CAW and Steam

[Lasnien]

Origin will install the game where you want it to, and since Steam installs things in odd places anyway, there shouldn't be any incompatibility issues. I just did a plain uninstall of my Steam version and reinstalled my Origin version with no issues. I don't recall if I kept any of my save files though, and I hadn't yet bought anything from the Sims Store to determine if I needed to reinstall that.

Does the Steam version use the same "Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3" folder for all of the settings and saves?

[Ellenser]

Does anyone have any advice on what I need to make sure to delete from my steam files? I don't want to just delete steam, as I use it for other games, but I do want to make sure I get all of the sims content deleted so I dont have any strange compatibility issues.  where will Origin install the game?  Could I have both installs of the game? Just thinking of options here but I will do some research.  If anyone has experience with this let me know.

Thanks!

Uninstall it via the usual means, then go delete any files that may still be hanging around in the install location.

You should also delete it from your registry just in case there are issues related to reinstalling it.

Directions from the above (scroll down to the bottom for Mac) can be found here from the EA site:
https://help.ea.com/article/manually-uninstalling-the-sims-3

The download location should be the same for Steam and Origin, though you can check and change it as needed by going to the settings tab (which is found by clicking the button next to the question mark, off the top right and selecting settings) in Origin, where the first page that pops up has Download and Install locations.

Does the Steam version use the same "Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3" folder for all of the settings and saves?

Yes. Electronic Arts defaults to using that location for the settings and saves, Steam doesn't interfere with that part.