Game Help:TS3 Patching/Common Errors

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

If you're using the Launcher to patch or tried to start the Launcher after patching and you get these error messages, the following are some suggestions that have been tested and known to fix it.

"The version of the game you are running is incompatible with the data. Please update your game."

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 1.6/1.7/2.2 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 doing a manual patch, you need to download separate .exe files for each game and run them one after another (order does not matter). See table below for the patch versions in each release that must match. This guide shows how to find your GameVersion.

The patch series tabulated

The base game, EPs, SPs, and Tools must be patched to the same level:

Date	Level	Base	WA	CAW	HEL	AMB	CAP	FL	AD
06/2009	000	1.0.631
06/2009	000	1.2.7
07/2009	000	1.3.4
08/2009	000	1.4.6
11/2009	002	1.5.82	2.0.86
11/2009	002	1.6.6	2.0.86
11/2009	002	1.7.9	2.2.8
12/2009	003	1.8.25	2.3.33	1.5.126
02/2010	003	1.9.22	2.4.7		3.0.38
02/2010	004	1.10.6	2.5.12		3.1.7
03/2010	005	1.11.7	2.6.11	1.6.72	3.2.8
06/2010	006	1.12.70	2.7.7	??	3.3.11	4.0.87	0.1.100.0?
07/2010	007	1.14.11	2.9.10	1.9.14	3.5.8	4.2.32	0.1.100.0
09/2010	008	1.15.34	2.10.5	1.19.16	3.6.6	4.3.4	0.1.100.0	5.0.44
xx/2010

"Sims3Launcher has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."

This could be due to the "EACoreServer.exe" file not being launched properly; especially if after double-clicking on the EADM icon, you still do not see the EADM icon on the systray. To overcome this, right-click on the EADM icon on your Desktop, and select "Properties". Then in the Shortcut tab, click on the "Find Target" button. In the Window Explorer that pop-up, double-click on "EACoreServer.exe", and then immediately double-click on the EADM icon on the Desktop. Once you get EADM started properly, start Launcher and login as per normal. If that didn't work, ensure EADM and Adobe Air is current and allowed to update, or uninstall and reinstall as below.

"This application has failed to start because QtCore4.dll was not found" or "There was an error during startup. See the Log for more details."

The EADM application could be corrupted or just buggy. Do a Manual Uninstall - instructions here And then redownload - from EA here and reinstall

...when running the game

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

You cannot proceed beyond the Loading screen or experience lag in gameplay.

These guides has some pointers to overcome or identify the cause: Package File Lag and Improving Sims 3 Performance

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.

You have a core mod or other CC that is not compatible with the patch. Until the modder updates the mod, you have to play without it. Try other suggestions in Game Crashes wiki page. 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.

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.

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