Can't Find Sims 3 Folder

[Audren]

First off, I don't think this is the right place for this thread, but I wasn't sure what the right place would be.

I went into the gallery to upload some new screenshots I took, but I could not find my Electronic Arts folder. I went into the search bar to find the folder, and it sort of worked. I managed to pull up my EA folder, but the Sims 3 sub-folder was missing. Medieval, Create-a-World, and Create-a-Pattern were all there, but not the Sims 3 proper. Does this have anything to do with the patch, and if so, how can I get back into my Sims 3 folder? 

[Schipperke]

Well, that's a bummer!

I just looked at my EA folder.  Sims 3 is still there, and as far as I can tell so is everything else.  I have downloaded the patch, so if what you're experiencing is indeed a patch issue, it's not happening for me, touch wood.  Have you tried restarting your computer to see if that makes any difference?

[Audren]

Well, that's a bummer!

I just looked at my EA folder.  Sims 3 is still there, and as far as I can tell so is everything else.  I have downloaded the patch, so if what you're experiencing is indeed a patch issue, it's not happening for me, touch wood.  Have you tried restarting your computer to see if that makes any difference?

Unfortunately, after restarting my computer, the Sims 3 folder is still missing in action. It may very well not be a patch issue; it's just that the last time I went into it was before I patched up. If it isn't the patch, though, I'm not sure what happened. 

[Ricalynn]

Did you check the trash?  And do you know if you can go do a reverse on your system to go back a few days or anything?

[Audren]

Did you check the trash?  And do you know if you can go do a reverse on your system to go back a few days or anything?

Well, the good news is that I just found my folder. I couldn't access it from the gallery, but if I go to Start and go into Documents like that, the folder is still there. Now the trouble is figuring out how to get into it from the gallery. I don't know why it's showing up in one place but not the other. Is there a way to get it to show up in the gallery, as well?

[Ricalynn]

You are the second person to have this problem with the gallery.  Would you be willing to get print screens for me?  Mainly a print screen of what it looks like after you hit the browse button to try and find the files.

[Audren]

You are the second person to have this problem with the gallery.  Would you be willing to get print screens for me?  Mainly a print screen of what it looks like after you hit the browse button to try and find the files.

I'm afraid I don't know how to get print screens. I see a print screen key on the keyboard, but I press it and nothing happened. 

[Ricalynn]

When you press it, open up Paint and then Paste it.  Then you just save it.  You can use Paint to crop out anything you don't want seen, too.  Since you use the gallery and can't access the gallery right now.  Try saving the picture under your pictures folder perhaps and see if you can access the Gallery that way.

[aenito]

You can use SnippingTool.exe that comes with windows (folder system32) to take screenshots.

The problem with library is that all you can see inside is fake. It don't show real files and folders because it's a database of links. You can read how to include folders in the image library.


If you want to surf the real files and folders you must do as you did last time, from my computer/user/documents.

[Audren]

The blue circle is where my Electronic Arts folder is supposed to be.

You can use SnippingTool.exe that comes with windows (folder system32) to take screenshots.

The problem with library is that all you can see inside is fake. It don't show real files and folders because it's a database of links. You can read how to include folders in the image library.

If you want to surf the real files and folders you must do as you did last time, from my computer/user/documents.

Fortunately, this seemed to work for me. I right-clicked the Electronic Arts folder in my Documents, then clicked "Send to Documents." It created a copy of the EA folder and I can access this copy from the Gallery. My only concern is that I don't know if my screenshots will upload directly to the copied folder, or if I will need to upload them there myself.

EDIT: After testing it out myself, I realized that the screenshots do not go into the new copy, so I'm back to square one. Is there a way to tell the game to send screenshots to the copy, or is that not feasible?

[Vinyl]

Audren, are you sure the documents folder opening up when trying to upload is the one for your profile?  (I'm assuming you're using a Windows PC, disregard entirely if you aren't.)  I've noticed the dialog box spawned when uploading screenshots doesn't always point to the same spot, depending on what I was previously doing with the computer.  So it's possible it's not Audren's Documents you're seeing, but Administrator's Documents or Housemate's Documents.  It would certainly explain why the Electronic Arts folder is missing.

Also, can you not navigate to the documents folder another way?  I'm using Windows 7 so I'm not sure what your pathing would be, but what happens if you choose the Computer icon then do the equivalent of a c: -> Users -> All Users -> Audren -> (My) Documents path?  Is the folder still missing?

[Audren]

Audren, are you sure the documents folder opening up when trying to upload is the one for your profile?  (I'm assuming you're using a Windows PC, disregard entirely if you aren't.)  I've noticed the dialog box spawned when uploading screenshots doesn't always point to the same spot, depending on what I was previously doing with the computer.  So it's possible it's not Audren's Documents you're seeing, but Administrator's Documents or Housemate's Documents.  It would certainly explain why the Electronic Arts folder is missing.

Also, can you not navigate to the documents folder another way?  I'm using Windows 7 so I'm not sure what your pathing would be, but what happens if you choose the Computer icon then do the equivalent of a c: -> Users -> All Users -> Audren -> (My) Documents path?  Is the folder still missing?

Yes, the documents folder is the same one as the profile. I'm not particularly tech savvy, so I'm not the one who messes around with the Admin Documents.

I can get to the documents folder using the pathway you just stated, but I don't know how to take the screenshots from there into the Gallery. I have a new idea that might work, though. If I move just the Sims 3 folder into Documents, I should be able to both access it from the Gallery and automatically get new screenshots to come in. Hopefully, that'll work. *fingers crossed*

[Vinyl]

I've had times where I couldn't find my Sims 3 folders and then figured out it was because I was accidentally in the Admin documents.  It's extra confusing because the CAW folders were there (since I can only get it to run through Admin mode).  Your description was sounding awfully familiar - too bad it wasn't the same simple fix.

I'm a little confused.  You can get to the Electronic Arts folder and the Sims 3/Screenshots subfolder using the pathing I listed below while in the dialog box spawned when uploading to the coppermine gallery?  And you're still not seeing anything inside the screenshots folder once you're in it?  That is quite strange indeed.

[Audren]

I've had times where I couldn't find my Sims 3 folders and then figured out it was because I was accidentally in the Admin documents.  It's extra confusing because the CAW folders were there (since I can only get it to run through Admin mode).  Your description was sounding awfully familiar - too bad it wasn't the same simple fix.

I'm a little confused.  You can get to the Electronic Arts folder and the Sims 3/Screenshots subfolder using the pathing I listed below while in the dialog box spawned when uploading to the coppermine gallery?  And you're still not seeing anything inside the screenshots folder once you're in it?  That is quite strange indeed.

No, I cannot get into it from the dialog box. I think I misinterpreted what you were saying. I can access the folder from Start, but it does not appear in the dialogue box. The good news is that I was able to get just the Sims 3 folder to appear, so I can actually upload screenshots now. I simply have no idea why the folder disappeared in the first place.



I circled both the copied folder that I made and the Sims 3 folder that ultimately allowed me to upload screenshots again.

[Ricalynn]

Are you still able to play with your folder having been moved?  Would you have been able to get your screenshots if you had just moved the folder itself instead of The Sims 3 folder?  The reason I say this is because it's simpler and I'm worried about your ability to play the game and use all features.

I never keep my screenshots in my Sims 3 folder anymore after this. I organize them and place them under My Documents by dynasty.  So much easier and I've never had a problem getting to them.