Sims 3 Won't Work on Windows 10

Robert_Frew · August 2015

I was able to play Sims 3 fine when I had Windows 7 but after updating to Windows 10 I can't play it. When I launch the game the launcher loads and then when I press play a black screen appears and then an error appears saying "Unable to start game, service initialization failed".

Please help, thanks.

Nichaedemus · August 2015

Hi,

Have you updated your graphics drivers after the Windows 10 upgrade? You can check out the following EA Support article for more details:

http://help.ea.com/article/your-games-and-the-windows-10-upgrade

As a test you can also try setting aside your player data files completely before relaunching the game. To do so, navigate to the following location:

Documents/Electronic Arts

Now move (not copy) the folder named The Sims 3 to your desktop. Attempt to run the game.

chesterbigbird · August 2015

I would also install direct X again :
https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/download/details.aspx?id=35

Robert_Frew · August 2015

> @chesterbigbird said:
> I would also install direct X again

I have the newest DirectX available (DirectX 12).

Robert_Frew · August 2015

> @Nichaedemus said:
> Hi,
>
> Have you updated your graphics drivers after the Windows 10 upgrade? You can check out the following EA Support article for more details.
>
> As a test you can also try setting aside your player data files completely before relaunching the game. To do so, navigate to the following location:
>
> Documents/Electronic Arts
>
> Now move (not copy) the folder named The Sims 3 to your desktop. Attempt to run the game.

I already have the Windows 10 driver for nVidia and when I move the "The Sims 3" folder to my desktop and run the game I get and error saying "There was an error during startup. Please see the Log for more details."

Nichaedemus · August 2015

What I would suggest in that case is performing a clean uninstall of the base game, to remove the possibility of corrupted program files and/or registries:

http://help.ea.com/article/manually-uninstalling-the-sims-3

When done, it is recommended that you also use CCleaner to fix any possible remaining Windows issues with your PC:

http://help.ea.com/article/how-to-use-ccleaner-to-fix-pc-issues

When done, reinstall the base game again. Once installed update the game fully via the launcher. If you need to patch manually you can find the latest available manual patch for PC at the following page:

http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/175477

SevenNinety · August 2015

I also have the same problem after going from Windows 8.1 to 10. I have made sure drivers and all are up to date, completely removed the game , cleaned up with CCleaner and re-installed from Origin. Nothing has worked, Still the same issue as described by Robert_Frew. Is this a Windows 10 issue?

Robert_Frew · August 2015

> @Nichaedemus said:
> What I would suggest in that case is performing a clean uninstall of the base game, to remove the possibility of corrupted program files and/or registries.
>
> When done, it is recommended that you also use CCleaner to fix any possible remaining Windows issues with your PC.
>
> When done, reinstall the base game again. Once installed update the game fully via the launcher. If you need to patch manually you find the latest available manual patch for PC at the following page.

I've done what you've said and it still doesn't work. Please help, I really don't know what to do.

igazor · August 2015

I'm sorry to cut into a thread with a Sim Guru responding, please forgive me is this is not an appropriate thing to do. But as I don't see it mentioned here yet, are you guys running TS3 in Win 8.1or Win 7 compatibility mode? Many (not all) players on Win 10 have reported that this is required for them to get the game program launched.

Nichaedemus · August 2015

No worries igazor.

For more information on running an older game such as TS3 in compatibility mode in Windows 10, you can check out the following page:

http://help.ea.com/article/running-a-game-in-compatibility-mode-in-windows-10

The program files to set in compatibility mode are Sims3launcher.exe (game launcher executable) and TS3W.exe (main game executable), and both can be found in the game/bin directory where the base game has been installed.

Additionally, there are other discussion threads about running TS3 on Windows 10 within this forum, and at AnswerHQ, that you may want to check out for further troubleshooting tips.

Robert_Frew · August 2015

@Nichaedemus and @igazor

I've tried running Sims3launcher.exe and TS3W.exe in both Windows 7 and 8 compatibility but nothing's changed. I still get the same error and the game won't load.

Robert_Frew · August 2015

@Nichaedemus and @igazor

I ran the game in Windows XP Service Pack 2 compatibility and it worked. I can also run it in Windows XP Service Pack 3. Is there any difference between using Windows XP Service Pack 2 and 3?

Thanks guys for all your help, I can finally play The Sims 3 again because of you.

igazor · August 2015

Wow, am surprised you had to go back that far but glad it worked for you. I would say SP3, but there was not a huge functional difference between XP's SP2 and SP3 so it probably really doesn't matter much which one of those two you choose.

TheTeufelPenguin · August 2015

I get a message when trying to run it that says:
"This app can't run on your PC. To find a version for your PC, check with the software publisher"

igazor · August 2015

TheTeufelPenguin wrote: »

I get a message when trying to run it that says:
"This app can't run on your PC. To find a version for your PC, check with the software publisher"

And have you tried to run the game in XP (or Win 7) Compatibility Mode as described above?

http://help.ea.com/en/article/running-a-game-in-compatibility-mode-in-windows-10

Xartavion · September 2017

Hi, just got a new system (Acer Predator) with Windows 10 on it and I can't seem to get Sims 3 running from a CD that worked in Windows 7. No expansions installed, just the core game. I went into Programs/Features, enabled .net 3.5, did the install and reboot, still having the issue. I've tried it in Win7, WinXP, compatibility mode and it won't launch, just the above message "This app can't run on your PC. To find a version for your PC, check with the software publisher".

The link that igazor provided is dead now, so any help would be greatly appreciated. I literally just bought expansions for the game that are being shipped from Amazon the day before getting this laptop, and I'd like to try getting this working before they arrive later this week.

igazor · September 2017

@Xartavion - Hi there. This particular thread is from when Win 10 was just being released and really isn't relevant anymore. Simple thing to check first though, have you tried running the game as an Administrator or from an Admin account?

BDSEK · February 2020

why is the sims 3 not letting me use the exspansion packs on windows 10? i try to use all my exspansio acks on the game but then i lose progress and my sims and stuff gets deleted. whats going on?

igazor · February 2020

BDSEK wrote: »

why is the sims 3 not letting me use the exspansion packs on windows 10? i try to use all my exspansio acks on the game but then i lose progress and my sims and stuff gets deleted. whats going on?

This thread is from five years ago and is likely to get locked up on us by a moderator for being a necropost if we try to have a conversation. A better place for those with New Member Status to post would be the thread we have set up specifically for that purpose, so let's continue over there if that happens.
https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/893122/thread-for-new-members-to-post-their-sims-3-game-issues#latest

If you can get the base game going, then Win 10 can't really be the issue here. Did you purchase all of the codes you are using on Origin from Origin itself or from some other source? Are you seeing the EPs you expect to see on the Packs and Stuff tab on the Launcher and are they all selected (checkboxed) before the game starts? The Patch 1.69 Launcher is notorious for "forgetting" the selections made on that tab in between game sessions.

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Sims 3 Won't Work on Windows 10

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