Sims 3: Lags, Interminable Saves, Cannot travel

Dear Roberta591. Thank You!  I am amazed, I just updated those drivers a week ago.  Ah well. 

Do I have to buy something from Origin to get the patch?  Will my downloaded 1.67 patch work for my games? I am up to Seasons, and do not think I will get the next EXPs.  I loved your history of how you became involved in computers, but I did mis-state the case - the computer I mentioned was my first computer, Bill remembers paper tape and card punch quite well, he actually learned from a man named Ted Nelson - you may have heard of him.  He is quite well-known in Japan. 

Any way, I was unable to see the problems with my dxdiag. I could not see the "above" as you stated, would it be too much to ask that you send me that information to me again?  As you can tell, computers are not my profession although I have a deep interest in them, I use them for my work and my recreation. 

Now a very off topic question, but although I think I have searched in every nook and cranny, I cannot seem to find the answer.  How do I buy something from EA?  One might think - considering all the problems I am having  - that I am out of my mind to want something more in my game, but I really want to buy the playable Violin?  When I try, Ea does not respond.  I just sit there looking at a screen.  Silly of me, I know.

thanks so very, very much for your help.

MR

@MaeveRhea  The easiest way is to ignore the discs and redeem the code in Origin and get the download version from Origin. If you have the game installed to version 1.67 and redeem the code in Origin - Origin will patch the game to version 1.69. This patch is only available through Origin. I think the reason that EA has not abandoned the discs is so big box stores (and other retailers) can legally sell the games without being officially an EA dealer as the code that comes with the game is issued by EA and the buyer knows the the game is official. I am sure EA did not want to change Sims 3 in this way (Origin) as I can imagine the cost was not cheap but the actions of Microsoft and Apple forced their hand. Windows 8 was not so good for Microsoft and coming so soon after the Vista disaster didn't help them. It was in the best interest of Microsoft for Windows 10 to be a solid product so much that they virtually gave it away. I still have one Windows 8 machine only because I use it as my DVR and Microsoft no longer supports the Media Center under Windows 10. The fiddle can be had for thesims3.com store under Fit as a Fiddle Violin. You can get the fiddle with Sim points that can be bought from the Origin Store. I don't know how functional the fiddle is. You have to buy sim points and that is added to your account on the sims3.com site. You can then buy items from the store with sim points. When you buy the item you download the item from the store purchase history to the game download tab of the launcher and then install from the item there into the game. It is done like this so you can redownload store items should you have to. When I mentioned above I was referring to Windows 8.1. Also Windows 10 will give you DX12 as you will only be able to run DX11 with Windows 8. I am hopeful that as Sims 4 evolves we may see more items like the fiddle.

- you do not have to buy anything to get the patch

- the manual 1.67 version super patch should work on all sims 3 games and expansion packs and store items.

When computer classes were starting like Introduction to Data Processing I probably know more them the instructors and I couldn't take the advances classes without taking the intro classes so most of my education came from working for companies like Teletype Corp. and AT&T and self taught. Ham radio was just getting into packet transmission which at that time required a lot of software (and hardware) as it is like a network but over the air.

- Origin is much like Valve's Steam that has become a popular software site. Like Steam with Origin you have to be connected. I'm not into social media but I have to do business transaction online. Just today I received (finally) a keyboard from China for one of my laptops. Also many of my clients use old (museum pieces) networking hardware and I'm usually in the hunt for some obscure computing item. Take care - got to run.   hth

Wow!!!

Thank you for all the help.  I turned off memories and most of my problems are solved.

Dear Everyone - I am sorry to post this here, but I have a New Problem and for all my searching I cannot seem to find the correct forum.  Please point me in the right direction - I purchased the Sims 3 World Monte Vista hard DVD, the game will not install.  A message pops up and tells me I have to connect to EA to install the game - but I cannot find any way to do that on the EA site.  any help is greatly appreciated.  BTW, the game runs beautifully with University and NO memories. 

@MaeveRhea I've never purchased a world before, so I have no clue. However, you may want to check out this thread where someone posted a solution to this issue: https://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/Monte-Vista-Disc-won-t-install/td-p/391422

Thanks for the advice, I will try Simsdepot1's suggestion for Monte Vista.  Now I have a really weird bug, and again, I cannot seem to find the correct forum link. My Sims have done everything, gone every where, maxed out all the skills, have 3 degrees each and own and have upgraded everything in town that I could buy or build.  Now, they want to start a family, like all good upper-class academics.  (Oh, I added University) They cannot have a baby, adopt a baby, or clone a baby.  The icon or portrait square shows up blank no interactions available.   Or the game goes into an endless loop of "congratulations please name the baby" screen, a loop that can only be terminated by task manager ending the task.  I have tried moving them to a different house but the curse follows them.  Restoring to a previous save did not help.  Is this truly a curse or is there some fix that I am missing?  I have seen other posts where people have heir Sim caught in another world, but I am comfortably ensconced in Sunset Valley.  Might this be a video issue? I have tried to update my video card form both ASUS and Intel without any luck, system says I am fully updated.  Thanks again, sorry to bug you with all these issues.  MR