(MAC) Loading Problems and Higher-Pitched Audio [ Edited ]

[rkat7]

Game is patched, launching Origin, fingers crossed....

Nope... still asking for a disk. I give up.

Elaboration:

Prior to patching my game, doesn't need a disk. Post-patch, it requires a disk. Something I noticed is when I install the patch the first thing it says is it needs to change permissions and that makes me wary...

[caspinwall]

Nah, it usually says that if you are updating. Nothing unusual.

Two final things to check. First, do you definitely have admin rights on the Mac profile you are using? I reckon you probably do, but just checking.

Secondly, seeing as it is fine until you patch, I just want to be absolutely sure that you have the right patch. I know I asked earlier but, again, just checking. For Origin installations on Mac, the patch is the one labelled Region 7 on the Sims3 website here: http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/549552.page

Caspin

[rkat7]

Wow I feel stupid now.. I had the right patch file back when I needed a disk, but I absolutely didn't realize that the digital version requires a totally different type of patch.

You're better help than these EA staffers are (with the exception of the specialist, he was kind and helpful)! Haha! :D I saved the install file so I will do a complete uninstall and retry this process again! Phew! Downloading that region 7 superpatch now..... gonna take a while but heck I've been waiting all day, what's another hour? lol

I have renewed hope! 

[rkat7 · Accepted solution]

It worked! Hurray! Thank you so much Caspin!

Solution is as follows (full credit goes to Caspinwall on finally figuring out why my game was going crazy):

If you followed all steps provided by Caspinwall here then the disk is likely your problem, as it was for me.

First step: if you want to save your saved games and custom content, go to Documents>Electronic Arts>The Sims 3, then in your Sims 3 folder copy the following folders:

-DCBackup

-DCCache

-IGACache

-Mods

-SavedOutfits (only if you have any)

-Saves

-Screenshots (you don't need to copy this one if you never took any screenshots that you want to keep)

Then, paste those folders in a random folder, I just made a folder on my desktop called Backups and dumped all that info in there.

Next, uninstall your game. Then, check all your folders following Bluebell's guide provided again by Caspinwall to make sure your uninstall was clean. Restart your computer.

Open Spotlight (the little magnifying glass at the top-right corner on your mac menu bar) and look up Disk Utility. This step is basically to make sure everything is straightened out with your mac's permissions and that nothing is wonky. In the Disk Utility menu on the left hand side, select Macintosh HD, then select "Verify Disk Permissions". Let this run until it is completed... could take up to 15 minutes (more or less). Once completed, click "Repair Disk Permissions", and let that run through.. again it could take up to 15 minutes or more.

Download and install the base game through Origin (origin's download page is here) ***IMPORTANT*** ---> BEFORE you install the game, go to the origin's menu in your mac bar up at the top... click Origin and go to Preferences. Go to Advanced and MAKE SURE "Keep game installers after games has been installed" is checked and take note of where they will be saved, or select a destination for the saved games yourself.. this will save you from the hassle of re-downloading the game should something go wrong.

Once you've installed the base game (or while you're installing it, doesn't really matter), go and download the REGION 7 superpatch (this is important too.. as you can see from this thread I was very silly and neglected to take note that the digital download uses a completely separate patching file from the disk version's region). Superpatches for MACS can be found here.

When you have the Superpatch, open it and run it, and make sure to select your Sims 3 application found under Applications>The Sims 3>.

Then you can choose to either run the game through origin, or just run the game straight off your computer. You should not need your disk anymore, but keep it around with your serial code just in case.. never hurts to have a hard copy of all that information.

You can then proceed to install all your expansions, but make sure to test the game after each one. Never hurts to be safe!

***TIP***

You MIGHT need to redownload and install any worlds you may have purchased.

When you run the game, if you had previously installed any Worlds, be sure to check on them now in-game and make sure they're in the drop-down menu (when you go to make a new game). When I reinstalled my world just now, it told me it was already installed but it wasn't available to choose from in the drop-down menu. So I uninstalled it through the Installed Content Tab in the launcher, then reinstalled it from my fresh download on the Downloads tab. This produced the same "This world has already been installed" message, however upon entering the game it was now available for use when creating a new game.

*********

IF YOU WISH TO PUT THE FOLDERS YOU BACKED UP BACK INTO THE GAME... do so with caution, and do it in stages. This was the process I did (closing the game and reopening after each bullet point to test as each part got added back in):

- Mods (For this step I went into the game as though I Was going to start a new game, and entered Create-a-sim, where I could see which of my custom content was contained in this folder... it wasn't much, but at least the game was running with my mod and minimal CC installed!)

- DCBackup, DCCache, IGACache (These 3 folders made the rest of my CC show up in the create-a-sim panel, and by the looks of it nothing got corrupted or is missing, and the game has no issues).

- SavedOutfits, Thumbnails, Screenshots (I opted not to test at this stage because I don't have any saved outfits, and thumbnails/screenshots aren't really intrinsic to game function)

- Saves. [SEE TIP ABOVE -- all my saves seem to be functioning correctly now! game restoration is a total success!]

Again this post would not be possible without the stupendously helpful Caspinwall! Even though I've marked this post as the answer, please give any XP to caspinwall!

[caspinwall]

Glad it worked. Enjoy your game!

Caspin