No the game does not work. All of the files have been installed. When I try to install patch 1.67.2.024001; after expansion I get an error message saying that "Sims 3 is not installed". When I go into "Control Panel", "programs and features": Sims 3 is not on the list. Origin is there, but the game is not. All I have on the Origin app is "Plants vs Zombies" which has the "Play" link when I mouse over the icon. "Sims 3" is there too. When I mouse over that icon the "install" link pops up. I also tried right clicking on the Sims icon and selected "repair". After the "reapir" is done: I still have the "install" link pop up. I don't remember how many times I clicked on "install", nothing ever comes of that effort.
When I right click on the TS3W.exe file and select "run as administrator": The screen goes black and an error message pops up: "unable to start game" "service initialization failed" "0X039e8474"..whatever that code means is way beyond me!
I have also tried every "compatability mode" available from windows 95 to windows 7.
see this thread here http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/FAQ-Service-initialization-failed/td-p/65394
and see this here for help in making sure everything related to the sims 3 is uninstalled ( before installing again ) in case someting was left behind with uninsatlling and was missed
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS3_Uninstall
also use ccleaner from piriform they have a free version use that too to asssit with cleaning up
Rum, CRAZYMAN has become a pro at uninstalling and reinstalling. Poor guy! I think we have all been there. I just wish EA would give instructions on their web to tell people to patch the base game before adding EP's. It would make life so much easier for those who are new to installing this game!
there's also the hidden folders which some people don't know about/off
I know but CRAZYMAN already went though the manual uninstall. Like I said poor guy and his only issue probably stopping his game from working is all because EA does not tell people to patch base game before installing the EP's.
Remember the days where we had to patch each EP one at a time in order of release. UGH!!!!!
I completely wiped everything off the drive about the sims 3 and origin. Ran cc cleaner and did a dod wipe of the free space on my drives. Upon attempting to reinstall the sims origin will not let me log on. It says I am not online. I opened firefox and immediately went online. I tried to log on to origin again and hit the link for "can't access your account?". It still says I am not online. I have uninstalled my antivirus and and disabled all firewalls. WTF? There is nothing that could be in the way. I even opened up the task manager and disabled automatic updates, print spooler and a few other apps for the video and sound. I am practically running in safe mode now. Still NOTHING!
are you downloading the game or using discs? The best way to install is to add origin before the game. I have never had the trouble you are having trying to put this game in your computer??!!
I purchased the disks at walmart. Origin is the first thing that gets installed. When I try to log onto origin it tells me I am not online. Firefox went online OK. I uninstalled my antivirus and firewalls and disabled the sound and video apps so there is nothing to keep it from installing. I know I am online because firefox goes online. Origin is the only thing not working right now. The last time I had the sims in the machine it kept telling me to "install". I got an error message that the game failed to initialize. I checked out the game folder in the x86 program files folder and it contained 6.1 GB of data. Yet; the sims was not listed in the control panel "programs and features". Right now: origin will not let me install the game because it's lying to me and telling me I am not online. I've spent almost 30 hours troubleshooting this piece of crapware. $30.00 ddown the drain. If I do get it to work, I'm gonna crack it like windows and give copies away just to get revenge on EA!
Have you tried contacting EA through chat. This is so strange.Origin is telling you your not n line. Try IE and see if that works.I should be having more trouble than you. Java only works on desktop for those of us who have windows 8
