Hello! I'm sure there has been a thread about this, but I've looked all around the internet for answers, and none of them seem to work. SO, I'm making my own thread. I go to Origin, go to My Games, then click play on The Sims 4, but it says this:Unable to start:Cannot start because the required game data is missing or damaged. Please try reinstalling the game.I thought it may be something in my CC, because I add new CC every day. I tried uninstalling the CC I had added from that day, but it didn't seem to work. Then, I tried emptying my cache, but that didn't seem to work either. I have never ever had this problem before, and I've been adding CC since the game came out. Does anyone know of a solution? I really don't want to have to lose my CC and start a new game!

There is difference between custom content and mods. Mods change some aspect of the game or add something like a gardener etc. Mods effect how the game works.Custom content is are things created by talented Simmers who either clone something and recolor it or create a whole new item like cloths, hair, freckles, furniture and etc. There is some bad CC floating around and that error you having is related to CC. (I had bad hair and freckles screw up my game.) I don't know how to make CC or mods. I just know some may work just fine for someone and not work in for others.I do not know how it gets corrupt. I recommend that you stop using CC until you research all your CC and find out which CC is causing the error. Take it all out and do a repair on your game. Google each piece of CC you have and see if others have reported problems or it has been updated. (they fixed some bugs on Nov. 25th I think and that alone could have corrupted your CC.) Everytime I download something I put the URL into a folder in my favorites on Chrome so I can keep track of where I got it. I also back up my game before I add anything. This way I can put my working files back if something goes bonkers.

Oops! I totally messed something up. When I say mod, I meant custom content. I only said mod because all of my custom content was in my Mods folder! So in actuality, the mod that was messing up my game WAS custom content! It is called the Lemingstone Modern Garden, and I figured out that one of the ottomans (I believe the first one) was the bad CC! So if any of you have that installed, just remove the ottoman and your game may be fine! Unless you have something else that's making the message come up.

I looked that up and under creator notes it says that the ottoman has been updated. It is safe now!

> @NeonCupcakes4All said:> I hade this problem to and it turned out it was my CC.> So here I am now trying to figure put which of my 557 CC could be causing the issue.> Wish me luck lol> > What I did was I just made a file on my desktop and put all my mods into it. Around 10 by ten I'm dragging the mods in the mods folder and everytime I do trying to rin my game. > > Good Luck!I fixed it :)

"poisonivy;13733813" wrote:I'm going through the same thing. I have over 5,000 cc. So it will take me some time. Good Luck everyone.Hello poisonivy . Because you have a lot of mods/cc, use the 50/50 method. Put half of your mods/cc into the mods folder then start the game and see if the issue is still there. If the issue is not there, then you know that those items work okay with the game. Then you can test the other half of your cc/mods.If the game doesn't work with the first half, you will need to keep testing them to see what is causing problems. Then you will need to test the second half of your cc/mods too.I hope that you are able to locate what is causing the problem.

Unable to start: Cannot start because the required game data is missing or damaged (SOLVED)

rosemow
Hero
9 years ago
"Mabyuluvme;14573273" wrote:
yeah, ive been looking around the internet because my game is doing the same thing i deleted ALL of the mods i had and still nothing i tried to repair my game ,that didnt seem to work ether SO,.. i tried deleting my game and reinstalling still did not work PLEASE HELP!

Hello @Mabyuluvme .
Are you receiving the same error message?
Try moving your mods folder to the desktop. Then try to start the game. The generating of a new mods folder may help the issue.

If the issue remains , try right clicking the origin icon on the desktop and click " run as administrator " and see if that helps,

Try resetting your sims 4 folder and see if that helps. To do that, move your sims 4 folder ( that is in Documents -Electronic Arts - then the sims 4 folder is there ) to the desktop. Then start the game, and a new sims 4 folder will be generated. Exit the game and then add back the "options.ini" file and the "saves" , "screenshots" "tray" "custom music " and "mods" folders from the desktop sims 4 folder to the new sims 4 folder, replacing the new generated file/ folders with the old file/folders.
medowgirly
9 years ago
> @rosemow said:
> Mabyuluvme wrote: »
>
> yeah, ive been looking around the internet because my game is doing the same thing i deleted ALL of the mods i had and still nothing i tried to repair my game ,that didnt seem to work ether SO,.. i tried deleting my game and reinstalling still did not work PLEASE HELP!
>
>
>
>
> Hello @Mabyuluvme .
> Are you receiving the same error message?
> Try moving your mods folder to the desktop. Then try to start the game. The generating of a new mods folder may help the issue.
>
> If the issue remains , try right clicking the origin icon on the desktop and click " run as administrator " and see if that helps,
>
> Try resetting your sims 4 folder and see if that helps. To do that, move your sims 4 folder ( that is in Documents -Electronic Arts - then the sims 4 folder is there ) to the desktop. Then start the game, and a new sims 4 folder will be generated. Exit the game and then add back the "options.ini" file and the "saves" , "screenshots" "tray" "custom music " and "mods" folders from the desktop sims 4 folder to the new sims 4 folder, replacing the new generated file/ folders with the old file/folders.
OMG THANKS bunches All i had to do was move my mods folder to my desktop and...IT WORKED!!!! THANK YOU YOURE A LIFE SAVER
rosemow
Hero
9 years ago
"juliajewelz2;14579680" wrote:
You guys! don't stress, I found a way to help it. Same happened to me, & i nearly had a heart attack xD but don't worry. Make a new folder and cut all the mods and paste them into ur new folder, it will be fixed, but if u still wanna keep ur cc, you will have to cut little sections of ur cc from ur new folder back to ur mods folder, but make sure you don't get the one thats making ur game say that. Just take little sections. If it doesnt work, take some out and put it back in ur new folder. Hope I helped! [:

Hello @juliajewelz2 :) Welcome to the forums.
I am glad that your issue has been fixed. :)
robyncss0721
9 years ago
> @leckyloo320 said:
> Hello! I'm sure there has been a thread about this, but I've looked all around the internet for answers, and none of them seem to work. SO, I'm making my own thread. I go to Origin, go to My Games, then click play on The Sims 4, but it says this:
>
> Unable to start:
>
> Cannot start because the required game data is missing or damaged. Please try reinstalling the game.
>
>
>
> I thought it may be something in my CC, because I add new CC every day. I tried uninstalling the CC I had added from that day, but it didn't seem to work. Then, I tried emptying my cache, but that didn't seem to work either. I have never ever had this problem before, and I've been adding CC since the game came out. Does anyone know of a solution? I really don't want to have to lose my CC and start a new game!

Guys...._"""""""""""""Anto_S4Hair_Rocha.package""""""""""""" got problem making the game can not start, don't use it
DjinnFox
9 years ago
Thank you @rosemow! This thread saved my game! My stories and my simming life! Lol! Thank you so much for this informative thread, I have bookmarked it in case I ever need reference again. <3
rosemow
Hero
7 years ago
"PupTheSimmer;c-16218503" wrote:
> @leckyloo320 said:
> Hello! I'm sure there has been a thread about this, but I've looked all around the internet for answers, and none of them seem to work. SO, I'm making my own thread. I go to Origin, go to My Games, then click play on The Sims 4, but it says this:
>
> Unable to start:
>
> Cannot start because the required game data is missing or damaged. Please try reinstalling the game.
>
>
>
> I thought it may be something in my CC, because I add new CC every day. I tried uninstalling the CC I had added from that day, but it didn't seem to work. Then, I tried emptying my cache, but that didn't seem to work either. I have never ever had this problem before, and I've been adding CC since the game came out. Does anyone know of a solution? I really don't want to have to lose my CC and start a new game!

I've been having the same problem, but I emptied all my cc out of my Sims 4 Electronic Arts folder, and it still does not work! I hope someone here can help me.

Hello @PupTheSimmer
Try moving your whole mods folder to the desktop. Then start the game and test to see if that helps the issues. If it does help, then put your mods/CC back into the newly generated mods folder in the sims 4 folder one by one or in batches and testing the game after each one to see which is the cause of the problem.

If the issues still remain, repairing the game may help. To do that, go to games library in Origin, right click on the sims 4 picture and click repair

If you still have issues, try right clicking the Origin icon on the desktop and click “ run as administrator”, and see if that helps.
rosemow
Hero
7 years ago
"PupTheSimmer;c-16218604" wrote:
@rosemow

I did all of that, and the error still pops up, I'm not sure what I did wrong, yesterday it worked fine, and then when I went into Origin today it happened.

Hello
I am sorry that you are having this issue.

Try deleting the cache files and see if that helps
https://sims4.crinrict.com/en/2014/09/delete-cache-files/

Try uninstalling and reinstalling Origin and see if that helps.
rosemow
Hero
7 years ago
"PupTheSimmer;c-16218689" wrote:
@rosemow

Nope. I don't think you can help me any more, thanks for trying, though. :/

I am sorry that you have this issue :(
gloomy-est
7 years ago
This is an old forum but I just wanted to say that the 50/50 method worked for me. :smile: I have over 800 cc items so it was a much easier way to find the problem.
rosemow
Hero
7 years ago
"Gloomy_est;c-16592603" wrote:
This is an old forum but I just wanted to say that the 50/50 method worked for me. :smile: I have over 800 cc items so it was a much easier way to find the problem.

Hello @Gloomy_est Welcome to the forums! :)
It is good that you were able to find the cause of your issues,