How to recover a lost serial number for Sims 3 games

[PJSim]

What I'm talking about is that string of 20 letters and numbers you need to enter when you install Sims 3 and every EP and SP; also called a license code, product key... several other names.
It should be printed on the manual for each game. Well, that can get lost.

As long as the game is still installed, the product key is saved in the Windows Registry and it's relatively simple to get it out.

1. You can look it up in the registry directly as mtglady describes here:

These instructions are for a PC.

You need to be signed in as an Adminstrator first.  Windows may require your permission to open the
Registry Editor and if so, just click on yes.

1.   Press the Windows key on your keyboard and type regedit in the search bar and press Enter. 
2.   Click on 'File' at the top left of the window that opens then click on 'Export'.
3.   Choose a location and name for the file as this will be your backup registry file.
4.   Click Save.
5.   This backup is created just as a precaution.

Now to find your serial codes for each specific EP or SP installed on your computer:

1.   Expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder.
2.   Expand the SOFTWARE folder
     •   For 64-bit systems, expand Wow6432Node
1.   Expand the Electronic Arts folder.
2.   Expand the Sims folder
3.   Expand the EP or SP you need the code for
4.   Click on ergc and in the box to the right under 'Data' you will see the code
5.   You will have to manually write the code down somewhere as you can't copy and paste. 
6.   You will need to expand each individual EP/SP and click on the corresponding ergc line for each serial code needed.
 
Once you have the serial codes written down just close the file.  If it asks you to save any changes, answer no.   If it did ask for changes then you didn't follow these steps.  I usually close the file by clicking on the red 'X' at the top right corner.
Please note:  NO CHANGES are made to the Registry if you follow these instructions so you have nothing to fear .

2. If you're not comfortable with checking the registry yourself, there are several little programs that will find your product keys for you, here are some I've tried. You need to download either one of these from the links and run it:

• Belarc Advisor:
  This will tell you more about your PC than you'll ever want to know, displayed in your browser. What you want is about halfway down the page under "Software Licenses". You'll also get the product keys for everything else installed on your computer.
  
  http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

• Serial Grabber for Sims 3:
  This is regularly updated to support new EP's so get the latest version.
  
  http://www.infinitesims.com/tools/sims3/misc/serial-grabber/

• Game Key Revealer:
  Again, get the latest version. Right now it supports Sims 3 and WA everything up to Outdoor Living.
  
  http://cakirbey.googlepages.com/gamekeyrevealer

* Note: The above only applies to Windows PC's, if you have a Mac the codes should be here:
Users > Username > Library > Preferences > The Sims Preferences

You can only find the serial numbers on your computer while the game is installed. When you uninstall the game the product key is usually deleted and it's gone. So...

Always make sure that you still have your serial number before uninstalling!

If you have already uninstalled and can't find the serial, you could try contacting EA. If you have registered your game at the official Sims 3 website you had to use the serial number to do so, so it must be saved somewhere. Maybe you can get EA support to send it to you.

http://support.ea.com/

[Pam]

Great information, PJ!

EA has been known to be helpful in retrieving and replacing serial numbers.  Mine got botched on their end at the very beginning and they sent me a replacement and it was all good.

[PJSim]

Ah, good to know. I wasn't sure how helpful they would be.

Still, it's probably a good idea to write the numbers down somewhere safe before they get lost.

[TylerDurden]

Great information, PJ!

EA has been known to be helpful in retrieving and replacing serial numbers.  Mine got botched on their end at the very beginning and they sent me a replacement and it was all good.

This problem is one reason I have begun buying my SIMS games off of Steam.  No CD is ever necessary as the game is downloaded, and you always have the CD key available although it isn't needed once you register the game you can download it anytime using the EA Downloader.

[eachna]

EA Downloader tip (re: CD keys)

BEFORE installing on CD, type your CD key into the EA downloader. You can then download the software and run it via the Downloader. This is instead of running it by CD.

Bonus: This is kind of like a legal no-cd crack. If you run the game via the downloader, you don't 'need' the CD. But, you still have the CD and key if something happens to the downloader system in the future. Win-win all around!

I've found this only works if you type the CD key into the downloader software and get it set up in the Downloader software instead of installing from CD. Once you run the CD once and it phones home to register, it doesn't work for me in the Downloader. It does work from CD *after* setting it up in the Downloader.

Gwen

[folcon]

I need some advice to give a friend of mine.  She lost her manual before she could install her Late Night expansion.  Is there a way she can get a new product code so she can install it?

[gerrr00]

I need some advice to give a friend of mine.  She lost her manual before she could install her Late Night expansion.  Is there a way she can get a new product code so she can install it?

The only way I can think of is if she registered her game before she lost her manual.  Contacting EA would be the way to go if her game was registered.  If it wasn't registered then I am sorry, I know no other way.

[Pam]

I need some advice to give a friend of mine.  She lost her manual before she could install her Late Night expansion.  Is there a way she can get a new product code so she can install it?

That sounds a little suspicious.  The manual and the disk are in the same box.  Are you sure it's not a pirated copy?

[folcon]

I've known this person for a couple years, I"m pretty sure.  All I know for sure, is that she opened it, and at somepoint lost the manuel.  Though she was going through her room she told me looking for it.

[mtglady]

The easiest way to recover your lost serial codes is right in your computer.  These instructions are for a PC.

You need to be signed in as an Adminstrator first.  Windows may require your permission to open the
Registry Editor and if so, just click on yes.

1.   Press the Windows key on your keyboard and type regedit in the search bar and press Enter. 
2.   Click on 'File' at the top left of the window that opens then click on 'Export'.
3.   Choose a location and name for the file as this will be your backup registry file.
4.   Click Save.
5.   This backup is created just as a precaution.

Now to find your serial codes for each specific EP or SP installed on your computer:

1.   Expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder.
2.   Expand the SOFTWARE folder
     •   For 64-bit systems, expand Wow6432Node
1.   Expand the Electronic Arts folder.
2.   Expand the Sims folder
3.   Expand the EP or SP you need the code for
4.   Click on ergc and in the box to the right under 'Data' you will see the code
5.   You will have to manually write the code down somewhere as you can't copy and paste. 
6.   You will need to expand each individual EP/SP and click on the corresponding ergc line for each serial code needed.
 
Once you have the serial codes written down just close the file.  If it asks you to save any changes, answer no.   If it did ask for changes then you didn't follow these steps.  I usually close the file by clicking on the red 'X' at the top right corner.
Please note:  NO CHANGES are made to the Registry if you follow these instructions so you have nothing to fear .

[CandyHeartedSim]

Do any of you guys Know the E-mail address for EA? I brought a second hand copy of both my games, and there's no way to register them 

[Pam]

Do any of you guys Know the E-mail address for EA? I brought a second hand copy of both my games, and there's no way to register them 

Here's the web address of the EA support page:  http://support.ea.com/

[mtglady]

Do any of you guys Know the E-mail address for EA? I brought a second hand copy of both my games, and there's no way to register them 

Please be aware that games can only be registered once.  So if the original owners registered the game, you would not be able to. 

[kindofagirl]

Please be aware that games can only be registered once.  So if the original owners registered the game, you would not be able to. 

Really? I wish I had realized that before I bought my base game pre-owned, luckily for me they must not have registered it as it let me register it.

[Execution]

Please be aware that games can only be registered once.  So if the original owners registered the game, you would not be able to.  

I've confirmed that to be incorrect.

I got extremely bored and tried installing World Adventures without my own serial number. I googled "World Adventures Serial Code" and clicked a Yahoo! Answers link. I got serial code "****-****-****-****" as the best result. This worked. My disk was scratched so I didn't get to finish the install, but if you have an incorrect code, it won't let you move on.

Note to all of you:

Don't use the serial code. I don't know what it does to your game. Better safe than sorry, go to EA.