Ok so here is the basics.

I just came back to TheSims3 after quite a while. I had got robbed and lost my old PC games etc, Was around the time when WA came out and the patch right after it broke custom content.

I have a new PC and just bought all 6 games from Wal-Mart.

What I did.
Install Sims 3 - Ran game
Installed Riverview - Ran Game - Riverview was there
Installed World Adventures - Ran Game - Riverview was there
Installed High Life Stuff - Ran Game - Riverview was gone from dropdown. Started looking through folders, Riverview.world is still in the InstalledWorlds, and RiverviewObjectsCache.package and RiverviewSimsCache.package are still in there place.
So I continued Installing the packs. Ambitions, Fast Lane, and Night Life.
Installed Barnacle Bay. And about 30 other Store Items. All of them worked and showed up.
I uninstalled Riverview, redownloaded through the launcher, installed. It said it worked but wont show up. I opened the site in firefox and downloaded it and it still wont show up.

Now I have Completely uninstalled the Sims 3, including using a registry fixer to remove remaining entries.

I completely re-installed Sims 3 + all Expansion/Stuff packs. Installed Barnacle Bay and Riverview (riverview first) and same crap, Riverview does not show up. Only this time it did not install any of the files from it. not the world file or the 2 package files.

I have tried decrapifying it, I have tried alternate installers.

Riverview was always my favorite town. And I would like to be able to play Riverview with all the added stuff from all the packs.

What I am asking is what is the correct order to install everything.

For example.
Install Sims 3, patch or not, run or not before installing the next pack.

As I have been told not to patch online, only patch through the installers. And was told that the patches where what caused the launcher to break. However my launcher is not really broke the only CC that wont work is Riverview. I would say its worlds but Barnacle bay works.

I know these posts are an annoyance, But any help is most welcome. Even if its telling me I am stupid for not patching between installations.

"I was told by a friend to use Create a World, as follows
Install Sims 2, Install Riverview, finish installing the game. then Use create a world to open Riverview.world and save it as a playermade world. I have not tried this but will be trying it this evening."
-----------------------EDIT-------------------------
I will reply with detailed reply after I complete another re-install.

• Sims 3 - Uninstall
  This Game_Help:TS3_Uninstall^wiki link has the step-by-step instructions to guide you through uninstalling The Sims 3, and its packs (EP/SP).
  
  

Take a look at this guide, it will help you to ensure all traces of the game are removed before you reinstall.

The bit about editing Riverview in CAW will not help; Riverview also contains objects, sims and skins.

Let us know how you get on, good luck!

Well so far I have complete removed all traces of the Sims 3. and re-installed. and patched up to HELS.

Sims 3 v1.18
Riverview
World Adventures v2.13
High End Loft Stuff v3.9
Will be installing
Ambitions v4.6
Fast Lane v5.4
Barnacle Bay
Night Life v6.1

After I get a good clean install I will backup both my program folders and my documents folders.
Riverview was still working after World Adventures. Hopefully it will continue to work. If not I guess I will just have to move the world file over to where sunset valley is stored. I just dont like the idea of everything being listed by its tag#'s instead of its names. In any-case I think this will be my last time re-installing. Just because I have spend and entire day on it already.

And after reading the above post. I just used Glary Utilities (google it) to clean up my registry. I also always use it to uninstall my games as It tends to clean up better than windows Add/Remove does. I did however go through that checklist to ensure everything was gone. However I used the Alternate method (install base, patch base, install pack, patch pack, continue with next pack loading the game and perfoming some actions between each patch and the next install) when re-installing. I only hope it works.

After everything I finally found a method that worked.


I followed that guide. Waited about 3 minutes for decrapify to work its magic. And Riverview installed without a problem. Its obviously a problem with the file itself. Because all other content works for me without a problem.

Final Details
The Sims 3 GameVersion = 1.18.9.009001
World Adventures GameVersion = 2.13.6.009001
High End Loft Stuff GameVersion = 3.9.6.009001
Ambitions GameVersion = 4.6.6.009001
Fast Lane Stuff GameVersion = 5.4.4.009001
Night Life GameVersion = 6.1.11.009001

Barnacle Bay Works, Riverview Works.

I hope my day of skimming forums helps someone else to get there game working how it should have worked in the first place. Thanks for patience as I know how annoying this problem has been for everyone else. Specially those tired of reading about it.

Last edited by lordreyiss : 5th Dec 2010 at 01:57 AM. Reason: putting in gameversion info

Not sure why you couldn't install Riverview without decrapifying it- decrapifying alters the file so that the game sees it as a different object. This means that if you share any CC/ worlds/ lots created with decrapified Riverview items, then they will not show up for someone with a non-decrapified version.

What I would have advised next would have been to clear your browser caches and redownload Riverview- I know that they repackaged it at some point, as an older version I had would not work with the later game updates.

I'm glad you got it fixed, anyway. Well done!