Do I have broken, incompatible CC?
Do the troubleshooting steps below and check the various bad CC threads



Can I Run It?
We've noticed a large number of users who use "Can I Run it?" type sites and scans to determine if their computer is capable of running the Sims games. These sites are NOT reliable and are NOT to be trusted as a source of information.

If you would like to know if your computer is capable of running the games, check out the Computer & Software Technical Support Forums.
Start with the System Requirements for TS2/TS3 sticky.

Read through the rest if you have more questions. If your computer meets recommendations, then you are likely going to have a good experiencing playing the game. If your computer meets bare minimum requirements but does not meet recommendations, do not be surprised if your game lags or even freezes/crashes.



Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Read all about it! Current News from Official forum

• Nov updates:
  • [Nov 2010] Game Help:Late Night Crash^wiki
  • [Nov 2010] Game_Help:Improving_Sims_3_Performance#Using_Mods^wiki updated to include suggestions for Lagging issues with Late Night
• [Oct 2010] Current_patch_version is at 1.17.60 / 2.12.8 / 3.8.6 / 4.5.6 / 5.2.4. Game_Help:TS3_Patching:Patch_Note_1.17^wiki
  Read the FAQ guide Game_Help:TS3_Patching^wiki, before patching or installing New EP.
• [Oct 2010] 3rd Expansion Pack: Late Night released!
• [Oct 2010] CAW Beta version 1.10.9 released in conjunction with patch 1.17 series
• [May 2010] Issue downloading Store items

Last edited by ellacharm3d : 4th Nov 2010 at 07:12 PM. Reason: nov updates

Browse the Help forums or search it.
Enter the following search string in the search Site box under the search menu up in the navigation bar at the top, with the text in bold being your search terms. Change the search terms accordingly.
TIP: If you want to see only those threads after patch 1.12 or Ambitions was released, do a search on a Google web-page on your browser instead, with these search string then go to Advanced search and choose the dates field to limit your search results to the period you want.

Last edited by ellacharm3d : 23rd Jul 2010 at 03:51 AM.

Please, Make Your Own Thread!

• Read the Announcements!
• Read the Posting Guidelines for MTS.
• Please do not post in other people's Help threads unless you are actually trying to help them.
• Those wishing to help should read - Game Help:Helping^wiki
• NO "Me Too" posts, as they make no sense in the Help forums, since everyone's game, custom content, and hardware is different. Just because you're seeing the same symptoms that doesn't mean you have the same problem. This rule does not apply on threads marked as "Common".
• If you think your issue may be the same as somebody else's, please just try the advice given and if it doesn't help, make your own thread about it, Unless directed by Staff otherwise.
• Search the Help Forum and Archive, and read the FAQs before you post, it's very likely that your issue is already covered there.

Please do not post in threads
... and make it a free-for-all, it makes it hard to help the OP. Post in threads if you have suggestions for the OP to try, or what you've experienced that works in your game, mentioning your gameversion(s) and other pertinent information. Do NOT post in others' threads if you just want to sympathize with a "me too" post.

If you want to participate in Discussions, there are topics on

• the effects of the new_patch_1.12 / 2.7 / 3.3 and Fun with patch 1.14/2.9/3.5/4.2
  No tech questions asking for help in Discussions, please!
• Ambitions (EP2) opinions thread

Do start your own thread
... with the requested info only after trying out all the suggestions in the wiki FAQs or this sticky. And state that you have done so, else you would be directed to do these steps first.




I need help!
If you have to start a new thread, state what happens when you try ALL of the applicable links below, that applies to your problem.
And please provide the following information in your post:

• what were you trying out
• what went wrong
• which of the steps above you have tried and what happens when you do them
• what games you have
• what patch versions
• CC-free or not
• if you have moved your mods packages to the Document's path,
  • what did you move and
  • where to (give exact folder path),
  • what does your resource.cfg look like
• if you want to post spec to check hardware drivers, etc, post System Specs using that guide
• any other info you all think might help.

Not providing enough info or mentioning which FAQ guide you've tried, would result in asking you to try the suggestions in the links below, again!

Last edited by ellacharm3d : 8th Sep 2010 at 05:38 PM.

Before Installing a New Expansion or Patch!!!

Please read the following FAQs first.

• Game_Help:TS3_Preparing_for_the_Next_Patch_Expansion^wiki
• Game_Help:TS3_Patching:Before_You_Begin^wiki

Crashing
This applies to any sort of crashing, either at loading screen or during gameplay.

• Do the steps here: Game_Help:Sims_3_Game_Problem^wiki.
• And if you have a 64-bit OS with more than 4GB RAM, try this Game_Help:Crash_workarounds^wiki
• If you had just installed Late Night, try suggestions in Game Help:Late Night Crash^wiki
• Check the various threads on Bad CC list linked below, before restoring your CC.

Glitches
This includes any abnormally within the game, or if you're unsure if it is caused by a game bug or CC-conflicts.

1. Delete Cache Files, start a NEW! game to test. No luck? Continue next...
2. Remove Custom Content. Test again, if not helping then continue...
3. Rename User files: see Removing User Files. Start a NEW game!
4. New game works? Check the various threads on Bad CC list linked below, before restoring your CC.
5. Restore CC bits at at time after confirming they are compatible with the patch/EP/SP.
6. Don't play your save games if you have core mods or tuning mods that need to be updated.

CC no longer working

1. Mods/Hacks created for previous patch versions or packs will not be compatible with patch 1.17 and above or the new EP/SP yet. Give the modders some time to update and test! This is the reason why you should ALWAYS remove ALL CC before patching or installing new packs (EP/SP), by doing the Glitches steps above.
   • See Late Night & CC: Before installing, what works, and what needs fixing
   • See Ambitions Mod Compatibility Thread for a compatibility list
   • Bad CC list maintained by crinrict @thesims3 official forums
   • Deformed kids thread started by FuryRed @thesims3 official forums
2. Mods folder structure has changed with patch 1.12 and Ambitions.
   • See the Announcement for instructions

CC no longer showing up
Depending on file format type:

• .Package CC: See above.
• .Sims3Pack CC: Try Removing User Files and reinstalling.

Nothing works!
If all else fails,

• Start on a clean slate: Uninstall and then
• Patch directly to current patch version

Last edited by ellacharm3d : 4th Nov 2010 at 06:26 PM. Reason: added link to LN CC thread

Custom Content related Game_Help:TS3_Custom_Content^wiki

• Game_Help:TS3_CC_Basics^wiki
• Game_Help:Downloading_for_Downright_Dunderheads^wiki
• Game_Help:Package_File_Lag^wiki
• Game_Help:TS3_Finding_Problem_Custom_Content^wiki

Technical related Game_Help:TS3_Technical_and_Graphics_Issues^wiki

• Game_Help:TS3_Back_Ups^wiki
• Game_Help:TS3_Bypassing_the_Launcher^wiki
• Game_Help:Restoring_Backup_Saves^wiki
• Game_Help:Windowed_Mode^wiki
• Game_Help:TS3_System_Requirements^wiki

Miscellaneous Game_Help:TS3_Miscellaneous_Issues^wiki

• Game_Help:BasementPool_Crash^wiki
• Game_Help:Sims_3_Blue_Lots_Issue^wiki
• Game_Help:TS3_EADM_Issues^wiki