"A Serious Error Occurred"

[shinybeetle99]

Hi there! I'm getting back into the Sims after a few years of not playing since I finally got a laptop that can run it. I have some DLC (Pets, etc.) but every time I try to load a map, I get the message that "A Serious Error Has Occurred" and it is recommended that I close the game.

I've read through quite a few forums at this point, and nothing has worked, so I thought I might try reaching out here.

I don't have the game files open anywhere, I don't have any previous saves/backups/etc. on this laptop, I've uninstalled OneDrive, and I tried excluding the file folder from Windows Defender.

Is there anything I'm missing? I was so excited about the new laptop and getting back into the game and I'm starting to feel hopeless! I even bought new DLC during the last Steam sale and I can't even use it now.

If anyone has any suggestions, I would really appreciate it. Thank you!

[HiFive]

Do you have any other programs running while you are trying to load the game? Any program that is supposed to make your games run better? Sometimes such programs actually make some games worse.

It could maybe be an antivirus issue (I know you already mentioned this, but here is a thread talking about this):
https://steamcommunity.com/app/47890/discussions/0/522730701914523709/

[HiFive]

A few more threads to look at:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/47890/discussions/0/3667553846822737824/

https://steamcommunity.com/app/47890/discussions/0/2692512878708562929/

Note the link one of these threads has for the Sims Wiki on this topic.

If you do a search on this forum for "serious error has occurred" (without the quotes) you will get about 10 pages of threads to look at. I only looked at the first 2 pages of threads to get the stuff above.

Also, make sure you have limited your fps for this game since it doesn't have an fps limiter of its own. I have a gaming rig but I've limited the fps on a bunch of my older games to 30, and that has cleared up a lot of "bugs" in those older games because they were designed in an era when 30 fps was all most computers could do. The game looks just as good for me as when I was running it at a much higher fps. Other people set it to 60 or 90 fps if they are using the NRAAS mods to help with game issues.

[Vahe]

I got this error after a Windows 11 update. Check your Windows Security, Protection History. See if Windows is blocking the Sims from file access. If so, allow it access and u should be good to go.

[kittyowldances]

Originally posted by Vahe:

I got this error after a Windows 11 update. Check your Windows Security, Protection History. See if Windows is blocking the Sims from file access. If so, allow it access and u should be good to go.

Hi! This is currently happening to me, I checked my windows security and there is nothing in protection history...

[Purple_Crazy_Cat_Lady]

I am also having this frustrating problem and encountering the error. I have tried checking the firewall, windows security, I've tried renaming the folder so that Sims 3 creates a new one, I've tried pausing Onedrive.... Would repairing the game through steam help at all?

[monlovesmochi]

I am having the same issue. I somehow got it to work yesterday for a few hours, but now that I try playing again today, I'm getting the same error. The onedrive issue is really annoying and needs to be corrected.

[atomicgirl]

Originally posted by Purple_Crazy_Cat_Lady:

I am also having this frustrating problem and encountering the error. I have tried checking the firewall, windows security, I've tried renaming the folder so that Sims 3 creates a new one, I've tried pausing Onedrive.... Would repairing the game through steam help at all?

Don't just pause One Drive. Delete it. It's responsible for so many of the headaches playing this game.

Originally posted by monlovesmochi:

I am having the same issue. I somehow got it to work yesterday for a few hours, but now that I try playing again today, I'm getting the same error. The onedrive issue is really annoying and needs to be corrected.

Corrected in what sense? On EA's end? This is not the game's fault. Microsoft has had a bad habit of forcing upgrades that seem to deliberately kill or make a mess of older software. One Drive is one of those programs. The only way to correct anything is to just delete it.

[zhanaemilford7]

Originally posted by monlovesmochi:

I am having the same issue. I somehow got it to work yesterday for a few hours, but now that I try playing again today, I'm getting the same error. The onedrive issue is really annoying and needs to be corrected.

Same thing happened to me I was able to play a bit today but then when I tried to play now it won't work

[zhanaemilford7]

Originally posted by Vahe:

I got this error after a Windows 11 update. Check your Windows Security, Protection History. See if Windows is blocking the Sims from file access. If so, allow it access and u should be good to go.

Same but I don't think the protection history has blocked it can't find it really

[A Lonely Prince]

Originally posted by atomicgirl:

Originally posted by Purple_Crazy_Cat_Lady:

I am also having this frustrating problem and encountering the error. I have tried checking the firewall, windows security, I've tried renaming the folder so that Sims 3 creates a new one, I've tried pausing Onedrive.... Would repairing the game through steam help at all?

Don't just pause One Drive. Delete it. It's responsible for so many of the headaches playing this game.

Originally posted by monlovesmochi:

I am having the same issue. I somehow got it to work yesterday for a few hours, but now that I try playing again today, I'm getting the same error. The onedrive issue is really annoying and needs to be corrected.

Corrected in what sense? On EA's end? This is not the game's fault. Microsoft has had a bad habit of forcing upgrades that seem to deliberately kill or make a mess of older software. One Drive is one of those programs. The only way to correct anything is to just delete it.

Deleting OneDrive is not an option for many people who have to use it for work or personal reasons. Even with OneDrive closed, the game doesn't want to run.

[Purple_Crazy_Cat_Lady]

I think for now (!) I have fixed it by making a new windows admin user with no Onedrive, no microsoft account etc.....to my absolute joy I was able to start a new game with no error appearing. I think it was Onedrive interfering with things.

[atomicgirl]

Originally posted by ุ:

Deleting OneDrive is not an option for many people who have to use it for work or personal reasons. Even with OneDrive closed, the game doesn't want to run.

We're not talking about people using a laptop for work. We're talking about people using a laptop for Steam games.

Originally posted by Purple_Crazy_Cat_Lady:

I think it was Onedrive interfering with things.

It is definitely One Drive. It's known to mess with system folders as it's backing up to the cloud.

[tructran259]

Originally posted by Purple_Crazy_Cat_Lady:

I am also having this frustrating problem and encountering the error. I have tried checking the firewall, windows security, I've tried renaming the folder so that Sims 3 creates a new one, I've tried pausing Onedrive.... Would repairing the game through steam help at all?

Thank you so much!! I tried everything before too but it didn't work until I made a new user account!

[Purple_Crazy_Cat_Lady]

Originally posted by tructran259:

Originally posted by Purple_Crazy_Cat_Lady:

I am also having this frustrating problem and encountering the error. I have tried checking the firewall, windows security, I've tried renaming the folder so that Sims 3 creates a new one, I've tried pausing Onedrive.... Would repairing the game through steam help at all?

Thank you so much!! I tried everything before too but it didn't work until I made a new user account!

Yay I'm so glad it worked for you too!