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SnarkyWitch's avatar
SnarkyWitch
Seasoned Ace
5 years ago
Solved

Origin error: unable to start due to missing game data. Install Legacy Edition

A few days ago, I got this error message every time I tried to run The Sims 4:

"Unable to start due to missing game data. Please download The Sims 4 Legacy Edition from Origin."

First off, I know for a fact I do not need the Legacy Edition. I have a brand new ASUS TUF gaming laptop with awesome specs that I bought specifically to play The Sims 4. It exceeds the game's recommended specs three times over. Secondly, I had been playing the premium edition of the game with zero issues prior to this problem which came out of nowhere.

I tried to repair, but got another error message when I did so and then the download just froze up completely without any way for me to cancel or pause it. Not knowing what else to do, I completely uninstalled Origin and The Sims 4 and reinstalled everything which solved the problem at the time.

But now the issue is back. I'm getting the same error message telling me to download the Legacy Edition. I went searching for answers and have already tried adding Origin and The Sims 4 as exceptions in my antivirus program's ransomware protection settings. That didn't work. I also cleared both The Sims 4's cache files and Origin's cache and moved my options.ini file to my Desktop, then restarted my PC. That did not work, either. I do play with mods normally but of course my first troubleshooting step was to remove my mods and clear my cache. I can confirm this happens with a completely empty Mods folder and cleared cache. My game is completely up-to-date as well. This only started happening to me after the skin tone update; however, I can't say with 100% certainty that's what caused it.

I do not want to have to reinstall this game every few days. I own every single pack. That would be a colossal nightmare.

pc
  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    5 years ago

    @SnarkyWitch  A couple months ago, a few people with Avast reported the same error message as you had, with Avast installed.  It turned out that they didn't have TS4_x64.exe, despite having been able to play the game before and despite having set exceptions for it and Origin in Avast.  I'm not sure exactly which setting was at fault, but the only solution was reinstalling while Avast was totally disabled.

    You can try clearing Origin's cache and repairing with Avast disabled, but if that doesn't help, then it might be necessary to uninstall and reinstall with Avast disabled.  You could of course try just with the exceptions set, but that didn't work for the first affected players.  If you want to save time when reinstalling, you can also just install the base game; if the exception doesn't help, uninstall and reinstall again with Avast disabled and see what happens.

    And yes, TS4.exe is from the Legacy Edition.  Everyone has it regardless of whether the LE is installed; there are additional files that make the LE work that you wouldn't have installed, or else Origin would just run the LE without prompting you to download it.

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  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    5 years ago

    @SnarkyWitch  A couple months ago, a few people with Avast reported the same error message as you had, with Avast installed.  It turned out that they didn't have TS4_x64.exe, despite having been able to play the game before and despite having set exceptions for it and Origin in Avast.  I'm not sure exactly which setting was at fault, but the only solution was reinstalling while Avast was totally disabled.

    You can try clearing Origin's cache and repairing with Avast disabled, but if that doesn't help, then it might be necessary to uninstall and reinstall with Avast disabled.  You could of course try just with the exceptions set, but that didn't work for the first affected players.  If you want to save time when reinstalling, you can also just install the base game; if the exception doesn't help, uninstall and reinstall again with Avast disabled and see what happens.

    And yes, TS4.exe is from the Legacy Edition.  Everyone has it regardless of whether the LE is installed; there are additional files that make the LE work that you wouldn't have installed, or else Origin would just run the LE without prompting you to download it.

  • SnarkyWitch's avatar
    SnarkyWitch
    Seasoned Ace
    5 years ago
    @puzzlezaddict Thank you. I just reinstalled after adding the exceptions. Didn't think to disable Avast while doing so, but the game is running now and Avast gave me a notification that it added The Sims 4 to my Do Not Disturb list (one of its gaming features) which is a good sign it no longer sees The Sims 4 as a threat.

    If the issue happens again, though, I will try reinstalling with Avast disabled.

    Thank you for your help!
  • SnarkyWitch's avatar
    SnarkyWitch
    Seasoned Ace
    5 years ago

    Just stopping back in to update on the issue.

    The same error happened again. This time, I did disable my antivirus while I reinstalled the game. It worked for a few days until it didn't, again. So that solution was a bust for me.

    However, I have found a fairly easy workaround. I decided to keep a copy of the TS4_x64.exe file on my desktop just in case Avast decided to nerf it again on me. I figured if I had a copy, I could just pop the .exe back into the Bin folder and have it run again without the need to reinstall anything. When Avast inevitably did delete the file on me again, I disabled Avast's shields and then placed my copy in the Bin folder. That allowed me to run the game again without the need to reinstall. Your antivirus shields must be disabled before you copy the file back into the Bin folder, or your antivirus will also block you from doing that even if you're the administrator.

    So if this happens to anyone else, you can try following those steps whenever you get this annoying error.

  • DeColuvj's avatar
    DeColuvj
    4 years ago

    I had this issue last night. Doing a clean uninstall&reinstall did not help.  Clearing origin's cache did the trick. Thank you!

  • haticeo6's avatar
    haticeo6
    4 years ago
    @SnarkyWitch Hey! The v,rus program deleted 64 bit of my game. I was using Avas.Then I uninstalled the virus program.And I asked steam to verify my game files.And deleted 64 bit is back! 🙂
  • whiskyrose's avatar
    whiskyrose
    4 years ago

    I had the same error as OP but I use AVG virus protection not Avast. 

    Just wanted to add to this thread in case anyone with different virus protection software (such as AVG) has this issue. 

    I found that disabling AVG then repairing the game worked for me. 

    Hope this helps! 

  • eloXomo's avatar
    eloXomo
    3 years ago

    I'm also having this issue except I don't have origin. I downloaded the game after it went free and decided to just go with the EAdesktop version because i knew that i was going to have to switch anyways (my biggest mistake) i'm honestly lost on what to do here. 

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    3 years ago

    @eloXomo  Have you added any mods or custom content?  If so, please remove the entire Sims 4 folder from Documents > Electronic Arts and try again to play.

    If that doesn't help, or you haven't installed any mods or cc, please let me know what antivirus you use.

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