Can't Save Lots Anymore?

[Peanuts61]

Hi there!

I have run into a bit of a problem, and I was wondering if anybody can help?  I like to renovate the venues that I use before I start a new game, and I also save a copy to my portable harddrive so that if my game should run into snags, I can have a back up save, but for some reason, I cannot save anything anymore. I hit the share button as if I was uploading the files to the exchange, but when I hit the share button, the items usually can be found in my download file but that isn't happing now. can anybody help? thanks!

[MrsFlynn]

I remember a fellow player having this issue and what we found is that their Saves, library and exports folders had hit the limit of what the game could hold.

When I have issues with my game and need or want to troubleshoot I start by saving a copy of my Sims 3 folder to my desktop. That way I have a backup of all my Sims 3 files if I need them. The folder can then be deleted after problem has been solved.

Go to: C:\Users\Username\Documents\Electronic Arts - right-click the Sims 3 folder > Copy/Paste to desktop, usb drive or external hard drive.

With trying to troubleshoot saving issues. I remove most of my save files from my Saves folder.
C:\Users\Username\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Saves

Since you're having issues saving lots to the library. Remove the files from both the Library and Exports folders.

Remove all the library files in your library folder.
C:\Users\Username\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Library

Remove all the files in your Exports folder.
C:\Users\Username\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Exports

Deleting the files within these folders will hopefully allow you to be able to load and save a renovated venue/lot.

  ----

Here's another tip that I sometimes = most often lol use, in case the other one doesn't work.

Create a New Sims 3 folder. This serves the purpose of refreshing the Sims 3 game and launcher and it's cache files in the DCCache folder.

To create a new Sims 3 folder, go to: \Documents\Electronic Arts - Right-click on the Sims 3 folder and select Rename. I usually rename it something like Sims3-old or Sims3-1. Everything is safe in your old Sims 3 folder.

Launch the game and exit it so it creates a new folder.

Start a new test save in Sunset Valley for example to see if it still has issues.

– Testing Lots: via Edit Town mode, look at the in-game library - Empty lots, Community lots.
– Testing Build/Buy: via Edit Town mode pick a lot and go into Build/Buy.
– Testing CAS: Load CAS and check for installed items.

Do your lots, build/buy items, and/or CAS items show up?

Quit without saving.

If all is good, it might be something in your old folder got corrupted. You can then start copying files/folders over from your old folder into your new one. –– Be sure to check your mods and custom content to make sure they aren't causing conflict with the game.

If you need help in knowing what to add, see the post linked below:

Sims 3 - How To: Saving Folders/Files
https://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=16414.msg313134#msg313134

[AdamHudson25]

I had the same problem, but thanks to you I found a solution. Thank you

[Peanuts61]

thanks so much! will try an a little while after housework, lol

[MrsFlynn]

Hopefully it goes well for you!!

If you'd like I can share more tips on cleaning up your Sims 3 folder?

[Peanuts61]

I did what you said, Mrs. Flynn, and went back into sims 3, but ALL my gaves are gone!  but that's okay, I had at least 4 saved games I was playing. it's fine though. like I said before, I am fixing this game more than I am playing. so I will try to see if i can do the upgrades to venues that I wanted to do before and save them all to my portable hard drive, then I'm going to just take a small break from sims 3, and try sims 2 and mayb

[Peanuts61]

maybe sims 4, since i have both just lying dormant on my computer, lol

[MrsFlynn]

Girlfriend, I didn't say move -all- your saved-games out of the Saves folder. lol

Or is it that you went to look at the folder and it was empty? Did you previously move them? Do you have OneDrive active? If so you may want to uninstall it or disable it for Sims 3.

As OneDrive will move game files out of the \Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3. And the game won't be able to see any of the save files or other game files.

Before doing anything with OneDrive, if you have Sims 3 files there, copy them back to the C:\Users\Username\Documents\Electronic Arts folder.

Then turn off, disable or uninstall the service. This way the game will be able to access your Sims 3 files again and won't move them.

–Turn off, disable, or uninstall OneDrive: (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/turn-off-disable-or-uninstall-onedrive-f32a17ce-3336-40fe-9c38-6efb09f944b0)

Don't forget to check your library folder as well \Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Library and move most of the files out of that folder as well. So that you can save new lots to the library.

[Peanuts61]

no i don't have one drive, and I guess I just didn't understand you fully?  but I just redid rebeccas cafe from isla paradiso, and renamed it rebecca's tiki bar, tried to save it by hitting share and got a message saying failed

[MrsFlynn]

I thought of something that might be a little easier.

When I have issues with my game and need or want to troubleshoot I start by saving a copy of my Sims 3 folder to my desktop. That way I have a backup of all my Sims 3 files if I need them.

Go to: C:\Users\Username\Documents\Electronic Arts - right-click the Sims 3 folder > Copy/Paste to desktop, usb drive or external hard drive.

With trying to troubleshoot saving issues. I remove most of my save files from my Saves folder.
C:\Users\Username\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Saves

Since you're having issues saving lots to the library. Remove the files from both the Library and Exports folders.

Remove all the library files in your library folder.
C:\Users\Username\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Library

Remove all the files in your Exports folder.
C:\Users\Username\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Exports

Deleting the files within these folders will hopefully allow you to be able to load and save a renovated venue/lot.

Hopefully that's a little easier to understand?

[Peanuts61]

I will try and thanks Mrs. Flynn as always for you very welcomed help!

[MrsFlynn]

You're welcome!!

Here's another tip that I sometimes = most often lol use, in case the other one doesn't work. 

Create a New Sims 3 folder. This serves the purpose of refreshing the Sims 3 game and launcher and it's cache files in the DCCache folder.

To create a new Sims 3 folder, go to: \Documents\Electronic Arts - Right-click on the Sims 3 folder and select Rename. I usually rename it something like Sims3-old or Sims3-1. Everything is safe in your old Sims 3 folder.

Launch the game and exit it so it creates a new folder.

Start a new test save in Sunset Valley for example to see if it still has issues.

– Testing Lots: via Edit Town mode, look at the in-game library - Empty lots, Community lots.
– Testing Build/Buy: via Edit Town mode pick a lot and go into Build/Buy.
– Testing CAS: Load CAS and check for installed items.

Do your lots, build/buy items, and/or CAS items show up?

Quit without saving.

If all is good, it might be something in your old folder got corrupted. You can then start copying files/folders over from your old folder into your new one. –– Be sure to check your mods and custom content to make sure they aren't causing conflict with the game.

If you need help in knowing what to add, see the post linked below:

Sims 3 - How To: Saving Folders/Files
https://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=16414.msg313134#msg313134

[Peanuts61]

now i cannot log into the sims 3 store, so this may have something to do with me not being able to share my upgrades?

[MrsFlynn]

No I don't think so. Not being able to log into the Sims 3 Store or launcher could be something to do with the website, browser and/or Sims 3 launcher.

When I have issues with the launcher, I backup my Sims 3 folder to the desktop to make sure I don't loose anything.

Go to: Documents\Electronic Arts > Right-click on the Sims 3 folder > Copy/Paste to desktop,  usb or external drive.

Then I delete Edge and IE Browser Data -

The Sims 3 launcher uses parts of IE to work, so clearing Edge and IE's browser data can help with launcher issues such as downloading and installing store content.

View and delete browser history in Microsoft Edge:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/view-and-delete-browser-history-in-microsoft-edge-00cf7943-a9e1-975a-a33d-ac10ce454ca4

If your password contains any special characters, it's a good idea to change your password.  The launcher doesn't do well with some of those, for example & or !.  This is the case even when the password works fine on other EA sites.

Reset your password for expired credentials:
https://help.ea.com/en/help/account/reset-password-expired-credentials
 
Additionally, go into Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3 > Downloads and delete the file labeled [your email].bin. if you have it.

✽ Reason Why a New Sims 3 Folder is Recommended: Corrupted or otherwise bad files in your old folder. Reinstalling any .Sims3Pack files you have so the DCCache files can be renewed and everything then shows up in game.

Test to see if you can open the launcher and login and/or Install .Sims3Pack files.

[Peanuts61]

I'm sorry, but what is IE?