Lion vs. expansion packs

Hi there,

I've been trying to get Sims 3 to work on my Mac (Lion) for days now (no success so far) so I'm hoping someone here can help me out. I've followed the manual, managed to download the base game from the PirateBay and I've tried to install two expansion packs with the links on this forum (Pets & Night Life).

I unzipped the base game file and the Sims 3 logo popped up, but that's all. I've had the familiar Lion problems but the patches/fix apparently don't work if you haven't installed an expansion pack. I'm not really sure how to install these though: I've unzipped them, but whenever I click on the installation logo, the setup appears in my dock but nothing happens. I've clicked on the Sims logo in my dock, but the program then disappears.

Since I'm not able to install expansion packs, I can't run the base game either. Can someone help me out?

Hello,

You need at least ONE of the expansions released after and including Generations.
Be sure to extract the .rar files first using Stuffit Expander. After that make a .DMG file out of the extracted files. You can use that file to install the game(s).

Thanks for your reply!

Finally managed to download 3 packs (Generations, Pets & Showtime) and I've done everything you suggested but no luck I'm afraid. I installed Showtime and that's where the problems started: I was told that the Showtime pack is not compatible with my base game. Manually installed the latest Mac patch, managed to install all three packs, applied the ultimate fix (for the base game) and ran into the next error: Exception raised: Unhandled page fault on read access to 0x00000008

What am I doing wrong?

Hello,

Please re-download and re-apply this manual patch for Mac: https://games4theworld.forumotion.com/t3597-can-t-update-the-sims-3-to-v136-fix-manual-patch

Then start the game and let us know what it says. DO NOT do anything else yet!

Deleted the whole bunch in the mean time - reinstalling the base game now.

Am I getting this right? You're saying I should install the base game, install the manual patch and then try to re-install packs? Base game -> expansions -> patch doesn't work... (sorry to be such a pain in the arse!)

Hello,

The patch doesn't work, is that the problem?
Are you 100% sure you used the patch I linked to in my previous comment?

No no, the patch works fine (as far as I can tell). However, I read your previous message (the one with the link) too late so I had already deleted the whole bunch. Not sure about the order which I should stick to.

What I'm doing now: base game + patch (from your post) + packs, followed by the ultimate fix. Is that right?

Lady ElDi wrote:Hello,

That sounds about right, but you only have to use the crack from the fix.

I've copied the files from the #Crack folder, but the launcher still claims I'm playing an unauthorized version. Weird... (also, I've applied the patch twice now: is that right?)

Lady ElDi wrote:Hello,

That is weird, do you have the latest fix?

I used the link from the *must read* sticky on the 'fixes' board.. should be the right one. Perhaps I patched the wrong program? When opening the patch, I get asked which file I want to updated and I clicked on the base game icon. Should I click 'pets' (last installed package) instead?

Hello,

Please use this Mac patch instead: https://games4theworld.forumotion.com/t3597-can-t-update-the-sims-3-to-v136-fix-manual-patch

It should detect the game automatically, no need to choose anything, I guess.

Admin wrote:Hello,

Please use this Mac patch instead: https://games4theworld.forumotion.com/t3597-can-t-update-the-sims-3-to-v136-fix-manual-patch

It should detect the game automatically, no need to choose anything, I guess.

Thanks again! I take it you mean the first link in that topic? (the second link is one to the patch I've just tried)

Copy + paste to the base game (content > resources > ect.) file? Not the expansions?

Hello,

Yes, this link: http://llnet.thesims.cdn.ea.com/sims/u/f/sims3/mac/To-8180-1.36.45.017002.tgz

No need to copy & paste the patch, just double-click it, run it.

I unpacked the .zip and updated my game... The patch should work now, but still no luck with the fix. Keeps telling me the game is non-final, unauthorized, blabla.

I really don't get it - I followed every step in the manuel, and it still doesn't work. I must be thick or something

Hello,

Unzip? There's no need to unzip the .TGZ file, just open it, as you would open a normal file on a Mac.

Also, do you have any Mods or Custom Content?

I think - cross fingers - that I finally fixed it. Several people on this forum (and elsewhere) wrote that the Pets expansion was causing the installation procedure to fail, but the thought that Showtime did the same with my game never crossed my mind...

I installed the base game, applied the patch and then copy/paste the fix. I installed Pets after that, and the unauthorized message is gone. Haven't tried to play yet, will get back to you later

//EDIT

The game works and plays but I've already bumped into the next problem:
Create-A-Sim keeps getting stuck "processing". I waited for half an hour
and then decided to end this game.

Is this a common problem with 3?

Hello,

That sounds familiar, yes. Do you have any Mods or Custom Content?

I don't I checked the forum, and some people suggested it might have something to do with creating pets so I'm not adding those to my family (I let my Sims adopt them and alter them with cheats instead)

Hello,

If you don't use Pets in the family, the game works fine?