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puzzlezaddict's avatar
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
7 years ago
Solved

Unable to install Sims 3 packs through Origin

Recently, there have been a number of reports of players not being able to download Sims 3 packs through Origin.  They press the Download button for a pack they own, but nothing happens.  A few have ...
pc
technical issues
KNKV10's avatar
KNKV10
7 years ago

So my problem seems to be the fact that I cannot install the sims 3 university life. It installed perfectly fine on another computer yet on this one it wont let me download it. The download doesn't start by itself at all and when I try to go under expansion packs and click it then it shows me that I clicked it but nothing happens.

I'm using Windows 10.

Also I've looked around if people have had this problem as well, but each of their problems seems a bit different.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    7 years ago

    @KNKV10  Try clearing Origin's cache.  If that doesn't work, uninstall and reinstall Origin itself ("the hard way").

    https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/faq/clear-cache-to-fix-problems-with-your-games/

    https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/origin/origin/manually-uninstalling-origin/

    If these steps don't help, clear Origin's cache again, and when you sign in, uncheck the box that allows Origin to automatically update itself and the game.  Then go to Application Settings > Application, switch on automatic game updates, and quit Origin.  You should be offered University Life for download, skipping the button entirely.  You can try the same workaround after uninstalling and reinstalling Origin.

    • KNKV10's avatar
      KNKV10
      7 years ago

      Hi! 

      I've tried the steps you gave yet they didn't work. The other pc that I had University Life installed on somehow uninstalled it too? It still shows that I bought it and everything but it just tells me that the starter pack is required though I think University life should work without the starter pack, should it not?

      • puzzlezaddict's avatar
        puzzlezaddict
        Hero+
        7 years ago

        @KNKV10  You're right, you don't need the Starter Pack to download and install your other packs.  I think the reason Origin says this is that it doesn't sell the standalone base game anymore; the Starter Pack is the only product that contains the base game, so it's the only one Origin can link to when it's telling you to purchase something else.

        If you go to your game library and click on the Sims 3 icon, you should see dropdown menus at the bottom of the screen.  Select More > Expansion Packs, and you should see a Download button under University Life.  If clicking the button doesn't do anything, and the workarounds I posted don't help either, then there are a few more approaches you could try:

        • Right-click on the TS3 icon in your game library and select Repair Game.
        • Go to Application Settings > Application, turn on automatic game updates, quit Origin and sign back in, and try Repair Game again.
        • Run Origin as an admin
        • Temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall program
        • Enable Safe Mode downloading (in Application Settings > Diagnostics)
        • Clear Origin's cache again, and then retry these steps.

        So far, we don't know for sure that any of these approaches work reliably.  If one of them helps you, please post back and let us know so that we can start recommending it to all the other players with this issue.

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