I need help with Sims 3

[Blackkat]

Monday I re downloaded Sims 3. It's been a long time since I've played. I installed from my library through Steam. I remember Origins being involved in this. So, I installed from Origins. I remember Sims 3 had a different way of launching then Sims 4. Tuesday, I was able to get into the game and everything seem to be going okay. I save exit the game. I wake up the next morning. It wouldn't let me load into the world I was playing. It was grayed out. I tried uninstalling, with idea of reinstalling it. I know I screwed up. You don't need to point that out. I can do that for you a 100 times more then you can. I don't need a lecture on that. I don't want to give up on it until I know for sure it's beyond fixing. I think I know what I did. I'm embarrassed about it. I think it's because of having both Steam and Origin. I just thought the game was some how connected to both.

At the moment it won't launch the game from Steam or Origins. I try to uninstall it from the control panel. But I keep getting a message that says that I need to close these applications. But, I can't see how I can do that. I use task master to click off anything going on in the background. It doesn't change anything. I think I just made things worst trying to fix this.

If you think you can help me, I will appreciate it.

[Kiwi]

I recommend backing up anything important to you first, like that save file and any custom content and sims you might have just in case.

Originally posted by Blackkat:

Tuesday, I was able to get into the game and everything seem to be going okay. I save exit the game. I wake up the next morning. It wouldn't let me load into the world I was playing. It was grayed out.

Which version did you try to play on both days? Origin and Steam's patch versions are different. Also do you remember if the launcher showed that you had the EP installed, assuming the world you played on was from an EP?

Originally posted by Blackkat:

I try to uninstall it from the control panel. But I keep getting a message that says that I need to close these applications.

There's an issue with this game that causes the sims launcher to be constantly running in the background, even after you've quit the game. Exit Steam and Origin (they will attempt to shut down the game first if your task manager didn't help) and restart your PC. A fix for that, just in case it happens again can be found in this guide. Go to section 5.2:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=279488894

Originally posted by Blackkat:

At the moment it won't launch the game from Steam or Origins.

Are you getting any errors? If yes, the guide might have a fix for it.

Originally posted by Blackkat:

I tried uninstalling, with idea of reinstalling it.

Which version do you plan on keeping? Make sure the launcher says the right version (1.67 for Steam, 1.69 for Origin) and if the expansion packs are correctly shown as installed after you're done with reinstalling or verifying files on the version you kept. There's no difference between both versions.

[Blackkat]

I want to stick with Origins. Yesterday, I was trying to uninstall Steam. But, I noticed the play button was grayed out on Origins. But the uninstall button was also grayed out. I looked in the control panel and Sims 3 was still there. So, I tried uninstalling from there. But it wouldn't let me. I got a pop up saying I need to close applications down.

I have an idea what I did wrong. I did 2 things wrong. I should have just had one going. The 2nd thing I did wrong was launching the game from different starting points. The day it was working, I think I launched it from Steam and the next morning I launched from Origins. I don't know why I thought these the game was linked to both.

Now, I can't even launch from either. But I also am unable to uninstall it. Because it still says I have stuff going on in the background. But, I don't know where or how to access this. At this point I don't care if I lose my save. I don't have any CC. I just created two new characters and their house. I can start over again. I'm just hoping I can get Sims 3 working again.

[HiFive]

If something is telling you that Sims 3 is still running, it's probably just the launcher that is failing to close. This is a known issue. If your Windows taskbar is on the bottom, then the bottom right of your screen has a small ^ symbol. Click on that. A tiny icon for Sims 3 will probably be there. Click on that and close it.

[Kiwi]

^ This is what I suspected at first, which is why I mentioned restarting your PC first (to skip going through that). Did you do that at least? It will ensure it won't be running the next time you try to uninstall as long you don't launch the game.
Uninstall from Steam, not from Control Panel. It makes no difference but you'll at least be more sure that you got rid of the Steam version.
Do you have any expansion packs? You did not mention if the save file was on a world that came from a pack. If yes, double check if you have redeemed every CD key on Origin. And then make sure those packs do show up as installed in the launcher.

[Blackkat]

Sims 3 is working for me again, after I restarted my computer the night before.

[Blackkat]

Thank you everyone for your help. I just needed to restart the pc like you said and that seemed to work.

[Kiwi]

You may do this now, it will prevent the sims 3 launcher from constantly running in the background. Copied from guide:

(...) open Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3.
Locate the file named "Sims3Logs.xml".
Right-click that file and choose Properties; then
select the Security tab, and click the "Edit" button.
There, highlight "Administrators", and check the box to deny "Read".
Apply the change.