Ghiby In case you're not aware, Store content is installed into bundled files located in DCCache inside the user folder. The files have the extension .ebc, with the .dbc files holding custom content.
The problem that often arises is that one of these bundles gets corrupted, or is unreadable for some reason, and then every higher-numbered file is also unusable. So it won't matter how much Store content you reinstall if you don't get rid of the existing corrupt file(s).
The same principle applies to any custom content installed through the launcher, whether that's from the Exchange or elsewhere.
Point is, please try installing the Store content into a clean user folder, a few sets at a time, then transfer your other content to that folder. More detailed instructions are here if you need them:
[Read First] Sims 3 Store guide | EA Forums - 11157679
If your existing launcher-installed custom content is being recognized, you can transfer the .dbc files to the new Sims 3 folder, along with anything in Library or SavedSims you want to keep. But if you can't install new cc through the launcher, I would at least delete the highest-numbered .dbc file, as it may be corrupt, and reinstall your most recent content.
thank you for following up with me on this
I'll try the solution you propose, but I'm not happy about it, because this is file management, troubleshooting, and extra time, and energy invested on my part, time that I don't have... I just want to play the game, for the little free time that I have, if I have one hour, I just want to play, pick up from where I left off, and play... not spend that one hour doing files micromanagement, to no fault of my own...
everything was working just fine last time when I saved my last game - in Roaring Heights and in Midnight Hollow - for example... take a break away from the game, and when I came back, I am forced to install a new EA app update - for "my own security" like they usually say - and as always creates more problems than it solves, I cannot load my last saved game in Roaring Heights or Midnight Hollow, only to realize the game doesn't even recognize anymore that I own those, even if I have saved games with those, with my in-game stories of my sims...
then, I try to reinstall, a tedious and time-consuming process, once again due to no fault of my own, it tells me the installation is successful, yet it's still not working... I've spent over 2 hrs just to troubleshoot on my own, with my limited knowledge, and still didn't get the actually play the game. like I wanted...
if I go to the store.thesims3.com page to my account, it clearly shows I own already this premium content, those worlds - I can post a screenshot if needed - yet, I can't play it anymore, due to no fault of my own, due to a new EA app update I was forced to install, despite my reluctance to install
this is so frustrating that even if I try hard to stay away from hating EA and Maxis, because hate is a awful, unhealthy emotion, I can't help but to give up, and start hating EA and Maxis even more... over time, I've spent so much money, real money, on the game itself, that's not free like the crappy Sims 4, and on the expansion packs, and premium content, and I can't play it, because every new EA app - or in the past Origin - update messes up everything
not sure if EA cares, but this is not helping with players' loyalty and repeat buys... since Sims 3 and its DLCs I've never purchased anything else from EA, and I've shared my feelings with all my friends, advising them to avoid any EA product...
not to mention customer service and support, how hard it is to get in touch with the support team, how incompetent the agents are, who don't even know the game's specifics, and I could go on and on, but I assume they - EA - don't care anyway...
I'm a mature (35+ y/o) gamer, and I spend thousands of dollars, literally thousands, on GTA Online, ESO, ED - Elite Dangerous, FSX - Flight Sim X, Eve Online, and more, money that I could easily spend on EA Sims, if they would get their s#$%it together... but no, they keep updating from Origin to EA. and onward - and we all know why - only to mess up everything...
but, I'll stop ranting...
I do appreciate your suggestions to help me out, I really do, thank you, I'll give it a try...
p.s. no, I wasn't aware of anything you just mentioned, I don't care how the files are organized, I'm not a modder, although I admire and respect the modders community, I'm just a player, who wants to play with my sims...
hi again, I'd like to follow up with your solution, hoping this would eventually help with the tedious troubleshooting process
I've followed your advice - once again, thank you for following up with me on my issue, and for the guide you wrote - so I did everything as you suggested in your guide, basically launched a new, fresh Sims 3 game with the older Documents\The Sims 3 folder being renamed
I've downloaded and installed the custom premium worlds I have so far, the Midnight Hollow and the Roaring Heights on to the newly auto-created folder as per your guide
looks like the install was successfull, and now I can see in the launcher the said worlds as available, and it appears I can start a fresh new game in those worlds, or move my existing sims from any regular world that comes with an expansion pack - say Isla Paradiso, or Bridgeport - or any other saved that will load from a world of the default game or an extenssion pack
however, the bigger issue is that I can't - CANNOT - load any saved game from my custom premium worlds, so I cannot load any previously saved game from Midnight Hollow or Roaring Heights, telling me that
"it might have been saved with an expansion pack that's no longer present on this system"
which is clearly wrong, since I have the packs installed and I can actually start a new game or move any existing sim into the said premium custom worlds, as stated before, yet, I cannot load the saved games
clearly something is deeply wrong... (I don't know what, I'm no expert, that's why I'm here, frustrated, asking for help)
not to mention, I've spent over 3 hrs, over 180 minutes, of my free time, unpaid time I might ad, to do files micromanagement, redownload and reinstall of over 300, maybe 400 items, digitall assets, I have purchased over the years from the store, only to have those items available in-game...
a long, tedious, and annoying task, spending free time that I don't have, and still, I cannot load a previously saved game from the worlds I got for real money from the store
not sure if anyone in EA or Maxis gets the concept, I cou;d've use that time 1-2-3 hrs to maybe play Sims 3 and enjoy, instead I've spent it doing files management, downloads and reinstalls, wich I already did before, just because a new EA app was pushed that messed up everything
the general message is quite simple, DON'T EVER BUY SOMETHING FROM THE STORE, because as soon as an update of the now EA app, formerly known as Origin app will be pushed - "for my own security" - the things you buy from the store more than likely will not work anymore...
I know it's not your fault mate, I know you in fact are genuinely trying to help us, facing those issues, so please don't take it personally... I hope they pay you for monitoring those bug reports and helping users in need like me... but I didn't get paid for my hours spent trying to troubleshoot, to micromanage files, and to download and reinstall AGAIN, those assets... or even writing here the bug report and following up... that's valuable time that I could use to play Sims 3 and have fun, yet, I can't do that...
so that's why my frustration... I think I've spent over the years in the range of, or close to $1,000 US$$ on expansion packs and premium content from the store on Sims 3, and it's not working as intended, as promised at the time of the purchase...
just look at other games around the same age, Elder Scrolls V - Skyrim, GTA V, FSX that was released around 2004-2005, I can't even remember exactly, Witcher 3, Eve online, etc. etc. etc.... and all their DLCs, they all work, and nothing goes so terribly wrong when they deploy some update...
but not with the almighty EA and Maxis, they keep changing things - "for our own security" - to make sure no one is messing with the IP rights and to fight piracy, from CD-DVD to online only, from Origin to EAapp and so forth, and nothing works as intended anymore...
bottom line, my friend, how can I fix this issue..??.. how can I load my older saves?? that's the reason I still play Sims 3 in 2025, to keep going with my older households I've built, with their lives and have some kind of fun...
I'm not happy to just start a new game in Midnight Hollow and/or Roaring Heights with brand new undeveloped sims, lots, homes, etc.
I want to continue the story progressions I've created over time with my sims... but, I can't load saves from those custom premium world...
so, how can I fix that..??.. please advise...
