Sims 3 will not work

[scerebe]

My sims 3 games will not work. I have both sim 3 and sim 4. I own sims 3 on  disc and digital download. I have only recently bought sim 4, right before parenthood release. So I was playing both sim 3 and sim 4 at same time without problem, although main focus was on sim 4. We all know how glitchy sim 3 can be, so I clean up my folders, as I always do. I mainly keep cheat mods ( as I know they work) and really clean up CC. I even delete save games, I basically start over( I have done this many times).

So I download some new content, install, start game, everything is fine. Continue to play 4, all is fine. At some point after last update for sims 4 (I think the one in July), sim 3 just stopped working! I'm very perplexed as both worked fine. I uninstalled sim 3 and reinstalled, nothing...a quick blink is all I get. I have uninstalled sim 3 several times and reinstalled. I have uninstalled origin and reinstalled. I have repaired, reboot, everything I could find on the forums and nothing has worked. I posted on EA forum, but no answers. Sims 4 still works without any problems. I am so upset that I cant get sims 3 to work, any suggestions please.

[MrsFlynn]

You may want to check a few things first off:

1. Check that you're using a dedicated video card. As it sounds like you had mentioned that it just goes to black when trying to start the game.

http://crinrict.com/blog/2013/06/getting-the-game-to-recognize-your-graphics-card.html

2. Make sure your graphics drivers are up to date.
http://help.ea.com/en/article/finding-devices-and-updating-drivers/

3. Check that you do not have any programs running that my cause conflict with Origin. http://help.ea.com/en/article/programs-that-may-cause-conflicts-with-origin/

4. Ensure that Antivirus or security software is not blocking the launch of the game. http://help.ea.com/en/article/connection-issues-with-origin/#1

Other than that, check over the crashing tips post linked below to see if any help.

General Crashing Issues
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=20732.msg425173#msg425173

[scerebe]

at the time I wrote post to request help, sims 3 was not on my computer. after reading over suggestion, I think I tried all of the suggestion except but make sure video card was listed in "DeviceConfig.log". So I installed sims 3 on my computer again. It didn't ask for key#, which I thought was weird. Click on Sims 3 icon and as usual, nothing! no black screen....a quick flicker...and nothing.

I go into my documents>EA....and no sims 3 (just sims 4). Its in programs/origin folder. So I once again uninstall sims 3 and origin and install sim 3 again.... still no sims 3 in my documents folder.

I think I am going nuts! this makes no sense at all. I specifically bought this computer for sims 3, played the sims 3 with tons of CC and some mods with no problem at all. I went over and beyond so there would be no problems, I went so over that I was playing both sims 3 and sim4 with out an issue until the toddler update with sims 4. now I cant get sims 3 to play at all. sorry for rant, Im just at my wits end.

[MrsFlynn]

It didn't ask for the game code, because you had already registered your game with Origin, so it knows you own the game.

You may want to check to make sure the game is being installed into the correct folder. Which is:
 C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 3

Once you've checked that, run the game again by logging into Origin > Game Library > Sims 3. If it runs correctly this will create a new Sims 3 folder in the documents folder.
C:\Users\<Username>\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3

Try creating a new game without mods and cc to test. If it won't start, try the tips in this post linked below:

Sims 3 Won't Launch/Start
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=25717.msg433695#msg433695

If it still crashes, first, check to make sure it's using the dedicated video card. http://crinrict.com/blog/2013/06/getting-the-game-to-recognize-your-graphics-card.html and then check over the crashing tips, just in case.

General Crashing Issues
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=20732.msg425173#msg425173

If none of the above work, you may need to contact EA's Customer Service and open a case report about your issue. https://help.ea.com/en/contact-us