Forum Discussion

amjoie's avatar
amjoie
Seasoned Newcomer
11 years ago

Know What Is Inside Your Game: The Sims 3

Introduction and Part 1: Inside the Programs/Applications folders

I will be putting together a few informative posts to help people understand their TS3 game better. It may take me a while, and I'm not sure how many I will do or how many will be needed. But I reserved some spaces, so I can keep everything together at the beginning of the thread.

We will start with an intro Part 1 of a "getting to know your game" post, and go from there. :)

***************

Everyone should know the insides of their The Sims 3 game. Please read the following, to acquaint yourselves with your game, so you understand how to properly back up your game and make it run as smooth as possible.

Here is a list of the expansions and stuff packs, in the order in which they were released:

http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/ScreenShot2014-07-26at70317PM_zps9c5c6f11.png

Your game is found in two places. One place is inside your User or Home folder, and then inside the Documents folder, and then inside the Electronic Arts folder, where you find The Sims 3. We will be examining this folder in detail, later.

PC:

http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/insidedocuments_zps832ab881.jpg

http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/yourgamefolderinsideDocuments_zpsc3018a4e.jpg

The same thing, inside the Documents folder on the Mac:

http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/ScreenShot2014-07-26at51932PM_zpsb54e99e1.png

The other part of your game is found in Programs or Programs X86 on the PC and inside Applications on the Mac. Inside there, you will also find an Electronic Arts folder. Inside that Electronic Arts folder, you will find all your installed EPs and Stuff Packs. I also keep a copy of each alias in that folder, as you can see in the pic.

PC:

http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/insideprogramsEA_zpsf0b5b962.jpg

On a PC, your actual game, that is patched while using a Superpatch, resides inside the base game, which is The Sims 3 folder found inside Programs or Applications. If you open that folder you will see several folders: Caches, Game, GameData, Support, Thumbnails. If you use an FPS Limiter, you will also see 3booter.exe, FPS_Limiter.exe, HookHelper.dll, and Limiter_D3D9.dll which put a limit of 30 frames per second on your game. (Without a frame limiter your game might run upwards of 800 frames per second, and has been known to burn out graphics cards, or worse, on top of the line computers.) I got the frame limiter from Pescado's site, so I cannot provide a link. Google it.

http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/insideprogramsEATheSims3basegame_zps8d05da05.jpg

Inside GameData, you will find the Shared folder.

http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/insidegamedata_zpsb932229e.jpg

Inside that, you will find NonPackaged. Inside that, you will find Worlds. And inside Worlds, you will find Sunset Valley.world which is the template that creates all the new Sunset Valley worlds in your game (if, once your game is open, you choose the plus sign to create a new world, and then choose Sunset Valley from the worlds menu.) This is NOT a save, but an actual template.

Inside each EP folder that you have installed in Programs/Applications, you will find something similar, following the same path, providing that EP had a world that came with it. Each world is found inside GameData/Shared/NonPackaged/Worlds.

Mac -- inside Applications and inside this folder, you will find something similar:

http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/ScreenShot2014-07-26at52404PM_zpsacf6c83f.png

On a Mac, inside Applications, inside Electronic Arts, your actual game that is patched by a Superpatch is this file (found way at the bottom, on my Mac):

http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/ScreenShot2014-07-26at54020PM_zps4cdc313b.png

In order to see your GameData folder, you will need to right click on the file pictured above, and choose Show Package Contents from the menu. Then you will see this:

http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/ScreenShot2014-07-26at54509PM_zpsc90c7de5.png

From there, it is the same as on the PC to find a world in each EP.

Unless you are an advanced user, these Programs/Applications folders should not be touched. But it would be good to have a backup of them on an external drive (they will not fit on a 32 GB thumb drive, if you have all EPs and Stuff Packs), should you ever need to do a manual install, if a game disk has been damaged.

The remaining game files that generate during an installation are in your Registry on a PC, or in your home folder Library Preferences on a Mac. I keep a backup of those files, also, so I will be able to manually install an expansion, should I ever lose a disk.

I cannot give detailed information on how to save those files, if you have your game on Origin rather than a disk. Do a search on Google to get that information, because they are found in different places. (I also do remember that someone wrote it was possible to generate files which are saved on your desktop that would allow you to install the game directly from those files instead of having to download them each time from Origin, but I don't remember how they did it.)

If you installed from game disks, on a PC, you can find out what to save and how to save it, if you follow the instructions to manually uninstall your game, BUT DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING OR REMOVE ANYTHING!!. Simply export everything they say to delete, and you will have what you need to import, in order to install your game manually, by doing the reverse of a manual uninstall.

The instructions are from this link:

http://help.ea.com/za/article/manually-uninstalling-the-sims-3/

Also see this link for clear instructions on uninstalling:

http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS3_Uninstall

...........

The base game:

If you're having issues with the game and need to manually uninstall it as a troubleshooting measure, refer to the instructions below.

Backup the save data in Windows XP:

Click the Start button and select My Documents.
Select the Electronic Arts folder.
Right-click The Sims 3 folder and select Cut.
Right-click on your desktop and select Paste.
To restore your Sims 3 save games, move this folder back into the Electronic Arts folder after re-installing the game.

Backup the save data in Windows Vista/Windows 7:

Click the Start button and select Documents.
Select the Electronic Arts folder.
Right-click The Sims 3 folder and select Cut.
Right-click on your desktop and select Paste.
To restore your Sims 3 save games, move this folder back into the Electronic Arts folder after re-installing the game.

Delete the game files (in the default location):

Click the Start button and select My Computer.
Select the Local Disk (C) drive folder.
Select the Program Files folder.
For 64-bit, select Program Files (X86)
Select the Electronic Arts folder if installed from the disk, or the Origin Games folder if installed via Origin.
Right-click The Sims 3 folder and select Delete.

Disclaimer: You are about to edit your registry. To avoid operational issues with your system, please follow the instructions exactly as they are written.

Backup the registry:

Hold down the Windows key and press R.
At the Run command, type in "regedit" (minus the quotes) and select OK.
Click on File and then Export...
Choose a location and name for the file; this will be your backup registry file.
Click Save.

Delete the registry keys:

Expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder.
Expand the SOFTWARE folder.
For 64-bit systems, expand Wow6432Node
Expand the Electronic Arts folder.
Expand the Sims folder.
Right-click The Sims 3 folder and select Delete.
Collapse the Electronic Arts folder.
Expand the Sims folder.
Right-click The Sims 3 folder and select Delete.
Collapse the Sims folder.
Expand the Microsoft folder.
Expand the Windows folder.
Expand the CurrentVersion folder.
Expand the Uninstall folder.
Delete the following folder if it appears:
{C05D8CDB-417D-4335-A38C-A0659EDFD6B8}
Collapse the Microsoft folder.
Expand the Classes folder.
Delete the following folders if they appear:
.Sims3
.Sims3Pack
Sims3
Sims3Pack

Delete the uninstall files:

Click the Start button and select My Computer.
Select the Local Disk (C) drive folder.
Select the Program Files folder.
Select Tools, then Folder Options, then View, then select "Show hidden files and folders."
Select the InstallShield Installation Information folder.
Delete the following folder if it appears:
{C05D8CDB-417D-4335-A38C-A0659EDFD6B8}

The Sims 3 should now be completely removed from your system.


***

Now that you know how to do it, here are the numbers for each EP/Stuff Pack (If you have 64-bit Windows OS, all entries below will be under the wow6432Node). These things should all be exported and saved, so that you have the ability to manually import them, if a disk becomes damaged:

{08A25478-C5DD-4EA7-B168-3D687CA987FF} The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff (SP05)
{117B6BF6-82C3-420C-B284-9247C8568E53} The Sims 3 Outdoor Living Stuff (SP03)
{1C9B6173-6DC9-4EEE-9EFC-6BA115CFBE43} The Sims 3 Diesel Stuff (SP07)
{3BBFD444-5FAB-49F6-98B1-A1954E831399} The Sims 3 Showtime (EP06)
{3DE92282-CB49-434F-81BF-94E5B380E889} The Sims 3 Seasons (EP08 )
{44EAFE3D-09A9-4478-A2BF-0EED22F4E49F} The Sims 3 Create a Pattern Tool (CAP)
{45057FCE-5784-48BE-8176-D9D00AF56C3C} The Sims 3 Late Night (EP03)
{65761BAE-11E8-48FE-B30F-1F01011AB906} The Sims 3 Create a World Tool (CAW)
{71828142-5A24-4BD0-97E7-976DA08CE6CF} The Sims 3 High-End Loft Stuff (SP01)
{7B11296A-F894-449C-8DF6-6AAAA7D4D118} The Sims 3 Town Life Stuff (SP04)
{910F4A29-1134-49E0-AD8B-56E4A3152BD1} The Sims 3 Ambitions (EP02)
{9B2506E3-9A3F-45B5-96BF-509CAD584650} The Sims 3 Katy Perry's Sweet Treats (SP06)
{A0BBD6C7-B546-4048-B33A-F21F5C9F5B09} The Sims 3 Into the Future (EP11)
{BA26FFA5-6D47-47DB-BE56-34C357B5F8CC} The Sims 3 World Adventures (EP01)
{B37DAFA5-717D-41F8-BDFB-3A4B68C0B3A1} The Sims 3 Supernatural (EP07)
{C05D8CDB-417D-4335-A38C-A0659EDFD6B8} The Sims 3
{C12631C6-804D-4B32-B0DD-8A496462F106} The Sims 3 Pets (EP05)
{D0087539-3C57-44E0-BEE7-D779D546CBE1} The Sims 3 Movie Stuff (SP09)
{DB21639E-FE55-432C-BCA2-0C5249E3F79E} The Sims 3 Island Paradise (EP10)
{E1868CAE-E3B9-4099-8C18-AA8944D336FD} The Sims 3 70s, 80s, & 90s Stuff (SP08 )
{E6B88BD6-E4B2-4701-A648-B6DAC6E491CC} The Sims 3 Generations (EP04)
{ED436EA8-4145-4703-AE5D-4D09DD24AF5A} The Sims 3 Fast Lane Stuff (SP02)
{EF7E931D-DC84-471B-8DB6-A83358095474} Origin (aka EADM)
{F26DE8EF-F2CF-40DC-8CDA-CC0D82D11B36} The Sims 3 University Life (EP09)

And here are the uninstall files, which should also be manually exported, so you can import them if a game disk becomes damaged:

{08A25478-C5DD-4EA7-B168-3D687CA987FF} The Sims 3 Master Suite Stuff (SP05)
{117B6BF6-82C3-420C-B284-9247C8568E53} The Sims 3 Outdoor Living Stuff (SP03)
{1C9B6173-6DC9-4EEE-9EFC-6BA115CFBE43} The Sims 3 Diesel Stuff (SP07)
{3BBFD444-5FAB-49F6-98B1-A1954E831399} The Sims 3 Showtime (EP06)
{3DE92282-CB49-434F-81BF-94E5B380E889} The Sims 3 Seasons (EP08 )
{44EAFE3D-09A9-4478-A2BF-0EED22F4E49F} The Sims 3 Create a Pattern Tool (CAP)
{45057FCE-5784-48BE-8176-D9D00AF56C3C} The Sims 3 Late Night (EP03)
{65761BAE-11E8-48FE-B30F-1F01011AB906} The Sims 3 Create a World Tool (CAW)
{71828142-5A24-4BD0-97E7-976DA08CE6CF} The Sims 3 High-End Loft Stuff (SP01)
{7B11296A-F894-449C-8DF6-6AAAA7D4D118} The Sims 3 Town Life Stuff (SP04)
{910F4A29-1134-49E0-AD8B-56E4A3152BD1} The Sims 3 Ambitions (EP02)
{9B2506E3-9A3F-45B5-96BF-509CAD584650} The Sims 3 Katy Perry's Sweet Treats (SP06)
{A0BBD6C7-B546-4048-B33A-F21F5C9F5B09} The Sims 3 Into the Future (EP11)
{BA26FFA5-6D47-47DB-BE56-34C357B5F8CC} The Sims 3 World Adventures (EP01)
{B37DAFA5-717D-41F8-BDFB-3A4B68C0B3A1} The Sims 3 Supernatural (EP07)
{C05D8CDB-417D-4335-A38C-A0659EDFD6B8} The Sims 3
{C12631C6-804D-4B32-B0DD-8A496462F106} The Sims 3 Pets (EP05)
{D0087539-3C57-44E0-BEE7-D779D546CBE1} The Sims 3 Movie Stuff (SP09)
{DB21639E-FE55-432C-BCA2-0C5249E3F79E} The Sims 3 Island Paradise (EP10)
{E1868CAE-E3B9-4099-8C18-AA8944D336FD} The Sims 3 70s, 80s, & 90s Stuff (SP08 )
{E6B88BD6-E4B2-4701-A648-B6DAC6E491CC} The Sims 3 Generations (EP04)
{ED436EA8-4145-4703-AE5D-4D09DD24AF5A} The Sims 3 Fast Lane Stuff (SP02)
{EF7E931D-DC84-471B-8DB6-A83358095474} Origin (aka EADM)
{F26DE8EF-F2CF-40DC-8CDA-CC0D82D11B36} The Sims 3 University Life (EP09)

..................

On the Mac, just save The Sims 3 Preferences, that you find in your home folder Library, inside Preferences. Keep it inside a backup folder that has a note saying where you got it from, so you know where to put it, if you ever have to manually install your game.

Note: On some Mac OS, the home folder Library is hidden. To unhide it, do this: Open your home folder. Click on your desktop to get the finder menu at the top of your screen. Use the Go menu at the top of your screen, and choose Go To Folder. Then type in Library, and click the Go button. (Do yourself a favor, and make an alias of the Library folder, so you have it easily available, next time you need it.)

Next, we will examine the insides of your Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3 folder.
pc
  • amjoie's avatar
    amjoie
    Seasoned Newcomer
    11 years ago
    Part 3: Continuing on, with the Exports folder

    The next folder we will discuss is Exports. When you are in your game, and click on the up arrow to save a lot or sim to the exchange, the resulting saved Sims3Pack lands in the Exports folder.

    Any Sims3Pack laying loose in the Exports folder will also show up in your Launcher, so that you can upload it to the exchange.

    But the Sims3Packs in the Exports folder can also be organized, moved, deleted, and etc. Subfolders inside Exports will not show up in the Launcher, so they can be easily organized any way you want.

    I would recommend you organize exported Sims3packs by world, and then a subfolder inside the world folder for sims, residential lots, commercial lots, and recolors. But you can do it any way you choose. The point is to organize, so it is easy to reinstall all your things, after a factory reset.

    If you have saved any sims or lots as Sims3Packs in Exports, you will want to have a backup of the Exports folder.

    You can ignore FeaturedItems. It is advertising. When the servers go down, it will be eliminated.

    I'm not sure what IGACache is. In my game it is blank. If you have something in it, be on the safe side and back it up.

    The next important folder is InstalledWorlds.

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/installedworlds_zps4fd04ab5.jpg

    The world files for each store world you installed are found in InstalledWorlds. These files MIGHT change from installation to installation, when doing a factory reset. If they do, and you had a Save from the previous version of a world in this folder, your Save will not open. So when doing a backup of a Save folder, ALWAYS include the InstalledWorlds folder along with it. Then you can at least get into your old Save to export what you want to keep. Or if that Save is vital to you, simply replace the newest version of the world in InstalledWorlds with your old version of that world.

    It is MANDATORY you keep a backup of this folder. Your world will not show up in the worlds menu inside your game, if they are not inside the InstalledWorlds folder. Just saving the DCCache/DCBackup will NOT put the worlds into your game.

    But even if you have a copy of InstalledWorlds, you still don't have all you need. Because worlds also go into another folder, which we will discuss now, even though it is out of order.

    And that folder is WorldCaches.

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/worldcaches_zps92172403.jpg

    You can see, that for each world, you have a file for objects and a file for sims. These files are REQUIRED by your game's coding. If they are not found, your world will corrupt. So don't get any brilliant ideas of removing the sim file to depopulate the world. ;)

    Obviously, you need to backup the WorldCaches folder, and keep it with InstalledWorlds and DCCache/DCBackup, so you never forget to add them altogether.

    If you ever get a "missing objects" warning when opening up a newly installed world, then you failed to put a backup of this folder into your factory reset game. Throw away the world you just opened inside your game (it's toast), quit the game, put the WorldCaches folder into your factory reset game folder, and when you start a new game, open a new world.

    The next important folder is the Library folder.

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/Library_zps942bede4.jpg

    The Library folder contains those h.a.s.h numbers for venues that we discussed earlier. It also contains sim families you saved to your Library bin inside your game. And single sims straight from CAS that landed in your Library bin, including pets. Also sims inside their houses. And empty residential lots, as well as commercial lots.

    If you are like most people, you rely on houses and commercial lots you have saved to the Library bin. Which means you MUST backup the Library folder.

    If you ever want to have a game mod or lighting mod or download a blueprint or use packaged CC, you will need a Mods folder.

    Inside, it will look like this:

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/Mods_zps691fc22c.jpg

    If you open up Packages, in my game, you will see this:

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/modspackages_zps25cebb7d.jpg

    Hacks is for game mods, blueprints are for blueprints I made with a third party program, Lighting Mods is self-explanatory. Multipacked is for some content I created in package form, and then combined to turn several packages into one package, which is easier for the game to read and does not slow the game down.

    If you have never used a Mods folder, but are considering using one now, you can download my Mods folder framework from MediaFire, in the link, below. It has some of my blueprints in there, but you can just throw them away if you don't want to keep them. It will just be empty folders inside Packages, other than some of my blueprints. No game mods or multipacked items are included. (One folder is named Other instead of Lighting Mods. Feel free to change it. Any of the folders inside Packages can be renamed, and you can also add or delete folders inside Packages, if you wish.)

    http://www.mediafire.com/download/dtidsn2sa4sd10i/Mods.rar

    If you use a Mods folder, don't forget to back it up.

    The next folder, Recorded Videos can be ignored, unless you have made some of your own videos. If you have, you will need to backup this folder.

    SavedOutfits is supposed to have recolors of sim clothing you did in CAS. I have tried to backup this folder and put it into a factory reset game with no success. So I ignore it. You can try to save it, if you wish. YMMV.

    SavedSims has a file for each sim you have made in CAS and saved to CAS using the little folder icon. Sims you made in CAS and exported to send to the exchange are in the Exports folder, but they will not be found in SavedSims. Families will not be found in SavedSims, either. They go into the Library. SavedSims is just for single sims that have been saved into CAS using the little folder icon.

    When you open CAS, and click on the asterisk to see custom sims, all the sims from SavedSims will be visible for you to choose, including pets.

    You will want to backup SavedSims if you have ever saved a CAS sim.

    The next folder is Saves. Everyone knows that you MUST backup Saves if you want to keep your currently played game safe. I right click on Saves after each play session, and save a copy of it right inside my game folder. I keep three of those copies, at all times, so I can go to a previous save if a world corrupts. It doesn't bother the game, and it has saved me from losing a world, more than once.

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/savescopies_zps8bfba320.jpg

    The next folder is Screenshots. This is where any in-game pics you take are stored. If those pics are valuable to you, then backup this folder. Sreenshots also show up in the Launcher, so you can share them online. However, if you organize your Screenshots folder, only the loose files will show in the Launcher. It does not read anything in subfolders.

    SigsCache and Thumbnails are used by the game. You can ignore them.

    We have already discussed WorldCaches, which must be backed up.

    The remaining single files inside The Sims 3 are caches, logs, etc. Technically, they will all be regenerated, if you throw them away.

    But one file is important: userPresets. If you have saved any pattern recolors in CAS, or saved any solid colors, or saved any object recolors in buy/build and want to keep them, then you will need to save a backup of userPresets.

    One quick caution: Sometimes, if you have too many pattern recolors, solid colors, and object recolors saved, it can cause a game to lag. And that file might even contain something corrupted. So, if your game is acting really wonky, it might just be better to start over? It is something to think about.

    It could be that only one or two pattern recolors are "must haves" and maybe only five or six object recolors are things you would use again and again. If so, while inside your game, export those particular things. They will end up in the Export folder. Then you can reinstall them into a factory reset game, and not need to save the userPresets, after all.

    With this situation, all you can do is try it different ways, and see for yourself. Every game is going to be different, so it comes down to trial and error.

    I hope that you now understand your game a little better, and have an idea of what is important to back up and what you can ignore. If you have questions, I will try to answer them. :)

  • amjoie's avatar
    amjoie
    Seasoned Newcomer
    11 years ago
    Other helpful links, that I have bookmarked:

    Learn about things that can cause lag and corrupt your game:

    http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/536956/bizarre-cause-of-lag-freeze-issue-1st-post-updated-8-26-13/p1

    Learn about spawners and how they can lag your game, as well as other things:

    http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/523406/attention-ll-owners-and-everyone-else-spawner-alert/p1

    Learn how to depopulate your worlds, where to find ghosts in worlds, and other goodies:

    http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/759693/so-ive-been-thinking-about-murdering-everyone/p1

    Learn about fixing some of the lag in IP:

    http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/739971/fixing-ip-world-lag-compiled-from-another-thread#latest

    Compare computer specs when upgrading:

    http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/663997/definitely-worth-upgrading/p1

    List of store things that come with textures (read the whole thread for all the items):

    http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/517663/list-of-items-that-come-with-textures

    Hawk's objects with unlocked stencils, plus no stencil options, so you get all you paid for from the store (NOT lots or mods):

    http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/472820/updated-to-generations-old-hidden-stencil-thread

    Custom World Index:

    http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/560053/the-world-index/p1

    Crinrict's entire blog!:

    http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/welcome
  • amjoie's avatar
    amjoie
    Seasoned Newcomer
    11 years ago
    Links to some tutorials found in our Forum:

    I'll be adding some forum tutorial links here, slowly, as I come across them. So check back in a bit to see if there are more. :D

    Official tutorial on seasonal lot markers:

    http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/604761/guide-to-seasonal-lot-markers

    NOTE: I do NOT recommend adding lots with the World Editor in edit mode, because it can cause a tear in the world layer and results in lag. However, the tutorial has great houseboat info and how to build docks, which you can still do on any already existing lot that has deep enough water, reaching far enough into an ocean. So the tutorial is worth the read.

    Official guide to houseboats and dock building:

    http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/690014/guide-to-houseboats-in-game-in-caw

    ZooProfessor's stuff:

    http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/499348/zooprofessors-beginning-builders-university-master-thread-contains-links-to-all-zoo-u-coursese

    Barrier to Entry System Tutorial:

    http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/657529/barrier-to-entry-system-tutorial-from-basic-to-mind-blowing

    Create your own blueprints tutorial:

    http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/751517/create-your-own-blueprints-tutorial-with-pictures-update-download-blueprints-too

    Create your own custom T-shirt:

    http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/566924/create-your-own-custom-t-shirt-in-minutes-easy-to-follow-step-by-step-tutorial

    Create custom artwork for your game that is NOT CC (requires minimal use of the S3PE program):

    http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/727305/tutorial-custom-paintings-and-photographs-using-s3pe-to-swap-imagese
  • amjoie's avatar
    amjoie
    Seasoned Newcomer
    11 years ago
    Bily_jednorozec wrote:
    Hi, Amjoie! Thank you for the clarification (so I have to redo my *.bat file for launching the game with automaticall cleaning). About mail: for me is those days site slow and sometimes makes me log-out, for this maybe e-mail appeared slowly.
    amjoie wrote:
    Can you tell me which tent was an issue in your game? I have had every tent other than the sultan's tent in my sim's inventory (at one time or another) and never run into a missing thumbnail issue. Was it, perhaps, the sultan's tent that caused the problem? I don't believe my sims ever carried that tent around, for any length of time.
    It was this cheapest tent and it wasn't only mine issue http://www.carls-sims-3-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=19314.0 (googled only one link, but I'm sure: who wants, can find another pages).
    I'm glad that you're too fan of treasure chests. Yes, I'm preserving too many things in treasure chests and it helps too keep inventories organized.
    I like you can open it even with fire or thief on lot, where game don't allows to use buy/build mode. If I remember well it let's you take too death flowers when needed and I've used it after my sim was killed on community lot with meteorite. It's too fridgesaver.;)
    Sorry for late answer, but I was on EA's Live chat (USA) and I've got from Alex simpoints for purchase Lucky Palms Gold (owning venue and standard world). :D
    Edit: wrong english :oops:
    Edit 2: re-reading messages about missing thumbnails: this happens when the WA tent is already in WA chest. Another links:
    http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2011/09/bug-missing-picture-in-savegame-overview.html
    http://modthesims.info/t/417573


    Thank you so much for the links. I have never experienced this, that I remember, but it is obviously a problem for some people, so it's good to know! Maybe just using sleeping bags is the best thing, then, avoiding tents altogether.

    EDIT: It seems that keeping a tent in the inventory is fine, but keeping tents in a WA chest will cause the problem? Apparently all tents are at issue. Tents do just sit on the floor, and look great in attics or basements, when not in use. So there really isn't a reason to put them in a chest, for safekeeping. I guess the best thing is finding a place in the house for them, until needed for travel.
  • amjoie's avatar
    amjoie
    Seasoned Newcomer
    11 years ago
    I have changed the links to the forum tutorials, now.

    @Bily_jednorozec : I added the textures thread link, as you suggested, right after my "install first" pics. Thank you for making the suggestion. :)

    As for the custom folder showing up after a fresh install of store items, I have not ever seen this problem in my game. It should not be happening. I am wondering if part of the problem might be a non-English installation of the game? I have no way of checking that for you, since I have the English version installed.

    I think, if I remember correctly, that this problem was discussed in another thread, though. And that thread was talking about a game that had, at one point, installed Exchange items which included the corrupted counter stealth CC. I don't have a link for that thread, and I don't remember if the problem was showing up after having the stealth CC attach itself to their game or if it was just something discussed in that thread, as a side issue. The thread that I think was talking about this (if I'm not confusing it with another thread) was AmaraRena's thread about the stealth CC counter that she found in her game after downloading a lot/sim from the Exchange. Perhaps she has the link to that thread.

    I don't know what else to tell you, since I have never run across this problem in my game, and I have reinstalled my store content/worlds any number of times into factory reset games. I'm sorry I cannot be more helpful.
  • bekkasan's avatar
    bekkasan
    10 years ago
    Check this link out and see if there is any info that might help you. @Ciane is still monitoring so she may be able to help you as well. I'm using her method to install and make a new 'clean' sims3 folder and will save several so I don't have to do it again. :)http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/807788/spreadsheet-to-reinstall-or-track-store-stuff#latest
  • sparky1922's avatar
    sparky1922
    10 years ago
    Thanks for that link bekkasan,

    It's funny I found and was looking at ciane's info on lag in IP a couple of days ago and while the info gives us a lot to do to get really organized I am sure at some point I will be grateful I did :D
  • DarkCougar555's avatar
    DarkCougar555
    10 years ago
    > @SPARKY1922 said:
    > Thanks Karritz,
    >
    > I just cannot imagine whats its going to be like, will origin shut down too for all sims 3 and related? If so and I need to re-download my games what would happen then?
    >
    > I am honestly dreading it...

    Me too. I think it's more likely that it will happen. If I recall correctly, they did close TS2 Store some years ago. :(
  • brappl218's avatar
    brappl218
    10 years ago
    Amjoie... this is a great write up and I see you've put a lot of time into it. However, I'd like to clarify a few things with regards to Mod Conflicts and Twallan's suite of mods at NRaas

    With the exception of 2 core mods, Twallan's NRaas mods are script mods and the chance of experiencing conflicts is about 0. Delphy's Dashboard will not detect conflicts with these types of mods. Simlogical is closed and the original document available on the new site is difficult to read but I have a PDF of the original Understanding Mods Conflicts on Mediafire. This link might help your readers understand the types of mods: https://www.mediafire.com/?5n34obn34b1tl7n

    1. Quote:
    It should be noted here that Twallen abandoned his mod before the final two patches of the game. The last version of NRAAS that was written exclusively by Twalllen was made for patch level 1.63 and that patch doesn't have the changes in it required by the game once the servers go down. The last time I looked at NRAAS, they still had links to the last version of the mod that Twallen wrote, exclusively, which is compatible with patch level 1.63 only. Unquote

    This might be misleading to those who are "skimming" while reading. The NRaas Mods are patched and have been since 1.67 was introduced to 1.67 (as you noted below) and older versions are available for those who are not updated to a particular patch level.

    2. Quote:
    The current version of NRAAS mods has been rewritten to match patch level 1.67, which does contain changes required once the servers go down. Be aware, however, that the NRAAS mod has been changed by a group of talented modders, and is no longer Twallen's mod, in that sense. (Had Twallen been involved, he may or may not have approved those changes. But the group of modders have made every attempt to stay true to Twallen's original vision of his mod, according to their statements on the site.) Unquote

    The Mods were not rewritten, they were updated by Chain_Reaction (an experienced developer) on Twallan's original platform. They have not only been updated but have been enhanced with new features, fixes for Twallan's mods that he was working on before retiring have been fixed and two brand new mods have been created.

    3. Quote:
    Twallen's original vision means that you will have to learn not just one mod, but many, many mods.

    Sorry, that is not correct. It is not always necessary to use multiple mods. You can install just one or several. It depends upon what you want to do and how you want to play your game. They all do not have learning curves. Some of the mods need only to be installed. Story Progression is probably the most complex mod yet you can just install the base mod and not have to do anything further.

    I strongly suggest players considering using these mods refer directly to NRaas for information and help with these mods (not Google). Here's a link with some suggestions starting with NRaas:
    Mods to Start With: http://nraas.wikispaces.com/Getting+Started+Using+NRAAS+Mods
    A complete listing of Mods, Options, and FAQ's: http://nraas.wikispaces.com/Quicklinks

    Hope you don't mind the clarifications and again, thank you for great write up ...


    Edit: Sorry, I did not realize the age of the original post with regards to the Patch levels .. I'm sure by now everyone is aware all has been updated for some time.
  • amjoie's avatar
    amjoie
    Seasoned Newcomer
    11 years ago
    Part 2: The insides of your Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3 folder

    I will take a moment, before we examine the inside of your The Sims 3 folder, to tell you how a factory reset folder is made.

    When you first installed your base game, you had nothing inside your Electronic Arts folder, inside Documents. It was blank. But the very first time you opened your Launcher, the game generated a new "factory fresh" game for you to play.

    Anytime your game sees a blank Electronic Arts folder (one missing a folder named The Sims 3) it will generate a new "factory fresh" game for you. So if your The Sims 3 folder is renamed "The Sims 3 m-d-y," the game will make you a new The Sims 3 folder. We refer to that new folder as a factory reset folder.

    We will now examine your The Sims 3 folder found inside Documents/Electronic Arts.

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/yourgamefolderinsideDocuments_zpsc3018a4e.jpg

    When you open your The Sims 3 folder, you see this:

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/yourgameinDocuments_zps2bc53096.jpg

    The first folder, Collections, holds the EA collections you see inside your game when you click on the collcetion folder icon in buy/build mode. It also holds any user made collections. Inside, it looks like this:

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/collectionfolder_zpsb77be99f.jpg

    If you click on the User folder, you will see the actual collections EA made, and any you have added. These files CANNOT be renamed. You must leave them as h.a.s.h numbers.

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/insideusercollections_zps41d33190.jpg

    Collections is a folder you will need to back up, if you have added any collections or changed any of EA's collections.

    The next folder inside your game is ContentPatch. This folder holds all those store patches that the game Launcher has installed in your game. Inside, it looks like this:

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/insidecontentpatch_zps5bedc021.jpg

    If you open the Download folder inside ContentPatch, it looks like this:

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/contentpatchfiles_zps6357b61e.jpg

    You can see that we have had seven patches to the store. The store has not been patched in quite some time, and will likely never be patched again. And yet, the Launcher tells you a new patch is available, rather constantly. That is because it is programmed to check for store patches, and each time it does, it looks at the ContentPatch folder to make sure you have all seven of the available store patches. It may even be applying a patch to a newly installed item, or it may just be a check for all seven patches. Regardless, if it sees the patches, it tells you that you are up to date.

    The Launcher may continue to do this, even after the servers are taken down. I don't know. But either way, as long as all seven of the store patches are found inside the ContentPatch folder, you may be assured that your store items will be patched. You will always need the ContentPatch folder in every game you play.

    Those seven patches will no longer be available to download into a factory reset game, once the servers go down, but if you have them inside a backup ContentPatch folder that you can copy and slide into a factory reset game, all your store items will be patched, regardless. So a ContentPatch folder that has those seven patches inside is something you MUST back up.

    Please note: I have been informed in another thread that Crinrict says those seven files are temp files that should disappear, but they have (on a Mac and two PCs, and more than one fresh install of an OS and fresh install of TS3) never ever disappeared from my folder. Because I don't know why they didn't ever disappear, I would not advise deleting them, if you also have them in your game. They won't hurt anything if left in the folder. But, according to Crinrict, you need not be concerned if the seven part files are not in your folder.

    Also, some people who have refused the Launcher's request for an update have gotten a "don't bother me until a new patch" instead of what I show. I have never refused a store patch, so I cannot comment on this, other than to advise accepting a store patch request sometime between the middle of August and the time the server goes down, just to make sure you caught the last one. Regardless, the important thing to know is that you must back up the ContentPatch folder, in order for your game to be store patched, once the servers go down.

    The next folder, CurrentGame is nothing you need to be concerned about, and does not need to be backed up.

    Custom Music is where any music you add will reside. If you have added music, you need to back up this file. Otherwise, you can ignore it.

    The next two folders are very important, and MUST be backed up.

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/yourstorecontentfoundhere_zps8390bbe5.jpg

    These folders, The DCCache and DCBackup hold all your installed store content, along with any CC (custom content) that you have installed from Sims3Packs.

    You will hear people tell you to add or delete things from these folders, and at one time, you could get by with that. But things in this game have become progressively fussier, as time has gone by, and I NO LONGER recommend doing anything at all to these folders, other than backing them up.

    If things start going wrong with the store content or CC in your game, the best, safest, and most guaranteed way to fix them is to reinstall all your store content into a factory reset game. DO NOT install any CC, at this time. Then make a backup of the DCCache and DCBackup folders that you just installed your store things into. Save them in a safe place.

    Once you have backed them up, you can slip a copy of them back into your real game (after throwing away the messed up ones), and install whatever safe CC you wish to install.

    And next time your content goes bonkers, remove the messed up DCCache/DCBackup folders and then slide a copy of the your installed store (but unplayed and CC-free) DCCache and DCBackup into your game. Then you can install any safe CC you have at that time, and your game will run smoothly again.

    I have recommended keeping a screenie of your Purchase Page to show what the last store item was, that you installed into your DCCache and DCBackup, so you would know where you left off when you made your latest factory reset game and fresh installed all your store content. If you will still be making store purchases for some time to come, then you might want to do that, also.

    But if you will be completing your store purchases with the August venue, then I recommend you do one final factory reset and fresh download/fresh install, after the purchase of that venue. That way, your backup copy of the DCCache and DCBackup will hold the latest greatest, and always be there for an easy fix for messed up content.

    CAUTION: Not ALL of your installed store Sims3Packs end up in DCCache/DCBackup. Worlds land in two other folders, as well as in the DCCache/DCBackup. Sims also have their own folders, in addition. Even the Library folder has some store content. So while it is MANDATORY that you back up the DCCache/DCBackup, we will be discussing other folders that you MUST backup in order for your game to have full use of all installed store content.

    The next folder is Downloads. It should look like this:

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/insidedownloads_zps7dc363a2.jpg

    On the day you make a store purchases, it should look like this, showing the latest purchases, that have not yet been sorted:

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/downloadsbeforesorting_zps8bc5b159.jpg

    Many people think that their actual installed content is in Downloads. It isn't. The installed content is in the DCCache/DCBackup. The Sims3Packs that land in Downloads are what you downloaded from the store. Sometimes they still need to be installed, and sometimes they have already been installed. It depends on how they were downloaded and/or if they were simply placed into the Downloads folder from a backup you made earlier or possibly even the result of double clicking on a Sims3Pack somewhere else on your computer.

    In short, any Sims3Pack in the Downloads folder can be moved elsewhere, put into folders within the Downloads folder, and etc. No matter what you do with them, the game won't care.

    Any Sims3Pack inside the Downloads folder will show up in your Launcher. And if you delete them while in the Launcher, they will disappear from the Downloads folder. BUT only the things inside the bottom category of the Launcher, that show you what has actually been installed, will be removed from the game when deleted.

    So, think of the Downloads folder as a temporary landing ground for store downloads, and keep it clean by organizing what you download, shortly after it is installed.

    This is the way I have organized:

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/storestufforganized_zps3fdf9503.jpg

    In the INSTALL FIRST folder, I have these files that need to be installed right in the beginning or they will not show up, because they are missing in the set where they were supposed to be found, and must be installed BEFORE that set is installed to show in the game (otherwise you end up with a blank icon in patterns):

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/installfirst_zps0afcec52.jpg

    Here are pictures of the objects with the missing textures in sets, that must be downloaded separately and then installed first, in order for the textures to show up:


    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/ScreenShot2014-07-30at40338PM_zpsef9c1330.png

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/ScreenShot2014-07-30at40416PM_zps48e12d44.png

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/ScreenShot2014-07-30at40823PM_zpsddc15b54.png

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/ScreenShot2014-07-30at40844PM_zpsd7065e43.png

    Or this chair would work, too, because it has the same textures included:

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/ScreenShot2014-07-30at40916PM_zpsc6077475.png

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/ScreenShot2014-07-30at40936PM_zps2f707c6b.png

    Also check this link for more objects with textures that would need to be installed first, if you have them in your game:
    http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/517663/list-of-items-that-come-with-textures

    The next folder, Worlds, has a subfolder for each world. In the subfolder I have the world itself, a separate copy of the venue's Sims3Pack that came with that world (along with the lot's h.a.s.h number, which we will talk about shortly) even if the venue is included in the world (just in case it doesn't install properly when the world installs and fails to show in the Library bin), and any additional files that pertain specifically to that world, like bonus content that was purchased with simpoints for that world. I like to install those things together with the world, so I have them organized that way.

    Venues is an important folder. It looks like this:

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/insidevenuesinsidestore_zpsdb03405f.jpg

    And inside Files to put in the Library Folder:

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/insidevenuesinsidefilestoputinLibrary_zpsf2da6fbd.jpg

    We'll open one of these:

    http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss84/amjoie/ScreenShot2014-07-26at110841PM_zps8514caf2.png

    The above picture shows the h.a.s.h number that lands in the Library folder, when the venue is installed into the game. When you open the world, and look in your Library bin inside the game, that h.a.s.h number becomes a commercial lot you can place in your world.

    The h.a.s.h number changes from installation to installation, even for the same exact venue. But, if the lot doesn't show up from a particular installation, a copy of that h.a.s.h number can be slid into your Library folder, and the lot will still show up inside your game's Library bin. It is a very valuable thing to have.

    To get the h.a.s.h number, make a factory reset folder, and install ONLY your venue. Now look in the Library folder of the factory reset game. You will see a single h.a.s.h number. That is your venue lot, and what you need to put into that venue's subfolder inside Files to put in the Library Folder. Once you have the h.a.s.h number, you can throw away the factory reset game you used.

    The rest of the category folders inside EA Store SETS are self-explanatory, and can be altered to suit your particular method of organization. The point is, you need to organize that Downloads folder. :)

    Note: I am not currently using CC in my game. But if I was, I would also have a CC subfolder inside Downloads. Oh, and that still deciding folder is just where I put lots or worlds I downloaded some time ago, but have not checked for safety, or maybe some of my own older lots/sims that I have not yet installed. You may or may not find something like that useful.

    Obviously, you will need a backup of your Downloads folder (or your store content and other things from Downloads, where ever you have been keeping it). Also keep a second (redundant) copy on a different disk or thumb drive. You might also want to burn a DVD, because drives can fail and thumb drives can be lost or corrupted. You cannot be too safe, when it comes to backing up your store content.

    In the next post, I will continue with the Exports folder.

About The Sims 3 Technical Issues

Get help with issues in The Sims 3 from fellow Simmers.323 PostsLatest Activity: 12 hours ago