Help! Game won't open!

[Ravensnight]

  Today I prided myself on finally finding the time to upload the latest update.  Yet just as it finished installing, an error message popped up and claimed there was some sort of errror.  So I canceled the update.
  Then I went on the Sims 3 item exchange and got a few new clothes for my upcoming teenager.  I installed them and went to play, yet when I tried to start the game, it went black and an error message appeared.  So I tried again.  And again.  I deleted the new content.  No change.
  What did it?  The patch or the new content?  How do I fix this?  I don't want to reinstall it since I've spent forever working my dynasty and if I lost it, I'd probably rage quit for a year. XD

[Ravensnight]

Update:
  I tried unistalling all custom content- which is just Hidden Springs- but instead it tried to open the game!

[MrsFlynn]

Hi Raven,

You mentioned getting an error message, or error messages. Do you by chance know what they were?  Knowing that information will help us in searching out the problem further and hopefully coming up with a solution.

*Edit* For example: Is the error message Sims 3 Stopped Working, or maybe you aren't able to open the launcher?

If you're not able to open the launcher, try checking your antivirus It might be due to your antivirus program conflicting with Sims 3.

Try going into the quarantine and do an override or restore. The antivirus program will not quarantine the game anymore. The reason it's doing this is because it's changing files and the antivirus program views Sims 3 as a threat unless you tell it otherwise.

MrsFlynn

[Ravensnight]

  I didn't read the error message for the update.  Lots of mumbo jumbo I didn't understand XD.  As for attempting to open the sims, it just crashes.
  I can open the launcher just fine, I even have a shortcut that goes straight to the game without the launcher, neither works.
  This sounds really stupid, but, how do I look at the quarantine?  I'm hopeless at computer stuff.

[MrsFlynn]

Have a look at these links to see if they'll be of any help.

Game Crashes (CTD)
http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2011/01/error-game-crashes-ctd.html

Game Help:Sims 3 Crashing Checklist
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Sims_3_Crashing_Checklist

Black screens, crashing or freezing in Sims 3?
http://help.ea.com/en/article/black-screens-crashing-or-freezing-in-sims-3-try-windowed-mode/

However if none of the above help, you may need to uninstall all of Sims 3 and reinstall.

You mentioned it crashed during the update. It's possible some of the game files were corrupted.

After you've uninstalled all of them. Run a registry cleaner program. (Something like Ccleaner, It's free - http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download)
This helps clean up temporary files, internet cache files and other files that are left behind that are no longer being used, after uninstalling.

Running Disk Cleanup and Defrag are helpful to do as well.
-- All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Clean Up
-- All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Defragmenter

These paths were made with Windows 7 in mind, so they may or may not be the same in Windows 8. These programs will help clean out the unnecessary and temporary files on your computer and reorganize your hard drive to make it run smoother.

Optional - Restart the computer.

Start reinstalling your Eps and Sps, Let the installer patch as you go.  Start with The Sims 3 Base Game and go from there.

As for how to check to see if your antivirus has quarantined Sims 3. I'm not sure. It'll depend on what your antivirus program is. If you can find that out, I might be able to search that out for you.

You can save your saved game files and such too. So you can still play your dynasty game.

How To: Saving folders/files to use on a different computer or to use as backup
http://www.carls-sims-3-guide.com/forum/index.php/topic,16414.msg313134.html#msg313134

I hope some of this helps

MrsFlynn

[Ravensnight]

  Oh my gosh!  I feel so screwed!  My total unneatness has backfired once again.  I previously considered uninstalling my game when I realized I couldn't find the disk to my main game.  I turned my whole house upside-down.  I spent hours!  Total panic mode.
  I realize I'm difficult to help when I keep making my own problems bigger.  At least this is one of the better times to totally incapacitate your game.  The Sims 4 comes out this fall.  That's six months.  I'll never make it.  Pray for my soul!

[Ravensnight]

It's probably a virus.  When I checked my antivirus network (AVG) it notified me that it had expired.  Thanks!  That's a bit overdo.  Oh look!  Multiply threats!  Yay!  Last time I got a virus, it disabled my keyboard and I had to completely wipe my computer.  EVERYTHING.  Thirteen Nancy Drew games of only half could be reinstalled.  700 Zoo Tycoon saves.  Ten Sim Worlds.  A half finished research paper.  All my documents.  And a lot of pain.  I'm so looking forward to this.

[LivvieLove]

Have you registered with Origin? The Sims will be kept safely on there even if you're missing your disk and you can redownload it there as you see fit. As for anti-virus, if on windows I highly recommend Microsoft Security Essentials - it's free when you have windows and it seems to work pretty well. My dad worked on computer software for a long time and for hardcore stuff he would download MalwareBytes for free online to do a quick cleanup, and AVG also has a free version.

[pallyndrome]

My game did a similar thing and it fixed when I updated my mods - do you have mods?

[MrsFlynn]

If you've got access to your Sims 3 cd keys, you can register them with TheSims3.com.

To register a game for the digital copy through Origin, you need to:

1.) Create an account at http://thesims3.com. If you already have an Origin account, use the same information to log in to the Sims 3 site.
2.) Log in to the account.
3.) Click the My Page link at the top of the page.
4.) Scroll to the bottom of the page and there will be a Register a Game link at the bottom of the left side of the profile page. Click the link.
5.) Enter the serial code for the game (the CD key) and click the Register button.
6.) The game will now show in the Origin client.

In order to download the game from Origin, you need to uninstall the disc version of the game. Then go in to the Origin client and log in (use the same ID and password you used for the Sims 3 website). Hover over your Sims 3 game in the My Games list and click the Download link to download and install the game.

I hope this works for you, so you can keep playing Sims

MrsFlynn