Can't Excavate

[Mrs.Laphalot]

I had my sim go to Egypt and China and she isn't able to excavate at any location.   She just stands there and complains that she can't reach the spot, even if I put her to standing directly on it. Anyone else have this problem?

[Schipperke]

I also had this problem in China - couldn't excavate anywhere.  It was the first time I'd had a sim travelling since I got Ambitions, and I thought Ambitions might be causing the problem.  However, a sim in that same game was recently in France and had no problem excavating there.  I haven't tried in Egypt.

[Joria]

I think it may have something to do with their age level.  My adult Sims and older can excavate, my young adults and younger can't.  Haven't tested it but so far the older folks can excavate at each country but the young adult can't.

[Saltypaws]

I am having the same problem too, it is with all ages so far and in Egypt and China.

[Pam]

I'm having this problem, as well.  My adult Sim was unable to excavate in Egypt.  There was one place, though, that he could excavate:  in the underground copper mine on the little island.  There are tons of rubble piles to clear with metals and gems under them, and a couple of excavation site.  I have no idea why he could excavate undergroung, but not above ground.

[wildredchild]

I, too, was having this problem after installing Ambitions.  I ended up uninstalling everything and then reinstalling. Seems to have fixed the problem as my Sims are able to excavate now.

[Mrs.Laphalot]

I'm having this problem, as well.  My adult Sim was unable to excavate in Egypt.  There was one place, though, that he could excavate:  in the underground copper mine on the little island.  There are tons of rubble piles to clear with metals and gems under them, and a couple of excavation site.  I have no idea why he could excavate undergroung, but not above ground.

That's one area I didn't think to try... underground.  

I to was having this problem after installing Ambitions.  I ended up uninstalling everything and then reinstalling. Seems to have fixed the problem as my Sims are able to excavate now.

After all the uninstalls/re-installs I've been through the past two days, I'll deal with not being able to for now. I'll have to muster the stomach to do that again.   Glad there's hope that the problem can possibly be resolved this way though. Thanks bunches for letting me know.    I'm actually have to much of a 'blast' with my inventor at the moment and it's hard for me to pull away from the game.

[Esther1981]

 I'm actually have to much of a 'blast' with my inventor at the moment and its hard for me to pull away from the game.

I remember my first day with an inventor! A cop car went BOOM! It was hilarious! I was showing my brother-in-law, and I was laughing so hard I was having trouble hitting the detonate button!

[Pam]

After all the uninstalls/re-installs I've been through the past two days, I'll deal with not being able to for now. I'll have to muster the stomach to do that again.

Ugh!  Me, too!  I just can't think of a reinstall right now.  I'll hope for a patch from EA to fix it.

[Joria]

I am having the same problem too, it is with all ages so far and in Egypt and China.

Yep.  Just tested it out in China and it doesn't seem to be age related.  Couldn't excavate.

[NalaOwl22]

Same problem in my game too - I've heard rumours that excavation sites within lots are working OK, which would fit in with the Copper Mine. I haven't had chance to try this out further as yet but I will try to.
Nala

[Schipperke]

I'm now having the same problem in France.  Now my sims can't excavate in any of the travel destinations.

[simfulicious]

I can't do this either.  I will hopefully fix it on an uninstall/reinstall, when I get my new pc that is currently being built (I can hardly wait!!!)

[jdratlif]

I have been reading that it is a problem with ambitions.

I can excavate in france in the celtic ruins, but have never been able to anywhere else. I've only found a few sights though, as I don't have the eyes of horus.

I have tried it on two different machines, one running XP and one running Windows 7, so I don't think an uninstall/reinstall will help. Seems unlikely that both m installs went terribly wrong. It has also happened to me on different games, so it doesn't seem to be a save game issue.

What would happen to my save game if I decided to uninstall ambitions? I guess I would lose my washer/dryer, but they don't have any of the new professions. Would my game even still work? I don't really want to start over right now, but I've barely done any exploring.

[Esther1981]

What would happen to my save game if I decided to uninstall ambitions? I guess I would lose my washer/dryer, but they don't have any of the new professions. Would my game even still work? I don't really want to start over right now, but I've barely done any exploring.

I'm not positive about this, but if you do choose to remove Ambitions, make SURE you remove anything that it has in it BEFORE un-installing! Why I say this is when I un-installed WA and couldn't re-install right away, I tried to play my saved games with only the base game, but because I had WA things in the saved games, it would only load about half-way and refused to go any farther. I didn't try it without WA stuff because once I got my code there was no need.