Sims 3 Keeps Crashing

[blc1977]

I don't think I am meant to play Sims tonight. I have had nothing but laggy and freezing issues when playing my IP saved game, and just now when I tried to play it after about 5 mins of gameplay, it just crashed on me. This happened three times. I checked the Saves folder and it doesn't show any "bad" saved game, so I am not sure what's happening. I don't really want to have to start from scratch and do a re-format of the game because then I have a crap load of store content and such to download which takes hours! (I have been playing Sims 3 since 2009). Help!!! 

[MrsFlynn]

Hi Blc1977

You may not have to do a complete uninstall-reinstall. Have you tried anything to remedy the crashing? If not, here are a few things to try.

Deleting cache files? --
CASPartCache.package; compositorCache.package; DeviceConfig.log; scriptCache.package; simCompositorCache.package; Sims3LauncherLogFile.log; Sims3Logs.xml; and socialCache.package

These files above will regenerate next time you play, but is good to delete from time to time to help with troubleshooting.

Also delete everything except Ccmerged.package file in your DCBackup folder  (-- Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3 > DCBackup)

Try a factory reset:

01.) Go to your Sims 3 folder.
 -- Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3
02.) Rename your current Sims 3 folder to something like Sims 3 Current.
03.) Click the Sims 3 icon to create a new The Sims 3 folder.
04.) Then copy your game saves, files and such over to the new game to see if that helps.

If you need help in knowing what to backup, see this thread. --

Re: 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

Here are some more troubleshooting tips, in the post linked below:

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

Hope some of this helps,

MrsFlynn

----------

Reference Links:

Delete Game Cache Files (What & Howto)
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=20732.msg401809#msg401809

Sims 3 Factory Reset (What & Howto)
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=20732.msg401814#msg401814

[blc1977]

Thanks for all the suggestions  I do delete my cache files every day...usually after I have finished playing for the day. And I have tried to do a factory reset on the game, as you suggested (creating new Sims 3 folder). It worked for awhile, and I was able to play for about an hour, but then it crashed and gave me "the Sims 3 game has stopped working". I have the saved game in Isla Paradiso and am wondering if it's the town that is causing the problem.

I am going to try and play my Hidden Springs game and see if I have any trouble. Again, I don't want to have to uninstall and re-install the game. Any other suggestions on the meantime?

[MrsFlynn]

It could be IP causing some problems. It's a very graphics intensive expansion. So is Seasons. So the more expansions, stuff packs and store content you add, the more problems you may have if you have an older or under powered computer

The only other thing I can think of off the top of my head is, Try playing your current family(s) in a new game. -- This is different than moving them into a different house or moving them to a different town. Save the household(s) and place them into a new game to see if things run smoother from there. -- If you haven't tried this already.

I did search out the crash message - Thank you SO much for posting that. It's -very- helpful!!

And found that Crinrict has a write up on their blog about game crashes that you might want to look over.

Crinrict's Blog - Sims 3 Game Crashes
http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2011/01/error-game-crashes-ctd.html

I hope this helps some.

MrsFlynn

[blc1977]

It does. Thank you Mrs. Flynn  I have contacted EA support too and doing a live chat with an agent he suggested I do the super patch to 1.63.5. I am hoping it works, as I only had 1.63.4. It just finished downloading so I am going to give it a try and see if it works. But I will bookmark this thread just to keep your suggestions close by Thanks for all of your help! You'd think after 3 years of playing this game I would know a little more than what I do on how to fix these issues 

[MrsFlynn]

Oh yeah, the super patch. That's been a big help for Hubby and I. I'm sorry I totally spaced mentioning it. I don't have the link to the super patch saved to my notes. *Blush* Bad tech helper.

I hope that helps!!   Post back the results?

MrsFlynn

[MrsFlynn]

I'm happy I could help.   It's always good to ask even if you've been playing the game since it was released.  Two heads are always better than one. And this forum has been really -really- helpful with lots of Sims 3 stuff.

Something else I found in my notes that might be helpful. Run a register cleaner program.  If you don't already. (Something like Ccleaner - 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.

It's been pretty helpful for Hubby and I. I use the registry cleaner part every now and again, and the cleaner part of it every day.

MrsFlynn

[blc1977]

Oh yeah..I have used the CC cleaner before but I removed it some time ago..can't remember why lol. But I downloaded it again and am running it now.

On another note, the super patch did not resolve my issue so I am back holding on chat (online) waiting to talk to an EA agent hoping they have some other suggestions. *Sigh*...usually they are really great in helping, but I really hope I don't have to remove my IP saved game cause I worked hard on getting the town the way I want it too. And I built an awesome lake house for myself too! Although I don't have enough funds to move into it lol.

[MrsFlynn]

Have you tried Crash Log Analyzer -- http://modthesims.info/d/416883. Hopefully the directions are clear enough. I don't really know how to use the program.  We've used it on our computers, and it's helped somewhat.

Hubby tells me, if we're at least able to save, with no problems every hour or so. We're good. Even if we get that darn crash message.

What ultimately helped us was to uninstall-reinstall. But I'm completely understand not wanting to do that right now.

MrsFlynn

[MrsFlynn]

Here's a few duh, why didn't I ask this before questions. *Blush* But are you running the game with mods and/or custom content (3rd party content that is not made by EA). If so, try running the game without these, for this test run.

Have you tried updating your video card?  I've had weird things happen - like crashes, when my video card driver needs to be updated.

Something else that is kind of jumping out at me to try. Maybe try Windowed mode? I'm not sure if this will really help. But it might be worth a try.

Oh and also.. restarting the computer, every couple of tests may help as well. *Snicker-Blush* I've been known to when trouble-shooting my own game to not restart the computer every now and again.

MrsFlynn

[blc1977]

I don't have any mods installed, but I do have some CC as I have downloaded some lots from other Simmers through the Exchange. I keep saying I am not going to but end up doing it anyways because I am horrible at building houses, I prefer to decorate them rather than build them, but some people are so talented and I love a lot of the designs (although I am very proud of the lake house I built just recently lol)

I know it's not my video card that needs to be updated. When I was speaking with an EA agent months ago on another issue, they did confirm that my laptop has more than enough graphics, ram and memory to run the game. But thank you for the suggestion  I will definitely try the windowed mode feature, although it makes things seem so small lol. But I am terrible just like you when it comes to not restarting my laptop every few tests.

All that being said, I think I have discovered the problem. It would seem that it's my IP saved game that is causing the issue  I am in my Hidden Springs saved game and am working in the CAS to outfit my husband sim, and it has not yet crashed. This sucks, because now I have to spend hours creating a new IP game and setting it up the way that I wanted it to be *sigh*

[MrsFlynn]

I'm sorry. I've decorated a couple of towns before. That can be a really big task!! You might be able to save your family and house, if you haven't yet to play in a new IP.

MrsFlynn

[blc1977]

You're right! It is a big task. And most of the time I don't mind doing it, IF I haven't already done it for the same town once before lol. I have my sim saved, and the house I built (but not living in yet) saved to my library. So that's fine. I was only about 4 days into the saved game anyways (I only just started it three days ago). The only thing that's worse is, my Sim was in the future when it started crashing...so I can't even go back to my town and save a lot of the modified lots that I did in IP. THAT is the most suckiest part 

[MrsFlynn]

Yeah that does suck. Hopefully you didn't loose your traveling Sim?  I've heard some nasty story's about traveling and crashing lately and not being able to get the Sim person/family back.

MrsFlynn

[blc1977]

Thankfully no. I save all of my pre-made Sims so I don't have to re-make her again. I will just lose all of her wishes and such. But that's fine. I am hoping that in making a new IP town, I won't have the same issue. I figured I might have installed something into the saved game that caused the issue....I will try not to do that this time, if I can help it. My fiancé had built stuff for me awhile back, and I know that his builds can be trusted because he never had any cc when he built them way back when and I like to use a lot of his builds in my games.