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prerrrrret's avatar
prerrrrret
New Rookie
13 days ago
Solved

Smooth patch is not working

I don't understand it at all, I've tried everything: adjusting settings, changing the numbers, and trying other versions... but nothing works... it started when my C drive got too full, then I got the tip: install The Sims 3 on D (another hard drive with more memory), so I did that and since then it hasn't worked anymore. When starting up I do get: game patching! So it does work.... only I don't notice it in CAS.... eventually I reinstalled The Sims 3 on C using a symbolic link, because we thought that if it's back on C, Smooth Patch would work again, but unfortunately not.... and Smooth Patch did work before, I discovered it in March 2026 and it worked fine, I'm really racking my brain over this...And I also don't understand why every time I reinstall my game, that Smooth Patch stops working... it's just weird and annoying, because I don't know what to do to get it working again...I do get a notification when starting the game: game patching! So it does work, only it doesn't do anything in CAS... I am using version 1.69 of the game.

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  • prerrrrret's avatar
    prerrrrret
    8 days ago

    Well, I found the problem: MasterController Integration. I removed it after a tip from someone, and everything is fast again now.

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  • prerrrrret's avatar
    prerrrrret
    New Rookie
    9 days ago

    I take it back, I thought for a moment that it worked... I think I'm giving up, nothing works, even Simssetter doesn't work... I don't know anymore

  • prerrrrret's avatar
    prerrrrret
    New Rookie
    11 days ago

    Okay, no idea what I did, but Smooth Patch is working again...

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    12 days ago

    prerrrrret​  Alright, then do a hard repair of the game.  Make sure the EA App is closed and the EABackgroundService is NOT running in the Task Manager's background processes list.  Open [install location]\The Sims 3\Game, here by default (but maybe you moved it):

    C:\Program Files\EA Games\The Sims 3\Game

    Delete the Bin folder and restart your computer.  Then open the EA App and click Sims 3 > Manage > Repair.  This will replace everything that was in Bin with default copies.

    Start the game once to make sure it's working, without changing anything else.  Try the Smooth Patch again if you like; I don't actually know whether it still works on Windows 10 in general.  (It works on my install, but that's hardly conclusive.)  If it doesn't work, do the same hard repair as above, and try the Settings Setter instead; this should work where the Smooth Patch does not.

  • prerrrrret's avatar
    prerrrrret
    New Rookie
    12 days ago

    I only use that symbolic link for documents (otherwise I don't have space for the game) and I still have Windows 10, everything worked fine before, so it's a mystery what's going on... ( I had this problem earlier this week, back then I also did something in the Smooth Patch settings and suddenly everything worked, but I had problems yesterday, then someone said: reinstall your game, so I did that and since then it hasn't worked....

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    13 days ago

    prerrrrret​  Are you saying you've set up a symbolic link involving the game's program files?  If so, please undo that, or if necessary, uninstall and reinstall the game to where you want it to be.  Symlinks are great for moving user data (the Sims 3 folder in Documents > Electronic Arts) but have no purpose for the game files and can only break things.

    The Smooth Patch has been reported not to work on current versions of Windows 11.  It's been a problem for a while now, at least since September, but it's possible that your OS lagged a bit behind on updates and that's why you only had the problem more recently.  Try the Sims 3 Settings Setter instead:

    https://www.tumblr.com/sims3fiend/777075618948005888/s3settingssetter-new-new-version-new

    You don't need every component, just whatever features you'd like in your game.  In fact, I would err on the side of NOT using features you don't need, let alone those where you don't understand what they're for.  There's an in-depth discussion here if you want more info or a place to ask questions:

    https://www.nraas.net/community/chatterbox/topic15165

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