Fast Lane Stuff Pack Not Installing --- solved --- but additional game issues

[coolsim9999999]

I was able to squeeze out enough money to get the Fast Lane Stuff Pack.  However, I tried to install it, but it will not install.

Also, when I thought it was installed, the game took away all of the items that I purchased at the Sims Store --- after I registered my TS3 game.

I did not save that time, so now, I don't have the Fast Lane Stuff Pack installed, but I got my stuff from the store back.

I would like to try to install the Fast Lane Stuff Pack, though!

What should I try to see if it installs?

[Candyd]

Did you install it with Origin ?

[MrsFlynn]

1. Login to Origin with your username and password that you used to purchase the game with.
2. Click on the Sims 3 under the My Games Library tab. In Sims 3 under the Play button there should be a tab called Extra Content click it.
3. Find Fast Lane to see if it shows as purchased. If it does, you should see a download button. Try downloading/installing it from there.

This shouldn't be making your store content disappear. Let's see if we can get FL installed and playable for you. Then we'll try to solve the disappearing store content.

[coolsim9999999]

Hi @MrsFlynn --- I was able to install FL, and everything is in buy/build mode.  Thanks a lot !

1 However, my store items disappeared.  I was given 1,000 Store Points for registering TS3.  I bought a deep pink canopy bed and some lawn furniture.

Questions for this week --- not necessarily for tonight:
2 Also, when I registered TS3, I was given Riverview for free because I registered.  How do I find Riverview?

3 Finally, my buy/build items for the Town Life Stuff pack are in my game.  However, the 7 lots, which come with that pack are missing --- or I can't find them.  My Sims live at 15 Summer Hill Court in Sunset Valley.  How would I find those 7 lots from there?

[Candyd]

Log in, and download Riverview here : http://store.thesims3.com/riverview.html?categoryId=12642&section=UpSell
All your store content is available for download here : http://store.thesims3.com/purchaseHistory.html
You need to install them with the launcher.

[MrsFlynn]

Yay!! I'm happy that you were able to install FL.

1. Store items disappearing.. still need to search on that. Will get back to you.

2. Candy beat me to the answer.

3. Lots are missing?!  If you haven't yet, while in game:

1. Click the Options button (...) and select Edit Town.
2. Look in the library under either Show Empty Houses tab (Outline of House), or Show Community lots (Bench) to see if any of them are there.

Buy mode stuff may not be missing, just trickier to find. While in Buy Mode look for the Content Selector Tool. It's at the right of the UI (User Interface)



To use this tool:
--
1. Click in a tab you want to start with for example - Counters
2 Click the little asterisk with an up arrow (*^) at the far right of the UI.
3. Select which expansion or stuff pack you want to find something from (for example: Ambitions) and if the expansion or stuff pack has it, it will show it.
4. To exit the tool click the little asterisk with an up arrow (*^) again.

Build Mode has this tool as well. Just click on something like the Windows, and to the right of the UI you'll find the tool and can use it the same way as above.

Hopefully that helps.

[MrsFlynn]

Is it that the Sims 3 launcher isn't keeping the store content installed?

I've heard of the problem that the launcher doesn't keep store stuff installed. I'm not quite sure how to fix it other than install store content into a fresh/new Sims 3 folder.

As last time we downloaded our store content we installed it into a fresh Sims 3 folder a little at a time. Making sure everything gets installed as we went along. Then backed it up for safe keeping. And use a copy of that folder when we want to use Store content.

Hubby did a write up about it awhile back if you'd like to read on how we do that.

How-to: Backup and Restore Store Content
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=18945.msg355355#msg355355

[coolsim9999999]

@MrsFlynn and Candyd --- I just had to restart my computer.  I will open up TS3 again, and I'll let you know what's going on in a few minutes.  Thanks a lot for all of your help !

[coolsim9999999]

@MrsFlynn --- I found the filter content button ! 

However, I think this that it is going to take me awhile to go through all of this information.  I understand some of it, but I need to reread it before I go to bed.  Thank you very much for your help.  I will update you tomorrow about how I'm doing.

[coolsim9999999]

Hi @MrsFlynn --- I found those 7 Town Stuff lots for which I was looking in world editor.  I placed the first lot.

However, I still need to try to find Riverview following @Candyd's links.

I still cannot find my store content.

I don't know how to make a lot level --- it was placed in a very elevated way.  The lot is very elevated, and I don't know how a Sim would ever use the lot.

I'm not sure if I covered everything that you were explaining to me last night, but at least I found those 7 lots.

Thanks again,

Coolsim

[MrsFlynn]

There is a cheat code to flatten lots. I can't remember it off the top of my head. There is away in game to flatten lots, but some times the cheat does better.

In Build mode, there's the terrain tool -



It's on the right-hand corner of the build menu. (Shovel in Dirt) Click that. Click the Flatten Lot button (Down Arrow with line under it.) -



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You say you can't find your store content. But you don't explain if it's missing from the launcher or what.

[coolsim9999999]

There is a cheat code to flatten lots. I can't remember it off the top of my head. There is away in game to flatten lots, but some times the cheat does better.

In Build mode, there's the terrain tool -

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It's on the right-hand corner of the build menu. (Shovel in Dirt) Click that. Click the Flatten Lot button (Down Arrow with line under it.) -

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

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You say you can't find your store content. But you don't explain if it's missing from the launcher or what.

Thanks for the explanations with pictures.  I understand which pictures to click, now.  I have seen the terrain button in build mode, but I've never clicked it.

However, first, I will see if my store content is in the launcher, and I'll let you know soon.

[coolsim9999999]

Town Stuff and FL are in my launcher and are running, so that's no longer a problem.

However, my downloads tab on the launcher shows that all of my store items as "boxes," and when I try to install them, the TS3 tells me that the installation failed and to update my game.  My game is currently up-to-date, so I don't know why my store items won't install.  Those items were working properly when I was playing under Steam, but to get the game packs running, I've had to run from Origin and the launcher.

[MrsFlynn]

This sounds familiar to me.

What I've done when I've gotten the "boxes" in my Downloads tab is delete them and redownload those particular items.

1. Leave my Sims 3 launcher open.
2. Log into http://store.thesims3.com/
3. Click the Store Button and select My Store Account > Purchase History
4. Download the items from there.
5. Once downloaded. Go back to the launcher to the Downloads tab and click the Select All button to select all items.
6. Click the install button.

[Loconut]

If the above post doesn't work:

Are you launching the game from origin? When I bought dragon valley I also had to goof around with origin, and I eventually had to contact customer support (my sims 3 + all eps I have are bought from steam). I had issues launching the game after because origin was logged in and it tried to launch the game from it's library (which the program didn't have ofc). So after installing the stuff pack I recommend logging out of origin and setting it up so that it doesn't open/log in during system startup (when you open your computer). You can usually set this up from the program itself, but if there's no settings for that you might need to use a third party program like advanced systemcare or something like it. If you don't have any games from origin I'd recommend just uninstalling it altogether, since the program is notorious for making files vanish etc. For installing store content, try to acess the launcher via steam (open steam, go to your library and click play on ts3). Also from the settings in-game under community untick the option to be logged into the store - that might be causing issues with the content as well.