Difference between revisions of "Game Help:Live Mode Freeze"

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==Issue & Symptoms==
 
==Issue & Symptoms==
 +
[[File:Ts3livemodefreeze.jpeg|thumb|right|Newly loaded worlds get to this point then freeze.]]
 +
* Sudden freezing when entering Live Mod
 +
*# Mouse moves but user interface is unresponsive
 +
*# Background noises still play
 +
*# Trees and shadows still move
 +
* Create-A-Sim still loads properly
 +
* Freezing can occur with saved worlds and upon loading a new world.
  
* Launcher showing version 0.0.0.0 after patching
+
<br clear="all">
* Launcher crashing when you click the Play button, but game loads anyway.
+
* You get the following error messages when starting Launcher or game:
+
*# "Base Game not compatible with current Expansion Pack."
+
*# "The version of the game you are running is incompatible with the data. Please update your game."
+
*# "Sims3Launcher has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."
+
*# "There was an error during startup. See the Log for more details."
+
*# "It looks like you have installed an unofficial game modification that does not match your current version of The Sims 3..."
+
* You get the following error messages after choosing a Save game:
+
*# "A Serious error has occurred while loading <savename>.world. It is strongly recommended that you restart the Application."
+
* Crashing at loading screen, with or without black screen flashes.
+
* Crashing when entering Live Mode.
+
* Crashing with "Sims 3 has stopped working" error dialog.
+
* Crashing at any other time.
+
* Lagging during loading - at initial load screen or after choosing a Save game.
+
  
 +
==Causes==
  
 +
This issue sometimes happens after patching your game and/or installing a new EP - especially Seasons. However, this issue has been known to show up spontaneously even after having previously run the game successfully.
  
==Causes==
+
==Preliminary Troubleshoot==
  
Who knows?! Your guess is as good as mine.
+
99% of all issues with TS3 can be solved by running through some basic troubleshooting procedures. Before you panic, follow these troubleshooting steps to rule out custom content and corrupt game save issues.
  
 +
:[[File:RightArrow.gif]]'''[[Game Help:Sims 3 Game Problem| Basic Troubleshooting]]'''
  
 
==Solution==
 
==Solution==
  
=== Long loading times ===
+
If the basic troubleshooting did not work, or the Live Mode freeze reoccurs even after generating new user files ([[Game_Help:Sims_3_Game_Problem#Step_3:_Rename_User_Files|Step 3]]) then we have  successfully ruled out CC or corrupt save files as the cause. This means that your game is suffering from corrupt files within the program itself.
 
+
Lag lag lag, due to incompatible/outdated/broken content (not just mods), things like Sims 2 stuff in Sims 3. Test with [[Game Help:Sims 3 Game Problem]] to confirm and then see following FAQs for further instructions.
+
# [[Game Help:Package File Lag]]
+
# [[Game Help:GCCTSU3 VerifyCompatibility]]
+
 
+
 
+
If you get lags during gameplay with things getting frozen while animation or music plays, that's a different type of lag and is covered in the [[Game Help:Intermittent Freezes]] FAQ.
+
 
+
 
+
=== Crashing ===
+
 
+
# [[File:Has stopped working.png|thumb]]You get this "The Sims 3 has stopped working" dialog error. Even after doing DEP tweaks. Like the DEP FAQ states - you need to do a system restart. If you had done any tweaking with DEP - removing, or adding - the TS3'''W''' executable file. You need to do them separately and reboot between each change or the tweaks won't be applied.
+
# Work through the [[Game_Help:Sims_3_Crashing_Checklist|Crashing Checklist]].
+
  
<br clear="all" />
+
Why is this happening to me? What did I do wrong? Well...the answer to that is really...nothing. Files can get mucked up with no fault from the user, it just happens. Never fear, the solution is simple and painless and you will still be able to retain most of your installed content and game saves.
=== A Serious Error has occurred error ===
+
[[File:Serious Err1.png|thumb]][[File:Serious Err2.png|thumb]]  Getting the "A Serious Error has occurred" error message.
+
  
# First, ensure that '''Documents/Electronics Arts/The Sims 3/''' folder is not opened in Windows Explorer (on Windows) or Finder (on Macs) while you're loading the game.
+
The only solution for the freezing is to '''reinstall The Sims 3'''.
# With the game running, if you ALT+Tab (Option+Tab on Macs) out to Desktop, navigate to the '''Documents/Electronics Arts/The Sims 3/''' folder, double-click on the CurrentGame.sims3 folder and you get an error, you need to delete this folder. This means that the game cannot open this folder either. Quit the game and delete this corrupt folder.
+
# If the above "CurrentGame.sims3" folder is not empty, empty it out.
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#* Copy the "CurrentGame.sims3" folder to your "Saves" folder and renamed it "BuggedSaveGame.sims3" or something
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#* Then back in the original "CurrentGame.sims3" folder, select all files and delete.
+
#* You can then test if the "BuggedSaveGame.sims3" Save can be loaded from the Select a Game screen.
+
#* If you can, then do a SaveAs and name it under a different Save.
+
#* If not, you can just delete this "BuggedSaveGame.sims3" folder or continue on to the next suggestions.
+
# You can try to [[Game Help:Restoring Backup Saves|restore from a Backup save]].
+
# If no Saves to restore from, you can try this "meta.data trick":
+
#* Create a New game based on the world this is happening in.
+
#* Save it (with a different name than the "Serious Error" one), and Quit Sims 3.
+
#* Copy the meta.data file from this newly created save to the "Serious Error" one or the "BuggedSaveGame.sims3" one, and replace it.
+
#* [[Game Help:Sims 3 Delete Cache Files]], exception logs, version.tag, etc that would be regenerated on each game load.
+
#* Load the game to test with the "Serious Error" or "BuggedSaveGame.sims3" save.
+
# If the above still does not solve it, try further suggestions in [[Game Help:A Serious Error Has Occurred]] FAQ.
+
  
<br clear="all" />
+
===Backup User Files===
=== The Sims 3 Base Game is incompatible error ===
+
  
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.  
+
If you followed the steps during the basic troubleshooting phase, then you should already have a backup of your user files. If for some reason you have not done this, follow the steps below.
  
This guide shows [[Game Help:TS3 Patching Find Gameversion|how to find your GameVersion]].  
+
<blockquote>1.  Open Folder: Open your Electronic Arts folder in Documents. The location is:
  
Then, patch manually.
+
*'''Windows XP:''' ''My Documents\Electronic Arts\''
 +
*'''Windows Vista/7 & Mac:''' ''Documents\Electronic Arts\''
  
 +
2.  Rename: There will be a folder here called ''The Sims 3'' - rename that folder to ''The Sims 3 Backup''.
 +
</blockquote>
  
=== There was an error during startup error ===
+
====Backup Digital Downloads====
 +
If you have digitally downloaded content from Origin (previously called EA Download Manager) then you may want to back up these files, too.
  
You're still using Launcher to start the game? Does that mean [[Game Help:TS3 Bypassing the Launcher|bypassing the Launcher]] does not help?
+
* Open Origin and under Settings find where you save have it set to save your downloads. Go to the path shown to find your digital downloads, and backup those installer files. You might also be interested to read [[Game Help:EADM Issues]].
  
Any other issues not solved by the above may mean Launcher is not able to communicate with Origins. Most likely cause is outdated Origins (aka EADM), see [[Game Help:TS3 EADM Issues]].
+
===Uninstall===
  
If Origins is current, then if this happens after patching or installing a new pack, the process may have been
+
Before you get in a huff about uninstalling, be aware that '''we are only uninstalling''' The Sims 3 '''Base Game and Seasons''' (or the last EP installed). The uninstall process is pretty self explanatory, but if you need help follow the guide linked below.
* interrupted or
+
* is not completed successfully for some reason or
+
* completes but is corrupt, then,
+
you need to [[Game Help:TS3 Uninstall]] and this time patch manually (it is safer and has higher success rate) [[Game Help:TS3 Patching]].
+
  
 +
:[[File:RightArrow.gif]]'''[[Game Help:TS3 Uninstall| TS3 Uninstall]]'''
  
 +
* You will most likely encounter a warning saying that functionality will be compromised by uninstalling an EP. Just hit okay, this will not effect anything.
 +
* After uninstalling be sure to clean up any left over folders in Program Files\Electronic Arts, specially the The Sims 3 and The Sims 3 Seasons (or the last EP installed) folder.
 +
* Clean up the registry using '''[http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner CCleaner]''' or any program like it.
 +
* Restart your computer once you've finished.
  
===Unofficial Game Modification Error===
+
===Reinstall Base Game===
  
:[[File:RightArrow.gif]] Go to [[Game Help:TS3 Unofficial Modification Error]]
+
Reinstall TS3 Base Game like normal. Installing Base Game tends to take a while, so it's a good idea to do something else while you wait.
  
 +
===Patch===
  
 +
After TS3 Base Game has been installed you must patch '''before''' installing Seasons again. Normally when you attempt to install an EP, the installer will patch your game automatically. However, to be on the safe side, we will manually patch the games ourselves.
  
 +
* Go to the [[Game Help:TS3 Patching:Patch Download/Current|Patch Downloads]] and grab the '''Super Patcher'''. The Super Patcher will fully update the game starting from any patch level. This is good news to us because since we reinstalled, TS3 was reset back to initial 2009 factory release!
 +
* Run the Super Patcher and let it install.
  
 
{{Sims3GameHelpHeader}}
 
{{Sims3GameHelpHeader}}

Revision as of 11:04, 29 December 2012

Sims 3 Game Help Categories:

Custom Content  | Installation  | Gameplay Guides  | Technical & Graphics Issues  | Miscellaneous Issues

MTS Help Q&A Forums


Contents

Issue & Symptoms

Newly loaded worlds get to this point then freeze.
  • Sudden freezing when entering Live Mod
    1. Mouse moves but user interface is unresponsive
    2. Background noises still play
    3. Trees and shadows still move
  • Create-A-Sim still loads properly
  • Freezing can occur with saved worlds and upon loading a new world.


Causes

This issue sometimes happens after patching your game and/or installing a new EP - especially Seasons. However, this issue has been known to show up spontaneously even after having previously run the game successfully.

Preliminary Troubleshoot

99% of all issues with TS3 can be solved by running through some basic troubleshooting procedures. Before you panic, follow these troubleshooting steps to rule out custom content and corrupt game save issues.

RightArrow.gif Basic Troubleshooting

Solution

If the basic troubleshooting did not work, or the Live Mode freeze reoccurs even after generating new user files (Step 3) then we have successfully ruled out CC or corrupt save files as the cause. This means that your game is suffering from corrupt files within the program itself.

Why is this happening to me? What did I do wrong? Well...the answer to that is really...nothing. Files can get mucked up with no fault from the user, it just happens. Never fear, the solution is simple and painless and you will still be able to retain most of your installed content and game saves.

The only solution for the freezing is to reinstall The Sims 3.

Backup User Files

If you followed the steps during the basic troubleshooting phase, then you should already have a backup of your user files. If for some reason you have not done this, follow the steps below.

1. Open Folder: Open your Electronic Arts folder in Documents. The location is:
  • Windows XP: My Documents\Electronic Arts\
  • Windows Vista/7 & Mac: Documents\Electronic Arts\
2. Rename: There will be a folder here called The Sims 3 - rename that folder to The Sims 3 Backup.

Backup Digital Downloads

If you have digitally downloaded content from Origin (previously called EA Download Manager) then you may want to back up these files, too.

  • Open Origin and under Settings find where you save have it set to save your downloads. Go to the path shown to find your digital downloads, and backup those installer files. You might also be interested to read Game Help:EADM Issues.

Uninstall

Before you get in a huff about uninstalling, be aware that we are only uninstalling The Sims 3 Base Game and Seasons (or the last EP installed). The uninstall process is pretty self explanatory, but if you need help follow the guide linked below.

RightArrow.gif TS3 Uninstall
  • You will most likely encounter a warning saying that functionality will be compromised by uninstalling an EP. Just hit okay, this will not effect anything.
  • After uninstalling be sure to clean up any left over folders in Program Files\Electronic Arts, specially the The Sims 3 and The Sims 3 Seasons (or the last EP installed) folder.
  • Clean up the registry using CCleaner or any program like it.
  • Restart your computer once you've finished.

Reinstall Base Game

Reinstall TS3 Base Game like normal. Installing Base Game tends to take a while, so it's a good idea to do something else while you wait.

Patch

After TS3 Base Game has been installed you must patch before installing Seasons again. Normally when you attempt to install an EP, the installer will patch your game automatically. However, to be on the safe side, we will manually patch the games ourselves.

  • Go to the Patch Downloads and grab the Super Patcher. The Super Patcher will fully update the game starting from any patch level. This is good news to us because since we reinstalled, TS3 was reset back to initial 2009 factory release!
  • Run the Super Patcher and let it install.
Sims 3 Game Help Categories:

Custom Content  | Installation  | Gameplay Guides  | Technical & Graphics Issues  | Miscellaneous Issues

MTS Help Q&A Forums
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