Expansion pack installer does not recognize installed base game

I poked around a bit in the forum to find someone else who encountered this error, but I didn't see anyone. Also, for reference, I'm running Windows 7.

I installed the base game, and it worked fine (because I got impatient waiting for the expansions to download and played it for a bit as-is).
I then attempted to install a number of expansion packs without success. I tried Supernatural, Master Suite Stuff, and Diesel stuff (the only ones to have completed downloading thus far).
To be sure I hadn't screwed something up by playing the game first, I uninstalled, re-downloaded (because I'd deleted the original download files), and then reinstalled the base game (without adding the crack this time, I wanted to try without) before trying again to install the expansions with the same error.

Looks a little something like this:

Did you let the game install itself in it's default spot, or somewhere else? if you chose to have it somewhere else, like on a different drive, make sure that the expansions are set to install in the same location.

It installed to the default spot, so far as I know.
That is to say, I didn't specify anywhere else for it to install to?
It's in program files on the local disk, under Electronic Arts, which I assume is the default spot?

Hello

I have the same exact problem except i didnt download the base game i bought it from store...but yes tried installing pets and supernatural and same error poped up

Hmmmm well i did open a *new topic* and still no body gave me a solutiion :s

You asked me the exact question and i even uploaded pictures....

EDIT:

FINALY!!!i found a way to make it work!!!!Oki what i did was:

1.Uninstall sims 3 and delete any related files.

2.Open regedit search sims 3 and delete it

3.Open ccleaner (google and download it if you dont have it) and then click registry and find/fix all issues

4.reinstall sims 3 update it manually restart your pc

5.After restarting open sims 3 make sure you load till family and check if everything running smoothly

6.When your done checking close it and install the exp! : )

Thanks for the advice, love, but I use ccleaner quite regularly, including after this particular uninstall. Sadly, it didn't seem to make much of a difference. Glad it worked for you, though.

Sorry, I should have mentioned, all the downloads I'm using are from here.
I'd had a different version installed before, but it wasn't running to my satisfaction and I figured I might as well start fresh.

Actually, on a related note, I do still have some saved games from that old version.

I am in the process of downloading a manual patch for the game to see if that will help, but any other advice would be very much appreciated.

//EDIT

Update: Patching the game did not help, I still receive the same message when attempting to install an expansion pack.
Also,
now the game itself will not start, telling me that "there was an error
during startup. Please see the Log for more details".

Hello,

Try Your Uninstaller! Pro - www.games4theworld.org - for uninstalling, please. Choose "Extreme" mode and restart your PC afterwards.

//EDITTry this, please: https://games4theworld.forumotion.com/t6052-error-during-startup-see-log-for-more-details-fix
Read/watch very carefully.

I think I'm going through the gambit of possible errors with the base game, all the while still getting that original error when trying to install expansions.

I'm now being asked for the registration code when I attempt to play the base game, and although it pops up with one filled in, it won't accept it.

I am about 90% sure I saw other topics about this in the forum, so I will go browse there for a while, but if you have any specific advice for me that would be lovely. <3

EDIT:
The issue this time, if I read correctly, seems to be that I updated the game, so I shall completely reinstall and see what happens. Also clearing out the registry, and removing my saved games (as much as it pains me to do so) on the off-chance that they are causing some of the problems.

//EDIT

FIXED, I think.
So apparently the issue all along was that I still had things left in the registry from the previous version of the game and it was messing everything up.
At any rate, I'm currently installing the Pets expansion and it hasn't freaked out at me yet.
Thank you for your help! <3