New Member With Same Slow Problems

[dardar227]

Hello Carl, Pam and other members here...very nice site! New member here, my name is David.
 
I hate to sound like a broken record but I've been working on the Sims and my own slow and freaky problems for nearly a week now and on the verge of giving it up too. 
 
It all started when I tried to add the 1.24 patch, which didn't take no matter how many times I tried. It would get so far and say "error loading file" and didn't work but the game still loaded at its normal speed, ignoring the patch for the time being. Then to make some matters worse this weekend I added some CC from some other sites. There were no errors and everything seemed to be installed correctly. Once I started the program it showed a black screen for a few minutes before the program and intro would finally come up with a picture. It's like it went from 60 to Zero. I'd load a town and would see a picture and hints window, that would never change and the waiting circle would not go away and it took Windows Task Manager to get out of it. I was pretty convinced that some CC was causing a conflict so I decided to uninstall everything, including all stuff, expansion packs and Sims Store items I downloaded, then the base game itself. I have an external hard drive that I first copied everything on so I wouldn't lose my families or saved towns. I figured once I reinstalled everything I could gradually add my own stuff back and if it locked again, I'd keep track of what caused the problem and remove it.
 
As I installed the Sims 3 base game it seemed to have loaded the launcher fine but once again indicated that I had to install the update, which I did and it took from the first try. Encouraged, I then started installing the expansion packs, during one that I can't recall exactly which, a message came up saying that the pack was older than the version I had and that I may have to reload the latest patch over. Then I loaded all the rest and the installs went smoothly including my newly purchased Town Stuff. There were quite a few items I purchased from the Sims Store that I downloaded over. I'd go in the game and to the Download Dashboard to select my items to install. It would let me select maybe 10, say they were downloading, froze and task manager time to get me out. Then I'd have to go back in the launcher, find and install those 10 items. Then back to the dashboard, select 10 more and repeat until all were downloaded and installed which took a few hours to finish. Before I added any families or custom content I copied the vanilla version to another directory on the external drive. The launcher said that the game was up to date and never said to run the patch over as I was previously told.
 
After everything was copied I finally started the fresh game. Once again a black screen for a minute or two but then the intro would start. I got as far as selecting a town, Twinbrook just to see. It's now well over 90 minutes and even though the hints are changing, the progress bar is creeping and no town yet. So whatever I did apparently was for naught as I'm stuck in Slowville.
 
I'm running Windows 7, 4G of RAM, an NVIDIA video card with 1GB memory, one 500GB HD and a 1.5TB HD along with a 500GB external drive on a pretty decent HP system I've had for about 2 years but has been updated constantly with the latest drivers as I use it for running AutoCAD and Photoshop. I checked the hard drives and there wasn't enough fragmentation to defrag, an extensive virus scan and registry clean. Everything else is flying but the Sims 3 are grounded.
 
What am I not doing? Should I find and install the patch over? Wait for another patch? Retire from The Sims? I'm nearly ready to hang it up too, but I have to fix it to be satisfied. I just want my Sims back.
 
Sorry this was so long and I hope I'm doing everything right here too posting this.

[Sportsfan]

I would guess that the CC is the problem. Did you put it back in after you reinstalled your game?

[dardar227]

No, the only CC I added were the items that I purchased from the Sims Store. So all I'm running now are the game and packs with the 1.24 update. I didn't even add any of my saved games or families.

I appreciate your response.

[BellaClo]

Hello David,

Could you add some details to your computer specs? CPU, precise Graphic card model, Windows 7 32 or 64 bit.
You installed the game normally on your C drive?

Could you also clarify exactly how you installed and patched your game? (a 1->2->3->... step by step process if possible, please). From what I understand, you never tried to run the game before everything was installed?

What is you patch level? (open Launcher and check - on the small icons at the bottom left corner - for base game and each EP/SP you own, post the string of digits here).

A test to do:
1. Cut and paste (on desktop or another location) your user folder (C:\Users\[username]\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3). The game will generate a new one, empty with default settings.
2. Launch the game but bypass the Launcher, for once. Follow the instructions in this post.

Do you still have problems? The same as described in your first post?

[gerrr00]

Have you tried bringing all of the game options down to the minimum? If you haven't try that.  For me with each expansion I have to drop a few things to a lower quality to get the speed that I want.  Though I have never had to wait 90 minutes, I am really sorry about that.

As for downloading from the dashboard, personally I can only select 2 things at a time without my game acting up.  Having 2 items selected still can take quite a bit of time.  Sometimes it flies, other times it is slow.  Good luck.

[Pam]

I just found some information on the EA support site that may be helpful.  Apparently, the way to install patches changed with the release of Generations.

Patching Sims 3

Also, here are links on how to manually uninstall the game (Town Life instructions aren't available yet):

Manually Uninstall All Sims 3 Games

My suggestion is to completely uninstall the game manually, then follow the steps for updating the patches.  Reinstall each of the games in the proper order (there's a link for this on the Manually Uninstall page).  Then try to launch your fresh game with no CC and without adding your save files back in.  Just the bare clean game.  If it won't load and run properly at this point, then there's another issue somewhere besides the possibility of a corrupted file.

[dardar227]

Thanks so much BellaClo, gerrr00 and Pam for your concern with some great suggestions and questions.

Sorry I didn't answer sooner...I had walked away feeling like I lost my best friends and bugged the cat.

First, some answers to Bella:

Same problems, nothing changed.

My graphics card is an NVIDIA GeForce GT 220. The game is on the C: drive. My Windows 7 is 32 bit (maybe I should have loaded the 64?)

Here are the versions I have:
Under the Game Updates button on the bottom left the version is 9.0.73.012001
At the icons:
Sims 3: 1.24.4.012001
World Adventures: 2.0.86.002001
High End Loft: 3.0.38.004001
Ambitions: 4.0.87.006017
Fast Lane: 5.0.44.008001
Late Night: 6.0.81.009001
Outdoor Living: 7.0.55.010001
Generations: 8.0.152.011001
Town Life: 9.0.73.012001

After uninstalling everything I first installed The Sims base game. Then going to the Launcher it prompted about the 1.24 update which I let install. After which I installed the expansion packs first, then the stuffs. You are correct, I didn't actually load much of the game, only getting as far as the main menu and then the Download Dashboard, which showed all that I downloaded since 2009 from the store. Strangely it would lock up after selecting and downloading about 10 items. It took CTRL+ALT+DEL to get out. Then I got back into the launcher as it prompted the just added downloads, which I then installed into the game. So the Dashboard was the furthest I got from the main menu but nothing else at that time. Recently I attempted to open a town which took nearly 2 hours to finally show the aerial view, and it was slow moving around so I got back out.

I will definitely try the test you mentioned and use the links that you and Pam were both so kind to give and let you both know how that goes.

Gerrr00, you are also correct as I do have everything cranked up to High and Very High detail, so I'll knock those settings down to see how that might speed things up.

Pam, thanks, right now I have a clean version other than the CC I obtained from the Sims Store only. No households, Sims, Clothes, Skins or Exchange items. I copied this clean version to a different drive just for safe keeping which would allow me to get things back. I may have to uninstall everything again if all else fails and load them in the order provided.

Thanks again all as you've given me hope again with your gracious help. 

[Pam]

As much trouble as it is, it wouldn't be a bad idea to go ahead and reinstall everything, being sure to use the steps provided.  It may make a difference to manually uninstall the games, as well as reloading them in a particular order.  EA says to do it this way, so maybe it will help.  Please let us know how it goes.

[BellaClo]

It was worth a try, too bad it didn't work  Like Pam said, it's probably a good idea to uninstall/reinstall. Good Luck!
 
1. You already have backed up your files right?
2. Uninstall with the control panel tool. Start with Town Life and progress backward to the base game.
3. Use Pam links (manually uninstall) to follow the step by step process to check that all the game files and stuff have been completely wiped out from your computer. There are numerous warnings in those instructions, and they are important since you'll be dealing with registry and touchy areas of your computer.
4. Once everything is gone, start reinstalling. This time, install the disks in order of release (check your list in your last post) and not EP first then SP. It doesn't work like that in the Sims 3.
 
5. Install base game (*). Don't start the Launcher but use the .exe to start the game (C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3.exe), and check that everything is fine. Start a new game in Sunset Valley for instance, load a household. Don't put back anything in your user folder, don't tweak the settings. The game will probably tell you that the graphic card is unknown if it was released after June 2009. Skip and don't care.
 
(*) Don't install the EADM when prompted, it has changed.
 
6. If everything is fine, then check Origin (formerly EADM). Origin is often updated. You need to be sure you have the newest version before you attempt any patching process. Outdated Origin is a known cause of troubles. How to update? There are 2 ways: 
A. Run Origin while connected and let it update itself. If this fails for any reason, then do the following:
B. Download the new version yourself (link: http://www.origin.com/about, scroll down and click on the big flashy "Download" button), uninstall the previous one if you still have it and install this new one.
 
7. When Origin is up to date, start the Launcher and let it update the base game to 1.24.3. If you have any trouble, check Pam's link: Patching the Sims 3. There is the link to patch manually.
 
8. When your base game is updated, 1st, remove the desktop icon from the Launcher, you won't need it anymore. Then, start the game with the .exe BUT it's a different one this time: C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\TS3W.exe. Make a shortcut from this new exe on your desktop because you'll need it after. So, run the game with and check if everything is fine.
 
9. If yes, install your first EP (WA), test run the game with the shortcut of TSEW.exe. Don't use the Launcher.
10. As long as everything is fine in your test, install the next disk (HELS->AMB...), test run it again, always with the same exe and never the Launcher.
 
You should reach Town Life! There, run it a first time with the shortcut. Again, if everything is fine, you can then use the Launcher icon from Town Life.
 
If Town Life runs fine without any thing, you can start to put back your stuff from your back up. Don't use the in-game dashboard for this, it seems it has some trouble. Rather put the Sims3packs in the Downloads folder and install through Launcher. Test your game before you put back your saves.
 
Finally, first play with the graphic settings on defaults. The GT 220 should run the game fine, yet not on high settings anymore. Make your tweaks little bit by little bit, and always be kind with your hardware 

[Pam]

2. Uninstall with the control panel tool. Start with Town Life and progress backward to the base game.

I suggest using the instructions for a manual uninstall instead of the control panel.  The manual uninstall is specified by EA, especially when there's trouble.  It's probably a bit more thorough than using control panel.  I don't see a need to first use control panel, then do the manual way.  It might get a bit confusing.

Also, is it really necessary to launch the game without the launcher?  In theory, it shouldn't be necessary.  Any user should be able to launch through the Sims 3 launcher to keep it simple.  Just say no to the update if it prompts you.  But when the next installation says an update is necessary, then say yes.  I'm afraid all of this Origin stuff will just confuse the issue.  With my most recent reinstall, I didn't have to anything but follow the instructions.  Origin didn't come into my picture until I looked for my Spore Creature Creator.  At that time, I had to update from the EADM to the Origin Download Manager.  I didn't think there was a direct connection between Origin and Sims 3.

[BellaClo]

I recently did the whole uninstall+reinstall process myself. Starting first with the good old Windows Control Panel, then checking with the instructions in the manual uninstall. The game had correctly removed itself completely and I had absolutely nothing to touch and delete manually in the registry. This has a big advantage: less risk to mess up something :-)

The manual instructions are only there to complete what was not done by the normal process. And sometimes, everything works fine with computers.

You can use the Launcher, but I think that for EP/SP up to Outdoor Living included, you'll first need to patch them before the game can be started successfully with the big play button. Generations' patch level has made big changes with the exe used. Explanations here and here.

On the other hand, Generations and Town Life have the right path from start and don't need to be patched since they were released with 'the new way'.

Origin is the new name of the EADM. Anybody who wants to rely on the Launcher to patch in fact uses the EADM, now Origin, to do the work. So using the last released version is a good idea. It's part of the instructions on EA tech help in the 'Patch the Sims 3' link you gave. The fact that they changed the name of their stuff is indeed a bit confusing, but I guess EA had some business reasons to do it.

[dardar227]

Well I have some good news today but...

Last night I took your advice and erased the directory C:\Users\David\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 as Bella suggested and as Pam advised, I avoided the Launcher like the plague, executed the game and it worked at its old speed! I got further into the game, even briefly bringing up a test family and it all seemed good. Of course the resolution was at its default setting so it wasn't as sharp or wide so I took another chance and set the options to their post-disaster settings and the speed was still fast and unaffected. All the zooming and panning was flawless without a burp or hiccup. Create-A-Sims seemed fine too. So thanks to your wonderful help and expertise, Hope was finally back. You girls know your stuff!

With the clean-vanilla minus CC now working, I made a copy of C:\Users\David\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 directory and contents to my external drive for safe keeping. Plus, all of my stuff is saved and I feel more comfortable and confident. But this leaves the next step which I'll leave up to you. Should I still uninstall and reinstall in the correct order because there's nothing customized in there now or should I just start tweaking and adding things back slowly? When I reinstalled the game with EP/SP and my store purchases and free Riverview yesterday before I wrote you, things were dead slow as before, like I did nothing. I didn't even attempt to add any CC then either. So you're absolutely correct that there has to be something corrupt causing this. I really didn't have a lot from the store, just stuff I redeemed from EA points that they gave along with Barnacle Bay things. Barnacle Bay is also installed and worked fine installed when things were normal. But just the things from EA yesterday slowed down an otherwise fresh install which was when I signed up here. Plus there were the freezes in the Download Dashboard that's still odd.

I do have Origin installed, but other than it replacing the old Download Manager, executing the game, plus the social option what else does it do? My only other game from EA is Sim Cities Society that shows up too, that I'm able to download.

Thanks for the other suggestions and links today, which I'll check too. I wasn't aware that so many things were changed from the Expansion packs in the course of just two years since 3's release. I'm definitely going to be visiting this site on a regular basis as a heads up of what to expect from some very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful people here which was certainly the bright side for sure. 

I'll be updating you both the progress and checking back soon! Thanks so much!!

[dardar227]

UPDATE:

Everything still running great. Opened Download Dashboard without any freezing and to install everything took no more than 10 minutes, without having to go into launcher. I played the game, even created a character, everything smooth and fast.

Made yet another backup on external drive.

Next step: adding CC. This is the scary part. 

[Pam]

Have you gotten the EPs and SPs successfully installed?  They should be installed in the order of their release, which is shown on a link in the thread for manual uninstalls, I believe.  As for CC, things from the EA Store should be fine, but if you've downloaded anything from the Sims 3 Exchange, you could have problems.  Many times there are corrupted files in the Exchange downloads that can really wreck your game.  There's no way of knowing if someone who uploaded to the Exchange used third party content.  Another thing, if you have trouble downloading your CC from the launcher, try downloading it fresh from your Purchase History on the Sims 3 site.

Very glad to hear that it's going well so far!

[dardar227]

I loaded all the EPs and SPs, I'm not certain the exact order but I loaded the EPs first. At one point during one of the installs I was prompted that the EP was an older version of the base game that I had reloaded and updated to 1.24 first. The note said that because of the EP being older I may have to install the update over, but it never said anything after and according to the launcher, the game is up to date. But at this point things still ran very slow as before. When I first posted my problem here the suggestions that seemed to have unclogged things were removing the C:\Users\[username]\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 directory and bypassing the launcher. The game came up faster and like new. Next step was reloading the Sims Store things, including Riverview and that all loaded very fast as even that had caused things to freeze before. Since it worked so fast and smooth I didn't uninstall, had it stayed slow I would have. After each major step that worked I made backups of the C:\Users\[username]\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 directory and all of its sub-directories, sort of like my own version of Windows Restore Point.

This is the odd part. Last night I put everything that I know that was in the game back and it still runs fast. It takes the towns slightly (no more than an extra minute) longer to load as some of the CC people were huge files, which is understandable and I can live with. I was sure if anything would slow it down again, the CCs would be it as that was when it all began. I still bypass the launcher, but on occasion when it does come up there's no slow down or errors, even so I still don't use it.

The only thing different now is the return of the pesky Mosaic Censor. Yes, it's back so something that made it go away originally wasn't added back in the reconstruction process. Like most, I just find it distracting and silly but with all the updates from all of the EPs and SPs, I'm not sure which non-censor CCs are good anymore or could that have been part of the problem? While very happy to have things working, I'm still cautious and a bit anxious. Should things start, I should say stop, it's back to scratch and loading the packs in the suggested order.

Again many, many thanks for the help and concern. It was like finally seeing the right doctor joining here.