Toubleshooting for The Sims 3

The Sims 3 is a great game, but it's also a resource-intensive game with a lot of quirks. With all this, it can be hard sometimes to get it running properly. This guide covers basic and advanced troubleshooting for the PC version of The Sims 3.

0.0 Introduction

Hi, I'm cruinne. You'll see me on Steam forums from time to time trying to help people get their games running.

Of all the games I've got, The Sims 3 is by far the most demanding and resource-intensive game in the list. It's a hog: it consumes your CPU, RAM, and GPU cycles just for fun, and then asks for more. The game's best aspects for its users (that it's moddable and that there are a lot of opportunities to add new content to your game) are actually the worst for our poor computers and, often, for game stability.

But it's fun: hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of fun. And so it's worth it.

This guide is a compilation of all the various bits and pieces of advice I've come by over the years to try to help get The Sims 3 up and running on computers of all sorts.

If you find this guide helpful, please consider giving it a thumbs-up, or letting me know in the comments area, below. Thanks!

0.1 Disclaimer (Read Me, Please!)

I am just another Steam and Sims 3 user.

I am not a technical expert; I do not have any affiliation with Steam or with Electronic Arts; and my understanding of what's causing any specific issue might sometimes be imperfect.

I will give you the best advice I can and always with the goal of improving your game's playability but you follow the advice at your own risk. If you follow it incorrectly and end up causing yourself more problems as a result, I am not responsible.

If you can live with that, then welcome, and please read on.

0.2 How to Use this Guide

This guide is quite large, but that's unavoidable since there are really very many reasons for problems with The Sims 3. I doubt I've covered every last problem here, but I've tried to hit those that will help the bulk of Sims 3 players who are having trouble.

First, please be sure to read my Disclaimer, above. Then start with section 1.0 of the guide, on Game Requirements and whether your computer meets them. Even if you don't think that part is necessary, go through it.

After that, work through the guide.

• Launcher problems are in Section 2.
  Start here if your Launcher won't start, or if the game immediately crashes when you click "play" in the Launcher.
  
  
• Overall game problems in Section 3.
  This section covers a really wide range of issues, and even if your problem is not specifically mentioned, working through Section 3 (that is, doing the things their rather than just reading it) will in most cases fix your game's problem.
  
  
• Expansion Pack problems are in Section 4.
  Some of the EPs have specific issues related to them, so check there if you've installed one of the packs listed.
  
  
• Other random issues are covered in Section 5.
  There are just some issues that aren't exactly game breaking, but they can drive you crazy.

Ideally, you'll start with the first section that might possibly apply to the problem you're having and then work through the rest, in order, until your problem is solved.

1.0 Base Game Requirements

Step one is to check the game requirements against your computer's specs.

• Game crashes can be caused by a computer that does not meet the system requirements for The Sims 3. Typical Error Messages would be: "The Sims 3 application has stopped responding," or "The Sims 3 has stopped working."

It is important to realize, though, that the "Minimum Requirements" are exactly that: minimum. With the minimum requirements you should be able to run the game, but it may not be an enjoyable experience. It will not look good and it will not run smoothly (and it may crash often) if the computer it is run on just meets the "minimum" necessary to get it going.

Windows XP Base Game Requirements

• Processor: 2.0 GHz P4 or equivalent (Recommended: 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo, or AMD Athlon II, or higher)
  
• RAM: 1 GB (Recommended: 2 GB)
  
• Video Card: 128 MB with support for Pixel Shader 2.0 (Recommended: 256 MB dedicated)
  
• Software: latest version of DirectX 9.0c (Recommended: latest versions of Adobe Flash and Internet Explorer)
  
• OS Version: Service Pack 2
  
• Hard Drive: at least 7.1 GB of available drive space

Windows VIsta, Windows 7, and Windows 8, and Windows 10 Base Game Requirements

• Processor: 2.4 GHz P4 or equivalent (Recommended: 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo or AMD Phenom II or higher for low-end; Core i5 or AMD FX for reasonable performance)
  
• RAM: 1.5 GB (Recommended: 4 GB)
  
• Video Card: 128 MB with support for Pixel Shader 2.0 (Recommended: 256 MB dedicated or better)
  
• OS Version: Vista Service Pack 1, or Windows 7, or Windows 8
  
• Hard Drive: at least 7.1 GB of available drive space

Integrated Graphics Requirements

If your computer uses integrated graphics (that is, it has no dedicated video card), there are slightly higher requirements:

• Intel Integrated Chipset, GMA 3-Series or above
  
• 1.8 GHz Core 2 Duo (Windows XP Service Pack 3), or 2.6 GHz Pentium D CPU (Windows Vista, 7, or 8)
  
• 0.5 GB additional RAM

Note that The Sims 3 also has a limited list of supported Graphics Cards. These change over time as new cards are added by EA. The Sims Wiki has a very good list of cards which have been tested[simswiki.info] against the game at each patch level, so that may help.

1.1 Expansion and Stuff Packs

As you add Expansion Packs and Stuff Packs to your game, the requirements increase.

Expansion Pack Requirements

In addition to the above requirements for the base game, EPs have their own requirements. The total hard disk requirements for the base game plus all expansions is ~29 GB.

• Ambitions: +2.4 GB drive space; total of 4 GB RAM.
  
• Generations: +1 GB drive space; total of 4 GB RAM.
  
• Into the Future: +1.5 GB drive space; total of 4 GB RAM.
  
• Island Paradise: +1.5 GB drive space; total of 4 GB RAM.
  
• Late Night: +2.3 GB drive space; total of 4 GB RAM.
  
• Pets: +3.2 GB drive space; total of 4 GB RAM.
  
• Showtime: +2.8 GB drive space; total of 4 GB RAM.
  
• Supernatural: +3.5 GB drive space; total of 4 GB RAM.
  
• Seasons: +3.5 GB drive space; total of 4 GB RAM.
  
• University Life: +3.5 GB drive space; total of 4 GB RAM.
  
• World Adventures: +3 GB drive space.

Stuff Pack Requirements

SPs also increase the minimum necessary requirements. Installing all EPs and SPs has a minimum requirment of ~30 GB disk space.

• High-End Loft: +0.26 GB drive space.
  
• Fast Lane: +0.2 GB drive space.
  
• Outdoor Living: +0.2 GB drive space; total of 4 GB RAM.
  
• Town Life: +0.12 GB drive space; total of 4 GB RAM.
  
• Master Suite: +0.15 GB drive space; total of 4 GB RAM.
  
• Sweet Treats: +0.17 GB drive space; total of 4 GB RAM.
  
• Diesel: +0.13 GB drive space; total of 4 GB RAM.
  
• 70s, 80s, & 90s: +0.18 drive space; total of 4 GB RAM.

1.2 Your Computer's Stats

There are three easy ways to see your computer's stats.

Steam

In Steam go to Help > System Information. There, you want to get the following details:

• Under "Processor Information", get the CPU Brand line.
  
• Under "Operating System Version", get the first line.
  
• Under "Video Card", get the first line.
  
• Under "Memory", get the RAM line.

Piriform's Speccy

Speccy[www.piriform.com] is a free (for personal use) program which shows a lot of handy information, both in summary and in detail. It will show you: (1) your computer's operating system; (2) your computer's processor and speed; (3) your computer's memory (RAM) and its speed; and (4) your computer's video card and its details.



Note two other things. First, Speccy shows you the temperature of each (if available), which can help you monitor for overheating issues and, second, there are links down the left-hand side for more detailed views on these components.

Overall, I find Speccy really useful and recommend it.

The DirectX Diagnostic Tool

Most computers will have this already installed since it comes with any distribution of DirectX. In Windows, go to your Start menu and type "dxdiag" (without the quotes) into the Run box or, in Windows 8, go to Search and type in "dxdiag". When the program runs, you're going to be looking at the System tab and the Display tab for five pieces of information you need.

The System tab will tell you (1) your computer's operating system and version, (2) your computer's processor and its speed, and (3) your computer's total amount of memory (RAM).



Note that it tells you the amount of RAM in MB, rather than GB which is more common for RAM today. Divide the number shown by 1024 to get your GB of RAM.

The Display tab will tell you (4) your computer's video card and (5) that video card's amount of memory (again, in MB). It can also tell you the last time you updated your video driver, which can be important.

1.3 What if Your Computer Doesn't Meet the Requirements?

It happens that, even though The Sims 3 is an older game, some brand new computers do not meet the required minimums to play it.

If that's so, I would suggest that trying to play the game on your computer would be, at worst, impossible -- it may not start up or install at all -- and at best, frustrating -- it will look awful, it will have weird glitches, and it will crash quite a bit.

The most important spec your computer can have (in my opinion) is a dedicated video card. Having that will free up the processor and the RAM for other tasks besides rendering the game video. But it isn't a magic bullet: overall your computer will have to be mid-range to high-end to run The Sims 3 decently.

If you have looked through all the above and are still confused, you can try the Can You Run It?[www.systemrequirementslab.com] site, which will break it all down for you and help you see where your computer meets or misses the minimums for the game.

2.0 Launcher Troubles

Sometimes the launcher can cause all kinds of headaches. Typical problems with the launcher might be the launcher simply refusing to start or you seeing error messages such as:

• "Base Game not compatible with current Expansion Pack."
  
• "The version of the game you are running is incompatible with the data. Please update your game."
  
• "Sims3Launcher has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."
  
• "There was an error during startup. See the Log for more details."
  
• "This application has failed to start because QtCore4.dll was not found"

I go over a what's-what of the Launcher below, then start listing potential fixes with section 2.1 and after.

Important Parts of the Launcher

Below, I've labelled five different parts of this Launcher to better explain their purpose.



(1) Downloads tab: When you download Sims3Pack files for your game and put them in its Downloads folder, this is where they go. From there, you can install them. However, you cannot uninstall them from here.

(2) Installed Content tab: This is where Sims, clothes, furniture, lots, and neighborhoods you've installed using Sims3Pack files go once they're installed. To uninstall a Sims3Pack, you have to find it in this tab, tick it, then click the "uninstall" button.

(3) Patch Version: This area shows the patch version for your current game. Usually only the first three digits are important (for example, this one shows patch version 1.67).

The icons at the bottom show which EPs and SPs you have installed. (4) If an EP/SP is installed, its icon will be "lit up"; if it isn't installed, its icon will be "dimmed" (5). Mousing over any icon there will tell you which EP/SP it represents.

2.1 Make Sure Game isn't Running

Sometimes the big blue Play button on the Launcher will be greyed out. This is usually because your computer believes that The Sims 3 is already running.

Be sure that you are not already running the game, and be sure that it has no stray processes still running. To check, open Task Manager (control + alt + delete), and look for any ts3 process that might be running; if you find one, right-click it and choose "End Task".

2.2 Update Required Applications

The Launcher relies on a number of applications each of which must be kept up to date. Sometimes it will go along just fine with older versions of this software, but other times it will refuse to load, start then cause a black screen, or just give you vague error messages. If you're seeing this, be sure the following are up to date.

Internet Explorer

Even if you never use IE and you have your default browser set to something else, the game relies on some of its structure for things like logging in and the in-game store. Keep it up to date either by opening your Windows Update and fetching the latest updates for IE, or by downloading and installing it directly from Microsoft[windows.microsoft.com]. (Note that, at this time, I'm unsure how the launcher and game interact with Windows computers where Edge has replaced IE.)

Adobe Air

Another helper that the Launcher uses is Adobe Air[get.adobe.com]. It's often easier if you download Adobe Air while using Internet Explorer since the correct download will automatically be chosen, but if not you may need to use the link for Other Versions[get.adobe.com] of Air, and specify what version you need.

Adobe Flash

The launcher uses Adobe Flash[get.adobe.com] in places, and not having it installed, or having an outdated version, can cause the launcher to crash.

Java

You will also want to be sure that your installation of Java[www.java.com] is up to date.

Microsoft C++ Redistributable

The Microsoft C++ Redistributable is different depending on whether you're using a 32-bit[www.microsoft.com] or 64-bit[www.microsoft.com] version of Windows. (Note that this is not whether you computer is 32- or 64-bit architecture, but whether your version of Windows is 32- or 64-bit.)

2.3 Run Secondary Installers

Sometimes a glitch in install causes problems and so the game cannot move from Launcher to Game correctly. In this case, manually running the secondary installers required by this game can help.

1. Shut down Steam.
   
2. Go to your Steam Sims 3 installation folder. This is usually found in C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\the sims 3\.
   
3. Inside the Install folder:
   
   1. Locate the VP6 folder and run vp6install.exe.
      
   2. Locate the vcredist folder and run vcredist_x86.exe.
      
   3. Locate the DirectX folder and run dxsetup.exe.
      
   4. Locate the dot net folder and run dotnetfx.exe
4. Finally, reboot your computer and try to start the game again.

2.4 Remove Potentially Corrupt Files

A number of files are stored inside your computer's Documents directory, and sometimes they can come into conflict with the game or the launcher due to glitches. In removing the files, you force your game to re-generate fresh ones that, hopefully, do not have the same problems the old ones had.

If you're having trouble with your launcher after completing step 2.2, then you will want to open your Documents directory and locate the Electronic Arts folder. Inside it, find the folder for The Sims 3, and open it.

1. Locate the DCCache folder, and, inside it, delete missingdeps.idx and dcc.ent.
   
2. Locate the SavedSims folder (you may not always have one), and inside it, remove the file named downloadedsims.index.
   
3. Locate the Downloads folder, and inside it remove any .bin files (enter *.bin in the "Search" area to list them).
   
4. Locate the SigsCache folder, and inside it remove any .bin files.

2.5 Ensure .Net is Enabled

If you are using Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, you may have .Net disabled without realizing it. and this can cause the launcher to fail.

For Windows 8.1

1. Go to your start area and in Search start typing, Windows Feature.
   
2. Click Turn Windows features on or off..
   
3. Make sure that the .Net Framework entry has a tick by it.

For Windows 10:

1. Press Windows Logo + R on the keyboard.
   
2. In the Run command box, type appwiz.cpl.
   
3. Run the appwiz.cpl.
   
4. In the Programs and Features window, click the link for Turn Windows features on or off.
   
5. Check if the .Net framework 3.5 (includes .Net 2.0 and 3.0) option is available; if it is, Enable it and click OK.
   
6. When done, reboot your computer.

2.6 Run CCleaner

If you have (at some point) uninstalled then reinstalled the Sims, you might start to have launcher issues. The most common problem seen will be a message that "There was an error during start-up. See the Log for more details."

This is due to the de-installation leaving odd registry entries hanging about. The easiest fix is to use a program called CCleaner.

1. Download CCleaner[www.piriform.com].
   
2. Back up your Registry. (In Regedit, use File > Export, and keep a copy somewhere you can find it.)
   
3. Run CCleaner.
   
4. Click the "Registry" button/icon.
   
5. Click the "Scan for Issues" button.
   
6. Allow CCleaner to "Fix Selected Issues".
   
7. Restart your computer.

After doing this, head to step 2.3 and run the Secondary Installers again.

Finally, one note: If you're reinstalling with fewer EPs/SPs than you have previously used, you should go into your Registry and delete the entries for the EPs/SPs that you are not re-installing.

2.7 Adjust for Windows Security Patches

I've heard that recent security updates to Windows 10 for Flash have caused the Launcher to start crashing. This may eventually apply to other versions of Windows too, but I've not yet experienced it.

The reported solution is to set Internet Explorer's ActiveX Filtering options to Enabled:

1. Open Internet Explorer.
   
2. Open Settings (the gear icon).
   
3. Locate the setting for "Safety".
   
4. There, find the setting for "ActiveX Filtering" and ensure it's ticked.

2.8 Set Launcher Compatibility

This seems to have become more important for Windows 10 users with recent Windows updates.

First, locate your launcher executable. For most Steam users this will be found in the Steam install directory (which defaults to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\).

1. There, go into common\steamapps\The Sims 3\Game\Bin.
   
2. Look for a file named Sims3LauncherW.exe (note the "w" in there).
   
3. Right-click that file and choose Properties.
   
4. Go to the Compatibility tab.
   
5. Tick the box to run the game as an administrator, then close the Properties.

If this solves your launcher issue, odds are that you will also need the game itself to have the same setting. You can find the game executable in the same directory, and it will be named ts3w.exe.

2.9 Use English Keyboard Passwords

This one sounds odd, I know, but to log in through the game launcher, you must have "normal" English keyboard characters. That means that the English alphabet is fine, as are the shift characters such as !, #, and ), but that modified characters won't work.

For example, if you use ß or é in your password, the launcher will fail to log you in.

3.0 Freezing, Crashing, and Black Screens

While playing the game, it can lag or freeze, crash, or go to a black screen. There are many reasons this can happen, so this guide starts with some of the most common issues, and works down to a few of the less common ones. Please work through them in order and test after each section to see if your problem is solved.

3.1 Update Your Video Drivers

A lot of times we forget to update our video drivers until something goes wrong, and even then, it's probably not one of the first things we think of. Nevertheless, old and outdated video drivers can cause a lot of problems and glitches in the game.

Step 1: Identify Your Video Card

Use the DirectX Diagnostic Tool or Speccy (as in part 1.2 of this guide) to determine what your video card is. It's likely going to be one of three: NVIDIA, ATI, or Intel (integrated). Another possibility is that it is one of these, but that your computer is a laptop, in which case you should identify the brand and make of your laptop.

Step 2: Go to the Manufacturer Website and Download the Newest Drivers

For desktop computers, you will normally go to the website for the video card:

• NVIDIA[www.nvidia.com]
  
• ATI[www.amd.com]
  
• Intel[www.intel.com]

For a laptop, you might need to go to its manufacturer's website instead.

Find the link for "drivers" on that site (often it's under a support link), then download the driver for your card (or laptop) that goes with your version of Windows.

Step 3: Install the New Drivers

Close all other applications, then you should just have to double-click the file you installed and follow the instructions.

3.2 Run Clean

It might go without saying but ... if your game is running slow, lagging, freezing, or crashing, try shutting down everything else on your computer that you don't need while you're playing the game. This includes browsers, iTunes, Media Player, Netflix, and so on. Make sure nothing else is running, then see if your game performance improves. A good way to look for stuff that's running and using your resources without your knowing about it is PC Decrapifier[pcdecrapifier.com].

Also, be sure to keep your anti-virus software is up to date and check that your computer is not infected with viruses, trojans, adware, and the like. Malware will interfere with how your computer performs overall, and can interfere with the game drastically. A good, free malware detector is Malwarebytes[www.malwarebytes.org]. A good, free piece of antivirus software is Avast[www.avast.com].

Finally, while running the game itself, it's wise to put your antivirus into "silent" or "gaming mode" so that it does not interfere with the game.

3.3 Validate Your Steam Install

Using Steam itself, you can validate some of your files and ensure they aren't corrupt (or missing!).

1. In your Steam Library, right-click The Sims 3, and choose Properties.
   
2. Under the "Local Files" tab, click "Verify Integrity of Game Files...". This can actually take a while, so be prepared.

If it responds that game files are missing but it doesn't manage to get them, then exit Steam, restart your computer, re-start Steam. Make sure Steam is in Online Mode, then try to verify again.

Note, however, that it is normal for a few files not to verify properly. As Steam says, "The files that fail to verify are local configuration files that should not be replaced as part of this process. You can safely ignore this message." We are primarily concerned here with missing files.

If this still does not work, it's possible that some of Steam's files are corrupt and need to be restored. To refresh your Steam files (without losing your game content):

1. Completely exit Steam.
   
2. Open your Run dialog with the Windows Key + r. Alternately, in Windows 8, go to the Start menu and type run or, in Windows XP, Vista, or 7 go to the Start menu and use the Run box.
   
3. In there type: steam://flushconfig
   
4. Press the enter key.
   
5. Restart your computer.
   
6. Start steam directly from its installation folder -- Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe -- not from a shortcut.

You can then try to verify your game again and see if the missing files are located.

3.4 Remove Temporary Files

Your computer's Documents directory houses a folder named The Sims 3 inside a folder named Electronic Arts. A number of temporary files are stored there, and they can cause problems for your game if they are corrupt or infected.

On Windows XP, The Sims 3 folder is usually found in C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\My Documents\Electronic Arts\. On Windows Vista, 7, and 8, it's normally found in C:\Users\<user>\Documents\Electronic Arts\.

Inside your Documents directory's The Sims 3 folder, locate and delete the following files:

• CasPartCache.package
  
• compositorCache.package
  
• scriptCache.package
  
• simCompositorCache.package
  
• socialCache.package

Also:

• Inside DCCache, remove missingdeps.idx and dcc.ent
  
• Inside Downloads, remove all .bin files.
  
• Inside SIgsCache, remove all .bin files.
  
• Inside SavedSims, remove Downloadedsims.index.
  
• Inside IGACache, remove all files.
  
• Inside Thumbnails, find and delete all .package files and all files thumb_*.png files. Also, if there is a FeaturedItems folder, delete it entirely.
  
• If there is a WorldCaches folder, delete it (Warning: do not delete it if you are on a Mac -- this guide is for PCs only).

When you next start up The Sims 3, fresh copies of these files will be generated.

3.5 Start in Windowed Mode

Sometimes, it's possible for the options file to get confused about your graphics settings and cause The Sims 3 not to start properly. Starting in Windowed mode can help.

There are three ways to get into Windowed mode. If your game won't start at all, you will need to use Method Three below.

Method One: In-game Keyboard Short-cut

While in the game, you can use Alt + Enter to move the game between Fullscreen and Windowed mode.

Method Two: Adjust Your Settings

In the game go to click the "three dots" button and go to Options (or hit F5 and click Options). On the "Graphics" tab (usually the first one), untick the box for "Enable Fullscreen Mode", then click the checkmark button to close the dialog.

Method Three: Edit the Options File

Inside your computer's Documents directory, look for the Electronic Arts folder and, inside it, the The Sims 3 folder. There you will have a file named Options.ini.

1. Right-click the Options file, and choose Edit.
   
2. Inside the file, find the line that reads fullscreen = 1 and change the one to a zero.
   
3. Save the file and close it.

Once you get the game started, you can use the in-game options to adjust the display settings to best suit your computer.

3.6 Reset Your Game

Sometimes the problem is in the configuration, custom content, and save files that your game tries to load. To see if this is the case:

1. In your computer's Documents directory, find the folder for Electronic Arts.
   
2. Inside it, locate the folder for The Sims 3.
   
3. Rename this folder to something else (for example, rename it to Old The Sims 3).
   
4. Now try to start the game and see if it runs properly.

The game will regenerate a new The Sims 3 folder when it starts.

If the game starts and runs properly after doing this, then you know that the problem is in that folder somewhere.

If you want to play with a fresh start, then you can simply delete your renamed folder, but be warned: that folder contains all mods and content you've installed, plus all your save games. Deleting it will mean you lose all that.

If instead you want to try to troubleshoot that folder, then delete the new Sims 3 folder, and rename the old one back to The Sims 3 -- then proceed with the next section, 3.7.

3.7 Locate Problem Content

Your computer's Documents directory contains any custom content you've installed, whether from the Sims store or from third party sites. Custom content can cause problems for your game if it is corrupt or infected, or if is not intended for your patch level.

On Windows XP, The Sims 3 folder is usually found in C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\My Documents\Electronic Arts\. On Windows Vista, 7, and 8, it's normally found in C:\Users\<user>\Documents\Electronic Arts\.

Step 1: Remove Mods and Package Files

If you have never installed mods or .package files, you do not need to do this step. But if you have, go to your Documents directory's The Sims 3 folder and move the Mods folder somewhere else (or rename it something like xMods, which still stop it being used). Remove your temporary files (see Section 3.4, above) then test your game.

If this resolves the problem, you know the issue was with at least one mod that you had installed. (See Step 3 below on how to figure out which it may be if you have more than one.)

Step 2: Remove Sims3Pack Files

Inside your Documents directory's The Sims 3 folder, locate the DCCache folder. Inside it, temporarily move out all files ending in .dbc (it's useful to create a temporary folder on your desktop for this). The .dbc files contain any content you've installed using the .Sims3Pack format. Remove your temporary files (as above) then test your game.

If this resolves the problem, you know the issue was with at least one item you had installed. (See Step 3 below on how to figure out which it may be if you have more than one.)

Step 3: Zeroing in on the Problem Content

If Step 1 or Step 2 above seemed to fix your problem, then the issue is in your custom content. This step will help you narrow down which content it is.

Note that you don't have to do this step! If your issue is fixed and you're happy to leave things as they are and move on, then do so. But if you'd like to keep as much of that content as possible, then you will need to do this step.

Did the Problem Start Recently?
If the problem only started after a recent item or Sim was added to the game, it would be your likely suspect. Remove the most recently added materials, then do Step 1, above, and try the game again.

Otherwise, Start Dividing Your Content
If you have more than one bit of custom content and can't find the problem easily, the next step is figuring out which bit is the problem by the process of elimination.

Make two temporary folders somewhere to hold files for you while you sort, then move half your custom content to one folder, and the other half to the other. So, if the problem is in your Mods folder, as determined by Step 2, above, you'd move all the .package files in your Mods folder into these two temporary folders (half in one, half in the other).

Then copy the contents of one of the folders back into your game. Remove your temporary files (Section 3.4, above), then start the game.

If the game doesn't work, then you know that there is a problem in the files you just put back into the game. Take them back out, divide them in half and try again. (You'll keep doing this until you zero in on the problem content.)

If the game does work, then you know that the problem is in the other files. Divide them in half, copy half to the game, and see if the game works.

Repeat this process, dividing each set of files, until you locate which files are causing the problem. You can confirm this by putting only those files into the game (with no others) and seeing how things behave. When you've done that, put back everything else and test again. If that final test works, you know you've found the problem so delete the problem files and add the rest back into your game.

3.8 Consider Consolidating Content

If you're someone with a lot of custom content in the form of .package files, you can probably speed up your load time and lessen game lag by consolidating those packages.

Important Notes:

• This only works with .package files. You cannot combine .Sims3Pack files.
  
• Do not combine mods that change game behavior. These usually need to be updated each patch.
  
• Keep notes about what's in each combined .package in case you ever need to or want to get rid of something.
  
• Consider saving the original files somewhere, in case you want to re-make your packages without certain content.

Merge Files with CC Magic

CC Magic is a program made for doing this kind of work. You can usually download it from the creator's site[sims3.the-prof.net], or on ModtheSims. There is also a good tutorial for how to combine files using CC Magic here[nonasims.wordpress.com].

Merge Files with Sims 3 Package Editor

The Sims 3 Package Editor (Sim3PE) is available through Simlogical's forum[www.den.simlogical.com]. A good tutorial for how to use it to combine packages can be found at Club Crimsyn[club-crimsyn.dreamwidth.org].

3.9 Use Game-correcting Mods

For all we love The Sims 3, there are things in it that could be handled better. Bugs in the game can mean that your saves will not load, and can cause lag and crashes -- they can even cause your computer to overheat. Below, I've listed some of my favorite mods that try to help correct the worst problems in the game. There is also a section below on how to install these files.

Overwatch

The mod that I recommend the highest for freezing and shut-downs is called Overwatch[www.nraas.net]. Overwatch has a variety of functions, some of the most important of which are: stuck or unroutable Sims are found and reset, stereos and tvs in other lots that are on but not being used are shut off; abandoned cars and children are put back where they belong, and much more[www.nraas.net].

ErrorTrap

This mod helps with game save clean-ups and error reporting. If you save often, or if your Sim travels between worlds a lot, ErrorTrap[www.nraas.net] can be worth a trial.

Traveler

The native town transition system (for moving between towns, university, or vacation neighborhoods) is very buggy and sometimes causes Sims to vanish in the process; the native transition also forgets several things that it shouldn't about your Sims (their gender preference, their collection information, and so on). Traveler[www.nraas.net] replaces that system and ensures Sims get where they're going with their details intact.

DebugEnabler

This one can be useful if you're constantly experiencing the same bugs - such as your Sims going invisible, or your Sims' furniture becoming unusable. There are commands in DebugEnabler[www.nraas.net] to fix these, plus a few other useful bits and pieces.

How to Install these Mods

1. Open your computer's Documents directory and, inside it, open the "Electronic Arts" folder. Inside it, open the "The Sims 3" folder.
   
2. There, create a new folder and name it: Mods
   
3. Download a Resource.cfg file and put it in that Mods folder. This is a standard one that a lot of people use: http://skuld.modthesims.info/Resource.cfg.
   
4. In that same Mods folder, create another new folder and name it: Packages
   
5. Unzip the file(s) that you got (from the links above), and place the resulting .package file(s) inside the Packages folder you created.

When your mods are properly installed and you start the game, you'll see a pop-up like this at the game's main menu:

3.10 Don't Change DEP Settings

Many people search the web and find outdated advice telling them to change their Data Execution Prevention (DEP) settings for Sims 3.

Changing DEP settings is no longer necessary and no longer recommended, so do not change them.

Game update 1.36 from July of 2012, fixed the game's DEP problems. Since all Steam-downloaded Sims 3 games automatically have this patch, it is not an issue that needs to be addressed.

3.11 Run the game as an Admin

First, locate your game executable. For most Steam users this will be found in the Steam install directory (which defaults to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\).

1. There, go into common\steamapps\The Sims 3\Game\Bin.
   
2. Look for a file named ts3w.exe (note the "w" in there).
   
3. Right-click that file and choose Properties.
   
4. Go to the Compatibility tab.
   
5. Tick the box to run the game as an administrator, then close the Properties.

If this solves your problem, and you still want to use the Steam Overlay while you play, you will also need to make the same change to the Steam Overlay executable. You may find it in Program Files (x86) > Steam as GameOverlayUI.exe.

3.12 Stop Phoning Home

The game has two settings that regularly make contact with EA servers. On some systems, they cause a lot of lag and stutter, or even crashes, when the EA servers are slow to respond. Some players experience a boost in game performance with these two settings disabled.

Turn off Shop Mode

Shop Mode allows you to shop directly in the game's online store using SimPoints. It also streams suggested items for you to buy to your game every time you open the Buy or Build modes or when in Create-A-Sim (they'll be the items listed first with little gold simoleon symbols next to them). Disable this one under Settings > General:

Turn off Online Notifications

Online Notifications talk to EA servers about your in-game "achievements" and (if you connected the accounts) your social media. I have found that with this turned on, my game freezes momentarily about every five minutes. Disable it under Settings > Online:

4.0 Expansion Pack Problems

Keep in mind that adding Expansion Packs and Stuff Packs to your game means that the game is even harder on your computer. Without enough RAM (at least 4 GB is recommended once you start to install extra stuff) they might start causing crashes and so on.

You will want to be sure to go through Section 1 of this guide before installing Stuff and Expansion packs to make sure your computer can handle it.

Beyond that, specific packs have specific game-changing bugs, some of which are covered below.

4.1 Convince Steam to Download

Sometimes when you buy a new EP or SP off Steam, it just ... forgets to download it.

The most common fix for this is:

1. Shut down The Sims 3.
   
2. In your Steam Library, right-click the game and choose Properties.
   
3. Make sure that under the Updates tab, Automatic Updates are set to "Always keep this game up to date."
   
4. Go to the DLC tab and untick the packs which are not downloaded.
   
5. Close the Properties, then re-open them.
   
6. On the DLC tab, re-tick the packs you want.
   
7. Close Steam completely.
   
8. Re-start Steam and make sure it's in Online Mode.
   
9. Switch to Downloads (under Library) and see if the pack is now downloading.

If this doesn't work, be sure to go to Section 3.3 of this guide and follow those steps for refreshing Steam's temporary files.

NB: It's also worthwhile to note that, sometimes, when Steam is updating my copy of Sims 3 with my latest purchase, the game doesn't show as "Updating" in the main game Library. Instead, I have to go to the Library menu header and choose "Downloads" to see it updating. Of course, you must wait until it is finished before your SP/EP will show up.

4.2 Pets

The most common issue that people have with the Pets EP is that their pets look "weird" or "stretched". There are two primary causes of this: bad custom content or the graphic card.

In the case of potential bad custom content, try running the game without custom content (temporarily move or rename the The Sims 3 folder in your computer's Documents directory) and see if the pets look normal again. If so, there is some custom content interfering -- use section 3.7, above, to figure out which it is.

In the case of a graphics card problem, use section 3.1 above to see if updating your video drivers helps.

4.3 Island Paradise

The most common problem that is experienced with Island Paradise is that the neighborhood that comes with it, Isla Paradiso, is very badly painted for paths (that is, for where Sims can walk without getting stuck). As a result, with Isla Paradiso, Sims get stuck a lot and increase the load on your computer as it tries (and fails) to figure out how to get them unstuck.

The best solution for this is to use a modified version of Isla Paradiso that has had the paths repainted to be less buggy. You can find several around the place; one example is ellacharmed's version at Mod the Sims[modthesims.info].

Additionally, I really advise using the NRaas Overwatch mod to assist in keeping the stuck-lag down. See section 3.9 of this guide, above, for more details on this.

4.4 Remove an Installed EP

This can be a little difficult on Steam, but there is a method. Usually if you just untick the EP in the Properties for Sims 3, you will begin to receive an error message that there was an error during start-up and "please see the log". Helpful, right?

In order to properly uninstall the EP, you must also edit your registry. As always, editing the registry is Serious Business, and could completely hose your computer or your game. Always back up your registry and Sims saves before doing this.

To uninstall an EP from a Steam install of The Sims 3 (do not skip a step):

1. Shut down The Sims 3 completely.
   
2. In your Steam Library, right-click The Sims 3 and choose Properties.
   
3. In the Download tab, untick the EP you don't want to use any more then close the Properites window.
   
4. Create a System Restore Point (in Windows, right-click My Computer or your version thereof; select Properties; select System Protection; click "Create").
   
5. In Windows, use your "Find" charm or "Run" box to run the program regedit.exe.
   
6. In Registry Editor, go to File > Export and save the file to somewhere you can find it easily. This is in case something goes wrong.
   
7. In Registry Editor, navigate to your Sims 3 registry keys. This is normally found under:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Wow6432Node > Sims(Steam)
   
8. There you will see a list of all EPs and SPs that you have installed. Right-click the EP you want to uninstall, and choose "Delete".

This should look something like this (if I were removing Ambitions from my system):

After this, your game should start normally.

For details on restoring your registry, if it got messed up, see this page[www.thewindowsclub.com].

5.0 Error Messages

The error messages tend to be pretty unhelpful, but some of these suggestions may be useful.

5.1 I Keep Getting the Error, "Failed to Contact Key Server"

Be sure that Steam is in Online Mode. The first time you start the game, or the first time you start it after buying an EP or SP, you'll need to be in Online Mode for Steam to fetch the license keys. If this does not help, see the Steam Knowledge Base article on it for troubleshooting.

One other note: EA seems to only slowly dole out keys to Steam which means that every time The Sims 3 goes on sale on Steam, Steam runs out of keys. When this happens, it usually takes one to two business days for EA to send more keys to Steam. Patience is the only solution when this happens.

5.2 When I try to start The Sims 3, Steam tells me that it's already running.

Most commonly, this is due to a change that EA made with their log-in servers a while back. The temporary solution is to either

• Open the Windows Task Manager (control + alt + delete), locate the Sims 3 launcher there, and right-click on it and choose "End Process"; or
  
• Restart your computer (or log out of Windows and log back in).

The more permanent solution is:

1. As above, end the process in Task Manager or restart your computer.
   
2. Press the Windows key + e, and there open Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3.
   
3. Locate the file named "Sims3Logs.xml".
   
4. Right-click that file and choose Properties; then
   
5. select the Security tab, and click the "Edit" button.
   
6. There, highlight "Administrators", and check the box to deny "Read".
   
7. Apply the change.

(Thanks, igazor!)

5.3 My game crashes and says "The Sims 3 application has stopped responding," or "The Sims 3 has stopped working."

This can sometimes mean that your computer does not meet the minimum requirements for the game. See section 1.0, above, for more detail.

5.4 "There was an error during startup. See the Log for more details."

This error usually means that an Expansion Pack that used to be installed isn't there any longer. This happens because when an EP is uninstalled from Steam, the Windows Registry keys do not get removed. You will need to remove the Registry entry:

1. In Windows, use your "Find" charm or "Run" box to run the program regedit.exe.
   
2. In Registry Editor, go to File > Export and save the file to somewhere you can find it easily. This is in case something goes wrong.
   
3. In Registry Editor, navigate to your Sims 3 registry keys. This is normally found under:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Wow6432Node > Sims(Steam)
   
4. There you will see a list of all EPs and SPs that you have installed. Right-click the EP whta was removed, and choose "Delete".

6.0 Other Assorted Issues

And then, sometimes, things just get weird.

6.1 The Sims 3 complains that my Video Card is not recognized and won't start.

This can happen because your video card is new and EA hasn't gotten around to updating their files yet. There is a way to do it manually, however: Crinrict[sims3.crinrict.com] has a great tutorial that will walk you through it.

6.2 My screen flickers... ? My frame rate is insane? My graphics card is overheating?

This can be due to a vsync issue.

• For NVIDIA cards: Open your NVidia control panel, go to "Manage 3D settings", and select "The Sims 3 (ts3w.exe)" from the list (or add it). Then scroll down to the bottom of the settings and, by "Vertical Sync", change it to "on" for the game. (Thanks, zgrssd, for this one.)
  
  
• For AMD cards: Open the Catalyst Control Center then navigate to Graphics > 3D > all. Scroll down to "Wait for vertical refresh" and set it to "Quality - always on". Also, enable openGL triple buffering beneath the vsync setting.

6.3 The Camera Keeps Spinning!

Zoom out to the map level, then click on the button for "View my home lot". That usually fixes it.

6.4 The Opportunity-Completed Tune Keeps Playing

This usually means that one of the opportunities is "stuck". Look at your Opportunities tab, and find the most recent one you completed. Right-click it to cancel it and the music should stop.

6.5 My Sim Always Wears the Wrong Outfit to Work

There is a bug where a Sim can be assigned a random work outfit depending on what they last did before starting a new career (such as graduating). To fix this, go to the dresser and plan an outfit. Add a second career outfit (it doesn't matter what), then exit the dressing room. Then, plan outfits again, and delete all career outfits except the first one. This should force them to select the right outfit again.

6.6 My Sim Won't Go to Work

Sometimes your Sim just won't, or can't, go to work. Sometimes the command just disappears from their queue, while other times, they will go to the place they work, but then stand and wave their hands and throw a fit. There are different problems which cause this error. I'll cover a few here with possible solutions.

• Problem: Corrupt work outfits will prevent your Sim going to work. This can happen with any job, but happens most often with film stars. To fix it, have your Sim change into their work outfit, then go to a dresser to plan their outfit. If they have more than one career outfit (which you didn't create for them), delete the extras. If they only have one, create a second outfit, exit the dressing room, then go back in and delete the outfit. This should cause them to "fix" their work outfit.
  
  
• Problem: The game may believe the rabbit hole where your Sim works doesn't exist. Either place a new rabbit hole of the appropriate type, or change the Lot Type of the existing rabbit hole, then change it back. Another potential solution is to click on a rabbit hole of the correct type (e.g., a restaurant for a Culinary Sim), and choose "Transfer here".
  
  
• Problem: Your Sim's client could be stuck somewhere (this happens for professions rather than careers). Use the resetSim command to unstick the client. For example, if the client's name is Wendy Wallace, you would enter the console (control + shift + c), and type: resetSim Wendy Wallace
  
  
• Problem: Your Sim isn't going to work but none of the above resolve the situation. Is your Sim supposed to receive an award? If they are, claim that first, then send them to work.

6.7 Suddenly, my Sim has roommates, and they won't stop no matter how many times I dismiss them.

On your Sim's phone or their computer, go to the Real Estate options, choose Roommate Services, and click Disable, then dismiss any current roommates.

6.8 The Smart Phone Just Keeps Ringing but My Sim Can't Answer It

It's probably caused by a stuck sound loop. There are a few things that could fix it.

• Try to silence the phone, and then un-silence it again.
  
• Try to reset your Sim (if their name is Joe Blow, you'd bring up the console and type: resetSim Joe Blow).
  
• The ringing should stop if they get a real call, but the only way to trigger that is to have one of your Sims call another (mebbe have a family member go out on the town then call the one at home?).
  
• Moving a Sim out and back in via Edit Town can do it though I don't believe it works while they're at University.
  
• Restart the game -- but you might have to delete cache files to get that to work.
  
• Have your Sim travel.

6.9 I'm running out of space on my C: drive, but Sims keeps saving everything there.

The Sims 3 always saves games in the Windows default save location. If you'd like to change this you have to change the location of your Windows "Documents" or "My Documents" directory. Note: This will move your whole documents directory, not just your Sims 3 saves.

• Windows XP instructions[support.microsoft.com]
• Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 instructions[windows.microsoft.com]

One slightly-less radical alternative (if you haven't already done it) is to move your Steam games directory to another drive. To do this:

1. Create the folder which will become your new Steam Library folder on a different drive. (It's helpful to name it something like SteamLibrary.)
2. Open Steam and go to Steam > Settings > Downloads.
3. There, choose "STEAM LIBRARY FOLDERS" and click "ADD LIBRARY FOLDER", then navigate to the new folder and select it.
4. If you want to move am already-installed game to this new folder:
   1. Navigate to its old location (default is under your program files, under Steam\SteamApps\common\).
   2. Copy the folder for the game and paste it to the new location (under steamapps\common\).
   3. In Steam, right-click the game in your Library and uninstall it ("Delete Local Content") - this will remove the game from its old location.
   4. In Steam, in your Library, install the game and choose the new location as the place for install. Steam will briefly verify the game in its new location but will not need to do a full download or re-install.

This can help free some space on your C drive, just understand that some games cannot be moved off the C drive (though I have moved my Sims install and it works fine.) Unfortunately, all custom content and saves remain in the default Documents directory.

6.10 Every time my video drivers update, the game resets my options.

The cure for this is just about as bad as re-setting all your options. Here are the steps marstinson worked out:

1. Put your settings the way that you want them, then exit the game.
   
2. In Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3, locate the Options.ini file, and make a back up copy of it (example: Options-backup.ini).
   
3. Update your video drivers.
   
4. Launch game - a new Options.ini will be generated by it.
   
5. Exit the game.
   
6. Open your new Options.ini, and copy the "lastdevice" line.
   
7. Open your backup Options file, and replace the "lastdevice" line, then save it.
   
8. Delete the new Options.ini file.
   
9. Make a copy of your edited backup Options file and name it "Options.ini".

Thanks, marstinson!

7.0 Finding the Key and Registering

In a stupid change brought in to, in theory, stop people reselling the keys, the game's registry keys are no longer displayed under View CD Key as they used to be -- and neither EA nor Valve are being particularly helpful though about assisting people in actually registering their games. Unfortunately, the game must be registered in order to use the Sims 3 store items and exchange.

To find the Sims 3 key:

1. Open the Registry Editor (press the Windows key and type: regedit).
   
2. Press control + f to search.
   
3. Search for: TestApp47890
   
4. Once located there will be a "SteamKey" value on the right hand side - that will be your key so that you can register your game.

Note that you can also just open your Registry editor and navigate to:

Computer > HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Valve > TestApp47894

To register it:

1. Go to www.thesims3.com
   
2. Log in there with your Origin account (or create one if you don't already have one).
   
3. Go to My Account > My Games > Register a Game.

8.0 Getting More Help

If you need more help than this guide provides, you have a lot of options. I'll go over three here.

Contact Steam Support

You should contact Steam support if you cannot get the game to download, or you're having other issues related to the purchase of the game. Steam is only the seller, though, so just like you can't get Walmart to help you with the game itself, Steam customer service probably can't do much there either. To contact Steam support, click the big "SUPPORT" link at the top of any Steam page.

Contact EA The Sims 3 Support

This can take a while, and you might have to wade through a lot of dumb suggestions, but, in the end, they are the only ones who can offer you official, live support for the game. To get started, go to Sims 3 support and Login with your Sims 3/Origin account using the link at the top. Then scroll down to the bottom and find the "Contact Us" link and follow the form where it leads.

Use the Steam Forums

You can get help from other users here in the Steam forums. In your post, first detail the problem that you're having, including any error messages that you see. Then tell us about your computer:

• OS and version
  
• CPU
  
• RAM
  
• Graphics Card

Section 1.3 of this guide tells you how to collect this information.

When posting keep in mind that we're just other users -- EA does not read these forums or answer complaints in them. We're also not online all the time, so it might take a few hours for someone to get back to you.

9.0 Resources and Guides

Helpful Utilities

• Avast Antivirus[avast.com]
  
• Can You Run It?[www.notebookcheck.net]
  
• CCleaner[www.piriform.com]
  
• Malwarebytes[malwarebytes.org]
  
• PC Decrapifier[pcdecrapifier.com]
  
• Piriform's Speccy[www.piriform.com]

Useful Information

• EA: Sims 3 System Requirements
  
• Geek on Wheels: Spotting Malware[www.geekonwheels.com]
  
• MTS: System Requirements[modthesims.info]
  
• SimsWiki: System Requirements[simswiki.info]

How-to Guides

• Adobe: Update Graphics Drivers[helpx.adobe.com]
  
• Club Crimsyn: Combining Packages[club-crimsyn.dreamwidth.org]
  
• Crinrict: Get the Game to Recognize your Card[sims3.crinrict.com]
  
• EA: Try Windowed Mode
  
• MTS: Delete Cache Files[modthesims.info]
  
• Nona's Sims: Combining Package Files[nonasims.wordpress.com]
  
• SimsWiki: Finding Problem Custom Content[simswiki.info]
  
• Steam: Refresh Steam Files

[HiFive]

isaacchai1028,
Someone posted on this very topic recently. See if any of the answers works for you.
https://steamcommunity.com/app/47890/discussions/0/603023421978237225/

[isaacchai1028]

i have an error said "a serious error has occurred while loading 'sunset valley.world' . it is strongly recommended that you restart the application .'' anyone can help me about this?

[HiFive]

@ IridianSpark: Because even more people ARE able to get the game running, and tons of us really, really enjoy the game. It's much better than Sims 4. It's an amazing game, and I'm just sad that Windows 11 has messed things up so much.

[IridianSpark]

I've got an HP Omen 16 with all the things and it never worked. I ended up asking for a refund for the game and all 19 packs. Lots of people can't even get it to launch with no solution. Why's it even being sold anymore?

[WarPigs]

Cuz Sims 5 was nixed, they're just gonna continue with 4. I hear Inzoi is a good alternative. RIP Sims

[WarPigs]

I just decided to return it. This was many months. I was excited for sims 5 then disappointed. I just want diagonal stairs and elevators and escalators and walk assists. Is that too hard to ask?

[Aoi Blue]

Air, Flash and java are no longer needed.

You may need Java for some mod programs if you use them. 

You do need Visual C++ and Dot Net Framework 4.5 on newer versions of Windows.

You also will likely need to turn on v-sync for the game using a utility.  This will limit the game to the frame rate your monitor can display and prevent it from running out of control.  There are some DirectX shims that can install a soft limiter instead but they can result in screen tearing depending on the system.

[WarPigs]

Ironically I'm having a similar issue to when I tried to play C&C Red Alert 2. Only the issue was the OS. Now, I can play C&CR2 but I can't play sims 3 because my hardware is too high spec'd. This has been a pain in the ass because I still havent gotten it to work without CTDing.

[kewosh]

Thank you very much for this very comprehensive guide But the link to the Geek on Wheels website no longer works.

[FirstNameFirst]