Revision as of 01:14, 17 February 2010

Introduction

Before You Begin - Backup

• If you'd like to backup your user files (saved game data), 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
• If you're uninstalling and you have custom content or mods that you would like to save for another installation, you can find them in these default locations for your Operating System :
  • Windows XP/Vista/7 (32-bit): C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\Packages
  • Windows XP/Vista/7 (64-bit): 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
• If you have any Expansion Packs and maintain custom content in a \Mods\Packages\ folder other than in The Sims 3 root, remember to backup the contents in those paths, too.

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. There will be separate uninstall options for every expansion and the base game, just like with The Sims 2.

Uninstall according to release dates, ie for now, uninstall in this order

1. HEL SP
2. WA EP
3. Base game

Restart

Now you need to restart your computer, before continuing with the guide.

Cleaning up Leftover Folders

It is bset to check for these, if after a restart the folders and registry entries are still not cleared properly. Delete the game files (in the default location):

• Click the Start button and select My Computer.
• Select the Local Disk (C:) drive folder. (If you installed to default paths)
• Select the Program Files folder.
• If you want to remove Base game:
  • Select and expand the Electronic Arts folder
  • Right-click The Sims 3 and select Delete.
• If you want to remove Expansion Packs:
  • Select and expand the Electronic Arts folder
  • Right-click the EP name i.e. The Sims 3 World Adventures and select Delete.

• Go to My Documents
  • Select and expand the Electronic Arts folder
  • Right-click The Sims 3 and select Delete. (You should have made a backup in step 1.)

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

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: (If you haven't installed any Expansion/Stuff Packs, those entries will be missing)

• 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
  • Base Game: Right-click The Sims 3 folder and select Delete.
  • EP01: Right-click The Sims 3 World Adventures folder and select Delete.
  • SP01: Right-click The Sims 3 High-End Loft Stuff folder and select Delete.
• Collapse the Electronic Arts folder.
• Scroll down and Expand the Sims folder.
  • Base Game: Right-click The Sims 3 folder and select Delete.
  • EP01: Right-click The Sims 3 World Adventures folder and select Delete.
  • SP01: Right-click The Sims 3 High-End Loft Stuff folder and select Delete.
• Collapse the Sims folder.
• Scroll back up and Expand the Microsoft folder.
• Expand the Windows folder.
• Expand the CurrentVersion folder.
• Expand the Uninstall folder.
• Delete the following folder(s) if it appears:
  • Base Game: {C05D8CDB-417D-4335-A38C-A0659EDFD6B8}
  • EP01: {BA26FFA5-6D47-47DB-BE56-34C357B5F8CC}
  • SP01: {71828142-5A24-4BD0-97E7-976DA08CE6CF}
• Collapse the Microsoft folder.
• Scroll up further and 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(s) if it appears:
  • Base Game: {C05D8CDB-417D-4335-A38C-A0659EDFD6B8}
  • EP01: {BA26FFA5-6D47-47DB-BE56-34C357B5F8CC}
  • SP01: {71828142-5A24-4BD0-97E7-976DA08CE6CF}

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

You can also see this at The Sims 3

After the Uninstall

After you uninstalled and done all that, reinstall and patch by following these steps. Complete Patching instructions can be found here

I want to reinstall and patch, and I... :

If you have Sims3Packs content you need to reinstall, remember Launcher on patch 1.8/2.3 is broken. Any redownloaded Sims3Packs will not work, either. I would patch to 1.7/2.2, then install any previously downloaded Sims3Packs (before Dec '09) at this point. Then patch to 1.8/2.3 from 1.7/2.2. Then you might attempt installing newly downloaded Sims3Packs, after patching to 1.8/2.3. Some folks have resorted to keeping a "working Launcher" folder as outlined by this post at MATY, which you can now keep as you're about to reinstall, and use this version instead of the patched 1.8/2.3 version.