Hi,

I'm sorry this isn't really mod related but I'm struggling to know where to go for help. The appropriate forum on thesims.com seems to be pretty dead. I am having a problem installing my store content. I am installing it on a new(ish) laptop for the first time. I have had the game installed for a few weeks and it's been playing fine but I've only just had time to go through and start downloading all of the store stuff. When I try to install a larger file such as a world (e.g. midnight hollow) I get a message that reads Installation failed: Please make sure your game has the latest Software Updates and try again. I am running patch 1.69 having downloaded the game and expansions through Origin. I am not sure what updates I could be missing. Does anyone have any idea?

As some background I have already tried re downloading the relevant content, restarting the launcher, restarting the computer, creating a new Sims 3 folder by renaming the old one, making sure that the world is the only download waiting to be installed, cleaning out my DcBackup folder and using CCleaner and as many combinations of the above that I can think of. If anyone has any thoughts on what could be going wrong I would be very grateful.

Thanks

Astro

Sometimes what triggers that error is that the store patches are deemed to be missing. They were never supposed to be required for 1.69, so this isn't really supposed to happen. But they aren't being offered up by way of the Launcher to those on 1.67 any longer either, EA is being really dense about this.

They can be obtained here, if you don't already have them. Or you could copy them over from a prior install if you have them, they haven't changed since 2013.
http://www.tesguides.com/blog/2018/02/2 ... the-sims-3

Hi,

Thanks for getting back to me. I've just tried downloading and installing those patches and sadly it doesn't seem to have made any difference. Do you have any other thoughts? I'm beginning to think that a fresh install of the game might be in order which would be somewhat irritating.

Thanks

Astro

It sounds like you've tried just about everything else. This may seem like an odd approach to take given that the ratio of helpful advice given is pretty low, but you could reach out to EA Customer Support for suggestions as well. In this case, you are a paying customer for that store content and you are not getting what you paid for. It's possible there is something about your store account that needs resetting from their end that might help fix this.

Try removing your mods folder then trying. The launcher has never been a fan of it.

Hi both,

Thanks for getting back to me again. I don't have a mods folder to take out t the moment. After creating a new SIms 3 folder I haven't, yet, added anything back in so my saves, mods and what not are sitting in a folder on my desktop waiting for me to fix this problem plus there is a copy in my Sims 3 backup folder (renamed previous folder). Thank you both for trying though.

Unless I can find any new ideas I think I'm going to see about contacting EA on Monday as Igazor suggested and see if they have thoughts. I think they may tell me to try a fresh install though. I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks

Astro

Is that laptop brand new or has it been used but in good condition and was it used by someone other than you?
While unlikely it is possible that if it was pre-owned laptop it might have left over registry keys if the previous owner (if it had one) played the Sims and the previous install is mucking things up.

Try downloading the patch downloader here http://modthesims.info/download.php?t=409829, I always check because they used to update every EP and SP separately and sometimes it misses those older updates, causing the launcher to think you aren't updated.

They can't their on patch 1.69 those patches will break their installation.

The patch downloader for the individual EP/SP patches, not the base game, should not break a 1.69 installation as of a few months ago. Ford GT90 returned and updated it although even he says he's not sure why they would be required for an Origin controlled game.