Store Content Trouble

[Aekuma]

At the time of this post... I have spent two hours trying to download store content for the Sims 3... It kept opening origin... Every time. There are so many launchers. I don't know what to use anymore. I'm in so much mental pain. It says my game version is 0.0.0.0, and all downloads/installs fail instantly. I tried every launcher, I annihilated Origin from my computer, and I've reached a point where this might actually kill me. Someone help me for the love of god, please help. PLEASE HELP ME.

[marstinson]

You want to use Sims3LauncherW.exe to open whatever it is that you're trying to download. If it's trying to start Origin (Origin likes to launch with Windows, so is probably running in the background), you probably said to use Origin for those file types at some point, so you'll need to break that file type association.

On Windows 10, go into your Control Panel and select Default Programs --> Associate a file type or protocol with a program. Scroll down until you find .Sims3Pack, click it, and click the "Change Program" button. Navigate to the Launcher (\Steam\steamapps\common\The Sims 3\Game\bin\Sims3LauncherW.exe) and set that as the default program.

The version 0.0.0.0 in the launcher may be a problem, though. I'm hoping that it won't affect much if you're accessing the Store through your browser where there is a manual download button, but it will definitely interefere with Store content if you're trying to download from within the game. My usual recommendation is to delete

• the five *cache.package files in the \documents\electronic arts\the sims 3\ folder
  
• version.tag
  
• tslus.bin <-- I'd move this to my desktop, just in case

The game will definitely recreate the five cache files. The other two were recommended on the official forums. I haven't personally tried it, so don't trust it, which is why I'd move the .bin to the desktop as a backup. Version.tag is a plain text file that contains the game's version number. It should be something like 1.67.2.024037, so I'm hoping that removing it will cause it to be recreated with the right version.

Then run a registry cleaner and do a cold reboot of your system. The track record of that fix seems rather spotty of late. If it doesn't work, hopefully someone can give you something better.

[Aekuma]

I did everything you suggested, including the tlus.bin thing, and wonderfully enough, it just doesn't work. At all. Instead of trying to open Origin, now it just says "There was an error Downloading Content *content name here, tried a few different ones*"

[Rennoch]

i'm also getting the launcher 0.0.0.0 problem, and my copy was working fine a month ago, decided to reinstall todays, and i am having the same problems: can't download DLC - in my case riverview, and after launcher updates the version number is automatically 0.0.0.0 and nothing i do seems to fix it...

[One Tough Cream Puff]

I've also been trying to solve this through out the day. i can't seem to download from the sims3 site. the best i can do is download from the download dashboard in-game. it starts to download then i also get the error "error downloading content" with all the items, tried multiple times even one at a time for single items, i can download from the exchange fine no problem, when i download store items the default icon appears (the empty box). i checked the launcher log and says error was "failed to transform header". If anyone seems to find a solution for this please post.

EDIT: I also have the 0.0.0.0 version in my launcher too.

[impactedburrito]

Ok I'm having the SAME problem. Tried downloading my contents and moved them to Documents>Electronic Arts>The Sims 3> Downloads, the contents show up on the launcher but whenever I try installing them I get an error for "Critical Failure. Done!" And nothing is installed. Tried deleting the mentioned files in "The Sims 3" directory + reboot and still didn't work. I'm so frustrated. My current version is also 0.0.0.0

[A7Ranger]

Oh please...I have the same problem too...atleast you're not lonely!

[Rennoch]

yeah, now we just have to know WHY it's happening and we might finagle a fix!

[SleazyCommunist]

I am also stuck at version 0.0.0. None of the recommended fixes seem to work.

[Speedworth]

same. ive searched the web for 5 hours. ea tech help didnt work for ♥♥♥♥

[NetPCDoc]

One possibility - if you don't have a Launcher already open - when you attempt a download from store.thesims3.com ? You might want to make sure you actually DO open the appropriate Launcher before attempting your downloads; as store.thesims3.com will usually use any open Launcher rather than attempting to open (an unopened) one.

[Aekuma]

Tried with launcher open, tried with launcher closed, tried everything twice, gone completely insane. I even reinstalled the entire game.

[NetPCDoc]

Whoa! Slow down just a bit. Getting a Version of 0.0.0.0 on The Sims 3 Game Launcher is your first clue that you DO have a problem; that probably needs to be fixed before you continue on.

My recommendations:
First, if you haven't restarted (re-booted) your computer recently, DO IT NOW. It might be a good idea to do this after any changes are made to your configuration; such as installing a program, changing properties or adding/removing "CommonRedist" items.

For those that still have version 0.0.0.0 :
Second, make sure the executables are "Running as Administrator"; open the property window, navigate to the "compatibility tab" and check the "Run as Administrator" (or "Run this program as an administrator") box, then apply and ok.

Again, For those that still have version 0.0.0.0 :
For those running Windows 10 - check in your Steam local files location for which "CommonRedist" are required by The Sims 3, and make sure you have them turned-on / enabled and/or fully installed. If this requires any changes - you should re-boot after said changes are made. I somehow get the impression that for Windows 10 (at least for now) this requires User Intervention; as the installers don't seem to be up to properly installing such "CommonRedist" on a WIndows 10 installation - something about a Later Greater being in place prevents an Earlier Lesser (backwards-compatible) from being automatically installed.

For those that merely updated The Sims 3, by adding DLC(s):
You may need to consider finding a Community Guide on how to un-corrupt your SaveGame files; as The Sims 3 seems to see a version change as a corruption of your SaveGame files. The Official EA line (from way back when): "your old savegames will not be compatible with your new The Sims 3 version after you install this EP / SP"; and this does include any files you may have already downloaded from store.thesims3.com prior to updating The Sims 3 (but, for whatever reason, want to install -again-).

[Speedworth]

Originally posted by NetPCDoc:

Whoa! Slow down just a bit. Getting a Version of 0.0.0.0 on The Sims 3 Game Launcher is your first clue that you DO have a problem; that probably needs to be fixed before you continue on.

My recommendations:
First, if you haven't restarted (re-booted) your computer recently, DO IT NOW. It might be a good idea to do this after any changes are made to your configuration; such as installing a program, changing properties or adding/removing "CommonRedist" items.

For those that still have version 0.0.0.0 :
Second, make sure the executables are "Running as Administrator"; open the property window, navigate to the "compatibility tab" and check the "Run as Administrator" (or "Run this program as an administrator") box, then apply and ok.

Again, For those that still have version 0.0.0.0 :
For those running Windows 10 - check in your Steam local files location for which "CommonRedist" are required by The Sims 3, and make sure you have them turned-on / enabled and/or fully installed. If this requires any changes - you should re-boot after said changes are made. I somehow get the impression that for Windows 10 (at least for now) this requires User Intervention; as the installers don't seem to be up to properly installing such "CommonRedist" on a WIndows 10 installation - something about a Later Greater being in place prevents an Earlier Lesser (backwards-compatible) from being automatically installed.

For those that merely updated The Sims 3, by adding DLC(s):
You may need to consider finding a Community Guide on how to un-corrupt your SaveGame files; as The Sims 3 seems to see a version change as a corruption of your SaveGame files. The Official EA line (from way back when): "your old savegames will not be compatible with your new The Sims 3 version after you install this EP / SP"; and this does include any files you may have already downloaded from store.thesims3.com prior to updating The Sims 3 (but, for whatever reason, want to install -again-).

For me, I checked windows 8 compatibility mode. As of now its on version 1.67.2. I didnt download any of my EP's though. Will update.

[Knowmad]

Same issue here but my version shows up. Store DLC is not installing. Works just fine on the Origin version.