Error message can't access my game

[jaytea]

I have had this message several times and by restarting game I could continue, however now it won't load at all. The error message is. "a serious error has occurred while loading Apoloossa Plains julie.sims3". It is stongly recommended you restart application.  Now it does not let me restart this game, however it will let me start a new game.  I'll see if this issue persists with my new game in Apoloossa Plains

[jaytea]

I'm a little confused as to the uninstall as I don't think I can use the windows uninstall procedure.  I am a new user with all expansions and stuff packs with World Adventures being the last.  Please can someone let me know correct way.  I tried doing factory reset but wouldn't let me rename sims 3 file said it was being used although I did not have the game launched at that time

[MoonsAreBlue]

About the factory reset, did you have the launcher open? It may not let you rename your folder if the launcher is still open. Plus, sometimes the launcher will still run even if you exit out of it. On the bottom right hand side of your computer (with the time and date) there should be a small triangle. Click it and a small pop up menu will open. If you see the sims symbol in it, then your launcher is still running. If it is, right click and select Exit (or Close). Then try doing a factory reset again. If it still doesn't let you rename it, try restarting your computer then attempt to rename the folder again.

[Tiana]

I get this error constantly. Sometimes I even get it on a save that worked fine the day before (didn't save, just quit and reloaded), so no data in the file has changed. Other times I get the error on a save that's just the map loaded up. Nothing changed. No new data. There is no excuse for the game to do this, and it makes it prettymuch unplayable unless you want to never save your game and never turn off your computer.

[jaytea]

It took me nearly 2 hrs to reinstall all my expansions I'm so frustrated I'll try calling EA not that I expect any help most of the support people are useless

[jaytea]

Sorry you have the same error, but It's a bit of a relief to know I'm not the only one.  Are you playing Pets expansion??  I was fine before on Ambitions

[jaytea]

No didn't have any launcher open I was careful about that

[Tiana]

I've only had this problem since the pets expansion. I have all the other expansions, and stuff packs. There is one other variable in the mix for me however; I just got a new computer, and it uses Win7. My previous computer (which would not have been able to run pets) used Vista.

[MoonsAreBlue]

Hmmm, then you might have to do a reinstall. Why do you think you can't use the windows uninstall? All you have to do is go to your Control Panel and click Uninstall Programs. Then you find a sims game and once you highlight it, you can uninstall it. I don't know if this is necessary, but when I uninstall, I make sure to do it in the order of most recent to base game. Pets, Town Life, Generations, Outdoor Living, Late Night, Fast Lane, Ambitions, High-End Loft, World Adventures, then base game.

[jaytea]

I have now done a restore, uninstalled all Sims programs and I'm now installing.  Will test each one before I continue.

[Ricalynn]

I've always been told if you're going to uninstall Sims 3 to make sure to use the uninstaller that came with Sims 3.  Also, if you ever get told it's in use again, restart the computer.  My Sims game does the same to me on occasion when I'm trying to delete my cache files even when I know for a fact that the game isn't running. 

[Ricalynn]

What error message?  It probably would have been best to make this post in your original thread instead of making it's own thread because there is no way to tell what you're talking about to all the people who haven't been on the forums in a while.

[jaytea]

Hi. I don't know what you mean by uninstaller that came with Sims 3.  I'm using the Windows 7.

[Ricalynn]

I'm on a different computer type so my uninstaller is in my Sims 3 folder.  I realize now that you guys might not have the same thing since I'm on Mac.

[Pam]

I'm on a different computer type so my uninstaller is in my Sims 3 folder.  I realize now that you guys might not have the same thing since I'm on Mac.

Right.  We don't have that on the Windows version.

@jaytea:

You can use the Control Panel to uninstall your Sims 3 games, which is probably what you did.  If you have problems with it not working properly, Electronic Arts recommends that you manually uninstall the games.  You can find the instructions here.