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siyanna's avatar
siyanna
2 years ago
Solved

Sims 4 help

So I got a new storage drive and wanted to move everything to that new storage drive. I tried it but couldn't do it so I wanted to completely start over and delete everything, but I also deleted my documents folder with everything in it in the process. Before I went to install the Sims 4 again, I changed the pathway to that new storage drive. After downloading it again I opened it and there were just the sim packs folder, installer, data, game, delta, and support folders. I tried to start it but it said, unable to start, the sims 4 is already running.

pc

4 Replies

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    2 years ago

    @siyanna  When you play Sims 4, you'll have two folders called "The Sims 4," one that holds the game's program files (what you installed through the EA App) and one that holds user data.  The former is what you see on your external drive; the latter is always in Documents > Electronic Arts by default.  That can be changed, but it's independent of the location where you installed the game.

    Did you delete the contents of Documents, or Documents itself?  I don't know how you'd delete the Documents folder itself, but that would certainly cause this kind of error.  Just to be sure, please search Windows for "command prompt," open it, and enter this command:

    reg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders" /v "Personal"

    Please post the result, which will be the location of your Documents folder.  You can write [username] instead of your actual username if you prefer, but leave the rest intact, and do let me know if you don't see the correct username.

  • siyanna's avatar
    siyanna
    2 years ago

    I did delete the documents folder. I entered the command, and it gave me this, C:\Users\Owner>

    I tried to enter my name and just the username, but it gave me, is not recognized as an internal or external command,

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    2 years ago

    @siyanna  Please use this guide to change the location of Documents:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/operation-to-change-a-personal-folder-location-fails-in-windows-ffb95139-6dbb-821d-27ec-62c9aaccd720

    Change only the Personal value (this is Documents) to the default, which is %USERPROFILE%\Documents , as written in the guide.  Then restart your computer and see whether you can play Sims 4.

    If the game does work, you can use this guide to create a symbolic link to the location on your external drive where you want the user data:

    https://crinrict.com/blog/2020/02/moving-windows-documents-folder-to-external-drive-via-symbolic-link.html

    This should be in a different folder than the game's program files; the two should not be mixed at any time.

    If you get the "already running" error again, please try the other suggestions in this guide:

    https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/CURRENT-ISSUE-Sims-4-already-running/m-p/13276380

  • siyanna's avatar
    siyanna
    2 years ago

    Thank you for your help. My game is good now.

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