Is my Pre-2012 CD useless? Registered on Origin under my old Account.

Nikkei_Simmer

Do I have to hunt down a new pre-2012 Sims 3 base game CD if I want to go V1.67? Have I pretty much killed any chance of using my 2012 CD of Sims 3?

puzzlezaddict

You don't need to have this CD registered to your new account, unless you'd like Origin to manage the installation. Which is, I believe, exactly what you're trying to avoid. In fact, I think people usually do disc installs while entirely offline so that the old download manager can't upgrade itself to Origin while they're not paying attention. But if you'd like to cover all your bases, you can ask someone from EA customer support to merge your two accounts, and then you won't have anything to worry about.

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

Nikkei_Simmer

Thanks...When I find the pre-2012 disc, I'll see about making sure that I do the install off-line and see if that works. For right now, I'll stick with my Origin downloaded ones. I'll have to go about seeing if I can get the disc versions of the EPs, SPs and Worlds. ~sigh~. And I guess for those who use 1.67, the store is pretty much off-limits too? Or is that completely separate from Origin?

SimplyJen

Patch 1.67 doesn't require games to be registered. What you need to be on patch 1.67 is a pre-2012 physical copy, all physical copies of packs, & Super Patch 1.67.

I made a list of steps to take when I went through this whole thing to get onto patch 1.67 with my physical collection... can't find those steps. A brief overview:
- If you need to uninstall first, go ahead and do that then clean registry with a tool like CCleaner
- Make sure automatic updates are turned off via Origin if you plan to keep it installed. (You don't need Origin for patch 1.67 if Sims 3 is the only EA game you play.)
- Make sure to download the Super Patch for patch 1.67.
- Just as puzzle said, I turned off my internet connection just to be safe.
- Install Base + and then Packs in any order.
- Run the Super Patch
- At any point, you may be asked to connect your games to EA or Origin... (something of the sort), say no. Sorry, the exact notification slips my mind but it should be obvious when it pops up.

Nikkei_Simmer

@SimplyJen; The problem was that I registered the pre-2012 disc in my last install to Origin on my other account that I asked EA to close. Does that mean that I'm going to have to track down one that hasn't been used and registered? Or since I'm the original owner of said disc and said account; that they can detach the code from the previous account.

SimplyJen

Store stuff is safe to use directly from the site or any backup download you may have. *waves* Fellow 1.67 patch simmer here using disk. When I went through the trouble of finding physical copies to replace my digital collection, I shopped on eBay and Amazon. Stores still carry some of the games (at least in the US) but they weren't selling the ones I needed. Maybe you will be lucky. When shopping on eBay or Amazon, make sure it's not a digital copy and the seller has a good reputation. Used copies should be ok if the code is included and the disk can be read. You can still find sealed copies but they are a bit more of course.

Nikkei_Simmer

I don't mind paying a bit more if it's sealed. That way I know for a fact that it's a copy that I can use. I don't mind paying a bit more for peace of mind.

SimplyJen

Nikkei_Simmer wrote: »

@SimplyJen; The problem was that I registered the pre-2012 disc in my last install to Origin on my other account that I asked EA to close. Does that mean that I'm going to have to track down one that hasn't been used and registered? Or since I'm the original owner of said disc and said account; that they can detach the code from the previous account.

All you need is the code and the CD. It does not matter what account it's registered to or if it's registered at all since patch 1.67 will not be connected to Origin. You don't even need to have Origin installed on patch .167 if this is the only EA game you play.

The code isn't just for registering to an account (that's optional), it's also used to install the game.

Nikkei_Simmer wrote: »

I don't mind paying a bit more if it's sealed. That way I know for a fact that it's a copy that I can use. I don't mind paying a bit more for peace of mind.

Heh, that's what I did too. I even tracked down a sealed copy of Katy Perry Sweet Treats without breaking the bank believe it or not. Shipped from the UK.

puzzlezaddict

The store works just fine on patch 1.67, at least as of a couple of days ago. (I downloaded the playpen and used it in-game without issue.) The one reason that you might want to merge your accounts is that people occasionally have problems when the code associated with their game folder doesn't match the one tied to their store credentials. I don't know if this is typical or sporadic, but I'm sure the store experts could give you a better idea.

The other thing you'll want to do is get the store content patches to add to your game folder. On patch 1.69, they land in Program Files; on 1.67 and earlier, they're supposed to be offered for download through the launcher. That's not the case anymore. But @ZeeGee has been kind enough to offer a solution:

https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/16341942/#Comment_16341942

Nikkei_Simmer

Thanks so much for the information, @puzzlezaddict & @SimplyJen. That reassures me immensely. Now I just have to find that disc in that mess of a house (preparing to move next month)...what a pain. Then I'm going to track down all the other discs...except for the ones that I already have.

puzzlezaddict

@Nikkei_Simmer Don't you have a bunch of kids? Send them on a scavenger hunt; the grand prize can be one get-out-of-jail-free card. (I mean, as far as you're concerned... @Featherbelle might not be on board. But the kids don't need to know that beforehand.)

JACKIEJOY

Did this get resolved yet? Because I had the same issue and EA help looked up my old account, merged it with my new one and closed the old one. Took 10 minutes with live chat.