Months ago, I had the Sims 3 and all of my expansion and stuff packs on my laptop. However, because of battery problems, my sister thought it was my actual laptop and rebooted it. In the process, I lost all of my games. Recently, I reinstalled them, and most of them were the Sims 3 and the expansion and stuff packs that I have. Yesterday, I tried to play it, but it wouldn't work. The launcher wouldn't even open. The pop-up would just appear for a split second saying "The Sims 3 has stopped working." I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the game, but it still wouldn't work.
Then something strange happened. The last few times I tried to reinstall it, it didn't ask for the product code. I tried Googling some answers and one forum said to delete the missingdeps.idx file, so I did that. Then I tried to reinstall the base game again. I stopped it because it still didn't ask for the product code.
Someone please help. I really want to play this game. :(
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Here are the complete uninstall instructions for Win XP, Vista, 7 (8.x and 10 should be similar) and Mac OS X. On the Windows side, if you find the Registry key removal steps daunting, you may want to use a third party Registry utility like CCleaner to do a cleanup but any leftover keys are going to make a subsequent reinstall impossible to work.
https://help.ea.com/en/article/manually-uninstalling-the-sims-3
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> It sounds like your uninstall attempts might not have been complete. When you run the built-in uninstaller, bits and pieces of the game still often get left behind including the original code entries which aren't necessarily going to work if you aren't prompted for them again. Some of these bits and pieces are in files, but mostly in the Registry (on Windows) and in other hidden places (on Macs).
>
> Here are the complete uninstall instructions for Win XP, Vista, 7 (8.x and 10 should be similar) and Mac OS X. On the Windows side, if you find the Registry key removal steps daunting, you may want to use a third party Registry utility like CCleaner to do a cleanup but any leftover keys are going to make a subsequent reinstall impossible to work.
I followed the instructions in the link you gave me. I cut and pasted the Sims (documents) folder onto my desktop. However, when I got to the program files step, there wasn't the Sims 3 folder in the EA folder. There was one in the Orgin Games folder though, and I deleted it.
When it came to the registry part, I didn't have to delete anything because none of the Sims 3 things were there.
But when I tried to re-install the base game, it still didn't ask for the product code, so I stopped it. :(
Also calling on an expert to see if we're missing something obvious here.
@ceejay402
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> I find it odd to hear that the built-in uninstaller actually removed all traces of the game from the Registry. I mean, in an otherwise perfect world it probably should, but this one is notorious for not doing so. Willing to give CCleaner a try to see if it finds anything after another uninstall attempt?
>
> Also calling on an expert to see if we're missing something obvious here.
> ceejay402
I tried to use CC Cleaner earlier, but I don't know how to use it. I searched around on it though, but I didn't see the Sims 3. I'm willing to try again. o:
uninstall the base game.
Use cc cleaner to clean your computer registry and get any sims files off the registry http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
How to use cc cleaner http://www.wikihow.com/Use-CCleaner
Shut down all antivirus and reinstall the base game
Then use the superpatch http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/175477/official-ea-download-link-for-the-sims-3-cumulative-manual-update#latest
then turn back on your antivirus
I'm sorry for being a bother, but which items do I check (under registry)?
I don't want to delete any important things. ;-;
I clean the whole registry, it gives you the option to save the registry before deleting so save just in case. you can always restore the registry if you have to.
I used CCleaner to fix the issues, but it says none of the issues could be found. Sims 3 was a few of the issues.
hey @KairiaSouhma
these are the steps i suggest for ccleaner
Cleaning up the Registry
Download the free version of this registry cleaner program,
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download
• install it, following the on-screen instructions.
• Launch the program after installation has completed.
• Click the Registry tab, and click the Scan for Issues button.
• When scanning has completed, click the Fix Selected Issues... button.
• When you're prompted to backup, click Yes, accept the default name and location
• Click Fix All Selected Issues
Taken from http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS3_Uninstall
This is how I always install, Now turn off your antivirus including windows defender, download the base game, patch the base game using he superpatch and turn back on your antivirus
how are you trying to install the game via disc or origin? if via origin it shouldn't ask for a code
I use the disc.
sorry if your using disc do the same. I have installed both disc and download the same way. I turn off antivirus that can interfere with the install and then turn it back on.
I disabled my antivirus, but it still didn't ask for the product code.
I registered the base game on Origin, and now it's downloading.
Ever since they have attached origin to the base game it does cause some disc users issues. You would be better off using the download. I haven't used my disc in a long time
I see. :c
Thank you all for all of your help. It'll be a long time until it finishes downloading. It's not even on 1% yet. ;u;'
Glad to hear good luck!
your welcome and once your done downloading and patching the base game test it. If you have more issues just post back
https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/16989599/#Comment_16989599
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