Re: Sims 3 won't open: Alder Lake (Intel 12th-gen) CPU

@Reigndemigods  Please run a dxdiag and attach it to a post.

https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/pc/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information/

Please also let me know what version number you see in the launcher.

@Reigndemigods Does your computer have an optical drive? When Sims 3 was released the disc version installed SecuROM and SafeDisc for DRM.. These DRM programs are no longer supported by Microsoft and Apple.  SafeDisc wants the latest Sims 3 disc released to market in the optical drive to play. So if you don't have Sime 3 activated SafeDisc is looking for a disc to authenticate. When EA released Origin and the 1.69 patch both SecuROM and SafeDisc were deactivated and you no longer needed a disc to play. The Sims 3 has to successfully started one time for the user files to be created.

Hi there,

My computer itself doesn't, no. Although I use an external DVD disc drive that recognises the disc, takes me to the launcher, and then nothing happens.

The code (in the box) for the game installation itself also works, it is only the Origin code that I can't use because it was redeemed. 

I did when I first got the game update the launcher to 1.69 and I still had the same issue. This was when I had also installed my expansion packs originally, and I kept getting an error when starting game in the launcher and also from the application file itself. I would have the base game disc recognised, but when pressing play it would say for example 'insert seasons disc to continue'. I would then put the disc in and it would say 'insert ambitions'. I did that and then it just kept going back and forth and nothing actually loaded. 

I sorta understand what you said. Are you saying I would need to update to 1.69? or no? Because I heard people say you can't play the Sims 3 without the origin code that's with the game when it's that version, and as my disc copy is pre-owned, I don't have this. 

Thanks

Hi there,

1.67.2.024002 is the version of my launcher currently.

I have the dxdiag file, although I am very paranoid about getting hacked and whatever if I put it on here. Is there anything specific you need from the file to look at, or the whole thing??

Sorry for being a nuisance, it's my only computer and I also use it for work and whatnot. 

Thanks,

Reign

@Reigndemigods  There's nothing in a dxdiag that would help someone hack you.  (That's why we ask for a dxdiag and not a msinfo report.)  If you want, you can remove the machine name from the beginning, but nothing else is even particularly identifying.  And most of the time, I don't really know what's important until I read the whole thing.

However, there is one particular error that's been showing up since last year and has a very specific set of circumstances.  If you have that error, I don't really need to know anything else.  One part is that the game doesn't start from the launcher; another is this exact error, which you could see at the very end of the dxdiag:

Nom d’événement : APPCRASH
Réponse : Non disponible
ID de CAB : 0

Signature du problème : 
P1 : TS3W.exe
P2 : 0.0.0.32
P3 : 52dec247
P4 : TS3W.exe
P5 : 0.0.0.32
P6 : 52dec247
P7 : c0000094
P8 : 00213702
P9 : 
P10 : 

(You'd see TS3W.exe on patch 1.67, but it would otherwise be identcal.)  Most of the affected players have computers with 12th-gen Intel processors, but a few other very new CPUs produce the same error.  And the workaround is the same: limit the game to one CPU core while it's loading, then undo that limit once you get to the Main Menu for better performance.  There are several ways to do that, including running this patch:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/Sims-3-won-t-open-Alder-Lake-Intel-12th-gen-CPU/m-p/11524785#M250970

Other approaches are discussed starting on page five of that thread and towards the end.  Point is, if you have that error, use one of the workarounds to limit the game to one core and see whether it works.  The Task Manager method is the most reliable way, so you can start with that to see whether it helps and then move on to a more reliable approach if you prefer.

If you do in fact see the above error in your dxdiag, I'd still like to know what processor you have, especially if you don't have a 12th-gen Intel Core model.  I'd like to have a more complete list of the other affected CPUs.  And if you don't see that error, please do post the whole dxdiag so I can take a look.

Hello again,

I don't think i can see the error you showed me.

I'll attach the file below, thank you for being so nice about it and explaining.

Reign

@Reigndemigods  The first of the Windows Error Reports (WERs) in your dxdiag is actually identical to the one I posted.  WERs are at the very end of the dxdiag, and in this case, the relevant bit is that TS3W.exe crashed with an error code of c0000094 .  This is a divide-by-zero error and is the confirmation that you have the same issue as others in the 12th-gen Intel Core processor thread even though your model is a Pentium.

Anyway, please try one of the workarounds from the other thread.  If it doesn't help, definitely try the Task Manager approach.  Someone posted an instructional video towards the end of that thread too, in case that's easier than written instructions.

Thank you.

I will take a look today and try what you suggested 🙂

Thanks for taking a look 

@puzzlezaddict Any idea what page the video is on? I can't seem to find it. 

Sorry to be a pain

@Reigndemigods  You're not being a pain.  The video is here:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/Sims-3-won-t-open-Alder-Lake-Intel-12th-gen-CPU/m-p/11720109#M251930

@puzzlezaddict 

Hey there, the task manager method worked!! 🙂

Thank you so much,

Reign

@Reigndemigods  That's great to hear.  I'll merge your thread with the master for this same issue since one of the same workarounds helped you too.