I don't think my questions should be merged. They are two totally unrelated issues, regardless the same game.
The issue with "upgrading" on Sims 3 is something I've only experienced since either an update months ago that made it impossible to just open the launcher without going through Origin, or when I installed on the new PC using only Origin. I honestly don't recall when the issue started but I do know it's been a few months. As I said, clicking on the update portion completely ruins everything so not sure why you're suggesting I do something I've already tried and which causes problems.. So it seems I have to keep clicking to play without upgrading. I know the game hasn't been updated in forever - that is my point. I should not be seeing this. I do not have a bad key code because I've been installing, uninstalling and installing TS3 since the day it came out. The only thing I do on this PC is have the game installed completely through Origin. Before, I had disks until about halfway through when I started just buying them through Origin. Maybe I should uninstall and reinstall with at least one game installed from the disk. I don't know....
As for the other issue, I had no problems with CAS on the old PC and, when I moved to the Win 10 PC, I started having the issues, even though the files were the same. I've done the new folder thing multiple times. I've moved out some, moved in some.... I'll see about doing the fps thing. Ugh.
And yesterday I did a hard uninstall on Origin because the latest update screwed up everything, as usual. I go back on today and I get a message that Update yet again. WTH is going on over there? It's gotten completely out of hand. And this isn't the TS3 thing - this is for Origin. But daily updates? Especially when they don't work and you end up having to mess with your registry? Sorry. Venting. But dang, this is beyond ridiculous.
@columbia93 Patch 1.69, which requires the game to be launched through Origin, was released in November 2015. I figured if you were playing through Origin, you already had that patch. Updating further wouldn't make a difference, and it certainly wouldn't "ruin" everything, unless you somehow managed to avoid patch 1.69 for all this time. If you have, then you don't need me to tell you not to update.
Having a partial disc install wouldn't change anything. As long as at least one pack is downloaded through Origin, you get the same result, including the same fake updates, as a fully digital install.
I didn't say you had bad codes, I said the Sims 3 "update" might be looking for bad codes, and as long as you didn't have any, you were probably okay. And you're not the only one who's been asked ot update Origin recently. I have no idea what's going on behind the scenes; I don't have inside information. I only see the results.
I don't know why your Origin keeps updating. Mine updates around once every two weeks, maybe a bit less.
You still don't get it. I know what I'm doing. Did you even look at the picture I attached? I've been playing The Sims since the beginning and I know how the games work. I also have worked enough with Origin to know how it works. I also have built a PC AND have an ivy-league degree. I'm not stupid. I'm able to retain information and build from that, as well as reason and identify.
I bought a new PC in September. Everything I installed with regards to Origin items were installed via Origin. Everything worked fine. Then a couple of months ago, one of the patches "broke" the way Origin interfaces with The Sims 3 (as well as others).
1. Prior to this, I was able to open Sims 3 via my GeForce app, where several of my apps can be accessed. I liked using GeForce because I could insure that the
settings were maintained easily after updates AND I can access games on both Origin & Steam from the same place. Now I get a blank screen
and nothing more for TS3.
a. Additionally, most of the older Origin games I try to access through GeForce will open Origin but I get that same screen - Play without Updating.
b. The Sims 4 returns a message of "Unidentified Game".
c. The Steam games on GeForce still open fine. Obviously this is an Origin issue. Origin has been updated several times since this happened initially, and I've even
done a couple of hard/manual uninstall/reinstalls.
2. When I open Origin and choose the games from there, TS4 will open without any additional messages but most of the other older games bring up this
"Play without updating" message.
a. Older games that I redownload seem to start working without error messages. However, there is an additional problem.
1. Bejeweled - came up with that same message of "Play without Updating". I clicked "Repair" and now I can play without that
message but it seems to have erased all my progress, requiring me to choose a Screen Name.
2. Dead in Bermuda - for some reason, I had to "download" it. I've played it many times but it's been awhile and now, first I've noticed but who knows if it's just
today or a couple of weeks, it says I have to Download. I did. Again, I've lost all progress.
2. I NOW see that several of my games that I've been playing have an "Update Available" link on their icon but I also now know that, if I do, I will lose all progress.
With Origin, it is literally one step forward and two steps back EVERY SINGLE TIME. I guess I can see If I can find and save those files before I update.
A. FYI, there is NO Update link on the icon for TS3. Since EA doesn't bother with the Forums, instead using unpaid players who don't always seem
to grasp the situation and is of no use to most of us with issues outside the norm, it seems I'll have to uninstall and reinstall TS3
and see if that fixes this problem.
It also needs to be stated again that combining the two issues of TS3 lagging badly on Windows 10/Acer AND this other OBVIOUSLY ORIGIN ISSUE, is ridiculous and should NEVER HAVE HAPPENED.
@columbia93 If you're not interested in providing a dxdiag, there's not much I can say about the lag you're seeing in Sims 3. It's an old game that doesn't always get along with Windows 10, but most of the problems can be either fixed outright or managed. If GFE isn't working correctly with Sims 3, then maybe try not using it, at least as an experiment. Other than that, I can't really offer anything else without a dxdiag.
The issue with GFE not recognizing Sims 4 may be due to the fact that the game has two executables (TS4.exe and TS4_x64.exe), and GFE may only recognize one of them.
This is the first you've mentioned issues with any other games, or with GFE for that matter. If you're having general Origin problems, you should ask in the Origin forum.
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Origin-Client-Web-Technical/bd-p/origin-technical-issues-en
Good luck.
@columbia93 First I will address the LAA. LAA stands for large address aware. Most assemblers and compilers in use for 32 bit programs can only compute a jump instruction of only 2Gb. When an executable program loads in the header there is a byte that contains data on how the program can run. One bit of that byte determines the state of LAA. Turned on it allows the program to use about 500Mb more of memory. If I remember correctly this adds one more bit to the address fetch cycle. This is no longer required for 64 bit code. One of the Sims 3 patches turned the LAA on. I believe this is checked with all patches after that.
Now you can not compare Windows Vista to Windows 10. They are two very different creations. Microsoft changed the way previous Windows operating system is maintained. Windows 10 is a service that gets major updates to add features and fix issues. After a major update the life cycle is extended. It was said the Windows 10 would be the last Windows version. Last I heard this may change. Microsoft is the 800 pound gorilla - it does what it wants to do.
With me so far? The Sims 3 was released with SecuROM and SafeDisc for DRM (antitheft software). SecuROM limited the number of installs provided with the game license. SafeDisc required you have a game disc in the optical drive to play. Two things happened. Optical drives were disappearing and Microsoft and Apple OSX ceased to support SecuROM and SafeDisc due to their poor support and the fact they really didn't stop piracy. EA developed Origin in a manner like Valve's Steam. Steam was (and still is very popular). there are others that work in much the same way. Since Origin there is no install limit and you don't require a disc in the optical drive to play. If you already have a working game installed you need to download and run the 1.67 version patch. Once the game is at 1.67 Origin will patch the game to 1.69. The version 1.69 is an Origin only patch. As far as I know there is no correct way for Steam owners to patch to version 1.69. Steam provides a key to redeem the game in Origin. Origin is the DRM for this game. When you buy the game (and other games) you do not own the game. What you are paying for is a license to use the software under the EULA (end user license agreement) you remember that thing you agreed to the very first time you ran the game. Origin is a stand alone program and if not updated for a while it will not update properly and a reinstall is required. Steam provides digital distribution which is nice for users with no optical drive. I'm sure EA was not happy about changing the DRM for a popular game already in use.
Many programs need to access operating system functions. One way this can be done through API's (application programming interface) in Windows Internet Explorer. Thank you very much Mr, Gates. As many programmers use these APIs, to remove Internet Explorer would stop many programs from running correctly.
This is just scratching the surface as you can see how complex things can get. HTH
