Revision as of 14:45, 7 December 2009

Introduction

Before You Begin - Backup

• If you're uninstalling and you have custom content or mods that you would like to save for another installation, please read through these steps.
• If you'd like to backup your user files, the steps from Sims 2 can still be applied, just using a different folder structure. You might also want to backup the \Mods\Packages folder contents located in the respective paths

Windows XP

C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\Packages

Windows Vista / 7

C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\Packages

Mac OS

Contents > Resources > transgaming > c_drive > Program Files > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3 > Mods > Packages

Uninstall

Go to Start/Control Panel/Programs & Features (Vista/W7) or Start/Control Panel/Add Remove Programs (XP) Then follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall the game - it's a standard "next, next, next" type uninstall.

Cleaning up Leftover Folders

Delete the game files (in the default location):

• Click the Start button and select My Computer.
• Select the Local Disk (C:) drive folder.
• Select the Program Files folder.
• Select the Electronic Arts folder.
• Right-click The Sims 3 folder and select Delete.

Cleaning up the Registry

Beginner - Use 3rd-party Registry Utility

• Download this registry cleaner program, and install it, following the on-screen instructions.
• Launch the program after installation has completed.
• Click the Registry tab, and click the Scan for Issues button.
• When scanning has completed, click the Fix Selected Issues... button.
• When you're prompted to backup, click Yes, accept the default name and location
• Click Fix All Selected Issues
• After finishing one cycle, you can try another run. Sometimes the newly fixed entries will leave some orphan entries as a result. Repeat until there are no more issues reported.

Advanced - Edit Registry manually

Backup the registry:

• Hold down the Windows key and press R.
• At the Run command, type in "regedit" (minus the quotes) and select OK.
• Click on File and then Export...
• Choose a location and name for the file; this will be your backup registry file.
• Click Save.

Delete the registry keys:

• Expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder.
• Expand the SOFTWARE folder.
• Expand the Electronic Arts folder. If you have 64-bit this will be under the wow6432Node
• Expand the Sims folder.
• Right-click The Sims 3 folder and select Delete.
• Collapse the Electronic Arts folder.
• Expand the Sims folder.
• Right-click The Sims 3 folder and select Delete.
• Collapse the Sims folder.
• Expand the Microsoft folder.
• Expand the Windows folder.
• Expand the CurrentVersion folder.
• Expand the Uninstall folder.
• Delete the following folder if it appears:
  • {C05D8CDB-417D-4335-A38C-A0659EDFD6B8}
• Collapse the Microsoft folder.
• Expand the Classes folder.
• Delete the following folders if they appear:
  • .Sims3
  • .Sims3Pack
  • Sims3
  • Sims3Pack

Delete the uninstall files

• Click the Start button and select My Computer.
• Select the Local Disk (C:) drive folder.
• Select the Program Files folder.
• Select Tools, then Folder Options, then View, then select "Show hidden files and folders."
• Select the InstallShield Installation Information folder.
• Delete the following folder if it appears:
  • {C05D8CDB-417D-4335-A38C-A0659EDFD6B8}

The Sims 3 should now be completely removed from your system.

You can also see this at The Sims 3