Sims 3 Launcher Not Working

@alexmaxzac  You're certainly not at the point where you'd need to consider resetting your computer, but a (temporary) reset of your Sims 3 user files might be helpful.  Move your entire Sims 3 folder out of Documents\Electronic Arts and onto your desktop, and when you launch the game, if it launches, a clean folder will spawn with no content.  Don't add anything to this folder yet; just see whether you can get far enough to start a new save and play in live mode for a bit.  Let me know either way.

If you still can't load the game, please run a dxdiag and attach it to a post.

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

I'd also be interested in seeing the results of your chkdsk scan.  Here's how to find them:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/40822-read-chkdsk-log-event-viewer-windows-10-a.html

@puzzlezaddict I tried moving my Sims 3 folder onto my desktop. If I did it right, this meant there wasn't a file at all named Sims 3 in my Electronic Arts folder. However, when I tried to press play on Origin, the same error message popped up ☹️

I attached my DxDiag.txt file and here is the results of my CHKDSK scan. (I actually see some faults in the DxDiag signed by Sims 3 Launcher so that really gives me hope!)

Thank you for your help so far.

CHKDSK scan:

Log Name: Application
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Wininit
Date: 28/02/2021 20:36:10
Event ID: 1001
Task Category: None
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: -PC
Description:

Checking file system on C:
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Volume label is Windows8_OS.

A disk check has been scheduled.
Windows will now check the disk.

Stage 1: Examining basic file system structure ...
481792 file records processed.
File verification completed.
21268 large file records processed.
0 bad file records processed.

Stage 2: Examining file name linkage ...
618966 index entries processed.
Index verification completed.
0 unindexed files scanned.
0 unindexed files recovered.

Stage 3: Examining security descriptors ...
Cleaning up 59 unused index entries from index $SII of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 59 unused index entries from index $SDH of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 59 unused security descriptors.
Security descriptor verification completed.
68588 data files processed.
CHKDSK is verifying Usn Journal...
39923792 USN bytes processed.
Usn Journal verification completed.

Stage 4: Looking for bad clusters in user file data ...
481776 files processed.
File data verification completed.

Stage 5: Looking for bad, free clusters ...
438995416 free clusters processed.
Free space verification is complete.

Windows has scanned the file system and found no problems.
No further action is required.

1925980159 KB total disk space.
169105744 KB in 369071 files.
243788 KB in 68589 indexes.
276 KB in bad sectors.
648687 KB in use by the system.
65536 KB occupied by the log file.
1755981664 KB available on disk.

4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
481495039 total allocation units on disk.
438995416 allocation units available on disk.

Internal Info:
00 5a 07 00 a6 ad 06 00 10 07 0d 00 00 00 00 00 .Z..............
18 02 00 00 68 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ....h...........

Windows has finished checking your disk.
Please wait while your computer restarts.

Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Wininit" Guid="{206f6dea-d3c5-4d10-bc72-989f03c8b84b}" EventSourceName="Wininit" />
<EventID Qualifiers="16384">1001</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>4</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2021-02-28T20:36:10.000000000Z" />
<EventRecordID>59622</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="0" ThreadID="0" />
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>-PC</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>

Checking file system on C:
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Volume label is Windows8_OS.

A disk check has been scheduled.
Windows will now check the disk.

Stage 1: Examining basic file system structure ...
481792 file records processed.
File verification completed.
21268 large file records processed.
0 bad file records processed.

Stage 2: Examining file name linkage ...
618966 index entries processed.
Index verification completed.
0 unindexed files scanned.
0 unindexed files recovered.

Stage 3: Examining security descriptors ...
Cleaning up 59 unused index entries from index $SII of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 59 unused index entries from index $SDH of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 59 unused security descriptors.
Security descriptor verification completed.
68588 data files processed.
CHKDSK is verifying Usn Journal...
39923792 USN bytes processed.
Usn Journal verification completed.

Stage 4: Looking for bad clusters in user file data ...
481776 files processed.
File data verification completed.

Stage 5: Looking for bad, free clusters ...
438995416 free clusters processed.
Free space verification is complete.

Windows has scanned the file system and found no problems.
No further action is required.

1925980159 KB total disk space.
169105744 KB in 369071 files.
243788 KB in 68589 indexes.
276 KB in bad sectors.
648687 KB in use by the system.
65536 KB occupied by the log file.
1755981664 KB available on disk.

4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
481495039 total allocation units on disk.
438995416 allocation units available on disk.

Internal Info:
00 5a 07 00 a6 ad 06 00 10 07 0d 00 00 00 00 00 .Z..............
18 02 00 00 68 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ....h...........

Windows has finished checking your disk.
Please wait while your computer restarts.
</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

@alexmaxzac  The chkdsk results look fine overall, although you'll want to keep an eye on the overall health of your hard drive.  The few bad sectors found aren't an issue all by themselves, but if they keep accumulating, it's time to get a new hard drive.  If you'd like more info on how to monitor this kind of thing, let me know.

The Sims 3 errors in your dxdiag reference .NET Framework 4.x, but the game uses 3.5, and so should the launcher.  Regardless of why that's happening, it's easy enough to address both issues.  First, run a couple of basic checks on your Windows system files; sfc should repair any .NET 4.x issues.

• Hit Windows key-X
• Choose either “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Command prompt (Administrator),” whichever option is offered
• Inside the window that appears, copy and paste “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth” without quotes into the window, 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 “Command prompt (Administrator)”
• Inside the window, copy and paste “sfc /scannow” without quotes into the window, and enter
• Post the message you receive here

Restart your computer, hit Windows key-R, and enter "appwiz.cpl" without quotes.  In the File Explorer window that opens, click "Turn Windows features on or off," and you'll see something like this:

.NET 3.5 is at the top, in blue.  If the box next to it is filled in, that means it's installed; click it to uninstall.  When the process finishes, restart your computer and repeat the above, except this time, click the box to reinstall.  Restart again before trying to play.

Hi, 

I think this may be the solution so I will keep trying but whenever I run DISM.exe an error message pops up saying

Error: 1726

The Remote procedure call failed.

Also, when I try to SFC, which I have used before with no problems, another error message pops up saying

There is a system repair pending which requires reboot to complete. Restart Windows and try again. (I restarted Windows and this didn't help.

Is there any way to fix this?

Thanks.

@puzzlezaddict Sorry forgot to tag 🙂

@alexmaxzac  Click Windows key-R and enter "services.msc" without quotes.  (Or you can search for "services.")  In the list of services, scroll down to Remote Procedure Call, and double-click to see the details.  It should show "Running" for status and "Automatic" for startup type; if you don't see both, please change the settings, click Apply, and then try the DISM command again.

If this doesn't help, or the RPC already has the correct settings, try disabling your antivirus temporarily, at least long enough to run DISM and sfc.

If that doesn't help either, try running the scans in a clean boot.  Instructions for how to clean boot in Windows 8.1 are under a spoiler here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-da2f9573-6eec-00ad-2f8a-a97a1807f3dd

If you have the same error, please try using these commands:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /CheckHealth

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /ScanHealth

and let me know what results you get from each.

Hi,

The RPC is Running and is listing as automatic. I also have a RPC locator which is stopped and manual ?

My antivirus was already disabled, so I couldn't really do anything there.

I ran the scans in a clean boot and they still gave the same error messages ☹️

Just to be safe, I also ran the scans in Safe Mode but they still appeared.

The two seperate commands gave different messages:

CheckHealth - Message: Component store is repairable

ScanHealth - the Remote Procedure call failed

Even though the first resolutions weren't working, I tried to see if the .NET framework was on my Windows Features as you stated before. I remember you saying that the problem was with .NET Framework 4 and Sims 3 uses .NET framework 3.5. Strangely enough, none of these applications are here. Do you think this is what might be causing the problem with Sims 3, or maybe even everything @puzzlezaddict 

Also, another side-point that might help, I've seen people resolve this problem using Windows Update ??

I checked for updates, and I have one pending update - KB4567409

However, when I press this update, it seems to be stuck at 0, without doing anything. The update starts as I can see files in the SoftwareDistribution folder, but it doesn't move.

I tried stopping the wuauserv service, deleting the contents of SoftwareDistribution folder, and restarting Windows Update. But, no luck. The update got up to 5% immediately and then stopped for ages. I ended up cancelling the update. I am going to let it run through the night and see if it makes a difference. I'll let you know if it does.

Thank you for being so helpful.

@alexmaxzac  It's quite strange that you wouldn't have either .NET Framework installed.  I'd like to know what happens if you run the installer within the game's program files.  Unless you changed the default install location in Origin, the full file path would be:

Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 3\install\dot net

Run the dotnetfx.exe inside that folder as an admin: right-click on the .exe and select "Run as administrator."  Let me know if you get an error.

Please also let me know how the update goes.  If it can't run, that may be for the same underlying reason.

The RPC Locator should not be running by default in Windows 8.1.  It's only present for the purposes of backwards compatibility.

Hi,

I installed Sims 3 via disc ages ago, but for some reason it is coming up as Origin related. I am going to put the disc inside my computer and try and find the dotnet file as the game that I currently have in my DVD Drive has the dotnet file.

Thanks.

@puzzlezaddict I can't find the dotnetfx.exe file in my Sims 3 folder. It doesn't seem to be there which is worrying. I have found the dotnetfx.exe file in the disc that I used to install Sims 3 (this was probably around 7-8 years ago, so would it be compatible?)

The path for the dotnetfx.exe file is D:\Support\Redist\dotnetfx.exe

When I try to run this as administrator, the UAC pop up comes up, but eventually it doesn't do anything. Could this be doing something in the background? The update somehow cancelled during the night, so I have started it again

I am incredibly sorry, my computer is being extremely annoying.