Please Help, It's Been Years Since I've Played…

GalacticGal · June 2019

I need to know that if I keep my Library, Saves, Mods and Downloads, if that's enough to restore my game. I have a few builds I don't wish to lose, but in all honesty, I haven't played the Sims 3 but once or twice since Sims4 came out. I kept it installed on my computer, however, not wishing to lose those things I mentioned. I now am staring down a need to have my computer wiped clean due to constant crashing. Something is amiss. I plan on uninstalling all of Sims3 hoping if it's a space issue, that will cure it. (I honestly don't think it's truly a lack of space, but I am desperate at this moment in time). However, I don't wish to be rash about it like I was with Sims2. I had kept it on my computer even when I made the switch to Sims3. I went back and played Sims2, missing so much of the interactions that the Sims3 base game lacked at the time. But due to an unresolved bug that came with the very last SP, the children from my favorite family were taken by the Social Worker. I got angry and in that fit of rage I immediately uninstalled Sims2. I lost everything I had purchased from the Store, as a result, plus the very first castle I ever built. Yes, sometimes I can act the silly nit.

I would much rather be more cool-headed about it, this time.

Please let me know if there is something more I should save on a flash drive before I begin the uninstall process. Thank you, in advance. I was going to simply save the entire Sims3 game Folder, but my flash drives can't accommodate it.

mw1525 · June 2019

Hi!

How big is your 'The Sims 3' folder? If it isn't too large (size depends on you) back the entire folder up. If you just want to save individual folders, save the following:

1- ContentPatch - these contain the fixes for the store items.
2- DCBackup - From this folder you only need to save the 'ccmerge.package' file. This file store information about your premium content items.
3- DCCache - The .package files in this folder are the items you have installed in your game. (You won't need to re-install items when you have these files).
4- Check your 'Exports' folder to make certain you have all the items you exported.
5- Installed World - This saves from having to install the store world (or custom ones again).
6- Library File *You already mentioned this one.
7- Mods Folder - if you use them. Back this one up.
8- Recorded Videos - Save your in-game video (if you have any and plan to view them again).
9-Saved Sims - These are the Sims you created in CAS.
10- Screenshots (if you have any and want them).
11- Saves (Can't believe I had to edit this one back in

) - Save your saved games!

Files:
userPreset - These are the patterns and custom colors you created or saved when recoloring an item.

**I think that's just about it. If I have forgotten anything, hopefully, someone one will make the corrections.

Good Luck with your PC

!

Bettyboop55 · June 2019

Sorry to hear about the computer. The last time I had to do a reinstall I stored my entire Electronic Arts folder on an EHD. Then I was able to pick and choose the files I wanted once I had reinstalled the game. One thing though are you using a disk installation or are you playing through Origin. If you are using disks you will need to be extremely careful not to let Origin automatically update your game to version 1.69. The best solution is not to reinstall Origin but I am guessing you might want to continue playing TS4. However I attach a link to a thread which you might find useful, particularly about the launcher.

https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/935445/patch-install-status-as-of-dec-2017-amp-store-patch-download-removed#latest

I am sure @igazor and the other kind people who answer queries in the Help section can provide further guidance on successfully doing a disk reinstall. The list provided by @mw1525 of what to take to your new installation is a good one and I can't think of anything to add at this point.

GalacticGal · June 2019

@Betthboop55, Thank you so much! I had forgotten EA updated Sims3. I use several of NRaas mods that I don't wish to have nullified by a patch. Right now, Sims3 is installed by disk and I generally play it through Razor to help ease the trauma to the computer.

igazor · June 2019

There are several reasons one might want to avoid Patch 1.69 and the required Origin/Launcher tie-in on a future install, but mod nullification is not one of them. Only the way in which the game starts up and the internal build numbers of the game files changed with the patch and only Core Mods, of which there are all of six in popular usage, care about that and display a warning that can be dismissed if the version mismatches. NRaas ErrorTrap is such a mod and like those from other developers we offer variants of the current version for both patches (and for those on Steam, yet another build number) to prevent the warning from showing. Other mods, CC, etc. will work or not work just the same between the two patch levels.

There are some game utilities, not mods, that will not function on 1.69 such as EasyCASP Editor and v2 of SaveCleaner (but v1 still works).

GalacticGal · June 2019

Thank you @izagor, for weighing in. Yes, I agree. One thing is that should my modem go down, as it did once before, I would still be able to play Sims3, using their launcher. That's a huge factor. I'm still sitting on the fence about uninstalling the game. But I do appreciate all the responses. It's a huge decision.

ciane · June 2019

Just curious, have you tried simply renaming your current Sims 3 folder and launching the game so that it creates a brand new sims 3 folder. You can then see if it's the game itself or something you've added to it that might be the problem.

When one exits out of one save and chooses another from the main menu, then that can have carry over from the old save to the new one. And, if you use "save" instead of "save as" you can also end up with problems. Save as is a brand new copy of the save that hopefully avoids corruption because it is made fresh rather than overwriting the old one.

If you find the new Sims 3 folder plays well, then you can copy the pertinent files you want back in to the new folder and see if they play better.

One thing I like to do to help my game is to move the old saves out of the Sims 3 folder, so I only have the current save I'm playing and a backup for it (one with a slightly different name; such as GothSun0600).

So, instead of a total reinstall, you'd just try a vanilla Sims 3 folder that you'd then add your must have files and folders back into.

GalacticGal · June 2019

Thank you @ciane , but it's more that my computer, itself, keeps crashing. It's getting so bad that I can almost count on at least one crash per day. I've used all of my programs that help protect it and happily, no malware has been exposed. I am thinking a clean sweep will do it. But that means I must have the program disks to reinstall that which I desire to keep. And yes, I do use the "Save As" to keep my game files from corrupting. I even do it in Sims4, it's become such a habit.

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Please Help, It's Been Years Since I've Played…

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