I recently got a new PC to play the sims on. I’ve been playing on my laptop for years and wanted something that will run my game and mods and cc smoother and faster. I went to download the EA app and the sims and once it was downloaded, I tried to launch the game and nothing happened. I played around with it a few times downloading it in my documents folder where I’m usually used to seeing it on my laptop. Still nothing worked. I have installed and uninstalled the sims and the EA app probably 7 times at this point. I don’t know where to put it to have it work. I have a windows PC. There’s also Program Files where there are Electronic Arts and EA games folders. Please help. I’m so frustrated and bought this set up just for the sims and nothing is working.

@MlizD1698 That file is a component of the 2015 and newer VC++ runtimes, which Sims 4 uses. So please uninstall your current versions, if you have them, and install fresh copies. Hit Windows key-i, select Apps, scroll down to the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables, click on any version from 2015 or later, and select Uninstall. Don't touch the older versions. You can download the newest runtimes directly from Microsoft: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-US/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170 You'll need both the x86 and x64 versions of the 2015-2022 runtimes, but you can skip the ARM version, which is for a different class of device. Restart your computer after installing and before trying to play.

Where to download on new PC | EA Forums

14 Replies

jpkarlsen
Hero (Retired)
7 months ago
@MlizD1698
First off if you installed the game files to your Documents folder please uninstall and reinstall to the proper location which is Program Files. Only the user files belong in Documents.
Please specify what error messages you get when starting the game.
MlizD1698
7 months ago
The error says “Windows\SYSTEM and a bunch of letters and numbers, is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try installing the program again using the original installation media or contact your system administrator or the software vendor for support.” Where in program files should Electronic Arts and the sims be downloaded and installed? In the EA Games file or the Electronic Arts file? Where should I be downloading both so I can try again to download them in the right spot?
MlizD1698
7 months ago
The error says “Windows\SYSTEM and a bunch of letters and numbers, is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try installing the program again using the original installation media or contact your system administrator or the software vendor for support.”
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
7 months ago
@MlizD1698 You can just install Sims 4 to the EA App's default location:

C:\Program Files\EA Games

You don't need to deal with an Electronic Arts folder; the one in Documents will be created the first time you open the game. The Electronic Arts folder in Program Files is for the EA App itself. It doesn't have anything to do with Sims 4.

If you still get an error, please post a screenshot of it.
MlizD1698
7 months ago
I’ve redownloaded the game into the file you've told me. I go to launch the game and nothing happens still. I’m at a loss. I don’t know what to do anymore. I’ve taken a video showing of me trying to launch it and the error that pops up, but this website is saying the file is too big to upload so I don’t know how to show you what I’m seeing
jpkarlsen
Hero (Retired)
7 months ago
@MlizD1698
Do not take a video. Capture a screenshot instead.
MlizD1698
7 months ago
I have a picture of the error but this site still won’t let me upload
jpkarlsen
Hero (Retired)
7 months ago
@MlizD1698
Edit it in paint to make it smaller.
MlizD1698
7 months ago
This is the error
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
7 months ago
@MlizD1698 That file is a component of the 2015 and newer VC++ runtimes, which Sims 4 uses. So please uninstall your current versions, if you have them, and install fresh copies. Hit Windows key-i, select Apps, scroll down to the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables, click on any version from 2015 or later, and select Uninstall. Don't touch the older versions. You can download the newest runtimes directly from Microsoft:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-US/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170

You'll need both the x86 and x64 versions of the 2015-2022 runtimes, but you can skip the ARM version, which is for a different class of device. Restart your computer after installing and before trying to play.