Need help with the sims 3 please?

I bought all of the games a few months ago, and today origin was saying I don't own seasons and like five of my expansions aren't showing up in the launcher at all, along with most of my sims store content. I've noticed that they are missing the cache files completely in the ProgramFiles folder.

The packs I'm having trouble with are:
EP04
EP08
SP01
SP02
SP03
SP04
SP05
SP07
SP08
SP09

The game data and everything else is there but the cache file is completely gone. Someone help?





Mod edit: moved to the right section.

- The_gh0stm4n

Kattomie wrote:I bought all of the games a few months ago, and today origin was saying I don't own seasons and like five of my expansions aren't showing up in the launcher at all, along with most of my sims store content. I've noticed that they are missing the cache files completely in the ProgramFiles folder.

The packs I'm having trouble with are:
EP04
EP08
SP01
SP02
SP03
SP04
SP05
SP07
SP08
SP09

The game data and everything else is there but the cache file is completely gone. Someone help?





Mod edit: moved to the right section.

- The_gh0stm4n

Hello and welcome to the Forum @Kattomie,


What happens when you right-click on The Sims 3 in your Origin game library, and choose "repair game"?

It will run the repair, and then say that I have 19...packs I guess? When it should be 20, then when I open the launcher it only shows 13 of my EPs and SPs.

Kattomie wrote:It will run the repair, and then say that I have 19...packs I guess? When it should be 20, then when I open the launcher it only shows 13 of my EPs and SPs.

That is strange indeed. I've heard from people who got some of their purchased Origin games blocked, because they were bought from an "non-authorized vendor". Not saying this has to be the case with you, but that is what I've read on the Forum here.

If you cannot fix the issue through the game repair, and the client keeps 'blocking' some of your expansions, you'll have to consider contacting EA support, as they have the power to make the necessary changes to your Origin account.

I've tried contacting them already, and they did not help me. They said it was the unauthorized vendor problem. 

Do you think if I put copies of the cache files back in their folders it would fix it?

Kattomie wrote:I've tried contacting them already, and they did not help me. They said it was the unauthorized vendor problem. 

Do you think if I put copies of the cache files back in their folders it would fix it?

I have my doubts as to whether that could work; since all your games and game information are stored on Origin's servers, you would have to find a way of tricking the Origin client. Just by editing some installation files on your end I don't think that can be achieved.

Someone once told me there are ways to spoof the Origin client, like, you would log in using that spoofing tool, and you had all Origin games on your account. I don't have any further information on that, but I also imagine those security flaws would be patched quickly on Origin.

I suppose you could - if nothing works - uninstall everything about TS3 on Origin, and switch over to the cracked TS3 (you can find all you need here). Note that simply mixing cracked + legit games in your case won't work. You would have to go either 100% with cracked games, or 100% legit Origin games. Sorry you have to experience this; it appears that this thing with the "unauthorized vendors" is a relatively new development. Whether that will be a good thing for EA remains to be seen.

Well, I can tell you that the fact that you helped me while all their guy would do was complain about unauthorized vendors is defiantly shaping my favorite place to go. Do you have any tips on backing up my custom content while I make the switch?

Kattomie wrote:Well, I can tell you that the fact that you helped me while all their guy would do was complain about unauthorized vendors is defiantly shaping my favorite place to go. Do you have any tips on backing up my custom content while I make the switch?

No problem; keep in mind though that their employees are essentially paid to do just that. And if the upper management of EA (possibly) says "thou shalt not give support to people who bought games from unauthorized vendors", then I don't think there is that much that a low-level employee can do, regardless of the goodwill they might have toward you.

As for the issue, I recommend that you go under Documents\Electronic Arts. There is a folder "The Sims 3" there. This is the place where your savefiles, mods, CC and whatnot are stored. You could for example back up the entire folder, so, copy and paste it to an external hard-drive if you have one, while leaving the original folder in place.

The other possibility is, that for the duration of your switch, you rename that folder, for example into The Sims 3_. Then you make your switch, and once you are completely done, change the folder name back to The Sims 3. There is a chance that during (re-)installation of the game, the userdata (savefiles, mods) can get modified. Hence my suggestion of the renaming. 

Either way, take your time, and good luck!

Okay, thank you. And one more question, what is seeding? I've always wondered when I handle torrents what the polite seeding time is? I'm sorry if this is a weird question.

Kattomie wrote:Okay, thank you. And one more question, what is seeding? I've always wondered when I handle torrents what the polite seeding time is? I'm sorry if this is a weird question.

Seeding = uploading 

If you use direct browser downloads, you typically download something from a central server. With torrenting, you rely on fellow users to upload the data packets (of the torrented item) for you. I suppose a "polite" seeding ratio is 1:1 (you seed the same amount, as what you download), but then again, a lot of ISPs, especially those in countries like the US or UK, have a policy of warning users when they torrent stuff.

Some torrents are actively being "monitored" (by third parties close to the likes of EA or Microsoft), and there is a chance you might receive a letter where they "kindly remind" you to refrain from torrenting again in the future, as that could lead to termination of your internet contract/subscription. At that point I can't say much else, other than suggest you might want to google around or inform yourself about how your ISP handles the issue.

A topic especially for US residents can be found here:
https://games4theworld.forumotion.com/t24636-us-residents-which-isp-s-are-more-controlling-than-others

Thank you for the answer and for helping! I really appreciate it since a lot of forum sites I went to in the past for various issues ignored new users completely.

Kattomie wrote:Thank you for the answer and for helping! I really appreciate it since a lot of forum sites I went to in the past for various issues ignored new users completely.

You're welcome. 

A friend of mine, who was having the same problem as me asked if the online features would still work post-switch. Will they since the files seem like they code as disc-based installs?