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21 Replies

  • And for the anivirus i don't use any, just the windows one

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    3 years ago

    @SHADYN-72  The issue here is that Sims 3 doesn't start correctly on most 12th-gen Intel processors, like yours.  The workaround is to limit the game to one CPU core, as described here:

    https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/Sims-3-won-t-open-Alder-Lake-Intel-12th-gen-CPU/m-p/11057820#M248615

    Be sure to apply the workaround of your choice to TS3.exe, without the W, since you play through the EA App.  If you try running the patch and get an error, make sure the EA App itself is closed and the EABackgroundService.exe is NOT running in the Task Manager.

  • SHADYN-72's avatar
    SHADYN-72
    3 years ago

    I did what the post said, but when i iniciate that p1 file with powershell it opens, but closes at the moment.

    Anyway, i did what the post said and still nothing.

    ☹️ 

    i put another dxdiag: 

  • Bhue's avatar
    Bhue
    3 years ago

    I also did what the post said only I used the Alderlake workaround. My computer setup is very similar to Shadyn's.

    I was able to get the game to work several days ago then added BitDefender. I have tried running with exceptions on the executables and all of the EA folders (see attached image). I have zero custom content, I do have every expansion, etc. I have also tried shutting BitDefender off completely. I make sure I am logged out of the EA App and that it is not running, I have killed the EA background app before running TS3.

    My launcher will come up, but is blank on the right side (see attached image). When I hit play, it shuts down to the EA App with the following message "The Sims 3 is already running Go ahead and start playing. It's a good one." (see attached image) Yes, if I could actually play it.

    Attached is my dxdiag and gyazos of my launcher window, the error message, and my Bitdefender exceptions.

  • Btw I am using TS3 not TS3W and the funny thing is my old Alice: Madness Returns, It Takes Two, Sims 4 (with TONS of CC) work perfectly but Sims Medieval and Sims 3 do not work. I have not checked the Mass Effect series.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    3 years ago

    @SHADYN-72  You'll still need to find a way to limit Sims 3 to one CPU core as it's loading.  That's the only way around this issue.  Since PowerShell isn't working, try updating it manually, as described here:

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/scripting/install/installing-powershell-on-windows?view=powershell-7.3

    You can try the Task Manager method if you prefer.

    @Bhue  Your dxdiag also shows the error associated with the Alder Lake problem.  Interestingly, the two most recent errors list TS3W.exe, which is strange unless you happened to uninstall the EA App version and install from disc or Steam.

    The blank launcher is a separate issue that can usually be cleared up by clearing Edge's Internet Explorer data, as described at the end of this article:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/view-and-delete-browser-history-in-microsoft-edge-00cf7943-a9e1-975a-a33d-ac10ce454ca4

    For the already running error, does it still happen with Bitdefender disabled?  Is OneDrive running, whether you use it or not, and how full is it?

  • Bhue's avatar
    Bhue
    3 years ago

    I used the Alderlake Patch. The game shows up on both EA App (with all of the DLC) and on Steam (without the DLC). I can uninstall the Steam version. Not sure why it is showing TS3W, I ran TS3 as administrator. I will repair the files through EA App, uninstall the Steam version, kill the EA App/EABackground (my EA App was force updated to the latest version btw). I have tried it with both the exceptions and with BitDefender completely off. As to Microsoft Edge, I do not use it. I do not have any cookies, cache, or history there and it force clears it if the app is accidentally opened. I do the same with Chrome, but again I do not use it. I use Firefox with DuckDuckGo/NordPass/BitDefender. I have not had Edge open even accidentally since the side went blank. But I will check that Microsoft did not reset my settings with the last patches.

  • SHADYN-72's avatar
    SHADYN-72
    3 years ago

    I tried the powershell method, mut it didnt worked, and make the same thing as the begining.

    and also i tried doing it with the task manager, but also nothing happened.

    im putting the dxdaig again in here.

    thanks for helping!!

  • I tried doing it again, and luching it by the folder and not the launcher, now it seems to load the screen and it pops up a black screen that i think its the sims 3 one, but it closes in a few seconds.

  • @Bhue  The Sims 3 launcher uses Edge in IE mode whether you use Edge or not.  So please clear that data and try to open the launcher again.

    A Steam install uses TS3W.exe, so if you tried to launch the game through Steam, that's why that .exe crashed.  It's a good idea to uninstall the Steam version and also remove the associated registry entries.  They're here:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Electronic Arts\Sims(Steam)
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Sims(Steam)

    Hit Windows key-R, enter "regedit" without quotes, and before doing anything else, export a copy of the registry (File > Export) in case you accidentally delete the wrong entry.  You can restore this version of the registry by double-clicking the saved file.  Then navigate to each location in turn and delete all entries inside the Sims(Steam) sections.  Restart your computer when you're done, then try to run Sims 3.

    If you still can't play, please please look for new errors in the Reliability Monitor.  Hit Windows key-R and enter "perfmon /rel" without quotes, and you'll see a chart of errors and updates with a column for each day.  Today is on the right.

    Look for an error that happened at exactly the time of your most recent attempt to launch Sims 3, specifically after you've done the steps I listed.  If you find one, double-click it to see more details, then copy that info and paste it into a reply here.  If you don't see a new error, check back in an hour or so—the Reliability Monitor doesn't always update right away.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    3 years ago

    @SHADYN-72  I see new errors in your dxdiag now, which at least means you've made it past the Alder Lake issue.  Please try launching the game in windowed mode.  Go into Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3, open options.ini, search for fullscreen , and set it to 0 (zero).  Then try again to play.

    If that doesn't help, please try reinstalling DirectX 9, again, exactly as described here:

    https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/Sims-3-launcher-won-t-open/m-p/10711778#M247861

  • SHADYN-72's avatar
    SHADYN-72
    3 years ago

    Hii sorry for disturbing... but i had another issue.

    The sims 3 seems to be playable, but now it goes ver slow and laggy, and i dont know why cause my pc runs it perfectly.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    3 years ago

    @SHADYN-72  Do you have any mods or custom content installed, and have you tried playing without them?  I'm not saying don't use mods or cc, only that it's helpful to set a baseline for performance and go from there.  Please test in Sunset Valley, if you haven't already.

    Please also make sure the game is using your Nvidia card rather than the Intel graphics chip.  Hit Windows key-i, select System > Display > Graphics settings, click Browse, select TS3.exe, choose the high-performance option, and save.

    If you still get lag, please try playing while your computer is in offline mode, still with no mods or custom content.  You can put the EA App in offline mode, then disable wifi and/or disconnect the ethernet cable before pressing Play.

  • Bhue's avatar
    Bhue
    3 years ago

    I do not save cookies, histories, etc in Edge - plus sync is off.

    I had uninstalled Steam version - but had not removed the registry keys - done.

    It still did not work, but the right hand side of the launcher was no longer blank.

    But I did find the problem later, it was none of the things that were suggested. I was looking at the properties of the executable and saw that it was set to run as administrator. When I started it, I also ran it as administrator. I believe it was trying to run it twice and shut down because it was already perceived to be running. I removed the administrator tag off of the executable and it now works correctly.

    Thank you for all of your assistance.

    Bhue

    **edit I had already run the Reliability Monitor and there were not any critical events for this evening - again thank you.

  • SHADYN-72's avatar
    SHADYN-72
    3 years ago

    I don't hav any mods or cc, the first game i tried wass in sunset valley.

    I did the windows thing, but is still laggy, and  It seems that the scroll wheel on my mouse in game is not working properly because I use it to rotate the camera and it moves very slowly or barely moves at all. I have to use the buttons instead for it to work, but overall, is still laggy.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    3 years ago

    @SHADYN-72  Did playing while offline not help at all?  Try playing in windowed mode and let me know whether it helps.  I'm not saying you need to keep playing that way, only that it's a useful test.

    If that doesn't make a difference, please try playing in a clean boot:

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

    The one service to leave enabled is the EABackgroundService, which the EA App needs in order to run.  Disable the rest as described.

    When you reboot, go through the Task Manager's background services list shutting down anything that doesn't absolutely need to be running, for example some Lenovo software or a utility like MSI Afterburner might still be active when it shouldn't be.  If you accidentally kill the wrong process and it doesn't restart on its own, just reboot your computer again.  Please test while offline again, and if everything is fine, you can go back online while still in the clean boot and test again.

  • SHADYN-72's avatar
    SHADYN-72
    3 years ago

    Sorry for the late reply.

    i did the boot thing, but it seems to not change anything, im playing with window mode cause if i make it to full screen my game crashes.

    The game is still going slow and laggy

  • SHADYN-72's avatar
    SHADYN-72
    3 years ago

    Okay!! i found the problem.

    the problem was that i was playing just with one cpu in the sims, cause i supposed it didnt work if i put them all, but actually it worked perfectly now.!

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    3 years ago

    @SHADYN-72  Right, the workaround of only allowing Sims 3 to use one CPU core only needs to be applied for the first few seconds after launch, then you can undo the setting.  As you've seen, giving the game access to only one core as you're playing is not great for performance.

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