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MAWriterGirl's avatar
MAWriterGirl
Seasoned Rookie
2 years ago
Solved

Re: The Sims 3 won't launch

@puzzlezaddict  I now have this problem.  It's been going on since Thanksgiving.  I've attempted every single fix listed in this thread; a couple of them worked once, but stopped working the next tim...
pc
technical issues
  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    2 years ago

    @MAWriterGirl  This probably is a OneDrive error.  And yes, I would definitely get rid of OneDrive, but that's in part because I personally have no use for it, so all it does is potentially mess with my files.  If you have a reason to keep it around, there are other options, all covered here:

    https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/CURRENT-ISSUE-Sims-4-saves-user-content-disappearing-PC/m-p/12475370#M249772

    The guide was written for Sims 4, but the OneDrive information applies equally here.  So pick the option that works for you and change the relevant settings.

    Before you do anything with OneDrive though, it would be best to confirm that getting it out of the way fixes the problem.  The quickest way to do that is to pause syncing before you play, which you can do by right-clicking the cloud icon in the lower-right corner of the screen.  Then move the Sims 3 folder, as you wanted to do, and proceed from there.

puzzlezaddict's avatar
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
2 years ago

@MAWriterGirl  I've split your post into its own thread because your dxdiag (and thanks for including it) doesn't show any sign of the DX9 error.  Furthermore, it would be somewhat unusual for DirectX 9 to disappear or become corrupted after being installed correctly.  This obviously doesn't include cases where the user reinstalls Windows, but it doesn't sound like you've done that.

At any rate, your dxdiag shows some generic Windows errors, so it's best to clean those up.  Please run a couple of basic checks of your Windows system files:

  • Hit Windows key-X
  • Choose either “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Windows Terminal (Administrator),” whichever option is offered
  • Inside the window that appears, copy and paste “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth” without quotes, and enter
  • The system will start validating soon. If it throws an error, please list it here
  • After it reaches 100%, hit Windows key-X again
  • Again, choose “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Windows Terminal (Administrator)”
  • Inside the window, copy and paste “sfc /scannow” without quotes, and enter
  • Post the message you receive here

Restart your computer, hit Windows key-i, select Update & Security, and click the box to check for updates.  If any install, restart again afterwards.

For the Sims 3 error itself, are you trying to launch from within the EA App, or from a desktop shortcut or an .exe in the program files?  If the latter, please open it through the App.  And please also remind me whether you originally installed the game through the App or via disc.  I ask because the Sims 3 errors in your dxdiag reference an .exe that the EA App version of Sims 3 doesn't use at all.  So either you have a different kind of install or you're trying to run that .exe manually.

  • MAWriterGirl's avatar
    MAWriterGirl
    Seasoned Rookie
    2 years ago

    @puzzlezaddict   I went through all the steps listed above (I should note here that I also did this last evening, to no avail).  The "restore health" operation didn't throw any errors and said "the operation completed successfully".  The "scan now" operation message said ""Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them."  (I got the same results last night when I tried this step.)  I then tried to run the game through the EA app, and no dice.  I just got a black loading screen and the little blue rotating circle, and it never stopped.

    I've always launched my game from a desktop shortcut, as I have the base game and all the EPs, as well as 5 SPs, on disc, and that was how I originally installed them.  I mentioned in my original post that I tried repairing the game through the app; after I posted, it went through the base game and all 11 EPs, but still wouldn't run the game.

    When I found that you'd split my post into its own thread and that the DX9 error isn't the problem, I have to admit my first thought was, "It figures that I get a unique error!"  Thanks for your efforts at helping to clear it up; I hope it's possible to do that.

    • puzzlezaddict's avatar
      puzzlezaddict
      Hero+
      2 years ago

      @MAWriterGirl  Try forcing the game to launch in windowed mode.  Go into Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3, open Options.ini, ctrl-F to search for fullscreen , and set it to 0 (zero).  Even if you've done this before, the Options file may have corrupted or reverted to default settings for one reason or another.

      If that doesn't help, please move the entire Sims 4 folder out of Documents > Electronic Arts and onto your desktop, then try again to play.  After the initial attempt launch, when you have a new Options.ini file, you may need to edit it again to set the gam to open in windowed mode.  If it does work, you won't see any of your user content, including saves, but it can be restored from your old folder.  Let me know if you need help with the process.

      If you can't play in a clean user folder either, please create a new admin Windows account.  Make it local, as in, don't link it with your Microsoft account.  Try to open Sims 3 and let me know how it goes.

      Since you've repaired through the EA App, please continue to try to open Sims 4 through the App; the repair will likely have made it impossible to launch the game without the App running, if it wasn't already.  And let me know if the problem has changed or changes, for example if you can't even open the launcher.

      • MAWriterGirl's avatar
        MAWriterGirl
        Seasoned Rookie
        2 years ago

        @puzzlezaddict  Okay ... so I reset "fullscreen" to 0 in the Options folder, attempted to run the game, and for a few minutes it worked.  As my save was loading up, the music "shorted out" and the whole game crashed.  Subsequent attempts to run it in windowed mode didn't work.

        So I went to the next step, removing the Sims 3 folder from Documents > Electronic Arts to desktop -- and that's where I hit a wall.  It refuses to move the folder; I get a pop-up box claiming that something in the folder isn't available because it's being used in another program (screenshot attached).  I had attempted this the other evening and it happened then as well.  I thought having the EA app open might be the culprit, so I restarted my computer and, first thing, attempted to move the Sims 3 folder to desktop.  I still got this message.  It makes me wonder if this has anything to do with my inability to launch the game.  I have OneDrive which came installed with this computer (it uses Windows 10); would it be advisable, or even an option, to uninstall OneDrive if I have to?

        Since I have this weird obstacle to continuing with the second step, I'll post this and give you a chance to peruse it.  Once again, many thanks for your help.

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