Game Help:Sims 3 Crashing

Sims 3 Crashes

Problem

• The game crashes while playing
• The game crashes when switching from Create a Sim to the neighborhood, or the neighborhood to Create a Sim
• The game just disappears without any error message

Fixes

Please try each of the below steps, in order. If the first one doesn't work, go on to the second one, and then the third, etc.

Computer Up to Specs?

The Sims 3 can be a very demanding game, and even computers that are brand new may have difficulty running the game, if they are not made specifically for gaming.

First, you need to know what your computer has. For that, please see: Game Help:System Specs. That guide will tell you how to find all of the needed information.

You will need to know:

• Your processor (CPU) type and speed - for example, Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0 gHz
• Your amount of RAM - for example, 3072 MB of RAM
• Your graphics card model - for example, nVidia GeForce 9600 GT
• What operating system you are running - for example, Microsoft Windows XP Pro

Then, you can compare what you have to the system requirements for TS3. See: Game Help:TS3 System Requirements

If your computer is not up to the minimum requirements then you may experience issues with playing the game, including any of the issues listed under the "Problem" header at the top of this page. Even if your computer technically meets the requirements, if it only barely meets the requirements then you may still have issues.

If you have determined that your computer is not up to handling the game, you can use our Computer & Software Help Forum to help you determine whether or not your computer can be upgraded, and if so, how. There's some great info on New Graphics Cards as well as Upgrading or Building/Buying a New Computer.

If you are sure your computer is up to the task, not only meeting but exceeding the requirements...

Delete Cache Files

Cache files are temporary files that are saved by the game to make loading certain information faster. If these files have incorrect or corrupted data, it may prevent your game from functioning properly. The game will regenerate fresh copies of these files each time it loads, so deleting them is perfectly safe, and it's normal for them to reappear.

1. To delete your cache files, open your MY DOCUMENTS\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\ folder. Inside will be a number of cache files:

• CasPartCache.package
• compositorCache.package
• scriptCache.package
• simCompositorCache.package
  
  

Delete any and all of these files you have.

2. Also look inside the MY DOCUMENTS\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\WorldCaches\ folder (if you have one) and delete any files inside that folder. Don't worry if you don't have a WorldCaches folder, or if it's empty - some people have WorldCaches and some don't.

Now try running the game. Try to load The Sims 3. Does it work? Does it run for a while without crashing? If so, you just had some corrupted cache files and it should be fine now. Continue playing and don't worry about it.

If deleting cache files didn't work...

Remove Mods

Game mods that are corrupted, conflicting, don't work with a patch (if you have patched) or require the patch (if you haven't patched), or are otherwise problematic can cause your game to not load or run properly.

1. To remove your mods, open your PROGRAM FILES\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\Packages\ folder.

2. Select all of the files within the Mods\Packages folder. Right-click and choose CUT (or CTRL-X).

3. Paste (or CTRL-V) those files somewhere you can find them. Suggested is making a new folder on your computer's Desktop to hold them temporarily.

4. Delete your cache files (yes, again - they will have regenerated after you ran the game to test).

Now try running the game. Try to load The Sims 3. Does it work? Does it run for a while without crashing?

If so, one or more of your mods was causing a problem - maybe there was a conflict between two core mods, or something got corrupted or just otherwise didn't want to work. To narrow down what the problem might have been, you can put back half of your mods at a time, delete your cache files again, and test, then test the other half, etc., and continue dividing in half till you find what the problem mod(s) are. If you do identify a mod or mods that are an issue, check back with their creator(s) to see if there's an updated version.

If testing without mods didn't work...

Remove User Files

It's also possible that something in your user files - saves or otherwise - is causing a problem.

1. Open your MY DOCUMENTS\Electronic Arts\ folder. Rename the folder in it called The Sims 3 to The Sims 3 Backup - you don't need to delete your cache files this time.

Now try running the game. It may take a little longer to load than normal this time, since it is making fresh new copies of all of the standard user files (as if you had just installed). It may also run fullscreened if you had normally had it windowed, and the graphic options will be turned down - that's normal, and nothing to worry about. If you're able to load the game with fresh user files and play the game for a while without crashing, then it was something in the user files that was the problem. You can then go in and copy-paste individual folders from your The Sims 3 Backup to the new The Sims 3 folder to see which is the problem. Recommended is trying your Saves folder first.

Still Not Working!

Still having problems after trying all of the above, or unclear on any of the above steps?

Please post a new thread in our Sims 3 Help Forums where we may help you try to troubleshoot your problem further.