Re: Sims 3 Launcher Not Working

@alexmaxzac  Click Windows key-R and enter "services.msc" without quotes.  (Or you can search for "services.")  In the list of services, scroll down to Remote Procedure Call, and double-click to see the details.  It should show "Running" for status and "Automatic" for startup type; if you don't see both, please change the settings, click Apply, and then try the DISM command again.

If this doesn't help, or the RPC already has the correct settings, try disabling your antivirus temporarily, at least long enough to run DISM and sfc.

If that doesn't help either, try running the scans in a clean boot.  Instructions for how to clean boot in Windows 8.1 are under a spoiler here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-da2f9573-6eec-00ad-2f8a-a97a1807f3dd

If you have the same error, please try using these commands:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /CheckHealth

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /ScanHealth

and let me know what results you get from each.

Hi,

The RPC is Running and is listing as automatic. I also have a RPC locator which is stopped and manual ?

My antivirus was already disabled, so I couldn't really do anything there.

I ran the scans in a clean boot and they still gave the same error messages ☹️

Just to be safe, I also ran the scans in Safe Mode but they still appeared.

The two seperate commands gave different messages:

CheckHealth - Message: Component store is repairable

ScanHealth - the Remote Procedure call failed

Even though the first resolutions weren't working, I tried to see if the .NET framework was on my Windows Features as you stated before. I remember you saying that the problem was with .NET Framework 4 and Sims 3 uses .NET framework 3.5. Strangely enough, none of these applications are here. Do you think this is what might be causing the problem with Sims 3, or maybe even everything @puzzlezaddict 

Also, another side-point that might help, I've seen people resolve this problem using Windows Update ??

I checked for updates, and I have one pending update - KB4567409

However, when I press this update, it seems to be stuck at 0, without doing anything. The update starts as I can see files in the SoftwareDistribution folder, but it doesn't move.

I tried stopping the wuauserv service, deleting the contents of SoftwareDistribution folder, and restarting Windows Update. But, no luck. The update got up to 5% immediately and then stopped for ages. I ended up cancelling the update. I am going to let it run through the night and see if it makes a difference. I'll let you know if it does.

Thank you for being so helpful.

@alexmaxzac  It's quite strange that you wouldn't have either .NET Framework installed.  I'd like to know what happens if you run the installer within the game's program files.  Unless you changed the default install location in Origin, the full file path would be:

Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 3\install\dot net

Run the dotnetfx.exe inside that folder as an admin: right-click on the .exe and select "Run as administrator."  Let me know if you get an error.

Please also let me know how the update goes.  If it can't run, that may be for the same underlying reason.

The RPC Locator should not be running by default in Windows 8.1.  It's only present for the purposes of backwards compatibility.

Hi,

I installed Sims 3 via disc ages ago, but for some reason it is coming up as Origin related. I am going to put the disc inside my computer and try and find the dotnet file as the game that I currently have in my DVD Drive has the dotnet file.

Thanks.

@puzzlezaddict I can't find the dotnetfx.exe file in my Sims 3 folder. It doesn't seem to be there which is worrying. I have found the dotnetfx.exe file in the disc that I used to install Sims 3 (this was probably around 7-8 years ago, so would it be compatible?)

The path for the dotnetfx.exe file is D:\Support\Redist\dotnetfx.exe

When I try to run this as administrator, the UAC pop up comes up, but eventually it doesn't do anything. Could this be doing something in the background? The update somehow cancelled during the night, so I have started it again

I am incredibly sorry, my computer is being extremely annoying.

@alexmaxzac  You don't need to apologize for your computer's state at all.  I'm sorry for the delay in responding, but I wanted to get a second opinion from someone who knows a lot more about Windows than I do.  He looked over the thread and your dxdiag and said there are a few different approaches you could try:

• You could try to address the issues one by one, first the update errors and then the problem installing .NET.
• You could do an in-place upgrade, for which you'd need a Windows 8.1 volume license install medium.
• You could reset your computer to factory settings.
• Or you could upgrade to Windows 10.  Lenovo has Windows 10 drivers for this system, so you wouldn't need to worry about hardware incompatibilities.

Whichever approach you want to try next, I can post instructions.  The person I asked thinks that overall, upgrading to Windows 10 is probably the best approach if you're willing to do it, and otherwise the in-place upgrade or repair install would be more likely to help than the piecemeal approach.  But if you'd like to start with the first option and see how it goes, that's easy enough to do.

@puzzlezaddict I think i'd like to go with the first option just to see if that helps anything if that's ok.

I have a slight feeling that the Windows Update may be causing or could be just encouraging the problem is happening. I looked into the update, it is an update for Microsoft Edge on Windows 8.1. This is supposed to replace Internet Explorer, which I have heard that Sims 3 relies on immensely, and also my computer previously had a Bad Image error for Sims 3 with the 'ieframe.dll containing an error'. So, maybe if the update works, the problem could be resolved.

Also, I would love to try and see if I can install .NET or resolve my problem by installing .NET, as hopefully this would help the issues with Sims 3 Launcher more.

Thanks

@alexmaxzac  Okay, try this:

• Search for "Command prompt," and choose the option to run as admin
• Enter this command:  sc config trustedinstaller start= auto
• If it says "success," great, now enter this:  net start trustedinstaller
• If the service was started successfully, try sfc again, then DISM

For the .NET Frameworks, it's a good idea to install both 4.8 and 3.5, just in case you need the newer one at some point.  For 3.5, try the installer linked here:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/framework/install/dotnet-35-windows-10

You can download 4.8 from the link on this page:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/framework/install/on-windows-8-1

@puzzlezaddict Hi, I'm really sorry for replying so late.

The DISM and SFC errors are still occuring, and also when I try to download the .NET programs, it says they installation cannot occur because it is already installed on my computer. The only option it gives me is to close the setup. 

Do you think doing something to help my Windows Update run will help everything? At the moment, it is stuck on 0 and I end up cancelling the update. Would the update be what is stopping the sfc from running? The Windows Update KB4567409 is pending?

Thanks.

@alexmaxzac  You don't need to apologize for the late reply.  I'd be curious to hear though what messages you saw when you input the commands I listed earlier.

I would say it's likely that the failed Windows updates and the failed DISM and sfc have the same root cause; the .NET issue may also be related.  Let me know what the commands said, and I'll get back to you.

@puzzlezaddict Hi,

The commands are different for each one.

The setconfig (first command) says it was a success.

The second command says that the trusted installer has been started.

When I try to run DISM after doing these commands, it says that the remote procedure call failed.

When I try to run sfc after doing these commands, it says There is a system repair pending. Restart windows and run sfc again.

I haven't tried in a few days though, as I have been quite busy with school, i'll try again now and report back.

@alexmaxzac  At this point, there probably isn't much more you can do other than some kind of reinstall of Windows.  If you have an install medium for 8.1, you can do a repair install; if you don't, you could do a reset.  Or you could install Windows 10, which may be the best outcome overall.

Let me know if you need help with any of these options.

@puzzlezaddict Ah ok, would this mean that my files would be erased? If so, would there be anyway to keep my files?

I really wouldn't want to lose my saves, but if I have to, to play the actual game, then that would be ok.

Thanks.

@alexmaxzac  In theory, upgrading to Windows 10 wouldn't erase your files, and I believe a repair install wouldn't either, although I'd have to look up the details for 8.1.  (The reset would delete everything.)  In practice, any time you do something like this, it's best to back up all your critical data beforehand.

If you don't have an external hard drive or USB stick to use, you can upload your saves to a cloud storage service (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.), or more than one if the free allotment for each service isn't sufficient.  Zipping folders before uploading them helps with the overall size and with the organization on the upload sites: instead of having dozens of loose files, you'll have a single .zip that you can extract back into a folder with its internal file structure intact.

@puzzlezaddict Ok, how would we do a repair install. I really wouldn't want to delete my files so could you make sure that this wouldn't?

Thank you so much for being so so helpful.

If this doesn't work, then updating to Windows 10 will be my next resort 🙂

@alexmaxzac  For a repair install, you need a Windows 8.1 install medium.  Here's a good tutorial:

https://www.eightforums.com/threads/repair-install-windows-8.26095/

Still, back up everything essential first.

@puzzlezaddict Hi,

I tried to do the repair install and I seem to be getting nowhere unfortunately. There seem to be countless errors popping up or it gets a bit too complicating.

If I may ask, how would I update to Windows 10? As this is now what I am looking at to hopefully resolve it.

Also, just a thought, would clearing IE cache help? As this is what the whole error process started with, the bad image error on the ieframe.dll file which then was replaced with this error message.

Thanks.

@alexmaxzac  You could try clearing IE's cache, sure.  It wouldn't have anything to do with the system errors you're seeing, but maybe it would help Sims 3.

Here's a good guide to upgrading to Windows 10.  I'd install using an ISO or USB stick, not the direct path through the Media Creation tool.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2267-upgrade-windows-10-a.html

It looks like if your Windows 8.1 product key is active, it may automatically grant you a Windows 10 license.  Even though the upgrade program officially ended years ago, people report that it still appears to work.

When Windows 10 is installed, you'll need to install drivers too.  Windows may find some for you automatically, but double-check that you have all of these:

https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/ch/en/products/desktops-and-all-in-ones/lenovo-h-series-desktops/lenovo-h50-50-desktop/downloads/driver-list

There's no harm in running them all: if that driver or a newer one is already installed, Windows should tell you, and you can move on.