@rumbutter wrote: "ok, start a new game throw any sim in to any lot (we're after the meta.data file) save and quit the game go to the new saved game copy the meta.data file then paste it into the game save file that is missing it then fire up your launcher you should hopefully see your save game we're trying to rescue( you may see the blue square with an outlined house ) play it once it loads play for a couple of mins use the save as option new name then save and quit launch your game again and you should now see the usual images for your game"
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Oh my, it worked like a charm! A decade later and on Windows 10. 🙂
Thank you, thank you, thank you soooo much.
My case: Laptop messed up, I had to system restore few days earlier. I had made a backup of the folder. After the system restore, I created a new My Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3 folder. Reinstalled all CCs, remade the folder, etc.
I did not modify any installations of the game, expansions, stuff etc. They were the same for months now.
And of course they were the same in the restore point I chose. Probably something with the registry restore, even though it should not have happened.
But when I started the game, some saves were corrupted beyond repair (restart application message) and some gave this message of "could not load this game expansion pack data no longer present on this system". Those were saved by your instructions.
A world I had modified, a household of 7, and hours over hours of playing.
Thank you very much again, best regards.
