not) work under the EA app. If this is a DRM issue then I don't think EA support is going to be much help. They probably don't know and even if they did they probably won't tell you. I once had a conversation with Will Wright about the DRM used in SimCity. Long time ago I belonged to a computer user group. If there was new software you can bet that before the end of the meeting everyone had a copy of it. The basic reason I don't run the game the way you do is that the disc version installs SecuROM which is a rootkit. It's not easy to get rid of and it is not longer supported by Microsoft or Apple. I now have the game installedthe way EA wants users to run the game and it works. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Good luck with your issue.
@mw1525 I'm not sure what's going on here, but one question I have is whether your whole computer is offline when you try to install content, and if so, whether it helps to be online. And just to clarify, do you even have Origin or the EA App installed on this computer, or not? You shouldn't need to; I'd just like to know in case there turns out to be a pattern with other users.
@roberta591 - I feel you may be correct on two points:
1- This is a DRM issue and,
2- I am not playing the game in the way EA currently wants me to play (through their app).
However, as far as I know this game has not been listed as 'retired' on their official site. Nor have I seen or heard any official mention that the disc version of the game (v167) is currently unsupported. Not once has EA made a statement to its disc players to re-install the game to digital because updates or fixes would ONLY be given to 'digital' version of the game. Until they officially announce this, I can only assume support for my version of the game is still supported. After all, their servers allowed me to download my content, it didn't stop me because I wasn't on patch v1.70.
@puzzlezaddict - Yes, I install content when not connected to the internet. I don't like things being slid onto my PC from EA when I am online.
No. I do not and never had either Origin or The EA app installed on my PC. This is why I do not understand the recoding of my launcher to not install my content not even from back-ups made nearly 10 years ago.
And just to add, I installed this game offline. I declined the download manager. I updated to v1.67 via the super-patch. All store content which is currently installed was installed from my back-up files and not from a fresh download. The Sims have been installed on this PC since mid-2021 with no issues....until now.
Hi @mw1525
I also have the original disc version of Sims 3 purchased as they were made available between 2009-2013. I made a backup of my store content back in 2016 and am able to install and use them without any issues. I did have some store content that had dates of 2010, that install just fine as well.
I installed my backed up store content into a new Sims 3 folder, about 20 at a time at most depending on what I was installing. World files I installed 1 or 2 a time.
If you haven't, try deleting browser data via Edge, specifically for Internet Explorer.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/view-and-delete-browser-history-in-microsoft-edge-00cf7943-a9e1-975a-a33d-ac10ce454ca4
You mentioned you've tried the usual troubleshooting steps, but didn't mention which ones you've tried other than installing into a new Sims 3 folder. This is why I am suggesting deleting browser data. The Sims 3 Launcher uses IE parts of IE to do it's thing.
If you would like, I can try to help you troubleshoot some more?
I also downloaded some store content recently, like within the last few days as part of my store content test. I took notes as I did my test:
– 2009-2013 - Original Disc based version updated to 1.67 via the Superpatch.
– Reinstalled the game Summer 2021.
– No ties to Origin/EA App.
– Can download store content via the Sims 3 store website,. (https://store.thesims3.com/) into new Sims 3 folder, using Firefox.
– Needed to make sure to allow the store to open Sims3 links. It will open the launcher and start downloading the .Sims3Pack file(s).
– Files will show as brown boxes until they are fully downloaded. After downloaded they show their thumbnails.
– Cleared browser data including IE data after done downloading store files. Used Ccleaner before installing.
– Installed files while online. But logged out of the launcher/game.
– Files install and items show in the Installed Content tab.
– Ccmerged.package in DCBackup. Deleted the rest.
– Installed 8 files in total and have 1 dcdb0.ebc cache file and dcc.ent in my DCCache folder.
– Barnacle Bay and Hidden Springs show up in Installed Worlds and show on the New Game drop down list.
– Got a couple of venue lots in the Library folder. (Green House and Daycare Center) and show in-game community lots tab.
– Items show in Build/Buy mode.
List of Venues, Sets and Worlds -
Tiny Prodigies Early Learning Center (Venue) - TinyProdigiesEarlyLearningCenterSET.sims3Pack
https://store.thesims3.com/setsProductDetails.html?scategoryId=13570&productId=OFB-SIM3:61770
Stones Throw Greenhouse (Venue) - GreenhouseSet.Sims3Pack
https://store.thesims3.com/setsProductDetails.html?scategoryId=13570&productId=OFB-SIM3:58192
Brunch at the Old Mill (Set) - MillSet.Sims3Pack
https://store.thesims3.com/setsProductDetails.html?productId=OFB-SIM3:72837&categoryId=11488
Bohemian Garden (Set) - BohemianGardenSet.Sims3Pack
https://store.thesims3.com/setsProductDetails.html?productId=OFB-SIM3:72093&categoryId=11488
Blast From the Past Compilation (Set) - BlastfromPast.SET.Sims3Pack
https://store.thesims3.com/setsProductDetails.html?scategoryId=13763&index=0&productId=OFB-SIM3:56590
Ultra Lounge 2010 (Set) - UltraLoungeCompleteSet.Sims3Pack
https://store.thesims3.com/setsProductDetails.html?scategoryId=12036&index=0&productId=OFB-SIM3:33702
Barnacle Bay (World) - BarnacleBayDDSet.Sims3Pack
https://store.thesims3.com/barnacleBay.html?categoryId=12642§ion=UpSell
Hidden Springs (World) - Hidden Springs.Sims3Pack
https://store.thesims3.com/hiddenSprings.html?categoryId=12642§ion=UpSell
