Minor Issues with SIMS 3 Install + Fix Link Doesn't Exist?? (Please Help !)

Hey guys and nice to meet all of you. I need some help if possible. After scouring the internet for the last 24 hours i am still a bit confused on a few key issues with my sims 3 download:

I currently have the sims 3 complete edition pc version (katy perry one) downloaded from blackbox ( I will edit and post what version it is shortly). I am not having any major issues with the game playing but i have a few important questions and issues. ( Let me know if you want to know what the exact download version is or the link where i got it from. I can add some stars in between so it is not a clickable link if wanted.) From what i have seen it is blackboxes most recent upload for sims 3 and is titled The.Sims.3.Complete-BlackBox

I am using an acer pc quad core, amd radeon graphics with windows 7.

First, the version of the blackbox edition i downloaded is not the latest update. So the last 24 hours i read a bunch of forums that say do not update it. However, how can i play it online then? I mean online as in getting the achievements they talk about etc. in the game. So is the blackbox version not meant to played logged in or is there something i am missing? When i log in, the launcher shows me signed in but the game itself does not. Also on my first install i was alerted to update in game and did but i think that may have been a mistake?

Now for those who just read my first issue and mentioned patching, i also had tried that with a patch i found in these forums and had a dll error issue but maybe i had more issues since i updated the game right from the main sims game?

When i did try to log in and play the game online it would not let me. So i have completely uninstalled the game as of this post and am planning on reinstalling now. I will wait for replies before i go forward though. So my main issues are, is the copy i currently have meant to be played online so i can experience the online perks such as achievements etc or is it better if i just play it as is? Also i had an option when signing up to use a serial or sign up leaving the serial box blank. When i entered the registration page there was already a serial in the boxes( i assume this was part of the crack in the blackbox version?) Anyways, when i first tried to sign up using the serial, it would not accept the serial so i signed up with it blank. However i could still not get online. I was given a message that the game is not fully up to date..... any help is greatly appreciated !!!!

Another minor issue i am having when first installing and running the launcher is a message something like cannot connect to origin ( I cannot remember the exact wording as i am waiting to reinstall until i hear from you guys.) Is this a normal issue with the blackbox download or is there a workaround? The message doesnt seem to cause any issues as i can still download and install packs etc and pay the game but i am wondering if this will cause me future problems?

P.S. - for anyone familiar with the blackbox release, you will know of the way the dlc pack works. Here is my question. When i find the ea folders in the main program files, do i cut and paste them into the mydocuments eafolder or should i copy and paste. I dont think it makes too much of a difference but i just want to be sure.

P.S.S - does anyone know of a step by step comprehensive guide to installing the blackbox downloaded version? I hunted the forums all last night and only found small basic tips etc. I am not really having any major issues installing it and getting to work, but the main reason i am asking is because most of the instructions are very poorly worded and dont help very much with some small key issues. For example, when i download the blackbox complete version it always installs in one shot with every pack included and i have no option to install each pack separately. When i try to play individual packs though, it always starts as the main SIMS. Is that normal? in other words, i understand all the main packs may just play through the main sims game or i am doing something wrong? I get no different splash screens etc. for the UI when loading no matter what pack i click to play. It is always the katy perry splashscreen. I understand that is probably because the game is always loading off the latest pack ? It isnt a big deal but i just want to make sure that is normal.



UPDATE***** I found a way to resolve an issue with updating sims from this website. However the fix i found has 2 dead download links... can anyone help? Please let me know if anyone has info on if this is still the best fix on this website or if something else newer has arrived Here is the thread with the 2 dead download links. The first link goes to 4shared and after waiting the 20 seconds it says the file is gone. The mirror link does nothing when i click it.....

https://games4theworld.forumotion.com/t752-the-sims-3-ultimate-fix-should-fix-most-of-your-problems-updated

I have no idea on how to help, since that download isn't hosted by games4theworld. Honestly, I would recommend downloading the ones that are hosted by them, because most of the people helping out in these forums are going to be most familiar with the ways to fix problems with those downloads over others. Some other uploaders have a custom installer to go with their games, and I've heard that those are generally not supported by the fix on here.

For your very last pss, that I can positively answer with, and know I'm correct. Unless you download a mod to change that splash screen, it will always be the most recently released game that you have installed.

thanks for the reply. Yah i tried to find a forum for black box but so far no luck. If anyone else knows if they do have one let me know. I have seen a few people in these forums discussing black box downloads by searching so i am hoping maybe someone would know. If not, anyone who has info on where i can find help or info on the black box sims 3 download please let me know and thanks.

Well I'm sure if you keep watching this topic throughout the day, somebody else is sure to be able to tell you something.. Sorry I couldn't help you, and good luck with your game.

Here is something that may help. I found another guy who had posted in these forums having one of the problems i was having in regards to using a patch to update the blackbox version. Anyone reading this forum please have a look

https://games4theworld.forumotion.com/t5744-unable-to-update-sims-3-to-136solved

The problem is, i am not quite sure how he added this file etc or why it was necessary. I assume that for some reason windows 7 does not have the dll file needed to use the patch or maybe someone else could explain how he fixed an update issue using a patch from this website by adding that dll file. I am a bit confused so i wont try it until i know what i am doing lol. So if anyone has info let me know.

//EDIT

Well heres some good news, reinstalling sims 3 has added the dll file
back that i needed. Hopefully that solves some issues but i sure hope it
fixes my other issues as well. Any additional help, advice etc. is
still greatly appreciated from anyone who reads my thread

//EDIT

hmm i guess its not a good night for me lol. I found a fix on this
website that will supposedly resolve some of my issues with updating but
when i try to click to download, the first link says the file is gone
and when i click the mirror link nothing happens. Anyone know why i cant
download this fix from this page?? The page says it is still working
but obviously not...

https://games4theworld.forumotion.com/t752-the-sims-3-ultimate-fix-should-fix-most-of-your-problems-updated

I
am starting to wonder if maybe i am better off just downloading the
version that this site supports. At least here i can get some help if i
have problems lol. I will give it one last shot using the blackbox
version i guess lol. I do have a question though. Anyone who is
currently using the games4theworld sims version, are there any problems
playing online. I mean can you log in and play the game online with no
problems and get the achievements etc.?

First, pleas edit your post instead of posting multiple comments without anybody replying. This is considered spamming.. :/

Right now the mediafire account that's usually associated with the fix and all the other non-game downloads is unavailable, and Admin is moving everything to another location. Along with that, the main website for games4theworld was down for a while earlier. I'm not sure if that's where the mirror link leads to, but that could be why.

And as I said earlier, I'm not sure if the fix would help you at all, because of the way it sounds like the blackbox download is installed. You could try it anyways, once the links are back up, but I would recommend backing everything up before you were to use it, just in case.

hmm now i am even worse off lol. I didn't use the fix but instead used the patch since i read another forum of someone else using the blackbox version and suing the patch. I did the same and now i get the message:

There was an error during startup.

And the only option i have is to click ok and then the window just closes. Now i am stumped, any ideas? Like i said i have read other forums where people have used the manual patch on this blackbox version and it seemed to work.

**UPDATE**

It looks like someone else had the exact same problem as me with the blackbox and got some help from an admin

https://games4theworld.forumotion.com/t6055-service-initialization-failed-0x0175dcbb-sims-3-blackbox

The problem is i dont know what the admin did to help. If anyone knows how to contact that admin maybe they could be directed to my post here to help? That would be great. In the meantime i have uninstalled sims 3 again just to start over fresh tomorrow. I would like to make sure it is a complete uninstall so any tips to make sure i have cleared it all out would be great. Not sure how i make sure it is all out of my registry etc. so if anyone knows just post here or pm me. Thanks !!!

Hello,

First of all, the links for the Ultimate Fix are already back up again. The mirror links aren't, currently.

As for the BlackBox edition, there's not much to say. Those downloads are so badly modified, it's pretty hard to solve problems with them. If you really want to do yourself a pleasure regarding ease, just remove the BlackBox edition completely and then re-download and re-install a non-modified version of the games, preferably the Games4theworld versions, of course. But that's up to you.

The BlackBox edition is modified in such a way that it even modifies the Registry keys for The Sims 3, as well as the standard installation folder.
In order to (try to) fix this Registry error, causing the "Error during Startup" error, please contact me via the Forum's chatbox when you see me online on the Forum.

ok thank you admin. I will message you this evening if i see you online. In the meantime i did an uninstall again just to be sure so that way i can start from scratch with you. The one thing i noticed though is i have a pile of sims 3 instances still in the registry after uninstall so i am curious as to if i should delete the entire portion of the ea registry before installing again and chatting with you? Here is a screenshot and as you can see in this one subfolder, i have multiple instances of some of the expansion packs since i have uninstalled this version a few times. Let me know if i should simply delete the entire sims 3 registry folder or i can always talk in chat instead if that is better.

had to put stars since i cannot post images etc. for 7 days



^^^^delete the stars to check image and add back the http at the beginning.

Also my apologies on a few of prior posts. I realize i should have just added them into another post and edited instead of a few spam posts. It will not happen again

Link fixed.

- Lady ElDi


Admin edit: Image fixed.

- ADMIN




-Lady ElDi

Hello,

I think it'd be easier via chat. I'll clean up everything on your PC and then do a completely clean (re-)installation for you!
Did you download the Games4theworld versions?

no i have not downloaded a games4 version however if you think that is the best idea i will. Let me know. The version i have seems to be working well and clean, it just had a few frustrating things such as an issue with updates and playing online (update issue seemed ok though once i used this sites patch except for still having that online issue and the patch causing the game to not startup. I like the blckbox version mainly because of the simplicity in downloading and installing. Everything is all packed together and installs all at once (each pack incuded). However I will take any advice that you have though and if getting the games4theworld version is a better idea just let me know and i will start downloading asap.

thanks Lady Eldi. In the meantime until admin has time, i will start downloading the sims 3 main game and some of the expansions from games4the world in case he/she decides thats the best route. Just message me back whenever you are ready and again thanks or all your help.

Hello,

Thank you for your patience!
Hmmm... if it's really isn't a bother for you, I'd be easier for you and us if you downloaded the non-modified Games4theworld versions.
If it's really a problem for you, I can try to fix the current one via TeamViewer, but it'll take at least an hour.

Your call.

ok well lets try fixing the current one first if thats ok. I have it uninstalled currently and ready to go. So if you want we can clean up the old instnces etc. in the registry first and then i can mount and install it again when needed. The main thing i want with the blackbox version is to be able to play it where i can get the achievements as well and have it updated. So let me now a time thats good today (currently as i type this it is approx. 8:39 am for me ) This evening works fine for me so let me know and i will be online when its good for you

P.S. can you remind me what patches or fixes i should download ahead of time to apply to the blackbox version once we get started? I have one already downloaded from this site which i think was:

TS3_1.38.151.0180xx_update.exe"

I dont think i have the fix downloaded so if you want me to download any additional fixes patches etc. so that i have them all ready ahead of time feel free to link me to the downloads and then i wont have to make you wait later lol.

ok cool, fix and patch are downloaded and ready. I have blackbox uninstalled and ready to re-install while working with admin. So whenever a good time pops up just let me know and no worries, there is no rush. I am sure we will meet up soon at the same time on here. Thanks for all your help so far it is very much appreciated and will not be forgotten.

Any chance we could set up a time to maybe meet online and do the install? I know you're probably very busy i am just posting an update so that i don't play forum tag with you and miss you the next time you post here lol. I am in central standard time right now (saskatchewan) with no daylight savings time so if you even post in here and find a time i could meet you online anytime this week or whenever that would be great. I was just worried you might post here again and then i would miss you here if i was sleeping etc. so maybe setting up a specific time would be good? make sure to let me know your current time when you post so i can do the math and convert if you are in a different time zone. Thanks for your time and help

SOCIOPATH77 wrote: I have blackbox uninstalled and ready to re-install while working with admin.

Makes me think you are going to re-install blackbox.

Also, it's not very hard to install the base+expansions.

Best way would probably be do the base, then the latest expansion (Supernatural) or the latest version you want installed, just to make the base update all the way, so you don't have to deal with it again, then install the remaining expansions, and only use the #Installation Guide to grab a keycode to install the expansion your on, and after that apply the Ultimate fix.

Also, if you want to do a custom install for it to be somewhere else, keeping them in the same folder helps with apply the ultimate fix.

Also Admin is GMT+1 which is like 7 hours ahead of you. (I think at least.)

thanks t2sink. Well I don't have any true issue with using the games4theworld versions, i just figured i would give blackbox one more go seeing as i already have 18gb worth of game downloaded. However if anyone here thinks it would be easier for me to just start from scratch using this sites versions i could do that.

Ok so if i do use games4the world version, start with only downloading the base and then its probably (like you said) easiest to update the base by installing supernatural next? Then i wouldnt need to use the update patch i assume, only the fix once they are installed?

Also, i assume the keycodes are only needed for each individual expansion pack, or will I find one in the base download as well?

Also, is this the name of the base game >>> http://goo.gl/1TqDU

P.S. - i also assume before doing any type of install, i should delete all former instances of sims from my registry? i still have launcher keys and prior instances of blackbox sims installs. So its probably a god idea to delete all of them i assume? And if anyone responds to this in the next 24 hours, let me know if i an meet one of you in a chatbox and maybe get it all installed. I do have the games4the world base game and supernatural installed as well as blackbox so i am willint to install whatever version you guys tell me to.

Yeah, best would probably be uninstall all The Sims 3 stuff, blackbox and the likes, probably with a more powerful uninstaller then the default Window's one.

The Your Uninstaller! Pro v7.0.2010.11 That G4TW should be just fine.
http://torcache.net/torrent/CF08FABFCC5ED23CC9F3A68695767CF926450347.torrent

After that, reboot, and you should be set, as long as you didn't have any actually game-play issues. The new install of The Sims 3, should overwrite the older registry data if the Your Uninstaller does miss something.

Recommend: Install the Base from G4TW, then Supernatural from G4TW, just so you only have to update to 1.38 instead of like half a dozen updates during the installation.

SOCIOPATH77 wrote:thanks t2sink. Well I don't have any true issue with using the games4theworld versions, i just figured i would give blackbox one more go seeing as i already have 18gb worth of game downloaded. However if anyone here thinks it would be easier for me to just start from scratch using this sites versions i could do that.

Ok so if i do use games4the world version, start with only downloading the base and then its probably (like you said) easiest to update the base by installing supernatural next? Then i wouldnt need to use the update patch i assume, only the fix once they are installed?

Also, i assume the keycodes are only needed for each individual expansion pack, or will I find one in the base download as well?

Also, is this the name of the base game >>> http://goo.gl/1TqDU

P.S. - i also assume before doing any type of install, i should delete all former instances of sims from my registry? i still have launcher keys and prior instances of blackbox sims installs. So its probably a god idea to delete all of them i assume? And if anyone responds to this in the next 24 hours, let me know if i an meet one of you in a chatbox and maybe get it all installed. I do have the games4the world base game and supernatural installed as well as blackbox so i am willint to install whatever version you guys tell me to.

Hello,

I recommend you use Your Uninstaller! Pro - you can download it from www.games4theworld.org - to clean your PC from any leftover files!
After that run a normal and a Registry CCleaner scan, just to be sure. (www.ccleancer.com )

hmm i cant seem to find the file you are talking about. Any chance you could post a direct link to the uninstaller pro i need?

It just shows zero results when i search for it

*****Update***** I found it and will use it today and thanks.

Hello,

Here you go: http://goo.gl/Avy7R

well i ran uninstaller pro and used ccleaner but i stll have sims and sims3 reg entries showing up. Let me know what i should do and thanks.