Forum Discussion

Not applicable

2 years ago

Solved

Sims 3 Downloading Issue on PC Desktop

I am having a weird issue trying to download the Sims 3 onto my PC desktop. Quick note: I own the game and packs; I have never used EA Play.

Basically, I went to redownload the game, and the base game seemed to have downloaded with no error messages. However, the game won't start up, and no shortcut is added to my desktop like normal. The EA app will say that the game has been downloaded. I get an error message from the Sims 3 launcher as soon as it opens that something is wrong whenever I try to run the game. I've checked in the control panel, and there is no Sims 3 listed in the programs. However, when I go to the C drive and look in the Electric Arts folder, I can see that there is a folder for the Sims 3. I tried to uninstall the game from the app after it was downloaded, but the app will not do anything.

I have, as a test, deleted the C drive folder and found that the EA app will no longer say the game is installed. It then allows me to reinstall the game, but this has not fixed the issue. Another weird thing I have found is that when I try to download the packs, I get an installation error as soon as the pack begins to download. All the packs will download and then stop once it reaches the "wrapping up phase". I have also found the packs in the C drive folder for the Sims 3.

Finally, as another test, using the same account, I tried to redownload the Sims 3 on my laptop, and it downloaded everything with no problems. My laptop is a year older than my PC desktop. I have like 3 times installed and reinstalled the EA. I have cleared the app cache.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

technical issues

puzzlezaddict
2 years ago
@VVITCH_13 Please run a repair install of Windows. I realize it's a bit drastic at this point in time, but it's helped others with this same error when nothing else did. Here's how (option two):

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/repair-install-windows-11-with-an-in-place-upgrade.418/

This shouldn't delete any of your data, but if you get to step 14 (in option two) and are NOT asked to keep personal files and apps, back out and start over.

You may need to cleanly remove all Sims 3 content and reinstall the game yet again after this process.

3 Replies

puzzlezaddict
Hero+
2 years ago
@VVITCH_13 Please delete any Sims 3 folder you can find, then clean your computer's registry of Sims 3-related entries (and only those entries) with Piriform's CCleaner. Restart your computer and create a new folder into which you'll install Sims 3. The folder should be on the root level of the drive of your choice, for example C:\Games is fine, but not C:\Program Files\Games.

Once you've installed the game, try again to play. If you get an error message, please post a screenshot of it.

The Sims 3 folder in Documents > Electronic Arts contains user data, not the game's program files, so it should appear once you've opened the game's launcher.
VVITCH_13
Not applicable
2 years ago
Hi, sadly it didn't work. Here is what I'm seeing when I try to run the game.
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
2 years ago
@VVITCH_13 Please run a repair install of Windows. I realize it's a bit drastic at this point in time, but it's helped others with this same error when nothing else did. Here's how (option two):

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/repair-install-windows-11-with-an-in-place-upgrade.418/

This shouldn't delete any of your data, but if you get to step 14 (in option two) and are NOT asked to keep personal files and apps, back out and start over.

You may need to cleanly remove all Sims 3 content and reinstall the game yet again after this process.