Registry Fix Guide or How to get 4 of the 5 missing DLC to show

[thx1111]

Thanks to this: http://steamcommunity.com/app/47890/discussions/0/846943514108133718/#c846943514110410442, decided to make a guide, forgive if this is confusing, requires above average computer abilities and some familiarity with RegEdit.... If your not sure, recommend waiting for steam to patch this. This is at your own risk if you want to use and it's for those impatient ones (like myself). Again, can't stress enough, you can seriously damage your system messing around in the registry.....

Here it goes....

Location for Registry Edits, "XXXXXXXXXXXX" being the expansion name
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Sims(Steam)\XXXXXXXXXXXX
Root Location for CD Keys
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Electronic Arts\Sims(Steam)\XXXXXXXXXXXX
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

You will need to do the following BEFORE going into the registry:

(Shut down Steam/the Sims/Origin/etc.... before doing any of this stuff)

1.) Find the corresponding game volume file first (VDF file), this will list the registry fields, you will find these files in the "\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\The Sims 3" directory.

Copy these files to the desktop, you will need to move/copy them to other folders as well as read them later on in Notepad.
File Reference
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Sweet Treats, this is "223591_install.vdf" - SP6 - folder: sims_3_sp6
For Diesel Stuff, this is "223592_install.vdf" - SP7 - folder: sims_3_sp7
For Supernatural, this is "223593_install.vdf" - EP7 - folder: sims_3_ep7
For Seasons, this is "223594_install.vdf" - EP8 - folder: sims_3_ep8

* For the newest stuff pack (70's/80's/90's), this is "223595_install.vdf", however, at the time of this posting, I could not use since CD key was missing
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.) Once you have those files on your desktop or another temporary location, you will need to move them and create the following folders:

2a.) Open the folder "\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps"
2b.) Open the folder with <your steam username>
2c.) You'll see the folder "sims_3_ep1" or "sims_3_sp1", create the same folders for the non-working expansion packs. Or, just create folders "sims_3_sp6"; "sims_3_sp7"; "sims_3_ep6"; "sims_3_ep7".
2d.) Copy the VDF file to the corresponding new folder (file "223591_install.vdf" into folder "sims_3_sp6"), see chart above.....

* As a side note, I'd create "sims_3_sp8" folder as well and put "223595_install.vdf" file into it, this way it'll make it easier to run the 70's/80's/90's stuff pack once the CD key is obtained
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Location for Registry Edits, "XXXXXXXXXXXX" being the expansion name
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Sims(Steam)\XXXXXXXXXXXX
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
In an effort to save more typing on my end, I'll use "Sweet Treats" as an example, you can repeat this for the rest of the packs (both stuff and expansion)

Step 1.) Open file "223591_install.vdf" you may have copied on the desktop from example above
Step 2.) Open regedit, and go to the following location "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Sims(Steam)\", you'll notice the other games/expansion packs listed, but not anything beyond Showcase
Step 3.) Once in the "Sims(Steam)" key, right click on "Sims(Steam)", you will see a drop down menu that says "New" with an arrow, scroll over to the right on the small arrow and select "Key", you will need to rename it, in this case to "The Sims 3 Katy Perry Sweet Treats"

* All the values you need to use are in the "223591_install.vdf" file, open with notepad to see it.....

Step 4.) Once the key is highlighted, you will need to create the values "ContentID","country","DisplayName","ErgcRegPath","ExePath""Install Dir" and "locale". These can all be created right clicking on the "The Sims 3 Katy Perry Sweet Treats" key, you will see a drop down menu that says "New" with an arrow, scroll over to the right on the small arrow and select "String Value", you will need to rename it, in this case over and over again until you show all the strings listed above. I'd highly recommend looking at another expansion packs registry values to figure out if yours looks right, it has to be exact or it won't work. Modify these fields with the information you'll see in the "223591_install.vdf" file, but make sure to format out the value so they look like ones in the Pets entry, for example.

Step 5.) Once you have created the string values listed above, you will need to create a new type of value for "ProductID", "sku" and "Telemetry". These can all be created right clicking on the "The Sims 3 Katy Perry Sweet Treats" key, you will see a drop down menu that says "New" with an arrow, scroll over to the right on the small arrow and select "DWORD (32-bit value)", you will need to rename it, in this case over and over again until you show all the values listed above. I'd highly recommend looking at another expansion packs registry values to figure out if yours looks right, it has to be exact or it won't work. Modify these fields with the information you'll see in the "223591_install.vdf" file, but make sure to format out the value so they look like ones in the Pets entry, for example.

Step 6.) When you look at "223591_install.vdf" in Notepad, you will see in this case the product ID as "11", make sure to enter/modify this number/value as "decimal" not "hexidecimal", the "sku" is always a value of "7" and "Telemetry" does not need a value, just create it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Root Location for CD Keys
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Electronic Arts\Sims(Steam)\XXXXXXXXXXXX
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Step 1.) Open file "223591_install.vdf" you may have copied on the desktop from example above
Step 2.) Open regedit, and go to the following location "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Electronic Arts\Sims(Steam)\", you'll notice the other games/expansion packs listed, but not anything beyond Showcase
Step 3.) Once in the "Sims(Steam)" key, right click on "Sims(Steam)", you will see a drop down menu that says "New" with an arrow, scroll over to the right on the small arrow and select "Key", you will need to rename it, in this case to "The Sims 3 Katy Perry Sweet Treats", no need to create any values/modify any values here.
Step 4.) Once in the "The Sims 3 Katy Perry Sweet Treats" key, right click on "The Sims 3 Katy Perry Sweet Treats", you will see a drop down menu that says "New" with an arrow, scroll over to the right on the small arrow and select "Key", you will need to rename it, in this case to "ergc", this remains constant no matter what pack is being installed
Step 5.) Modify the computer created "(Default)" string value with your CD key for the corresponding stuff pack/expansion pack, basically just copy the number from steam into the registry value.

[Motoki]

Thanks. Much appreciated this will help.

I still encourage everyone to submit support tickets to Steam though. The more people that do the better chance we have to get their attention.

As you said there's still the issue with the 70s, 80s and 90s Stuff Pack not having a key so they can't be fixed. I actually played the other day and have a save that uses some of that stuff so I'm holding off playing for now until this all gets resolved.

[thx1111]

Absolutely, I've already sent Steam a support ticket about this, hopefully, they will fix soon (more tickets will escalate the priority). I'm guessing they will probably release the CD key for the new stuff pack before coming up with a patch to fix the other expansion pack problems.

[Anti]

Though you've intimitadated me with your warnings, I will still attemp this for I am inpatient as well.

[Anti]

On second thought, I'll wait.

[thx1111]

Anti, Yep, it works except for the last stuff pack (70's/80's/90's) since there are no CD key's yet for it, yet.... Steam will probably patch at some point though. About the warnings, just covering my butt from some commentor saying "You messed up my computer" when they don't follow my guide, delete their entire registry and blame yours truly....

[Motoki]

Okay I got these all working, even 70s, 80s and 90s stuff (it apparently doesn't NEED the key, just the other registry entries to run). It was terribly tedious, but I think I have a better way than manually entering all that.

I exported those registry trees to a .reg file. I'll paste the file here for each. Copy the quoted text for the ones you need, paste them into notepad but instead of saving the file with a .txt extention, save it with a .reg extension then just double click on the file and those entries should automatically be added to your registry.


Supernatural

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Sims(Steam)\The Sims 3 Supernatural]
"ContentID"="sims3_ep07_sku7"
"country"="US"
"DisplayName"="The Sims 3 Supernatural"
"ErgcRegPath"="Electronic Arts\\\\Sims(Steam)\\\\The Sims 3 Supernatural\\\\ergc"
"ExePath"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steamapps\\common\\The Sims 3\\EP7\\Game\\Bin\\TS3EP07.exe"
"Install Dir"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steamapps\\common\\The Sims 3\\EP7"
"Locale"="en-US"
"ProductID"=dword:0000000f
"sku"=dword:00000007
"Telemetry"=dword:00000000

Seasons

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Sims(Steam)\The Sims 3 Seasons]
"ContentID"="sims3_ep08_sku7"
"country"="US"
"DisplayName"="The Sims 3 Seasons"
"ErgcRegPath"="Electronic Arts\\\\Sims(Steam)\\\\The Sims 3 Seasons\\\\ergc"
"ExePath"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steamapps\\common\\The Sims 3\\EP8\\Game\\Bin\\TS3EP08.exe"
"Install Dir"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steamapps\\common\\The Sims 3\\EP8"
"Locale"="en-US"
"ProductID"=dword:00000010
"sku"=dword:00000007
"Telemetry"=dword:00000000

Katy Perry's Sweet Treats

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Sims(Steam)\The Sims 3 Katy Perry Sweet Treats]
"ContentID"="sims3_sp06_sku7"
"DisplayName"="The Sims 3 Katy Perry's Sweet Treats"
"ErgcRegPath"="Electronic Arts\\\\Sims(Steam)\\\\The Sims 3 Katy Perry Sweet Treats\\\\ergc"
"ExePath"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steamapps\\common\\The Sims 3\\SP6\\Game\\Bin\\TS3SP06.exe"
"ProductID"=dword:0000000d
"Telemetry"=dword:00000000
"country"="US"
"Install Dir"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steamapps\\common\\The Sims 3\\SP6"
"Locale"="en-US"
"sku"=dword:00000007

Diesel Stuff

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Sims(Steam)\\The Sims 3 Diesel Stuff]
"ContentID"="sims3_sp07_sku7"
"country"="US"
"DisplayName"="The Sims 3 Diesel Stuff"
"ErgcRegPath"="Electronic Arts\\\\Sims(Steam)\\\\The Sims 3 Diesel Stuff\\\\ergc"
"ExePath"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steamapps\\common\\The Sims 3\\SP7\\Game\\Bin\\TS3SP07.exe"
"Install Dir"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steamapps\\common\\The Sims 3\\SP7"
"Locale"="en-US"
"ProductID"=dword:0000000e
"sku"=dword:00000007
"Telemetry"=dword:00000000

70s, 80s, and 90s Stuff

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Sims(Steam)\The Sims 3 70s 80s & 90s Stuff]
"ContentID"="sims3_Sp08_sku7"
"country"="US"
"DisplayName"="The Sims 3 70s 80s & 90s Stuff"
"ErgcRegPath"="Electronic Arts\\\\Sims(Steam)\\\\The Sims 3 70s 80s & 90s Stuff\\\\ergc"
"ExePath"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\SteamApps\\common\\the sims 3\\SP8\\Game\\Bin\\TS3SP08.exe"
"Install Dir"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\SteamApps\\common\\the sims 3\\SP8"
"Locale"="en-US"
"ProductID"=dword:00000011
"sku"=dword:00000007
"Telemetry"=dword:00000000

These registry entries assume you installed to the default location on the C: drive. If you have the game installed to another drive then change the references for C:\ to D:\ or E:\ or whatever drive letter you have the game installed on. Most people won't need to worry about this though.

[thx1111]

Thanks Motoki .... This works for the new expansion pack! The only thing I noticed was the sims store content doesn't work (also the 70s/80s/90s pack icon on the launcher shows version 0.0.0.0). But, hey, it it works..... I'm wondering if I can use the retail CD key my younger sister has for the new stuff pack and plug it in the "ergc"..... I'll try that, see what happens....

[thx1111]

Interesting, I put the 70s/80s/90s retail serial into the "ergc" key, and it now shows the correct version number (17.0) on the new stuff pack icon on the launcher. Still having a problem installing custom content, I think it has to do with a patch (version 2.1) relating to just store content (the launcher tries to install the store content patch and fails, leads me to believe this is the reason my store content isn't working), unless someone knows otherwise or can help

[Motoki]

I submitted a ticket to Steam Support the other day about this problem with the game not detecting the DLC even though we own it. Once I found this fix with manually adding the registry entries, I updated my support ticket to note that the exact problem was the missing registry entries.

I was very explicit to note that the problem still exists and that most users will not know to go into the registry and add these values so it still needs to be fixed. I guess I just shouldn't have brought it up at all that there was a fix because I got a reply back this morning stating "I'm glad that you were able to resolve your problem".

That's not the point. The game isn't installing the registry entries for the last 5 DLC properly, the problem still exists for other people and it still needs to be fixed.

I wrote them back again to tell them that but I am sure it is some offshore support somewhere staffed by non-technical people who aren't getting it.

[thx1111]

For sure, this "fix" is only a band-aid, it's Steam Support who should be taking the lead on this, I was able to finally get the store content to show, but it does greatly bug me that the customers themselves are providing better support/solutions than customer service.

[Anti]

Motoki, I tried saving the notepad as a .reg, but the only options I have is to save it as .txt or All files.

[Motoki]

Originally posted by Anti:

Motoki, I tried saving the notepad as a .reg, but the only options I have is to save it as .txt or All files.

Okay I added them to a zip file and uploaded it.

{LINK REMOVED}http://www.mediafire.com/?he73zinrna2s2a8

Just some things to be aware of. The registry entries on those files are for the 64 bit version of Windows. For the 32 bit remove the " (x86)" parts from the paths.

They are also for US English version of the game. For another language you will need to change the country and Locale values.

Also this assumes you have the game installed to the default location on the C drive. If you don't you will need to change the drive letter and/or the path specified.

To edit the reg files you should just be able to right click on them and hit "edit" which should be the second option. It will bring up notepad and show you what's in them. It's just a text file that adds entries to your registry. After I manually added them all I used the export function to save those entries to these files for easier installation of those values. You can still do it manually with the instructions above but it's really tedious to do, particularly if you have to do it for multiple packs.

I encourage anyone using these to use the edit function and view what's in them just so they can feel comfortable with what they are installing, but as I said it's just text, it's not an executable at all.

[Anti]

Thanks Motoki! Problem now is I dont know how to edit it! Im seeing it from winrar, and Im not seeing an edit option. All I need to change is the path it's taking, which is to D:. I also need it to go directly to Steam, not Program Files.

[Motoki]

Well you have to extract the .reg files first before you can edit them. I don't think you can edit them straight out of winrar.

If all else fails you can manually add those entries in the registry yourself in C:\Windows\System32\regedt32.exe with thx1111's instructions above but it is a bit of a pain.

[Anti]

Alright, I had to export it to The Sims 3//EP8//Game//Bin, didnt know that part. Now Im at the part where I double click, but there is a warning that comes in the end, and so now Im being cautious.

I've editted some things, such as the D:// path, and that part seems right, but "ErgcRegPath"="Electronic Arts\\\\Sims(Steam)\\\\The Sims 3 Seasons\\\\ergc" worries me. Am I supposed to have this? Because if this is a "path" it has to cross, I dont have it! And then boom, chaos will ensue!

P.S. I am a simpleton, no idea on this computer stuff
P.S.S. We dont worry about putting in our key codes, right?