Will I be able to play TS3 ever again?

HalloMolli

To make it short: I've been playing TS3 for a week now, having a blast, yadayadayada. Usually my games are heavily moded, however, this time I wanted to Keep things as vanilla as possible so I settled with a handful of nraas mods to enhance the Overall Performance and stability: Mastercontroller, Story Progression, ErrorTrap, Overwatch, Relativity, Retuner, Traveler and GoHere.

My rig: CPU: 6700k (OC), GPU: 1080 GTX (OC), 32 GB DDR4, 500 gb SSD, Win 10 OS.
Every piece of dlc but maybe two stuff packs were installed.
No CC (no clothing, objects, custom worlds etc.).

So what happened you might ask. As I said: I started my game in Starlight Shores, had a job as a lifeguard for two weeks, went to the future, returned with a cat + plumbot + a new sim. Back in Starlight Shores I decided it was a good idea to go to university with my plumbot. After the turn was over (2 sem.) both of my sims were about to return home, however, during the loading screen the game began to crash. All the time.

What I did to try to fix it: I repaired the game, I completely wiped the "The sims 3" folder from the "my documents/electronicarts"-directory, used CCcleaner, uninstalled Origin, redownloaded everything at least 3 times (well, thankfully my internet is fast so it was no issue) etc.

Nothing helped. The game always crashed when I wanted to travel (either to Paris, to University or to the Future). Even on a fresh install. On a newly created save-file.

I am sorry, but this does not make any sense to me. I just don't see a reason why the game could be behaving this way. I mean, I didn't add anything new to it anyway. And it does not matter if I use mods or leave them out, it does not affect the game in this regard.

---

Today I tried something new --> I "fiddled around" with the compatibility settings of TS3.exe file itself. I set it to Windows XP. And at this point everything went downhill even futher.

Now when I click the play button on the launcher it closes itself immediately and nothing happens. In other words: The game won't even start.

Again: I completely wiped everything remotely related to TS3 on my HDD. Reinstalled everything, downloaded everything but NOTHING helps. TS3 won't start anymore.

How can this possibly happen?

Will I be able to play TS3 ever again?

---

Edit: For the records: Other games on origin such as TS4, Mass Effect, Fifa etc. still work without a problem. I can use VR on my rig, Steam works fine.

Charlottesmom

Yikes! All I can offer is hope that someone can give you good advise, there are a bunch of folks that are very helpful around here.

***I messed with files once...ONCE! Never again.

igazor

We're getting a fair number of reports all of a sudden, as in within the past day or so here, that travel transitions, both with and without the NRaas Traveler mod, are semi-permanently breaking players' games whose systems are on Win 10 (could be others too?). The common factor is that switching off UAC as described in the link below seems to help. We're thinking a recent Windows Update might have triggered whatever the underlying problem is.

https://help.ea.com/en/help/pc/game-crashes-to-desktop-on-windows

HalloMolli

igazor wrote: »

We're getting a fair number of reports all of a sudden, as in within the past day or so here, that travel transitions, both with and without the NRaas Traveler mod, are semi-permanently breaking players' games whose systems are on Win 10 (could be others too?). The common factor seems to that switching off UAC as described in the link below seems to help. We're thinking a recent Windows Update might have triggered whatever the underlying problem is.

https://help.ea.com/en/help/pc/game-crashes-to-desktop-on-windows

Thank you! I would love to try if that works for me as well, however, my game won't start anymore unfortunately.

igazor

HalloMolli wrote: »

igazor wrote: »

We're getting a fair number of reports all of a sudden, as in within the past day or so here, that travel transitions, both with and without the NRaas Traveler mod, are semi-permanently breaking players' games whose systems are on Win 10 (could be others too?). The common factor seems to that switching off UAC as described in the link below seems to help. We're thinking a recent Windows Update might have triggered whatever the underlying problem is.

https://help.ea.com/en/help/pc/game-crashes-to-desktop-on-windows

Thank you! I would love to try if that works for me as well, however, my game won't start anymore unfortunately.

How about if you undo the compatibility change you made, if you haven't already, and then try the UAC tip that was given to us by a guru here? XP compat mode should not be required for any element of the game on Windows and is known to cause more problems than it solves on the later systems.

If still no dice, this may seem a little drastic but I would suggest uninstalling again, clean registry with CCleaner, and try a fresh reinstall but on a "new" Windows user account with UAC still deactivated. Any better?

HalloMolli

igazor wrote: »

HalloMolli wrote: »

igazor wrote: »

We're getting a fair number of reports all of a sudden, as in within the past day or so here, that travel transitions, both with and without the NRaas Traveler mod, are semi-permanently breaking players' games whose systems are on Win 10 (could be others too?). The common factor seems to that switching off UAC as described in the link below seems to help. We're thinking a recent Windows Update might have triggered whatever the underlying problem is.

https://help.ea.com/en/help/pc/game-crashes-to-desktop-on-windows

Thank you! I would love to try if that works for me as well, however, my game won't start anymore unfortunately.

How about if you undo the compatibility change you made, if you haven't already, and then try the UAC tip that was given to us by a guru here? XP compat mode should not be required for any element of the game on Windows and is known to cause more problems than it solves on the later systems.

If still no dice, this may seem a little drastic but I would suggest uninstalling again, clean registry with CCleaner, and try a fresh reinstall but on a "new" Windows user account with UAC still deactivated. Any better?

I did both, since I've uninstalled countless times already the changes made by me are Long gone.

Anyway: I will create a new user now and try my luck there. Thank you! Really appreciate your guys help!

HalloMolli

Alright, on my main account I disabled uac. Rebooted. Created a new account. Rebooted. Logged into new account. Here I can't disable uac (because I am no admin). Started Origin though, still the same issue. The game won't even start on new account either. I guess it won't make a difference if I redownload everything here either way. Will try it anyway.

igazor

Can you not make this new account an additional Admin account? Or at least right-click to Run Origin and the game as Admin? (or both)


Edit: I'm also starting to wonder now if your anti-virus system is getting in the way.

HalloMolli

igazor wrote: »

Can you not make this new account an additional Admin account? Or at least right-click to Run Origin and the game as Admin? (or both)


Edit: I'm also starting to wonder now if your anti-virus system is getting in the way.

Mhm, doubt it. I don't have any fancy anti-Virus apps running anymore (--> relying totally on win 10 :P) .

Yeah, I think I can run as admin. What I've done so far: Disabled uac on my main. Deleted everything TS3 related (with Origin + Ccleaner) Rebooted. Created side-account (here I can't disable uac). Rebooted. Logged into side-account. Logged into Origin. Downloading TS3 + dlc.

Hopefully it will work now .

HalloMolli

YAAAAAS!!! I was already able to start the base game! WOOHOO, SUCCESS. Thank you!!! Now let's see how Things go with the rest of the packs. Maybe I will be able to travel again? Ui ui ui.

To make things clear, these steps were required for the solution: Disable uac on my main account. Delete everything TS3 related (with Origin + Ccleaner) Reboot. Create side-account. Reboot. Download game with side-account. Play.

What a mess.

So I will have to rely on a second account to Play TS3, huh? Oh well. Could be worse. :P

igazor

I have to agree that none of this makes any sense. But glad you've made what sounds like progress thus far.

ScottDemon

igazor wrote: »

We're getting a fair number of reports all of a sudden, as in within the past day or so here, that travel transitions, both with and without the NRaas Traveler mod, are semi-permanently breaking players' games whose systems are on Win 10 (could be others too?). The common factor seems to that switching off UAC as described in the link below seems to help. We're thinking a recent Windows Update might have triggered whatever the underlying problem is.

https://help.ea.com/en/help/pc/game-crashes-to-desktop-on-windows

Yes it was a windows security update breaking things it did that on my Win 7 computer. I changed the default install path to a folder I created for all my games thereby keeping UAC out of the equation all together.
https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/origin/origin/backing-up-and-restoring-your-origin-games/

igazor

ScottDemon wrote: »

igazor wrote: »

We're getting a fair number of reports all of a sudden, as in within the past day or so here, that travel transitions, both with and without the NRaas Traveler mod, are semi-permanently breaking players' games whose systems are on Win 10 (could be others too?). The common factor seems to that switching off UAC as described in the link below seems to help. We're thinking a recent Windows Update might have triggered whatever the underlying problem is.

https://help.ea.com/en/help/pc/game-crashes-to-desktop-on-windows

Yes it was a windows security update breaking things it did that on my Win 7 computer. I changed the default install path to a folder I created for all my games thereby keeping UAC out of the equation all together.
https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/origin/origin/backing-up-and-restoring-your-origin-games/

This isn't going to be much help for Win 10 players probably as they get far less choice in these matters, but do you happen to know which security patch it was for Win 7? Can it be avoided entirely or was it part of a monthly package that thus cannot be selected out?

ScottDemon

igazor wrote: »

ScottDemon wrote: »

igazor wrote: »

We're getting a fair number of reports all of a sudden, as in within the past day or so here, that travel transitions, both with and without the NRaas Traveler mod, are semi-permanently breaking players' games whose systems are on Win 10 (could be others too?). The common factor seems to that switching off UAC as described in the link below seems to help. We're thinking a recent Windows Update might have triggered whatever the underlying problem is.

https://help.ea.com/en/help/pc/game-crashes-to-desktop-on-windows

Yes it was a windows security update breaking things it did that on my Win 7 computer. I changed the default install path to a folder I created for all my games thereby keeping UAC out of the equation all together.
https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/origin/origin/backing-up-and-restoring-your-origin-games/

This isn't going to be much help for Win 10 players probably as they get far less choice in these matters, but do you happen to know which security patch it was for Win 7? Can it be avoided entirely or was it part of a monthly package that thus cannot be selected out?

It's was in one of the rollup packages but which one I'm not sure as I use that computer mostly for web surfing it wasn't until I tried to fire up the game a few days ago after the power supply on my main comp died that I realized the game wouldn't start but it had to have been in the last 2 months. As it was working in the middle of December.
And they should be able to change the default install pathway with Win 10. But my Win 10 comp has disc install.
I only installed the Origin version of the Sims 3 on my Win 7 comp to test a way to stop the Launcher from deselecting EP's and SP's which can be done if you remove the Write Permissions for the Load Option config the same way you do for the Featured Items folder. Of course after first making sure everything you want to use had gotten loaded up.

SimplyJen

I guess I should be turning UAC off since I'm on Windows 10... That's so weird and a little annoying. My sims haven't traveled recently but I was about to send one of them tomb raiding.

MidnightAura

I'll have to check and see if this is enabled on either of my pcs.

HalloMolli

I just wanted to let you guys know that this Workaround stopped working for me today. When I click on "Play" then the launcher Closes and reopens itself. Nothing happens beyond that. During the process origin also tells me that it Needs to be online, though (which I am).

Oh well, it seems I won't be able to Play TS3 for a while then.

igazor

If Origin cannot tell whether it's online or not properly, perhaps it (Origin itself, not your games) needs to be uninstalled and reinstalled again. Or perhaps its own special cache needs to be cleared.
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Don-t-know-how-to-clear-origin-cache-View-this/td-p/5499713

HalloMolli

igazor wrote: »

If Origin cannot tell whether it's online or not properly, perhaps it (Origin itself, not your games) needs to be uninstalled and reinstalled again. Or perhaps its own special cache needs to be cleared.
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Don-t-know-how-to-clear-origin-cache-View-this/td-p/5499713

Hi igazor! Ty so much for all your advice.

I did delete my cache + reinstalled Origin but unfortunately it didn't help. I am online in Origin, I can chat, I can browse through the store, use online features in my other games etc.

This bug is connected to the TS3 launcher it seems. The error says: "If you want to install Origin there is an active connection required.. .", then the launcher closes and reopens itself. The game won't even start.

igazor

Afraid that I am stubbornly not understanding why you could not make this new user account from which you were (for a while) running TS3 an Admin level account instead of a regular user.

But other than that, I am really sorry but am afraid I am fresh out of ideas here. Let's see if our resident Tech Guru knows anything about this since he was the one who raised the original UAC issue and fix.
@Nichaedemus

If no one else here has any suggestions, sounds like the only path left is back to the Answers.HQ board and/or EA Tech Support.

Nichaedemus

Hi,

This bug is connected to the TS3 launcher it seems. The error says: "If you want to install Origin there is an active connection required.. .", then the launcher closes and reopens itself. The game won't even start.

For this particular issue the following EA Support pages may be of help:

https://help.ea.com/article/issues-with-connecting-to-origin-with-the-sims-3
https://help.ea.com/article/programs-that-may-cause-conflicts-with-origin

Otherwise your best bet is to get in touch with EA Support for further assistance:

https://help.ea.com/contact-us