Hello, I am new on this forum (and the sims 3) and I am having problems playing the game. I have the game installed on an external hard drive, as I cannot install it on the actual computer due to lack of local disk space. I also have all of the expansions and stuff packs except pets and generations. When I try to start the game without the launcher, i get the same error each time: "Service initialization failed (0x0175dcbb)". I have read about this in the help section, but due to the fact it is on an external hard drive, I can't edit the registry.
When I first installed the game, it played fine for about a week then I started getting this error. When I try to play with the launcher, it says "There was an error during startup, see log for details". I uninstalled and reinstalled the game and all the expansion/stuff packs, and it played fine until I shut it down. The next time I started up the computer, same error. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Are you still having this issue? I seem to have missed this thread, I'm sorry.

Installing it in external does not mean you cannot edit the Registry. The registry is still on c:\Windows.
But if the external HDD has been unplugged and replugged and the drive letter has changed since installation, that would account for part of the issue.

But a "Service initialization failed" error is always indicative of a corrupt install, a messed up Registry or a rogue Resource.cfg file somewhere, especially if you have messed about in the Game paths. Try Uninstalling again accompanied by a thorough Registry cleanup, this time.

• Sims 3 - Installing / Patching / Uninstalling
  1. Whether you are Installing for the first time or Reinstalling, be sure to read the Game Help:Install^wiki FAQ.
     -
  2. This Game_Help:TS3_Uninstall^wiki link has the step-by-step instructions to guide you through uninstalling The Sims 3,
     and its (EP/SP) packs. As well as removing any leftovers after uninstalling.
     -
  3. The Game_Help:TS3_Patching^wiki Guide provides information on:
     • Tips Before You Begin
     • Patching Common Errors
     • Manual patch Downloads
     • Invalid File Errors and more
  
  

Do you still get that same startup error if you don't use Launcher? Game Help:TS3 Bypassing the Launcher^wiki
Also, read this sticky: http://my.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=459247 That bit about using the Unlocker usually works for me.

Last edited by ellacharm3d : 3rd Dec 2011 at 02:46 PM. Reason: Merged posts: 3716362, 3716361