Hey I wanted to post this on the Sims 3 site but I couldn't because I can't register my game because it's already in use.
So this is how to prevent and/or stop freezing (Without using mods btw)
Opening other programs
So when you are playing Sims 3 one of the things that causes freezing and the plumbob still moving is when you close the game page while it's still loading or playing on it.
When it's loading I always used to search the web while I was waiting but then it froze every few minutes but the sounds were still there and background movement.
So you should not open other tabs while the game is on.
Mods
You might think mods are just harmless but some mods can conflict with others especially if you got them from different sites. This can also cause crashing
So to stop crashing you can delete the mods, but this might not actually be the cause but it will help. Or you can stay safe while downloading them and read the requirements and listen to others who have downloaded that mod to see if they have experienced any crashing or anything.
Memory and graphics cards
This cause is common with laptops because they don't have as big graphic cards and memory.
The best thing to do is to get more memory or get a computer.
Or you could not install as many expansions.
Downloads
If you download something online like a world (I downloaded a world before for free which you originally had to pay for on the Sims 3 website) and it kept crashing because I didn't get it from the company so it had files missing.
So I had to delete it in the end and it's running fine.
Expansion Packs
With ambitions and late night there is a glitch which I think is still there where it freezes but I don't know if it's been fixed because I haven't updated. So UPDATE EVERYTHING!
This commonly occurs with these expansions when you try and speed up the game.
Prevention
So to prevent it don't open program's while Sims 3 is up
- Don't download mods that have a bad reputation
- Be safe downloading things
- Make sure your computer and game is up to date
- Make sure you have enough memory before getting new expansion packs
- Using cheats on the game can actually mess things up. Like testingcheatsenabled
- DON'T poke around the Sims 3 folders if you accidentally move or delete one it may not work again
- Check your disk isn't scratched
What happens if it does crash?
- I found that if you press 'P' on your keyboard (The pause button) it can unfreeze it but it depends what has caused it.
- Restart your game or computer
- Type in resetsim [insert sim name here] and SOMETIMES it works but I cannot 100% garruntee it.
Thanks for reading!
I haven't found out how to stop the freezing bug on World Adventure and University Life where you come home and you cannot control your sims at all but I'm working on it.
To prevent that only take 1 person to university and don't take more than 5 people on holiday.