Game Help:TS3 Patching/Common Errors

Problems

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

1. Error: "The version of the game you are running is incompatible with the data. Please update your game."
2. Error: "Sims3Launcher has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."
3. Problem:
   • The game crash at the loading screen or when choosing a new town/family of a saved game.
   • You get funny strings of text or black textures.
4. Problem: You cannot proceed beyond the Loading screen or experience lag in gameplay.
5. Problem: You get an "Invalid File Found" error for the code_version.txt file and replacing it did not resolve the issue.
6. Problem: You get an "This application has failed to start because QtCore4.dll was not found" error when attempting to patch or run the game via Launcher.

Solutions and Workarounds

1. If you have WA, you have to let the Launcher quit and restart itself again in order to patch both the base game and the expansion pack. Yes, contrary to Sims 2 patching methods, patches from version 1.6/1.7/2.2 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. If you're dong a manual patch, you need to download two .exe files and run them one after another (order does not matter).
2. Uninstall the EA Download Manager (EADM) and try again. If that works...you can reinstall the EADM when you next need to download patches or store items.
3. You have a core mod or other CC that is not compatible with the patch.
   • Remove ALL your Custom Content temporarily. Refresh your cache files and thumbnails again. Try loading a New game, CC-free. If that works...
   • Remove ALL your Custom Content temporarily. Refresh your cache files and thumbnails again. Try loading a Saved game, CC-free. If that works...
   • Put back in only "safe" Custom Content - that is, texture replacers like skintones, eyes, no sleep Zzs, etc., and try loading the game again. If that works...
   • Put back in more "custom" files such as patterns, new tee shirt designs, default replacement meshes, etc... If that works...
   • Put back in everything else.

   That should at least help you narrow down at what point your game starts crashing, to figure out what the problem might be.

   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, and running the game again.

4. These guides has some pointers to overcome or identify the cause: Package File Lag and Improving Sims 3 Performance
5. 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.
6. You have a corrupted EADM install.
   • Manual Uninstall - instructions here
   • Redownload - from EA here and reinstall or
   • reinstall from the latest EP/SP DVD you own or the original base game Sims 3 DVD if you don't have any EPs/SPs; location of EADM installer: <DVD drive>:\Support\EADM\.

If you still have problems

• If you have deleted all your cache files, removed all your Custom Content, and your game still won't work with the patch, try renaming your My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\ folder to something else - like "The Sims 3 Backup" - remember, that's the folder in MY DOCUMENTS, not in Program Files.

• After renaming it, try to run the game (with a New Town). If it works, it means the problem is somewhere in your user files.