Difference between revisions of "Game Help:TS3 Patching/Common Errors"

Revision as of 16:58, 18 July 2011

Overview

Some of the most common errors that occur during and after patching are addressed here. If the suggested workarounds do not work, try again after a reboot. If All Else Fails...

Errors Encountered

...during patching

You get an "Invalid File Found" error for various files.

Go to this Invalid File Error wiki page.

You get an "Invalid File Found" error for the code_version.txt file.

If after replacing the code_version.txt from your backups or DVD did not resolve the issue, verify that you downloaded the correct patch for all BG/EP/SP with the correct ending from_x.x.xx.00x0xx in the filename, for the version that you currently have installed.

Eg: If you had recently installed HELS and skipped the 1.9/2.4 patch, you might have downloaded the Sims3_2.5.12.004001_from_2.4.7.004001.exe instead of the required Sims3_2.5.12.004002_from_2.3.33.003001.exe version the game is looking for to patch WA.

...when starting Launcher

Various Launcher issues

First thing you can try is to Bypass the Launcher to test if the game can be started with TS3W.exe directly.

Go to Launcher Issues.

To see the patch versions in table format, go to Patch Table.

If you suspect EADM is the cause, go to EADM Issues.

...when running the game

If you encounter any or all of these symptoms, try the following suggestions.

Base Game not compatible with current Expansion Pack

If you have Expansion (or Stuff) packs, you have to let the Launcher quit and restart itself again in order to patch both the base game and the last-released expansion/stuff pack that you have installed. Yes, contrary to Sims 2 patching methods, patches from version 1.6 onwards, need to run separate updates for each game. If Launcher does not Quit and restart, you might need to do the fix for EADM glitch below, or logoff the machine and logon again.

See the Game Help:Patch Table for the patch versions in each release that must match, at the very least for base game and the last-installed pack, as per EA's claims. But patching all the games to the same level now, may also mean less hassle next go round.

This guide shows how to find your GameVersion.

If you're doing a manual patch, you need to download separate .exe files for each game and run them one after another (order does not matter).

Crashing during gameplay or at loading screen

Did you forget to remove CC before patching or installing a new pack? Do the standard troubleshooting as outlined in Game Problem FAQ or read the standard troubleshooting steps below.

If that did not help, try the other links in the related section of that Game Problem page.

Getting the "A Serious Error has occured" error message.

You can try to restore from a Backup save.

If you ALT+Tab out to Desktop, navigate to the Documents/Electronics Arts/The Sims 3/ folder, double-click on the CurrentGame.sims3 folder and get an error, you need to delete this folder. This means that the game cannot open this folder either.

Lags and freezes during gameplay

These guides has some pointers to overcome or identify the cause:

• Intermittent Freezes
• Package File Lag
• Improving Sims 3 Performance

Missing features or you get funny strings of text or things don't work as per usual

You still have CC that is not compatible with the patch or new pack.

Before doing any troubleshooting, perform a backup, just in case you messed up and need to start over. Do the standard troubleshooting guide below.

This is the standard troubleshooting guide.

1. Don't be selective and try to think what is affected and what is safe, remove everything! Again, do the 3 steps in Game Problem FAQ; and play a new, CC-free game. Things should be corrected now.
2. Check back with the creators if their items need to be updated - only they know if the codes have been changed. Until the creators updates the items, you have to play without these items.
3. If you're interested to identify which item is causing the issue, do the binary-search method (aka the 50% method).
4. Remember to always delete cache files after removing some CC and before loading the game to test.
5. Don't save while doing this, as you're removing CC from your game.
6. That should at least help you narrow down at what point your game starts crashing, to figure out what the problem might be.
7. Please note that just because your game crashes on a particular file does not mean that file is corrupted or incompatible with the patch. Try putting in just that one file, deleting your cache files again, but this time start a new game.
8. If you can repeat the issue on a brand new game with just this one file, then it is safe to presume this file is not compatible.
9. Also, due to the nature of the Open Neighborhood of The Sims 3, the CC item need not have been used in the Lot or Household you play to be causing issues, it could have been used by an Inactive Sim.
10. Finally, remember CC in Sims3Pack are not exempt from getting broken or becoming incompatible from one patch to the next.

Related Pages

• Patching:
  • Game Help:TS3 Patching:Invalid File Error
  • Game Help:Launcher Issues
  • Game Help:Patch Table
  • Game Help:EADM Issues

• Technical:
  • Game Help:Sims 3 Game Problem
  • Game Help:Sims 3 Delete Cache Files
  • Game Help:TS3 Uninstall

• Performance:
  • Game Help:Intermittent Freezes
  • Game Help:Package File Lag
  • Game Help:Improving Sims 3 Performance

• Misc:
  • Game Help:TS3 Finding Problem Custom Content
  • Game Help:TS3 Back Ups

If you still have problems

One final troubleshooting tip:

• Try an uninstall and start over from a clean slate - If All Else Fails...