More Awesome Than You!

Yet another patch. Now with more capitalism in every bite.

http://www.thesims3.com/community/news.html?selMonth=11&selYear=2009#516943451

If you have WA, scroll down to World Adventures updates. Or you'll just read a whole bunch of crap twice.

Also,

http://www.thesims3.com/game/tools/world

Yeah, there's no way I'm downloading that until AM makes it bearable. I was under the impression that the "in-game store" shit wasn't coming out until the next expansion. It seems they wanted to get that out as fast as possible.

ETA:

So, what, are they mute or not?

Thanks for informing, DigiGekko.

So far the list looks good....damn, still no fix for fortune cookie maker upgrade....how does something so obvious got past their eyes??

Yet, there is no fix for Error code 12 in sight....

Noticed that they list a fix for the "walk like a mummy" problem that has been observed on these boards.

ETA: I'm also waiting until AwesomeMod updates for this patch before downloading it.  This way maybe Pescado can fix what they break before it breaks our games!

Ugh. I'm getting tired of doing the same CC dance every time a new patch comes out... God only knows what this patch is going to screw up.

I'm waiting till Awesome updates. I didn't last time and regretted it.

Oh, hey, also...

http://www.thesims3.com/game/tools/world

Not even announced yet on the home page. Saw it on simoperations.

I guess I'm a good town crier. I'm on fire today.

Is it a .exe? Can someone upload it to mediafire, megaupload or 4shared? I do not have a TS3 account and can't donwload it there.

Are you running Awesomemod? If yes, I suggest you wait until Pescado has updated before you patch. There is a good chance that Awesomemod won't work with the new patch.

This sorta makes my link superfluous:

I've not actually run the file yet, so I can't tell you how buggy it is.

I will also add it to my 4shared, for more linkage.

http://www.4shared.com/file/174627019/6c9d9878/CAW.html

Ugh.

Note that you'll be forced to patch Sims 3 prior to using Create a World.

Lame.

Has anyone actually installed/opened/used it yet? CAW that is... First impressions?

I went ahead and patched, I guess I'm just that eager to play with it. Which is all I'll probably be doing until a new AM is out.

Sorry normaly lurk but you can download it here without registering.

http://llnw.thesims3.com/content/global/downloads/caw/worldtool.exe

Could someone post the full version number for the 1.8/2.1 patch or post a direct link? I, too, am impatient to play with CAW.

http://akamai.cdn.ea.com/eadownloads/u/f/sims/sims3/patches/Sims3_1.8.25.003002_from_1.7.9.002002.exe
http://akamai.cdn.ea.com/eadownloads/u/f/sims/sims3/patches/Sims3_2.3.33.003002_from_2.2.8.002002.exe

It only took less than a minute of threatening the grahians before someone spilled it, too. Is there a corresponding patch out for Mac?

Oh no!! Another patch! I confess I'll wait a while

Bleh... I patched. I'm modless after a clean install anyway so i don't mind roughing it until AM is updated. 2 mins left of CAW though... Looks like I'm going to be up all night banging my head against the wall, shouting at the endless bugs.

Is Riverview and other assorted installed launcher-crap CC apparently not booting in the new patch, or is my install corrupted?

I'm wondering how intrusive the new shop mode is? I'm imagining a big SHOP button in the middle of the screen because that's the way EA rolls lately...

I'm running without mods right now, but still debating the patch.

So where is this supposed extensive manual for CAW... I must admit, it's a bloody shoddy layout...  :-\

 :-\  Er, if I have an arr'd WA and I get "invalid file found" when trying to patch game from official site or using the patch files from here, what file is that notification referring to and how do I change it?  BTW, THANK YOU MATY for all you do to help us lame folks.

Tha same for me. Many of the sims3packs aren't in my game anymore. It doesn't help to install them again. It must be something with the download dashboard?

I've got my game running with a cracked .exe for convenience.

But, like always, I forgot to backup  >:(

Has anyone got the original WA tslhost.exe and TS3EP.exe so I can update?

okay, guess it's time for me to break my install too.. better backup everything for a fresh install.

oh goodie - it broke Pes's game? I ain't touchin' it with a 10 foot pole... guess I'm completely off my sims3 addiction until AM is updated to fix what the patch broke (and very heavy sigh over that being necessary). I may have to attend one of those 12 step addiction program meetings.

I think anything that was not downloaded from the store, or EA's site through the launcher is blocked with the new patch.

Give me a sec...

Yes and also sims3packs from custom content creators.

Give me a sec...
[/quote]

Thanks, I was just about to uninstall and reinstall - you've just saved me that nightmare  :)

Just patched and already had a crash to desktop caused by the new shop mode! I was in build mode opened up the shop mode window, closed it and crash, no error message.

So far AM is causing the game to crash to desktop. Time to check my CC.

I had the same problem... except It was the base game, and I deleted my arrd copy... I've learnt from my mistake!

http://www.4shared.com/file/174667180/30c15762/TS3EP01.html
http://www.4shared.com/file/174667598/200846cd/TSLHost.html

Have fun

Yep. From what I can tell, launcher or no launcher, if you didn't download it from directly from the store into your game, you will no longer see it in your game.

So all of my Buy Mode CC is gone, but the Build Mode and CAS stuff appears to still be working. Awesome......

Oh so EA broke TSR? hehehe  

My game was being a twit anyway so I am patching and trying the CAW now.  <crosses fingers>

I had some issues with riverview last patch and ended up removing it and reinstalling from the store, which fixed the issue. The file sizes were different, so possibly there were some changes. Also this time I tried to update it told me files were different than expected and wouldnt patch. I had to reinstall Sims 3 (twice) and repatch from the base game with the full 130 Mb patch.  However, I havent gone into game with the latest patch yet, as 1. AM hasnt been updated. 2. The DVD is way over there -----> on the shelf...

I hope Pes is able to fix the issue with the sims3pack stuff that ceased functioning. :/

All Non paid for Store stuff has gone, a few item are still their with no mesh, they appear as small spheres. Even items i own haven been added to the game, but the coffee maker I just downloaded off the store. Hopefully this can be fixed like the no CD part of Awesome mod.

An interesting point mentioned:

> Improved extended game session stability

Long suspected, but never actually proven. Hurrah.

I guess it shouldn't be too difficult to.. download the torrent with everything in it and extract it all, and dump it in the mod folder. :/

VICTOLY IS MINE!

I have a retail copy of the Base game, and the reloaded version of WA. After the patch it now tells me that my base game and expansion are incompatible and to please patch. However the launcher says that my game is up to date.  Here's the game version it shows in launcher: 2.3.33.003002

WTF?

** I did something stupid. I left the cracked exe in instead of putting in the .bk

Does that mean there's a new version of AM to download? :o

Same problem here. I even did a fresh re-install hoping it would solve the problem, but I still get the "please patch" message.

You have to patch twice.

Okay, so I found out what happened to all the .Sims3packs. The EA launcher, and the game itself, no longer correctly reads them. Anyone, most noteably TSR, who relies on them, is now fucked. A workaround exists, but it involves DARK SORCERY and ELDRITCH ABOMINATIONS, so that's right out for TSR. But I fixed it.

I would guess you are right since I left in the crack, I assume the base game patched and WA did not. However there launcher has nothing for me to download now. Do you know where I can get the patch manually?

Link broken for AM Test

Unless you want half a zip file, maybe you should wait until it finishes uploading. :P

NEED MY FIX!!! *Shivers*

EDIT: *sighs* D/ling now.

Whats up with that then? Run the same patch twice, or two different ones?  :P

One for the base game, one for WA>

So, in order for TSR's files to work... they have to use AM? Suddenly EA's total ineptness has gotten much more entertaining.

ETA: Never mind, misunderstood what Pescado was saying. Regardless, the irony of TSR trumpeting .sims3packs as the way to go is pretty entertaining stuff.

/me facepalms

That means another patch is probably going to have to be released immediately. When in doubt wait and then doubt more.

Wow. EA really hates CC. First they make packages cause issues, then sims3packs. >>

I'm close to burnout and am a poor overworked 3D student.
Therefore my brain is not working right.<

What did I miss?

WHAT link?

Still not showing my Buy Mode CC (furniture, etc). I'll try a few more things, but still no luck at this point.

No, this AM update just makes the game itself work. Fixing CC requires DARK SORCERY and ELDRITCH CHICANERY involving file manipulation, and is not for dummies. Like you. Do you look anything like your avatar? Because your avatar has a really stupid look on her face.

Make a tool? Or will I have to launch S3pe/oc to fix it?

Hmm .. Would extracting all the sims 3 packs as package files in the mods folder help in anyway?

That's exactly what I was going to say. It should all be in DCBack in your My Documents folder. I'll give it shot.

Yikes, that was sickening... You've just caused my eyes and brain some serious offence there. Well done.

You can turn store items into package files too.

*smacks tickleonthetum.
Do you WANT cans?

Trashcans, dumb fuck. As in, be made a Retardo Lander. If you continue to act like an imbecile in order to be "cute", ignore the most basic rules of grammar, and double-post, you just might find it happening to you.

Ok.. in my attempt to copy ALL package files from DCBackups to my Mods/Packages/Sims3Package folder.. I caused some REALLY odd behavior.. HOWEVER, my furniture showed up again. lol... god damn it. Now I have to figure out where the problem is.. maybe deleting the files in DCBackup will help..

Please quit the rambling, this isn't your LJ. Cease threadshitting tickleonthetum.

http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=364038 (http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=364038)

I would be interested in whether or not converting sims3packs to packages is a workable solution. I believe the most recent patch (well, before this apocalypse-inducing one) caused some pretty severe lag whenever there were files in the Mods folder that had been converted from sims3packs. I know I had to do some major cleaning in order to get my game to even load.

I'm about to scream... I keep getting the infamous crash at loading the neighbourhood.... yargh.

Fresh install too... with no mods, all patched up, and no CC except riverview.

EA are so infuriating.

well I don't think the vanilla players are very happy either as I currently cannot access the official forums...like that would provide anything other than mildly amusing entertainment...so then I went and checked TSR...amazingly quiet over there...almost like a ghost town, actually...

And when Pes said "Dark Sorcery & Eldritch Chicanery' first thing popped into my head was PK Dick...so does one need LSD to make it work? I hope not.

I am waiting until the "all clear" is given...I don't care how long it takes. I'm not having EA screw my game up ever again.

So far, CAW is easy to use. I have used dev tools in the past, and this is by far the most straight forward thing I have seen. Still uses the same rules, mouse wheel zooms, ctrl + right click moves the map...so it shouldn't take anyone determined very long to master.
I am currently trying to locate where the patches auto-update to, because they seem to be insidious things that I am not sure if I wish to inflict on anyone. Except TSR.

Can you edit Sunset Valley or Riverview? Not from a piece of land with terrain paints, but the ones with roads and lots and everything else that we got from the game.

Could somebody direct me to a download for the patch of just the base game without WA? I'm assuming the earlier post that had the download link was for WA, unless it can also be used for the base game. Thanks in advance. :)

Lion, there are the templates for Sunset Valley and Riverview, they only have terrain paints and roads, you have to place all deco, trees, and lots.

So far, I've tried copying DCBackups to a folder within mods, CC loaded, but something is severly wrong. So then I tried extracting all .package files out of the .sims3package files I had in downloads. Same strange behavior (hard to explain try it yourself to see), and again missing CC loaded. So I guess the only other thing to do is clear DCBackups and Downloads (though I don't believe that is read by anything other than the launcher), and try the same extraction. Though, I have a feeling Mr. Pescado is going to have to share his black magic with us to find a fix. Should this be in it's own thread?

Yes. You can open Sunset Valley and Riverview and edit them. You click on File -> Open World. From there you can edit what is already there.

A new patch...great...I was missing some drama in my life lately...NOT -____-

Question - 2 patches, one for base game, other for WA. Do I have to patch them both? WA shouldn`t be a problem (I can`t believe I said that), but I didn`t patch my base game to 1.7 b/c...I don`t know, I forgot to sacrifice a sheep prior to that, it just kept spitting out that "Can`t update" blah blah whatchamacallit crap. So, to use CAW, do I have to update both?
And while I`m at it, let`s say EA releases another 7 EPs. Can you imagine what would that mean? Patching 9 times? (Ok, light bulb moment - probably not, b/c the base game will be to 2.0/1.9 version, WA till 3.0, 2.9 etc...)


Why am I even playing this game? WHY? ...o_O...

Yes, base game to 1.8.

Ah, crap...

Now let`s see, where did I put that god forsaken patch and...this is going to be a looooong night...

Klondike, look near the bottom of page 1 of this thread.

Well, i'm a long time lurker (ever since I learned to hate TSR, back with the original Sims) and thought it finally time to register and post. I wholeheartedly support JMs attempts to work around this insidious patch. I would like to think that, given sites like TSR, that the removal of support for all non-Store CC was an accidental side effect of the ingame store 'feature'. As much as we all hate paysites, EA clearly acknowledges their place (and with TS3 even made their own, the Store) and I therefore find it hard to believe they would deliberately stick two fingers up at paysites. They may not get a slice of the pie, but paysites and publishers make money for each other. Without the game, there would be no paysite. Without the paysites and modding in general, games have far shorter shelf lives.

So, its my hope that eventually this restriction will be removed.

However in the short term, all hail JM :)

It's already pointed out here.

Well then, I'm editing my post above. Sorry, Lion. It made me really upset and I can't explain exactly...I love playing TS3 but every time a patch comes out to fix something, it ends ups borking the rest of the game. I think the exact word would be "frustration"... :'(

Well, I've made MANY attempts to restore my CC, but to no avail. I'm able to get it to load, but the game is basically hosed in a way that can not be explained. So, until they release a new patch or somebody  ;) releases a tool to fix older sims3package files.. I believe they are just gone for now.

Maybe but TSR is one of the few paysites sites that use Sims3Pack, Peggy and Rose remain unaffected as the majority of their files is in normal .package format.

It does hit a lot of non-subcription/free sites, even if Liana could be said to technically be a paysite (donation packs) she pretty much only releases it as Sims3packs but then you have Lilisims that is free and only releases in Sims3 packs.

The biggest hit is Sims3pack as a format, right now people must be asking if releasing their stuff in that format is still a viable option ... as EA demonstrated exactly how much they care about the community creators.

Come on, kids. I doubt this has anything to do with EA's stance towards the community creators. EA doesn't think that wide. No, they simply changed the way that the game recognizes sims3packs so as to fight pirating from their store.

That's what I was thinking as well, but I'd still like to get my other .sims3package CC to load.

There are some reports on MTS that people have patched up and their CC is working just fine.  This is interesting...

Another day, another EA fuck up. I'm dreading to think how more time it's going to take for the game to load up if it can't even handle native .sims3packs properly.

Because MTS requires uploaders to use .package files which appear to be working.

Conversion to .package and bruteforcing the issue makes everything work again, yes. Trying to install via Sims3pack results in retroactive borkedness if installed prior to patching, or not installing at all if applied afterwards.

Same problem. It patched successfully but is still asking me to patch. I didn't replace with cracked exe. How to fix this?

Pescado - will this work for store items?

     This probably isn't much help since everyone seems to hate EADM, but I got that error after trying to patch as well. I just reinstalled everything, and patched using the EADM instead, and it works fine. The download manager doesn't explode your game, and it -can- be uninstalled right after patching. It doesn't hurt too much, and it does work.

You have to patch the sims 3 base game and the sims 3 world adventures, ok it's all a big ...... by EA but they force you to patch both the original base game and the expansion.

Yes. The easy "fast" method is to take your dbcdbcrapwhatzits.dbc files and just move them into your mods/packages, and tell resource.cfg to accept .dbcs.

To those who are having trouble patching: make sure you're downloading the right patch for your region. The ones Pescado linked to in this thread will not work for everyone. You can just change the last digit in the link to match whatever version you need to get the right patch for you.

What do you recommend? The DBCCache bait-and-switch or just convert em all? Does it make any difference in stability, or are both methods awful workarounds born from impatience that will ultimately hose things?

What exactly do you need to type into the resource.cfg for it to accept those files?

From what I understand, converting to packages are fine as long as they are official addons, however you need to be careful converting non-offical sims3packs as they may require the blue lot fix. Honestly, .package are a lot easier to manage than sims3pack, and as long as you unpack them carefully, it will save a lot of headache using either official or unofficial launchers.

Do you need a new crack after you patch your arr'd WA? I finally got both games patched but still can't load the game. When I use the original TS3EP01 of course I get the can't authenticate error. I grabbed the cracked one from the crack directory of the reloaded wa torrent and stuck it in in there and now I get a can't load error and the game won't even start up.

I'm sick of fail... help?

The same way to make it recognize .packages?

I can use all my sims3packs stuff, both store and tsr. Right now I took out the framework and have only the stuff installed through launcher, and both objects (build/buy) and clothing show up fine. Hair is another story, the TSR-hairs are not showing.

I'm not used to coding, pardon me. >>

That gives me two options, either copy the whole bloody thing and replace all the instances of .package with .dbc, or add , .edc after ever instance of '.package' ... which is it?

And what is one to do with '.ebc'?

Well, getting ready to patch, but want to make sure I did this right:
Added:
PackedFile Mods/dbcss/*.dbcs
PackedFile Mods/dbcss/*/*.dbcs
to my resource config file,
Created Mods/dbcss/
Copied DCCache and DCBackup, Cache into dbcss, backup into a normal mods folder.
Shouldn't that work when patch is done?

Converting all of the store sets to .package with Delphy's converter works, but results in the game running at the speed of a 95 year-old coma patient.

Just in case, this might be helpful for some of you having patch installation troubles...

I found that after I had installed the patch before opening CAW it seemed to install correctly.  I placed a few roads and empty lots in the CAW editor and tried to go edit the map in the game.  It gave me an error that said my game was incompatible and needed to update. I tried to run the update and it gave me an error.  I then closed out of CAW and reran the update in the launcher, it worked.  I was able to get back into CAW and proceed into the game to edit the map.

I patched without removing a thing and updated the awesome mod then started my game all worked fine. No crashes and awesome mod seems to be working so far. I can't say everything is but in playing for a couple of hours all seems to be okay. I plan to start testing the mods I have installed. Well right after I mess around with the build a new world tool. JM seems to have taken care of the missing items because mine were all there.  This was the easiest patching I have experienced.

Just adding in case no one else tried it. My game will not start at all if I am not connected to the internet. I get an Error message saying it can't launch. I am really not liking this patch. I lost my CC and it's pretty frustrating.

The file extension is just dbc, not dbcs.

Don't copy the DCBackup at all, delete that.
From the DCCache folder just move the dcdb0.dbc file only into the Mods\ Packages folder (or in your case, Mods\ dbcss).

I just tried Bahr fix and it worked ;D, Thank you Simsample, just coping one file is certainly easier, I'll try that next.  BTW, can I just say, I hate EA!

What is the link for AM Test, I have forgotten it.

It's on the same page as the regular AwesomeMod download.

And Okay, I don't know what I did wrong, I converted all of my store downloads to .packages , with Delphy's tool. But when I log into the game and view my neighborhood, its like... The map is floating up high, with little holes where the lots were supposed to be. And the lots are stuck down at the bottom, as empty squares with just nothingness around them. It's hard to explain. But I have to look through the holes on the "Floating map" to find the squares where the lots are.

I did happen to also convert riverview into a .package and had it put right with all my other store downloads. Which may have been a bad idea now that I think of it. Not sure if that could be a problem, but I just took everything out again. It seemed to solve the problem, but ugh, I see my roads are blurry again.

For those that were able to successfully use store content by converting to .packages, what had you done with Riverview?

I bought both the base game and WA.  I used the launcher to install the patches and I downloaded the new version of AM.  Everything loaded up and ran fine except some items are missing.  I am going to try the dbcache thing and then I will let you know if everything shows up. 

I had no crashes at all.  It went smooth.

I removed my mods folder, resource.cfg, and all non-purchased store content  before installing the patch and it seemed to install OK.  All my CC installed through the launcher, both bought and third party is showing up in my game.   I went into buy mode clicked on the store button to see what would happen.   It launched and showed a free coffee maker to download.  I checked the store on the website and it is not there to download.  So I went and downloaded it. A popup said "Your item is now downloading via the game launcher" or something like that.     Game then proceded to choke.  Game sound skipping, lagging, couldn't scroll the screen, time was moving on the game clock, but my sims weren't.   Wonderful.   So I quit without saving.  Looked in my downloads folder and I've got not one, not two but EIGHT HotBeverageMachineModern.Sims3Pack files in my downloads folder.  WTF?    So I relaunch game, and all seems to be OK , it's playing fine now.   But if that's what happens when you use their "Download your items while in game!" feature ..... well why am I even surprised.


On a completly different note.   Has anyone else noticed a new file in their Downloads folder called  Nav.bin ?   It wasn't there before the patch, I'm positive.  I'm itching to delete it but I have no idea what it's doing or why it appeared after the patch.  

I did the same thing as you but I DLed the New Years Eve hat.  My game started to freeze up and hang...so I minimized the game and the launcher was asking me to sign in.  I signed in and I had 3 copies of the stupid hat in my DL bin.  I know I only clicked it once.  I will not be using that feature.

I did what was said above about the *dbc files and all of my previously missing launcher DLs are now there.  I then Dled a sims3pack and installed it with the launcher and then copied the new dbc file over and the new items were there.  So that looks like a good fix for now.

I also have the new file and my Sims 3 account email .bin too.  I guess it is some cookie type thing.

I don't even know where to begin with the CAW.  It's like possibilities over load for me.  Can't wait to see what people make however.

I am going to try reinstalling. I even went to the Store and purchased a few things experimentally...and they don't show up either. I tried reinstalling CC, but my launcher keeps crashing. If they could fix this patch, that'd be great, thanks.

I went back into the game and some of my downloaded objects are there but some are missing.  When I copied the dbc file over was I supposed to delete it from its original location?

EDIT:  I am definitely missing my content.

NEW EDIT:  Got it!!!  Copied all the dbc files from the cache and now all my content shows up and the game runs smoothly.  Thanks everyone!

 ??? I personally am extremely confused as how to fix this issue. Does anyone know how to fix not seeing your "pudding content" in the game?

I patched the game and copied the contents of DCCache folder into Mods>Packages, modifying the Resource.Cfg to accept .dbc files and it looks like everything is showing up and the game is running.  Thanks for figuring this out so quickly Pescado!

Honestly I given up and am just doing a re-install and put the older patch until this mess is solved by someone (the dlc trick does not work for me because I uninstalled all content before and tried to re-install).

What all did you have to change?

I was not going to patch until I came back from dinner and saw that Pescado had an updated AwesomeMod and a work-around for the custom content issue.  So I decided to try it:  I cut the Mods>Packages folder to the desktop and let the launcher handle the updates (both the base game & the expansion are store bought).  I then copied the contents of the DCCache folder to Mods>Packages after having created a folder there called dbc files.  And lastly, I modified my Resource.CFG file (using notepad) as follows:

Priority 500
DirectoryFiles Mods/Packages/... autoupdate
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.dbc
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.dbc

Hope it helps.  My game is running with no crashes & so far all my custom content is showing up. 

First I went to the directory where the Sims is installed and changed my resource.cfg to be like this:

Priority 501
PackedFile Mods/Override/*.package
Priority 500
DirectoryFiles  Mods/Packages/... autoupdate
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Hair/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Skins/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Decor/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Accessories/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Clothing/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Build/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Patterns/*.package
PackedFile Mods/DCC/*.dbc

Then under the Mods folder I created a folder called DCC.

Into that folder I copied all the .dbc files from the DCCache folder.

Everything loads and all content is there.

EDIT:  Must have hit enter at the same time as you, sorry for the duplicate entry.

What about Riverview?

It looks like Riverview might have been a casualty.  I'll have to see if I can redownload it via the launcher.  I have my main family in Sunset Valley and have not used Riverview since the original TS3 AwesomeMod testing.

Riverview loads fine for me.  No problems at all.

After you do what Coconnor said to get your stuff to show up in game and you download something and have to use the Launcher to install it, is there anything you have to do first before trying to install it through the launcher?

Riverview is still in my game - I didn't have to reinstall it.  Actually, it's my daughter's game.  I haven't installed the World Adventures or the newest patch yet in my game.

That'll be a step-by-step experience, I guess.  Although I did download the free coffee pot thing and it showed up in the game immediately.  I still have the game running so have not checked out where it put it yet.  There is a new file in the Downloads folder called Nav.bin as others have mentioned.

I dont think that is possible, the .dbc files are generated by the launcher so if it cannot install the sims3pack you are stuck ... you can use your previous items using that trick but that is it.

Either EA fixes this mess or Sims3packs are a dead format.

Just to clarify, because I'm having difficulty getting the above prescribed method to work.

I've installed the latest version of the AwesomeMod (the 1.8/2.3 TEST VERSION naturally)

I've copied the 5 or 6 files I had in the DCCache folder to a new folder in the program files Sims 3 directory (E:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\Packages) called Dbc Files.

I changed the resource.cfg file in the E:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\Files folder and the E:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 directory to read:-

Priority 501
PackedFile Mods/Override/*.package
Priority 500
DirectoryFiles  Mods/Packages/... autoupdate
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Hair/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Skins/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Decor/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Accessories/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Clothing/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Build/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Patterns/*.package
PackedFile Mods/DCC/*.dbc

However, still no CC in game :S

So, am I unlucky or a total doof who can't do anything right ?

If you don't have the specific files set up that imyourboy uses, then copying that Resource.CFG could be the cause of your problem.  Copy the generic one that I posted instead.

I have copied the DBC files, and changed my .cfg file. Yet only some of my downloads show up, this includes Store things I have legitimately bought. To say I am annoyed is putting it mildly. I did not pay for certain items and they are there. I purchased the Asian Fusion set, and its gone. Also after having done this quick fix, my files are severely mixed up in game. Decorations are showing up under beds, and bookshelves under cribs.

Have you tried re-downloading it through the launcher?  Items that you have previously purchased should be able to be re-downloaded in that manner.  I've not closed the game yet to check any of that.

Actually the sims3pak works fine from every site but the official Sims3 site.  If you want something from the store the patch now apparently monitors what you have paid for and what you have not.  I had 2000 points from promotions.  Everything that I obtained legally works fine.  All of the sims store content that I have obtained from other sites are useless.  I have sims3paks from SimsDesign Avenue and Around the Sims 3.  Those are working fine.

Note entirely true. I have a bunch of things from 3rd party sites that were installed via launcher, that don't show up in the game. Namely from a handful of Asian sites and TSR. A few work. But more don't.

If what you say is true, people will have to be more creative when stealing from the EA Store. On an another note, I used the .dbc fix, and all seems to be fine. Though, there still could've been casualties in the patch.. but I didnt use those files anway, so no loss to me.

I've mainly had trouble with the Sims 3 site.  I haven't downloaded much from TSR, but I download from Annosims, AT3, Sims Design Avenue and this site primarily, so I haven't run into too much problem other than a couple of patterns that wouldn't install.

I did download it twice, now the official site is down for maintenance. I am hoping they are attempting to fix FailPatch 2.3, but I always was a tad over-enthusiatic.

I'm playing on a mac, apparently the patched game installs custom .Sims3pack files correctly but not EA store items (I tried with two items I downloaded here, not officially bought at the store, so maybe they added some anti-piracy crap), and all my previous downloads (store or not) are showing up fine.

Oh, and CAW is only for PC, how nice   ::)

Okeedokes, i'll give that a try. In the meantimes I tried using the DCbackup package files. As mentioned, it takes forever to load, but it works. However, the neighbourhood seems to be doing very strange things. If I zoom out of the house (My family is in the corner house behind the courthouse, the one thats predominantly blue) then it focuses on some mountain road, and if I navigate around, most of the roads are in the wrong place etc etc.

Whether this is related to the patch, or just my attempts to navigate around it, i'll find out :)

The anti-piracy bit wouldn't surprise me at all.  Perhaps Pescado can take a look at that as things evolve.  We'll all have to try a file and report results.

Hmmm, well I tried using your version, but alas, same result. The weird neighbourhood issues have gone though, after I removed the DCbackup .package files

I followed coconnor's instructions to the letter - all my custom content showed up...

I'm not too worried about non-EA store sims3pack files at this point - I've noticed I'm not downloading much of anything lately - regardless of file type...game just takes too long to load/render/etc. as it is and if I stuff it full of CC it's likely to implode.

I went back to your original post and just noticed that it mentions 2 resource.cfg files - 1 within the Mods>Packages folder and 1 in the base game installation directory.  There should only be 1 in the base game installation directory.  Try that. 

I'm also on a mac, and none of my sims3pack downloads are showing up, both ones I bought and ones I downloaded.

Will do. Again, just to clarify, does this make ALL CC work? Or just Non-Store CC?

On that same note, I do have a little programming experience behind me. If the game is now programmed to block certain files unless they are bought, but others that are 3rd party CC work, then would it be possible to extract the sims3pack file down to its constituent parts and then build a new one from the parts? This should in theory make the game think that its ordinary 3rd party CC and load it with no issues. There is clearly some line of code or key that says (in essence) "StoreContent = 1" which a 3rd party sims3pack does not possess. If this is the case, extracting the file then building a new one should remove this data.

I am completely green when it comes to Sims 3 modding however, so thats only in theory.

It's supposed to make both the store content and the non-store content work (at least that which you presently have installed).  I have no idea about modding the files ... that's something that I assume will be addressed as we go along by Pescado or other modders in the community.

I think I know which resource file in the Mods folder he is referring to.  I also have a resource.cfg file in the Files folder under Mods.  It only says:
Priority 500
DirectoryFiles  Mods/Files/... autoupdate
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.package

I didn't put that in there.  It must have been there since I installed the framework, gotten from this site.  However, my game seems to respond to the resource.cfg file that is in the base game directory.  I now have that one set up as you did, per your post.  I haven't checked every last bit of cc to be sure it is present but I would have to say that with a cursory look through I haven't spotted anything missing that I specifically looked for.

BTW, what is .ebc?  All I copied from DCCache was .dbc since that is what the resource.cfg was being set up to read but I would like to know what .ebc is, if you know.

To be honest this is why I dreaded this patch. I mentioned in another post that I also play Dragon Age Origins - also with EA's stamp on it - and it has DLC you can get in-game, but it phones home to verify that you are authorized to use it. Now it seems the Store in-game Sims 3 is also supposed to do that, but for whatever reason, its not working at all as intended. Now even things we have bought aren't working either. I also am having problems with using the launcher, because the main site is having problems, my launcher randomly crashes over and over, and my content is showing up only if I use the fix coconnor posted, and even then, not all of it is showing up. I *think* the in game phoning home can be disabled, I have faith that Pescado will be able to fix it, but I am also thinking EA will have to issue a Patch to fix the patch.

The Mods>Files folder shouldn't be there and likewise the resource.cfg.  I believe Pescado has changed the download of the framework now, although I'm not certain.

As for your other question, I have no idea what .ebc means.  EA apparently set up some different file save formats for the DCCache folder.  I just copied the entire contents of what I had in that folder to the one I created in Mods>Packages.

I don't recall who said it, and the thread was deleted on MTS, but someone there had mentioned that the only sim3pack's they had disappear were the ones that been compressed. If that can be verified, may lead to a faster solution.

Well, still no luck. All those lovely animal themed items I had in my kids room are replaced with generics. Bummer.

I have a theory though, perhaps since I removed the CC and then added it again, the dbc files do not contain the Store files (the vast majority of the CC I have). So its working, but because the files aren't there it can't add them.

Well I have a choice, I either try and back up my family and reinstall the entire game, avoiding this curse of a patch, or I play with no CC until Mr Pescado works his magic :)

I'll download whatever framework is now posted and check it but I take it you are saying that the files folder should just be deleted, correct?

Since you copied the entire contents of your DCCache folder, did you have a .ebc file in there that you went ahead and included?  In addition to the .ebc in my DCCache folder there is also a .idx file.  Did you have that in your DCCache and copy it as well?

BTW, I would also like to thank you for posting your resource.cfg file.  It's a big help to those of us who had originally copied a resource.cfg to begin with, lol.

Anyone can make clear (step by step) of this temporary fix for "CC disappears after updating game" problem?

Also, most of you mentioned DCCache, DCbackup DCthisandthat folder, may I ask where is the folder? Right now I'm at my workplace so I'm hoping I don't need to do some searching when I got home.

Oh, we hail you Pescado!

I would find that believable if it weren't my paid for items missing. Bought, downloaded and installed via the launcher. Yet even they need the workaround to work.

Pussy, look in your documents under Electronic Arts.

I've followed Coconnor's step in making TS3 store stuff and other CC to show up and it did.  Just to test things, I downloaded a sims3pack file and it installed fine, but, it's not showing up in the game.  I downloaded a pattern from the exchange and a kid's nursery from Parsimonious.  I'm lost here.  Any help would be appreciated.

Attempting a clean reinstall. When trying to patch to 1.8, I get this:
(http://www.widegrooves.com/setupnew.jpg)
This is after installing the base, and then running each patch up to 1.7.

Any clue? All my region codes match, no mods, no altered files, RZR version.

edit: nevermind. EADM indeed works on arr'd game. 1.8 patch from Pescado's link is no good for me.

Just to check, does the number of files in your DCCache depend on what you downloaded, or merely the filesize? (i.e the more CC you had, the more files, OR the more CC you had, the the bigger those same files would be)

I'm kind of puzzled why some people had luck getting it to work and I am not. I'll do what I can. As I said, I think its because I tried to install and reinstall my CC, hehe naively believing that the lack of CC was due to it needing to be reinstalled after a patch.

Does anyone have the no cd crack for that patch?? Oh why did i install it GOd!!

Don't use cracks. Use Awesomemod instead.

LOL i gave a long break playing sims, i guess that made me totally sims-idiot :D I just re-installed my game after all this time, First i forgot to put Resource.cfg file in my game directory, than i was lost in the patches, now im asking for a crack LMAO !! YEsssss there's the awesomemod!! :D :D

Is this new or did I somehow just never experience it before? I had my sim romance a town sin and after they got engages SHE asked my sim to move in with her. I have never had another sim ask mine to move in with them.

 :P Smokeverbs I do believe I have the same problem as you do as my computer refuses to completely uninstall my arr'd version of WA.  I cannot reinstall WA nor delete all of it.  It only uninstalled to a certain part and then it stopped and I do believe EA set this up to impede pirating of it's software and store articles.  If there is an answer to this please help us!  Lord, I can't believe I did this to myself.

I have this same error myself. May I ask where you found a working download?

At least everyone's is just a custom content issue... I can't even load Sunset Valley, on a clean install, complete with no mods or CC... It just crashes at the loading screen (the one where you actually create a new game).

Anyone got any ideas to throw my way?

It won't be to do with Windows 7 would it? Because I have no bloody idea...

I have finally figured out my problem and gotten rid of the remnants of my arr'd WA in order to update my legal S3 base game.  Now, I do not even want to put another copy of the arr'd WA on my computer.  The only custom content that shows up is the stuff I purchased from the store after I went back and redownloaded from the site and some patterns that were not TSR.  None of my TSR stuff or for that matter any other site's stuff has shown up that were in Sims 3 format.  I had removed my CC in .package format and will now try to work that back into my base game per above instructions.  This is chicken s_ _t.  I am so done with EA. I will not get involved with anymore Sims series after S3. >:(

Small related question: Doesn't this CC issue effect the files propagated on the Exchange? Or are they distributed as different files?

If so, I would imagine EAxis, despite no doubt rubbing their grubby little hands in glee that they've stopped people from getting their nice but massively overpriced Store content for free for all of 24 hours, will have to release a patch if it does bork the Exchange.

I want to amend what I wrote here; it is best to copy the dcdb0.dbc into the Mods\ Packages folder, not move it. I've been finding that, although Riverview and custom Sims3Packs are showing up okay, any worlds I created with the CAW tool disappear when moving the dcdb0.dbc file. I tried it any way I could (even moving all of the DCCache files) but having two copies seems the only way to have new worlds as well as custom Sims3Packs.

I had to actually uninstall and then reinstall my created worlds through launcher to get them to work. Be advised that your dependant saves will be deleted, so move your saves folder first.

I wanted to avoid having two copies of the dcdb0.dbc in game- as the game is surely reading the same information twice. Remember to re-copy the dcdb0.dbc file into Mods when you install future custom Sims3Packs.

Anything you install via the in-game store tool will be installed to the DCCache in Documents, so that's the one to backup.

If anyone has a better method, I'd be interested to know.

I just wanted to say, I have allot of stuff I payed for from the store, that was downloaded from the store, that is also gone, as well as Riverview, and I can't re- Download Riverview or those store things ether, even the free stuff that I got myself is gone, and I have no CC or hacks/mods at all, Just the store stuff I got here, which is also gone of course.

I have also got a error with EA download Manager, when I go to launch the game, and when I tried to download Riverview from the the Sims 3 site.

I did the same, Simsample. I copied the DCCache folder to my Mods/Packages folder and used the Resource.cfg that Coconner posted a couple of pages back, everything from the Store, and what other custom content made with TSRW by free creators are in my game. The EA Store items don't have the Sims3Pack insignia that usually identified them in the catalog, so I don't know how that would carry with uploading lots or sims with those items in their packs. Oh and I do have Riverview, that was my test hood I opened up.  Really am happy that my content is still there.

I do fear that sharing EA Store items in the future may not work and CC items may not download through the launcher with this update till the TSRW tool get updated. I tried to download a S3P in the launcher, but it didn't install.  The ingame launcher tool worked, was able to download that coffee brewer the Store offered for free. I do hope that someone figure out a way to stop that damn button from glowing, it was annoying.

Fake Edit:  You will need to do the recommended way of keeping the Store and TSRW CC, starting a couple of pages back to get them to show, pookysimslover.

Applying patch Sims3_1.8.25 fixed the problem. Yah!

I just patched my base game and WA. Unfortunately, my game crashed to desktop in main loading screen. I moved AM from directory and the game is able to go through loading a family and it crashed again. I try to move all mods and run the game without CC but no luck. Is there any fix for this?

Main loading screen as in the first one, or the one where you choose a saved game/new game?

Mine keeps crashing at the load/new game bit and I haven't found a way to fix this yet... re-installing hasn't helped, and there's no CC, mods or anything in my files!

Before I moved AM, it crashed at the first one. After I moved AM, it crashed at loading a saved game

Edit: Also when I run the launcher, it says cant connect to EADM although I connected to the Internet

Just throwing my two cents in to say that CC Sims3Packs are installing just fine for me. They weren't working at first, but after I removed awesomemod it worked. I updated to latest awesomemod, it stopped working. Removed awesomemod and it works again...

I'm not saying it's awesomemod or that there's not other issues (I know some people who are having problems who don't use any hacks but they're not consistent problems and it's been extremely difficult to duplicate them) but for me everything with the .dbc files and CC works fine.
/me shrugs

yup, same here with the launcher...

thank god its not just me... what windows  are you using by the way??

cha ching, its windows 7 ultimate x64

ditto. except it's professional, not ultimate. I stole it from work. Wishing I hadn't now.

Someone else messaged me, another windows 7 user, same problem  >:(

Going to revert back to Vista (for my sins) tonight and see if that makes any difference, will let you know.

i tried to install some clothes from thesimsresource *sims3pack* and it's not installing!

I'm so tired of uninstalling the game and reinstalling after all the Stupid patches . Why EA They Don't test software before releasing these patches .  :-\
I have no store items showing up in the launcher even my CC & Riverview too slow after the new stupid update 1.8/2.3.
I'm so frustrated and sick of this.
I don't know what to Do !!
The only one thing good in the new Update is music work great oh thanks GOD !!  :D
PLZ GUYS .. If there any program or anything to do just tell me ...  :'(
(Sorry for my English)  :(

Happening to me on Vista x64 too.

When I moved my dcdb0.dbc file into Mods, I wasn't sure which one to put it in...the base game Mods folder or WA? I started with just WA and some of my CC reappeared in-game. I went back and moved all the .dbc files (there was a dcdb1 and dcdb2 as well) and put all the little suckers in both Mods files, base game and WA. And, happily, the vast majority of my CC is back. Everything that originally came from the store - legitimately or otherwise - has been restored. Woohoo! There are a handful of patterns missing and some hairs, as well, but I can live without those for the time being.

I'm not sure if it was placing the files in both Mods folders that did the trick, or if it was adding the additional dbc files, or some combo of both...whatever it was, I'm just very relieved to have my CC back.

Now I'm thinking I should copy the .dbc files back into their original locations, as Simsample suggested, to avoid any problems if I decide to tackle this CAW thingamajigger.

Thanks, everyone, for all the input and assistance!



Edited to fix general typographical retardedness.

Why is it everyone else is getting this to work no problems and I can't? I'm doing the same things dammit!

Well I'll try AGAIN and see what happens. I don't hold out much hope though.

Someone on TS3 facebook group wrote that... Looks like this crashing when loading families is a common problem..

Pes, do you have any thoughts on this, is it fixable?

This is what I noticed when installing my sims3pack custom content, none of my Sims 3 Store content works, because all of the downloads from here are compressorized, same with TSR content, almost all of it is installed except a couple patterns, lots, and an outfit or two, just because they were compressorized.

It says that the installation was a success, but it doesn't actually get installed, very weird.

I hope this shitty crash gets away soon! Btw, I attached the dump file if it going to help.

I am not a hacker or modder but I got my CC to work.  What I did was I copied my resource.cfg files to my desktop.  I had 2, I have always had 2 and I have no idea why or how, but my CC has been working so why change what ain't broke?

BACK UP!! your DCCache, your Mods folder, saves, and resource.cfg files.
Copy your resource.cfg file/s to your desk top.
To edit your resource.cfg you have to change .cfg to .txt and say okay when the computer yells at you.
Just copy and paste this into your resource.txt

Priority 500
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.dbc
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.dbc
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*.dbc
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*.dbc
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*/*.dbc

Click save and then rename the file back to resource.cfg.  Place it back in your Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/ World Adventure folder.  

I have another resource.cfg file in my Mods folder/Files. I made it look like this:

Priority 500
DirectoryFiles  Mods/Files/... autoupdate
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.dbc

I have no idea if I need it, so skip this if you do not have one there.

Then I copied my files in my DCCache folder into the Misc folder under Mods.  I have no idea if I need to delete the DCCache, I didn't and things were working well.

I will update this if people tell me it is wrong, but my game is working, my CC is showing up, I do not lag horribly and my load times are about the same as before.

Same here, which is what I attribute to my lack of success with the DCCache solution (i.e my files are not being installed and therefore are not stored in the cache hence not being loaded). The natural solution (at least for me) is to back up my family, wipe, reinstall and reinstall the CC. However if this was the route I was to take, I would just leave off the latest patch all together. If you have 1.7.9 and know that 1.8 causes issues, why invite disaster?

I'd like to thank you all for your patience though. I know guiding a rookie through something mind-numbingly simple can be extremely frustrating. Thanks for having mercy :)  Depending on how it goes, I *may* try and install 1.8 and use the DCCache method and pray i've done it right.

OK, without sounding like an absolute novice, how do I grab this file? May be of some use to someone!

This worked.  Fixed my crash to desktop when loading a saved game/new game.

I.Am.She, did you try that?  You have to run the game through the .exe, and not the patcher this way.

Nope, good shout... Will try this tonight when I get home! Ta Lena :)

It might be worth mentioning that for those of us who aren't interested in Shop Mode at all, it can be disabled in the options screen.

Well, i'm a dummie I am still having problems and i'd appreciate any help please.

I only have 2 files in the dccache folder! I made a fresh install, nothing works for me. I use reloaded base game with razor patch and latest 8.1 patch, i dont have the new ep. Where are my custom content?? And while editing the resourse cfg file, do we delete all the text and just put what u wrote or i add it somewhere between the existing text??

And i urgently need the v1.8 no cd crack please if someone has. I dont't want to use awesome mode at the moment.

     My game is officially broken. I did a clean install, and used that DCC fix that was mentioned. Wen't to my game, and about all of my store content was there, except Riverview didn't show up. (Also, did I yet mention the blurry roads problem I've been having since the patch? argh!)  So anyways, I went and downloaded Riverview through the launcher, said it was already installed. Started my game, Riverview is up there, with weird numbers on the description. Tried to open it up and it crashes to the desktop.

A quick question, I followed the directions of moving the store content to mods and it worked but I lost Riverdale, would it screw up the game to reinstall it through the launcher again?

My game was also crashing to desktop when I tried to create or load a game. (I have a retail copy of the base game, but an Arr'd copy of WA.) Replacing my cracked WA .exe with the original (and using Awesomemod to bypass the CD) also fixed my crash-to-desktop issue.

Editing the Resource.cfg file and moving the contents of the DCCache into the mods folder worked for all my downloaded content (purchased or otherwise), with the exception of Riverview. I tried copying the contents, so it was in both locations as Simsample suggested, but it made no difference. I then installed Riverview via the Launcher, and though it said it installed properly, it is not in the drop-down menu for town templates.

I have not tried downloading Riverview from the exchange, and probably won't bother. If I can get the CAW to work, I don't need their templates anyway, I guess.

Darn. My girlish hopes are dashed they aren't even acknowledging the problem. (Okay not really, this is EA.)

For those of you who are having crashes, I also have Win 7 - Win 7 isn't the problem. The only thing that crashed for me was the launcher and that was when the main site was down. (Which means it wants to phone home - kill it with fire) I was trying to reinstall some of my bought store things to see if they would show up, but it took forever to get the launcher to cut it out.

And if you have tried the copying the DCC folder and altering your resource.cfg, as brownlustgirl pointed out earlier, this will remove the store logo from the CC. So you may have to look hard to see all of it, and some may not show up immediately. I went and bought some of the asian fusion set with my free points, as a point of curiosity. It downloaded and installed but it didn't show up til I used this fix. So sadly some people will have to use it to even have their legitimately bought objects show up in game.

Yes, I have dcdb0.dbc; dcdb0.ebc; dcdb1.dbc  and missingdeps.idx and I copied all of them into the new file in Mods>Packages.  I didn't delete them from their original locations.  Also, in regard to the Mods>Files folder - yes, I think we had determined before this patch that this file was not needed and could be deleted.

Just for the record. I have retail versions of both Sims 3 and World Adventures. I let both games patch via the launcher, and when I loaded my game, all the content was there... except for Store items I downloaded from here. So I followed coconner's instructions here:

http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,17592.125.html

And now my game works perfectly, all patched up, downloads all showing up. Thanks so much for taking the time to post that, coconner. That, and your Awesome Mod guide, have saved me a lot of headaches.

As to the game itself, I haven't played it much yet, but it sure seems to load a lot quicker than it used to, and it runs a bit more smoothly. I haven't tried the in-game purchase option, and don't intend to. I don't have Create-A-World installed.

My Riverview shows up.  However I have all retail bought Sims 3 and WA expansion.  I had DLed Riverview through the Sims 3 website and had installed it through the launcher.  I have no idea what you should do if you have Arred copies or DLed Riverview elsewhere.

You might need to delete Riverview from the launcher, reinstall it and recopy the DCCache files.  Maybe something got lost along the way.

Don't forget if you install anything with the launcher after coping your DCCache files over, that you will need to copy those files again and replace them in the Mods folder every time you fiddle with files in the launcher.

You can copy what I typed in my above post and paste it right over top of whatever was in your Resource.cfg file.  All I did was added the *dcb paths.  If you changed your file to add more folders then you should already know what to copy and what to leave in your original file.

Well... Ive just replaced the cracked exe with the original, installed AM and started up again... Still crashing to desktop. I hoped this would sort it too :( I'm going to try one last time to do an uninstall and re-install it...

This is a fucking pain in the arse.

Did you remember to use the uncracked TSLHost.dll too?

I uninstalled WA, the base game runs fine. surprise surprise.
So I chanced it, and re-installed WA, patched up because it told me I had to, but a new bug... Now the MAIN loading screen wont even budge, not even a percentage will budge...

I'm so close to giving up on this game.

Yup. Looks like WA will remain uninstalled untill I can figure something out.

Thanks for your help though :)

EDIT - Panic over... it now fucking works!! I uninstalled WA, ran the base game, fine, re-installed WA, put the framework files into both folders, except the cfg file,  ran it again and wallah... we have an updated, working game with the expansion pack installed...

Now after all that hassle, I dont even want to play the pissing game. Im sick of the sight of it... ARGH

This actually fixed my game too. Thanks for reporting what you did :)

I did download the framework now on the site.  It still contains a Mods>Files Folder within which are 2 files, another Resource.cfg and a DDFMap.txt file.  Hence, I am reluctant to delete the Files folder because I don't know how important that DDFMap file is.  For the time being, I've decided to leave it alone until that is clarified for me.  Also, as an experiment since I don't doubt your advice because it has been rock solid, I still have copied only the .dbc files to the Mods>Packages folder and all cc Ive checked specifically for is showing up.  I am wondering if the .ebc file contains cc installed by the launcher but is not EA content, i.e. from TSR.  I did have a few patterns installed from them this way and they did show up after updating.

BTW, in addition to the files you list as having in DCCache, I also have a dcdb2.dbc file.  Hmmm, wonder why the difference.

Has anyone gotten an overstuffed house to work yet with the new patch? My main neighborhood loads fine, but my more story-based one with an overstuffed house as the active family causes the load bar to stop about 1/5 the way through. Since they're still active, I can't get in the hood at all at the moment to see if this is the problem.

I know EA mentioned some stuff about having over 8 sims living in one lot and crap, so whatever change they made probably borked the current version of AM (although the test version does otherwise work).

Just looking for a confirmation from anyone who has an overstuffed household.

I was following this tutorial and as easy as it was to change the cfg to a txt... it wouldn't revert back to a cfg.  It would remain a txt file despite the cfg exetnsion seeing as how I could not access the txt ending.  Is there some other way I can open it to alter this?  I tried to play around in properties, but no luck so far. 

Another problem I can report: When I start my launcher at all whether its through inserting the disc and it autoplays, or I click the shortcut or attempt to install anything with it the launcher will not go away. I cannot close it with the X, I cannot close it from my task bar and it doesn't close if I go ahead and start the game. I have to force it to shutdown from my task manager. This gets better and better.

I had the same problem.  It seems that using the TS3 launcher and not the one the comes up from the WA shortcut works better.  I actually called EA because of this and the fact that Riverview wouldn't reinstall.  Of course, at the end of the call they ended up recommending that I uninstall, reinstall and patch both games ... which I reluctantly did.  Then I still had the issue with the launcher from the expansion shortcut being unresponsive, so I clicked the TS3 base game shortcut and that one worked for me.  I reinstalled Riverview.  After that I replaced all my other files.

What operating system are you using.  It has to do with hidden file extensions.

Hmm...when you save, close the notepad and you should be looking at the file on your desktop.  Right click it and "rename" and change the .txt to .cfg It should work.  If it is not, then maybe it is a permission problem?

If it will still not rename, delete the copies on your desktop and start all over by copying a new resource file and try again (You made back ups right!?).  I don't know what to say to help any more than that.

Oh I have file extensions unhidden too, so make sure you do that.

You can not edit the file while it is in your Sims 3 directory, since permission to change those files while they are in those directories can be screwy.  Make sure it is on your desktop or some other folder.

And I am also having a bitch of a time with my Launcher.  I have been trying to delete a file and it just keeps paging through all of my CC and then pages back up...never stops.  I have to close it with the task manager.

I cannot get my launcher to launch!  When I click on it to start it, it just crashes and wonderful Vista just checks to see if there's a solution (waste of time that).  Is there a solution to that?
My internet went down last night, so I decided to play the Sims 3, but once I got to the world I got a pop up that said Awesome Mod was out dated and it closed the game for me.  I can't find that frigging program (I recall installing it) to remove it either.  It's more annoying than helpful!
When I finally got internet today, I discovered the CaW, after I updated Awesome of course, and so I downloaded that and tried to run it.  I was told I had to patch, so I ran the launcher and patched, then the launcher crashed.  I did not think anything of it at the time, was trying to run CaW.  I spent a frustrated couple hour trying to figure out the Create a World, guess I am too stupid to use it.
Then I came here to see what was being said about it.  I read this post and after seeing what was happening here, I recalled my crash and decided to try it again.  It crashed again.  I changed my resources.cfg file as instructed and moved the files.  Tried it again, crash.  What did I miss?

Don't use the launcher to start the game.  Use 3-booter instead.  Available from the "Armoire of Invincibility" thread.  The launcher should only be used to install Sims3 packs.

ETA:  This works in conjunction with AwesomeMod.

    I had my extensions hidden, but I was able to save from a txt back to a .cfg. When you are in the text file, choose "Save as" and then there should be a drop-down box that mentions file type. Switch to make it say "All Files" before saving as Resource.cfg.   That worked for me at least, if I ignored that step it only came out as resource.cfg.txt.

     I ended up taking my DCC folder out after all, as Riverview wouldn't show up. And when trying to install it through the Installer, it would result in a game crash. I'll assume because of it showing up in two diff. folders, (Wherever the launcher put it, plus my DDC folder in the mods folder)

Surely one could install all official/arrr'd addons with an/the alternative launcher, copy the .dbc cache to the mods dir (using above tweak) and then install all legit content to a clean .dbc through the official launcher. This way one could have the best of both worlds and would only need do a .dbc switch-a-roo whenever they wished to update one or the other with new arrr'd content.

Please elaborate.  What alternative launcher?  I think this would come in very handy if we have a problem "sharing" store content in the future.

I was wondering if anyone tried adding the two riverview files from the world cache folder to their Mods/packages folder and if it is possible to copy the riverview.world file there and just add another line to the .cfg for the *.world.

(I haven't been brave enough to update yet. My legacy family is in Riverview.)

I also wondered if the problem with cc occurs only with files that have been compressed. Many legit store files were compressed.

Let me ask you where can I download this *adorable* patch from...I mean, not through the launcher

The only alternative launcher I know of is TSR's, which kind of seems like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. Not sure installing more spyware would solve anything.

All of my custom content (EXCEPT RIVERVIEW) is showing up using the method described in this thread.  However, after having spent valuable time on the phone with the EA techs today, and uninstalling/reinstalling/patching/redownloading, Riverview is still is not showing up in the drop down menu to start a new game (I did not have any previous Riverview saves, since early TS3 AwesomeMod tests).

If you would post those files somewhere, I'll try it though.  Since I uninstalled/reinstalled, I don't have those files.

Currently TSR is the only alternative launcher i'm aware of. My theory involves installing all 'shared' content via the TSR launcher, then moving the dbc to the mods dir, then installing all legit content (free stuff) via the normal launcher (if you prefer) so it registers in game. The game should then pickup both the dbc in the docs folder and the one in the mods folder, and there shouldntr be any duplicated content, and you can edit both dbc files separately, while maintaining a clean list of legit mods in the game store interface.

But 99.8% of us here know better than to use TSR for anything. I wouldn't let Thomas bandage my knife fight damage if I was bleeding to death. The problem with just about anything from TSR is that its chock full of spyware and also likes to phone home. Its like EA but at least EA doesn't post lists of nefarious "pirates", hack us (patches notwithstanding), and threaten to sue us if anyone even calls them mean. If you want a slap with a frozen fish, go look at TSR's forums. They are such staunch EA supporters that they refuse to indulge the outrage this patch has caused. One mod even claimed that only 5% of the people who play Sims use CC, and therefore this patch isn't going to be that bad.

If we could replicate a launcher interface that would be an idea for sharing Store things, but I am not that good.

When I go to save as I can either select the document type as text document, rich text format, text document MS DoS format, or Unicode text format.  I am running vista.. which is a pain. 

I followed your instructions earlier in this thread and all the custom content is showing up now in my game along with Riverview for me. I'm having no crashing or launcher issues. The only thing I can't do now is install new content. But I am using Windows XP, not Vista. Had to give up Vista because of too many game incompatibilities.

OK, I haven't patched yet, since I'm waiting on another core mod to be updated, and I don't mind playing an unbroken 1.79 in the meantime.

But, someone mentioned that there's a theory that only compressorized things don't show up. That might or might not be true, but could someone actually test that?

You can decompressorize packages with the -d flag. So, "s3rc -d <file>". What I'd do, is have things as normal (without the dcc files in the mods folder), and then see if any store things show. If they don't show in-game (which is probably what'll be the case), then uninstall them, uncompress the file, and then reinstall. Does that fix things or not? If it doesn't, then that theory is out.

Is the Riverview that people download through the launcher working for them purely because they're using the launcher to download it direct for EA, or is it that the file is slightly different than what we all once downloaded months ago?

It'll be a while before I'm going to "upgrade", looks like, but if someone could do some tests on why legit (free) items aren't working, that'd be great.

Are you able to install Store stuff after the patch?


Edit: I can install only the stuff from the Store I had before the pacthc, even the ones I downloaded from here...weird

I was able to get Riverview to work, by moving the Installed Worlds folder from Documents/Electronic Arts to Desktop.  Then I copied  Riverview.world from the Installed Worlds folder, and pasted it into C:/Program Files/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/GameData/Shared/NonPackaged/Worlds Folder.  It's the same folder with Sunset Valley.

If someone could please post the Riverview world file (from their "Installed Worlds" folder somewhere for download, that might help.  I stupidly did not back up the "Installed Worlds" folder during uninstall/reinstall.

In my opinion there might be some truth to this because the only items that showed up in my game prior to messing with the files are the items I purchased from the store itself and patterns made with the TSR tool prior to the tool being made to compress the files. Patterns made with the updated TSR tool and all store items downloaded here would not show up.

I surfed away just before your response post. I read through stuff on the EA forums that are back up and over on MTS before returning. I am uploading the riverview.world file now. It's taking awhile as I didn't want to compress it first (if that figures into the equation at all). I'll edit when the file finishes uploading.

The most useful information I found was that Riverview has to be uninstalled and all 22 items (to include all overalls) must also be uninstalled. Then, if the launcher is working, Riverview can be reinstalled. If the launcher isn't working, use add/remove programs to uninstall the EADM and then reinstall that. That should jump-start the launcher.

The file keeps hanging up on the last 1-5 %. I'll keep trying to get it uploaded.

Here: http://www.4shared.com/file/175568178/c102aad3/Riverview.html (I see it also below)

http://www.4shared.com/file/175562328/d04c6a9c/Riverview.html (http://www.4shared.com/file/175562328/d04c6a9c/Riverview.html)

Thanks MattQuinn, I'm going to try that!  I will let you know how it goes.

Thanks also to Ciane!  I'll be trying these things shortly to see how it works.

Just in case these are needed, here's the compressed files from the world cache folder. (The uncompressed, Zipped files were just too large for free file sharing.)

http://www.4shared.com/file/175589620/b06d1925/Riverview_objectspackage.html
http://www.4shared.com/file/175589630/a9762864/Riverview_simspackage.html

It doesn't work for me... I mean I don't have any more packages showing in my game...*sigh*

I think my problem is caused by my launcher. I run the game through Sims3EP1 and it worked fine!

*I installed AM beta and CD check disabled*

EDIT: yes it absolutely about the launcher I think. When in-game, I select Shop Mode and the windows pops out before it crashes

@ ciane & MattQuinn:  I copied the Riverview file you posted into my C:/Games/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/GameData/Shared/NonPackaged/Worlds Folder and now it works and appears in the drop-down menu from the Select-A-Game screen.  I did not have to take any other steps, except that I also recopied the dcdb0.dbc file from the DCCache in My Documents to the new file in Mods>Packages for good measure.  I did not remove the original Installed Worlds file from My Documents.

Another user, Coyote, had also posted something similar in another thread.  So this issue seems to be "worked-around"!  MattQuinn, you might want to start a separate thread on this issue called "Getting Riverview to Show Up In Your Game After the 1.8/2.3 Patch" and you could try PMing BastDawn to have it locked.  This would probably be best placed in this section ~ "The Horror, The Horror").

Thanks for your input, everyone!

New bug!

In an attempt to get Riverview to work and fix a hard-lock whenever I visited China, I completely re-installed and re-patched the game.

Now NOTHING installs in the launcher.  It says success, but then it shows that it is not installed, and doesn't show up in the game.  Total BS, this all was working before...did they update the launcher to sniff out arr'd content or did I somehow bork my re-installation?

Also note that I can no longer do the .dbc switch method because the .dbc files no longer build when I try to install the items.  Anyone else having this issue?  All my .sims3pack files were working fine until the re-install except for Riverview items, now nothing works properly.

I did this and not only did it restore Riverview to my dropdown list of towns I could create, but it restored a saved game that I have been unable to play since the patch.

Observations made while fiddling with custom content (don't know if this will help anyone since I'm technologically leotarded (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=leotarded/), but here you go anyway).

I'm on a mac running fully patched WA. As with many others, my launcher installed CC disappeared when I patched, including bought store items. Did a clean install of the game, and redownloaded items from the store--store items are now working fine (including Riverview). Configured my resource.cfg, and added the dcdb files. Tested the game with newly installed packages, arr'd store items, arr'd non-store sims3packs, and free sims3packs.

Here's my Frankenstein .cfg if anyone is interested--this is pieced together from various .cfgs seen around the interwebs. It seems to work fine so far, though it could be harming more than it's helping:

Priority 501
PackedFile Mods/Override/*.package
Priority 500
DirectoryFiles  Mods/Packages/... autoupdate
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Hair/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Skins/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Decor/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Accessories/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Clothing/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Build/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Patterns/*.package
PackedFile Mods/DCC/*.dbc
Priority 499
PackedFile Mods/Test/*.package
Priority -50
PackedFile Mods/Probation/*.package

Observations:

*lots install and appear in-game, but some hang on placement (specifically lots from The Exchange so far) (still testing).
*Arr'd store items "install" but don't show up in-game and disappear from the launcher "installed items" pane.
*Both arr'd and free non-store items are installing inconsistently, regardless of being pay or not.
*Package files are no longer causing the massive lag brought on by the last patch so far (still testing).
*AM crashes the game at the load screen (though AM never played well on my mac with the last patch either).
*The EA in-game store is utterly non-existent (what is this "store" you speak of?).

I hope this helps those brave folks trying to troubleshoot the issue a bit. I'll edit this as I test more. Cheers and good luck to you all!

I am able to see Riverview from the dropdown list. But a line of numbers showed up in the description

:ROFL:  ;D After all the pain .package supporters (mainly MTS) went through, and many creators jumping ship to use the .sims3packs this is at least a bit of poetic justice.

I had that problem too. I solved it by doing what slymenstra recommended to make the personalized content is displayed in the game.


I had not done before putting Riverview.world in the folder Non packaged worlds, but after doing so, the numbers disappeared and was replaced with the text that corresponded. If you don`t do this the custom objects of Riverview (The stadium, the science building ..) does not appear in the game and the descriptions of households and the streets of Riverview will not appear

Everything I installed that is legit or CC has installed and worked perfectly fine, except for a few store freebies that are no longer available.

Pescado, there are two newly created files in the download folder with this patch.  Both are .bin files.  The first is named (your email address as known by EA).bin and the second is called NAV.bin.  Any ideas?  Seems like a form of spyware.

It's a client side copy of your store account. If you never sign in to the store, it doesn't know about you.
Spyware or not? It's TS3's new DRM, make of it what you will.

I have neither of these files. But then again, the in-game store is completely absent from my game, so I'm guessing those are store-related files (i.e.-store login/purchasing history info and the in-game store's coding/programming/language-that-makes-it-work-thing).

I don't have these, so I'm guessing that they happened because you pressed the Tard Button.

So, this would be how it is telling whether or not you have actually personally purchased items from the EA Store, yes?  I tried to open the files with Daemon Tools since they are called bin files, but Daemon Tools reports that the file contains no data.  My custom content is showing up in the game, yet I have "shared" content and that is also showing up.If by that you mean the in-game store button, No ~ I didn't.  I figured it was because I had registered my games with EA. 

ETA:  Now that I think of it though, I did have a pop-up for that new coffee pot thing pop up in game - but I didn't (I don't think anyway) press any buttons to make it happen.  I'm going to try cutting those files to the desktop and running the game later to see what happens.

I can see presently we don't have any real solution for the store stuff problem, except for the old stuff you have before the patch.

I have never purchased anything at EA Store for TS3, so I don't have the (e-mail address).bin but I do pick up the free stuff and maybe that's why I have the NAV.bin.

It was expected that EA would find a way to protect their interests, so I am not surprised by this move. Further proof the Tard Button needs to be avoided at all cost.

Is there a way to turn all the store packs into  normal package files?

Yes, I suppose. My thinking is it keeps a record of what you've bought so you know what you already own or need to get/can redownload from in-game if needed/can use sims points from your store account while in-game. Stuff like that. And yeah, I'm guessing those are also linked to the inability to install shared store items as well. I'm not sure how the in-game store works exactly, but I'm assuming you can download store items directly into the game during gameplay? I tried to test exactly how absent the in-game store is from my game by opening the launcher from inside the game and attempting an install. Didn't work, got the usual shut-the-game-down-first message. I don't know exactly what that means or if it's helpful to know, but there you are.



I have purchased from the EA store, and I don't have those files. As an aside, what pisses me off most is not being able to use promo items I didn't qualify for, such as the first-time buyer promo or the WA-preorder promo. I'm fine with buying from the store, because it least it's all readily available. I hate not being able to use the stuff I was shut out from in the first place. Sorry, I know this rant is pointless and doesn't help the situation, but I just needed to vent. I'll get off my soapbox now.

By the way, you all are doing great looking into this issue. Technodummies like me would be lost without the superior know-how of the greater community. So thanks for all the past, present, and future work you've done for everyone.  :)

There is a program Delphy created at MTS2, but IIRC it was for creators to modify their stuff.  And, since package files were slowing down the game, not recommended.  I guess we're dealing with a "different animal" with this patch.

The question is whether or no we will be able to kill this animal.

Actually you can use the multi installer by Delphy without issues.
I have now extracted all Sims3packs I can no longer install (I do not own), and they appear in-game.
The only issue with doing it this way is that they lose the store icon.

Mac users can not do this tho :(

How about with JFade's 3Viewer? I don't have time to test extracting with the 3Viewer until tomorrow, but if some intrepid mac user wants to test it out and report back before then, that would be very helpful.

If there is enough interest I will turn all the store packs into packages and share them.

Welcome to Grammar Day 2009.

I'm sure that would be most appreciated, Skadi, especially if it's found that we cannot "share" our store content via the conventional methods anymore.

haha thanks Skadi,


Sign me up for this list.

I'm interested. I had done some creative deleting a while ago when I wasn't playing TS3 and am completely without any sort of non-Sims3pack backup of store items. I'm way behind on the Store, too.

I'm interested too, Skadi.

I have both of these files as well.  I did sign in, download and install the free hot beverage maker to test out shopping the store via game.  However, I just snapped to the fact that I seem to have a folder in the documents section that I don't recall being present prior to the update.  It is called SigsCache and contains two .bin files, each 1KB in size.  One is igs.bin and the other is platform.bin.  Was that folder present prior to the update and I just don't recall, or, is it newly created by the update?

When I was trying to get my store objects to appear after patching, I used the multi installer on all my cc.  It took over 15 minutes to load a saved game.  I then went back and discovered I forgot to put the dbc file in the mods package.  Luckily I made a backup copy of all my downloads, so I put them back into the downloads file.   I did have two newly created files in downloads after I patched, but when I put my back ups back in, I only had the .nav file.  All the store and other cc is still showing up in my game.

  

No, that folder is also new and I have that as well.  When I downloaded the free coffee pot, I didn't sign in or anything.  But then again, when I use the launcher to install custom content in Sims 3 packs formats I am usually already signed in.

my game takes a lot longer to load now. right after i modified my .cfg files

After I updating my .cfg file to allow store content to show up in game, I have noticed a significant increase in the time it takes for my game to load.

Happy Grammar Day!

woot Grammer day!

I've made a new post in the store items thread for the package file uploads.

Skadi,

You are a savior! Thank you.

So let me see if I understand this.  Even if you turn off the internet before you open the launcher, it still does a check somehow and you can't install arr'd store objects?  What about the objects you've already installed, if you go straight from the .exe, again without internet?  I guess what I'm trying to ask is, is this a phone home issue or something that they somehow plant on my harddrive?  I want to know what I'm getting into before I patch.

No, they just broken the Launcher.

Just want to say thank you very much to everyone who explained how to fix the store content problem.. all my content is working again and I am doing a happy little dance :D

Sheeple go home.

I've never had to jump through this many hoops in order to make a game playable before but I managed in the end by moving the DCCache files and avoiding the dreaded launcher like the plague, despite the fact that I have legitimate copies of the game and the expansion. The fact that my expansion pack and base game are from different regions only exacerbated the problem, editing the registry should not be nescessary simply for me to patch my game.

The only unusual thing that I have noticed is that all of the custom content that I have installed, aside from the items that I downloaded from the Sims 3 Store, have lost the small plumbob icon which designates them as custom content. This is of course not a major problem, it just irks me a little. Is this something that everyone is experiencing, and if so is there a way to get the plumbob icon to appear? I'm rather fond of knowing what comes in the base game and what is new to me considering I usually don't use custom content right away.

No, I've been converting store stuff to packages since a while back. The icons disappear when you do this for some reason.

I've noticed non-store items installed via the Launcher have the icon. Maybe the icon is supposed to mean custom content rather than store items?

That's not quite how it's working for me. All of the items that I downloaded with the launcher from the Sims 3 Store at least 100 years ago still worked in game prior to my moving of the DCCache files to the Package folder and have retained their plumbob, whereas any of my recent ill gotten gains and custom content did not show up prior to my moving of the DCCache files and have lost their plumbob.

I can only assume from this that any of the content which the game manages to load from the original DCCache folder keeps the plumbob even if the DCCache files are duplicated in the Package folder, but any content which doesn't get loaded unless it has been moved to the Package folder will lack the plumbob. I'm not close friends with the inner workings of the game though, so I could be wrong.

Can anyone tell me which file/s to copy in DCCache to Mods/Packages/Misc? I have three files i.e dcdb0.dbc, dcdb0.ebc, missingdeps.idx. If these three files should be copied, should I add lines in the resource.cfg like this to accept this type of file?

PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.ebc
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.idx

.idx is meaningless, leave it where it is. Leave the ebc where it is, too. The game is still able to process anything in an ebc, so it can stay where it is.

I mean the .ebc file is a bought content from a store.  

edit: Plus free content loaded from a store.

It's just anything with the dbc file extension. Most people just have dcdb0.dbc, but if you have a lot of content you will have dcdb1.dbc, dcdb2.dbc and so on. Move them all.

I found out that it is the new Create a World tool that has caused the trouble with the launcher. I uninstalled the tool and now I have no problem installing downloads with the laucher. I also found that adding the downloads to the Download folder first, then starting the launcher then select All that it takes less time than when I tried to install just one download. It doesn't reinstall the downloads that had been previously installed. I just wish I had known this a long time ago.

For the first time since I bought the game, my Launcher appears to be working as it should, so I did some testing of Sims3Pack files from various sites.

I can install store-bought content without a problem - as long as I re-download it through the store. I can also install Sims3Pack files from other sources (ATS and TSR) without any problems. They all show up, have the appropriate icon and work as they should.

The only problem I have is with recompressed files that I got from sites like MediaFire. They get installed by the launcher and then kicked out by the game. When I exit the game and check the launcher, the files show up as uninstalled.
The EA pre-order bonus textures all work fine, but the other pirated files don't. Store stuff that I bought and then recompressed and archived on my computer gets kicked out, while the same file re-downloaded from the store works fine.

It does seem as if the game recognizes the pirated stuff and uninstalls it at start-up. I am not sure whether that has anything to do with the method of compressing or if it uses something more sinister to check your installed items against your purchase history...

That's some good research, Lissy. :)

Umm, why don't you zip one of the store-bought files up (without compressorizing it at all, just winzipping it) and see if someone can download it and install it.

I, myself, haven't even updated my game to 1.8 yet, so I'm no use. But, that would be a valuable test, to see if content can still be shared around like before, or if there's DRM at work now.

Thanks. :)

Edit: Actually, now that I think about it, maybe have a purely raw (sims3pack) version, and a zipped version (of the same file). Just to be safe.

I get the opposite result: I can't install a sims3pack I downloaded from TSR as a Sims3pack either. Anything which installs into a .dbc appears to fail. Sims3packs containing non-dbc content may install differently, depending on what you are installing.

I said this many pages back, at least someone else thinks the same :D.

Is it possible to uncompressorize the files?

I installed some end tables from TSR and a few items from ATS, and they all stayed installed. And showed up in the game.

I'm on a Mac, so I do not have CAW installed - and I have read somewhere else that for some people uninstalling CAW fixes the launcher.
Also, I do not have a shop button in my game. I read on another forum that there's supposed to be a checkbox or something similar to switch shop mode off entirely, and I don't see that in my options either.
My launcher has always been crappy, and now it actually seems to be working. The game never ran better for me, except that I'll have to convert all my booty to .package files if I want it to show up...

So it looks like the game for Mac is messed up in a totally different way...  :-\

edit:
omgnowai, I didn't see your post - are you on a Mac or on Windows?

I have Windows. So it's not a mac problem I guess.

I also can not install sims3packs, at least some of them. I have not tried to install a lot of different sims3packs, but I had a pattern from TSR and it would not install after the patch along with some store items I got here. One thing that did stay installed after the patch was a furniture set from Holy Simoly, which surprised me. Also, someone mentioned that they thought CAW messed up the launcher, which is not true because though I did download it, I've been afraid to install it as of yet.

Tatertots, I agree about CAW.  My sims3packs disappeared from the Launcher after updating and before downloading CAW, so it couldn't be CAW that broke it.  The workaround fixed it for me.

Oddly, the workaround did not work - nor did extracting the files into package format.  I'm not -super- worried about it, but its annoying because I did like the steampunk-ish clothing, and some of the furniture.

Any other ideas to try?

Does anyone have the Original tslhost.dll for the sims 3 base game?...I downloaded one from rapidshare but it isn't working with the update.

Thanks :)

I noticed, in TSR Workshop, when you export a file it states that it is compressing the file. If it's using the same method as the other compressions, wouldn't that explain why newer TSR Sim3Packs are dieing out too? I don't recall older Workshop packs giving that prompt on export, just noticed it in RC1.

Here you go :)

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=N53WISLB

 So much performance is lost through having too many .package objects installed. Performance wise, it seems sims3packs are far better than using the framework and .package to install object mods, yet there isnt a reliable way to make sims3packs from package files, nor is there a nice clean (working) way to install sims3packs. What we really need, for the sake of game performance, is a way to add package and sims3pack to a custom dbc without having to load the game to do it like the current horrible launchers.

Thank you Witchboy ^^.

Has anyone else converted all their simpacks to package files? I have, and now my game takes foooooooooooooooorever to load.

Has anyone noticed a new file in the downloads folder "nav.bin".  I'm technically illiterate and don't know what it is.  I have tried to delete it but it regenerates with the game.  What does this little file track?  Does anyone know?

I have exactly same problem what you had. But I don't really understand this part: "put the framework files into both folders, except the cfg file".
What two folders? And you didn't put back the Resource.cfg file? Without the Resource.cfg file I don't have CCs in my game..

That's easy. A DBC is just a package file where all the contents have been catted together.

The two folders you are referring to would be the base game installation directory, i.e. C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 (or something similar dependent on your operating system and whether or not you chose a default installation) and the installation directory for the expansion pack if you have it, i.e. C:\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\World Adventures.  The resource.cfg file would be moved with the actual mod file(s), but would be placed directly in the installation directory as opposed to within Mods>Packages.

I don't get what is so hard to understand.  Read the thread "How To Install The Framework & AwesomeMod". http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,17454.0.html (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,17454.0.html)

Ok, so I have to copy the framework files into C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 too. Yes, it was hard..

Actually, it could not have been written in any simpler form.  It was written specifically to help those who are not very computer literate.  People need to read more carefully and follow instructions explicitly when that is the case.

I did a 50/50 to restore my CC.  I reinstalled, installed all the S3Packs that didn't require patching to install, and used the DCB workaround.  Then I patched, and then extracted the Package files from the remaining S3Packs (about 10, mostly newest stuff), and added those to my package directory.  Everything is back in my game, and the load time isn't bad at all, since I only added a few Packages (as opposed to converting the entire store).

     I have, with the exception of Riverview, which is installed via launcher. (Throwing the riverview package in my downloads folder resulted in a very distorted map.) 

     Sure my game runs slower than molasses, and trying to flip through clothing in CAS is painful to a suicidal extent. But I have my CC, and hey! With the new CAW tool, I can now attempt to balance things out, by moving my sims from the large expansive Sunset Valley, they've grown to know and love,  to a tiny empty island, with a few scattered 1x1 lots!  :-X It kind of helps?

Okay, I am glad there is a toilet nearby because I am sh***ng myself.  I am about to embark on clean install with legal copies of both base and WA.  I am going to patch via the launcher, so hold thumbs for me.  I am really scared as I have a great working but totally unpatched game at the mo, but I need things that are in the patches. 

After reading through this thread, I want to thank all those who contributed to helping screw my courage to the sticking post and go for it.  I will report back. *prays*.   

I have backed up everything. 

I've got a real base game and a downloaded WA.
Spent most of today shitting myself cause the game kept on throwing error messages out after I decided to patch 1.8/2.3

Reinstalled everything all over again
Backed up all my illicit Store downloads
Base game, then patched 1.8
WA, then patched 2.3, then copy+paste crack
Shortcut crack to Desktop for playing

That then loaded to the game menu and I didn't really check if my .S3Packs really worked.  
Problem then came up when I decided to use CAW's Edit in Game - it crashed after doing the normal WA load screen and was about to load my world.  Any possible bypass to make CAW run it with the crack instead?

Will check how the CCs work on this cracked thing :D

[EDIT]: Scratch that.  Trying to get to my old backed-up games seems to have caused the whole thing to crash.

After installing the patches of doom, couldn't even start the game.  So, I did a complete uninstall using Revo Uninstaller and CCleaner, plus searching through regedit.exe for anything remaining.
Installed S3 then patched it including 1.8, then WA including 2.3.
Installed Riverview, checked to see if it was working and it was doing fine.  
Disabled Store mode in options, moved the two files EA created in downloads in case they were needed but after disabling store they weren't.  
Put the rest of the Sims3packs that I had in the Download folder, including the ones from here, and installed them from the launcher all at once.  
Everything is showing up fine including the free content from TSR (hope it's not infected with termites) and, so far, the game is not crashing.

I could be wrong but, I think the two odd files are created by the store that is now included in the launcher and after turning it off they were no longer needed.  I have not installed the World Tool as some are saying it may also cause problems.  Waiting until it gets out of Beta. As for new content that is just now being created, I have no idea if it will work.  

Update:  Asian Fusion, Regal Living, and a couple of others stopped showing up.  Tried deleting cache files, reinstalling, etc.  but to no good end.  Some of the clothes stopped showing up and now list as not installed.  I don't know why it did this unless it just now detected that they were, ahem, not legit.  I'm uninstalling and reinstalling without the patch of the damned.  Maybe "the Hero who runs this forum"  will find a way.  The mojo is with him.  ;)

I installed the game from scratch and ended up with a 1.8.25 version.  I ran the game without cc and saved sims, then put saved sims back and cc but no package files.  The bloody game is still loading, half an hour later.  I took out the cc and it loaded fast.  So I took out all the hacks and reloaded, still as slow as a snail.  My old arred game was much faster with all the cc and saved sims.  I really don't know why this is happening.  Can anyone shed any light on why it should be so slow? I also tried it with and without the right version of AM, but no improvement. 

All wanted from the patching were the 4 new CAS sliders and the ability to expand the amount of sliders you have in CAS.  I could care less about the rest of the shit that the patches fixed.

I also cut those files to the desktop and disabled the in game store.  So, that works.Package files slowing down the game were a product of the last patch.  Over at MTS2 they have a thread with a program called Process Monitor.  Get that and run it.  It's a bit of an effort and you have to really read the thread to figure out the filters, etc., but you might find problematic packages that way.

The best part about this whole thing is that TSR is now sending people here to fix Fail Patch. Again I must say, How the mighty have crumbled.

Thank you Coconner!!  This works.  I have deleted the offending files and the load time is down from 45 mins to 3-4.  Thanks for the tip.  Now all I need is to get me sims3pack files back.  

How many files are there in DCCache which need to be copied over to the packages file?  I see only 2.  dccbt.ebc and missingdeps.idx.  Should there be more files?

Editing to say that I also ran the launcher and the sims3pack stuff which I had downloaded from other sites is now showing up, but not the Sims3 site stuff which I had before.  Some of it is no loss but there is a nice suit that I want back.  

Now the next step is to install World Adventures without causing too much damage to my computer.

What is likely to happen?  I am assuming that patch 2.3 is the one that comes down the launcher when WA is installed and again I am assuming that Awesomemod is up to speed with that patch as it does say 1.8/2.3 which is the one I have currently installed.  Is Create a World also going to come down the launcher as well, because I am not interested in this and how do I stop it if this is the case?

do you have a list of these bad files?

I don't think there is a list out yet. However some people reported that certain files they had downloaded for Sims 3 in actuality were sims 2 files. Obviously the game can't run them so they attempted to load in a loop causing longer load times. Its really best if you get it and run it yourself, though it is a somewhat long process. Its very much worth it if you are suffering grossly large load times.

Really?  Where did you read that?  I'd like to see it!

TSR has a thread about the patch here http://forums.thesimsresource.com/showthread.php?t=378097

On page 7 moza - one of their moderators - points people directly at YOU, my friend. Note the secrecy.

Oh my, seems I'm gaining some unwanted notoriety!  I will have to go there and complain!

It's like Druscylla said - they were Sims 2 files which had I had thought were Sims 3 files.  It really isn't that long a process.  You just have to let it the Program Manager run whilst you load Sims3 and then you will start to notice that certain files are replicating.  Stop the Manager and scroll down.  Have your Packages folder open and delete the files that are replicated a lot.  Then run your Sims 3 again.  You will notice a huge difference in loading times.

What is likely to happen on loading WA?  I am assuming that patch 2.3 is the one that comes down the launcher when WA is installed and again I am assuming that Awesomemod is up to speed with that patch as it does say 1.8/2.3 which is the one I have currently installed.  Is Create a World also going to come down the launcher as well, because I am not interested in this and how do I stop it if this is the case?

No, Create a World is a separate download.

Audrey:  You should have at least 1 file with the ending .dbc in the DCCache.

I finally have my game running smoothly (so far) with shared sims3pack cc from the store. I'm a mac user, and the dbc trick did not work post hoc for getting newly installed cc into my game (like an idiot, I clean installed and couldn't get my shit back into the game). Additionally, I can't go back to the previous patch because manually installed patches appear to be PC .exe's only. So I started from scratch (yet again) and got everything hunky dory. So as a courtesy I'm going to post what I did, step-by-step, to get my game running again so that others don't have to filter through a zillion forum posts as I did. I'm sorry if much of this is superfluous, but mac users have few resources and no one (that I've yet seen) seemed to have a concrete answer for exactly how to work around this specific issue of what to do when the .dbc trick isn't working after a clean install. So without further ado:

Making the 2.3 patch work for dummy mac users who can't get their store shit into their game after clean installing
*If you have arr'd versions of the game, caveat emptor, as I don't know if this will work for you
**This is a fix for the existing store items you have. If the store puts out anything new, either buy legit it, convert it to .package, covet it indefinitely, or cross your fingers that the issue is resolved by then.

Step 1: Just start the hell over if you are completely lost right now. Backup your saved games, uninstall the game, and go into your user library to delete your sims3 preferences.

Step 2: Install the base game. Do not launch the game after the install, besides, since you have a mac you won't be able to properly use the base game's gimpy pseudo-launcher-for-macs anyway.

Step 3: Install WA. Launch the game but DO NOT PATCH. Hit cancel when it asks to patch, then go into updates and uncheck the automatic updates box. You should have a fully working launcher now. Yay for you.

Step 4: Create your "Downloads" folder in documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3.

Step 5: Plop your shared store sims3packs (EXCEPT FOR RIVERVIEW) into the newly created downloads folder and install (installing Riverview directly from the sim3pack is causing issues for some people, so you're going to install it directly from the store in a bit unless you want to attempt the insane workaround here: http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,17610.0.html). However, my way is easier as long as you have a legit copy of the game.

Step 6: If you have non-store sim3packs you want to install, now is the time to do it (or wait until the end if you're comfortable converting sims3packs to .package files)

Step 7: Launch your game and make sure everything you want is showing up. Everything there? You sure? You super-duper sure-as-shit positive? Good. Exit the game.

Step 8: Relaunch and patch (*gasp*).

Step 9: This is the hard part for mac dummies. We're going to do the .dcb trick. First, install your modding framework, or get Pescados nifty one here: http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,15184.0.html.

Step 10: Edit your resource.cfg. If you find you can't open the resource.cfg, just right click (or control click) and open with TextEdit. Delete the text and paste Coconnor's text in its place:

Priority 500
DirectoryFiles Mods/Packages/... autoupdate
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.dbc
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.dbc

Hit save. If you have a resource.cfg in your mods/files folder, edit that one too.

Step 11: Make sure you have a d3dx9_31.dll in the WA root folder's game/bin folder AND into the base game's root game/bin folder. Breathe, you're almost there.

Step 12: Go into the game's DCCache (Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/DCCache), and copy any files ending in .dbc. Paste these into your mods/packages folder. Viola! All your shared store cc will now show up in the game. Go ahead and check, it should be there (but without the little custom content icon).

Want Riverview? Then you're not done. Just go to the EA store and redownload it. It'll show up good as new.

REMEMBER, every time you install anything via the launcher, copy the .dcb files from the DCCache and paste them into your packages folder (replacing the old ones). And like I said at the beginning, Sims Store stuff you try to install at this point won't show up unless it's directly from the store. Yeah yeah, lament lament.

Also, if you want to download non-store sims3packs (such as from TSR, Parsimonious, or Around The Sims) at this point, go ahead. BUT, the installation is dodgy. Some will install and some won't. In the event of an uninstallable .sims3pack, just convert it to a .package with JFade's 3viewer (http://forum.jfade.com/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=466) and drop it into the mods/packages folder. It should show up just fine.

Lastly, this is what worked for me, but this may not work the same way for you. Sorry, can't help you in that case since I'm an asinine airhead. This is the best I can do for myself and anyone else. Good luck.

I reinstalled my games. Both sims 3 and Wa are from torrents. Fresh installed patched game. No hacks or anything. My game crashes when it is loading up the neighborhood. I tried both sunset valley and Riverview. Can anyone tell me how to get my neighborhood to load?

So, just to clarify, is it "literally" packages being catted together (ie cat package1.package package2.package package3.package > dcdb4.dbc) or is it just approximately the same? It'd be great if we could just dump a folder of packages on top of a tool to make these files. People have already said that ripping store packages out of their dbc's leads to massive loading times. So, since I have TOO MANY packages (and have a loading time of 10 minutes, and a saving time of too long, each time I save), I'd really like if I could toss in a structured set of folders -- see, I changed my mind. Now I'm thinking it should handle branching folders, since that's how I keep my packages in the mods directory -- to it and come out with a nice (big) custom dbc file.

Oh, and, are there any limits to what can go into these files? Like, could AwesomeMod get crunched in together like that as well, PES? Or would certain packages need to remain in the mods folder?

Does anyone have a solution to this?

I've followed all of the directions posted on MTS about installing patches and what to do if an invalid file error pops up. I've even reinstalled the game. The error still pops up. The file causing all the mayhem is a 'code_version.txt' file. No matter what, it shows up in red with MTS's Patch Log Viewer program. I'm not sure what else there is to do to fix it. I don't have WA and I have no CC.

Well, I don't have a solution but my game will not load with WA installed. It's an arr'd version but the game works fine with 1.8 patch. I did not use the launcher for the patch though. I am sick of uninstalling and reinstalling WA so until there is a way to fix it without AM(no offense, I just don't have the patience for what you have to do at this point.) I did however, have to do the fix from MTS with the DCC file.

Editing: suddenly the .dbc file is showing up in my DCCache and also missingdeps.idx. 

Should I follow your instructions a few pages back before I install WA or after?

Dear EA Games,

I hate you.

Yours Truly,
Everyone.

====
Ug, I'm such an idiot for not checking forums before I installed a patch from EA. You would think I would know better by now.

Finally got everything working I think, including Riverview which was huge PITA that took me like 7 attempts to reinstall it fresh from the store. I have retail versions of both games and my original Riverview was from the store too (goodbye Legacy house). I get a weird string of numbers instead of a description, but Riverview is there and working.

Unless there is something I don't realize is gone yet the .dbc file copy method otherwise fixed up my issues. Load times to switch back and forth from adventure destiniations is horrific, and loading clothes in the CAS seems really laggy but otherwise I can't find other problems. I'm hoping this was just giant clusterfudge and not some misguided attempt to inflict more intrusive protections into their game but I'm not so sure with EA's record.

A really big thanks to everyone for all the research and fixes!

Another question Coconnor.  The sims3pack files which are now showing up in your game, are they legally obtained, because mine came down via Torrent, so will you method work with arred content?

Brand, I have to say I heartily agree with you.  They seem to be doing everything in their power to make simming as miserable an experience as possible for those who arred.  But, they are in the business of making money and they think they have found a way to thwart us, but they did not reckon on the clever peeps here and on MTS. 

Yes.  I don't know whether it matters at all.  I did this after both games were installed and patched (and everything seems to be showing).Some legally obtained, some shared.  And just so you know, credit for this is not mine.  There were a couple of others here who found this method ... I only copied what they had done.

Thanks coconnor.

I don't even know if this is the right forum for this problem, but maybe someone else has had the same problem.  

Loaded WA and patched to 2.3.  Took out CC and loaded game from launcher.  No problem.  Put cc in - won't go past the first loading screen.  Took out all hacks EXCEPT for AM, no loading.  Took out AM and voila off it goes loading merrily.  

Stuff EA.  I am so angry.  The base game was working fine with 1.8/2.3 , so it must be something to do with the WA/latest patch/AM compatibility.  Although I am confused when I read that many people are able to load their game.

I simply can't live without AM.  I would rather uninstall WA and play base game forever, but I'm hoping I won't have to do that and someone, er, Pes, might know how to fix this.

Could not reproduce, game loads fine for me using the 1.8/2.3 version in the test directory. You must be using the wrong version.

Erm, Pes, I needed to do the whole set up the framework story which some kind person directed me too.

Thank you coconnor for your great tutorial on that.  My game is now loading and awesome awesomemod is working perfectly. 

Happy bunny.

Not to add insult to injury , but didn't you learn that from the TS2 days? I know I did

I can't run it. I have a mac.

I just wanted to say thanks for posting this part. I don't have a MAC but I used this program for all the stuff I get from here and everything now works perfectly! Thanks again!

Lags! That's what EA gave me as a Christmas gift!!

Coconner- thanks for all the help and congrats for making TSR unwillingly suck your cawk.  ;)

Quick question though, I have been idle from the game a while (before even the FIRST fucked up patch) and didn't know of the issues they presented (dumb of me to believe EA wouldn't shit on their own game/fanbase). Any way, I didn't install the last two store updates and therefore they aren't installed. Can I convert sims3pack to packages and install them to the mod>packages? If so, does Delphy's Sims3Pack Multi Installer (http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=364038&c=1&ht=0&page=5&pp=25#startcomments (http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=364038&c=1&ht=0&page=5&pp=25#startcomments)) process this conversion or just simply extract the files?

Thanks!

i'm one of the unlucky ones...my hd crashed so i had to install everything from scratch. Unfortunatelly i patched before installing any store content... now i can only install free itmes and riverview. The workaround does not work for me since items are not installed. I had to use delphy's multi installer to manage to install all my store items and other sims3package files. However this slowed down my game like hell, it even lags sometimes and still half of my cc are missing... I think the only way around this is to unnistal, reinstall , then install all the launcher files , use workaround and THEN patch...Seriously EA is really trying to kill their customers interest by any means possible :'(

You're welcome!  Hmm, I'm a bit perplexed about the TSR thing.  I visited their site and posted directly to the moderator and to the guy who first brought me to attention telling them that they're free to post the contents of the file (it's not proprietary information), however, I do not want them to direct people to Google me.

I'm not the best one to ask about the other issues, I have never extracted Sims3 packs to packages.  As of the last patch, the package files were a problem in that they slowed the game way down.  You may want to ask Skadi about the method to use or try searching "converting Sims 3.packs to packages"  and, in fact, she has done this already to some of the files and they are in the Pudding Factory:  http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,16949.msg508899.html#msg508899 (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,16949.msg508899.html#msg508899).

Once you have the packages installed, you will most likely need to go to MTS2 where they have a program called "Process Monitor" (courtesy of TickleOnTheTum) and Delphy posted a screenshot of a filter (but there are more).  A bit tedious (like everything else with this game is becoming), but it may help.

is there any way we can compress our Sims 3 packaged content , like we did to Sims 2 packages?

Aldo where at MTS can I find this Process Monitor?

I don't know if it's good to compress the files at this point, given that we're having problems installing them.  I think you better search MOAR before making that decision.  But, before this we were using S3rc which is available here at MATY under the "Armoire of Invincibility".

As far as the Process Monitor, if you read through this thread there are links, I believe, to the thread that has the Process Monitor in it (page 11 of the thread and the Delphy screen shots are on page 12 of the thread).  It took me less time to go there and copy the link to the thread than to try to find it here, so here is the link:  http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=379085 (http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=379085).

thanks! i was about to ask about it

And I was about to ask about your resistance to the poor, under-used shift key on your keyboard. Did they issue you with a defective one, or did yours do something to offend you?

@Coconner: That explains the recent surge of nublets bawwing about how the game doesn't work and wanting Pescado to "plz fixes it...".  Despite the initial annoyance, the MATY responses and ensuing emo butthurt is exceedingly entertaining

Other than that, the patch looks just like a standard EA fail patch. 

So I'll skip this one until Pescado decide he's sufficiently beaten it into submission with an awesome-schtick.

"Underused" is not a hyphenate.   :)

thanks coconnor

I hope some better solution to this situation will appear. The conversion of store files into package files lags my game so much it won't start.

**Edit
My game will not start with package conversions expect the modern minimalist set. Could this be because it is newer than the others?

If you read the thread, you would have known that this issue exists before converting them.  I hope you backed them up.  I have no idea why only the Modern Minimalist set works.  I did not convert any of my Sims3.packs to packages because I already knew it would slow down the game.

Try cutting all your package conversion files to your desktop and then starting your game to see what difference it makes.

I have a .ebc file in my DCCache. Is this file similar to the .dbc files in terms of function?

I stand corrected, thank you!

:-? strange, i've converted my store into package (roundly 280 files w/o River) and i don't seem to notice the extra long load time, what type of load time you're mentioning
(2.3 GB of RAM :|)

Not load time; I'm speaking of the lag that many people have experienced with package files since the last patch came out.

.ebc file is content that you have loaded direct FROM store. Not the shared. The shared are in .dbc files.

Bevor I patched I have created a new game. I have created a new downloads folder and moved only shared store content in it. In launcher created a .dbc files, renamed the files and moved they in mods folder. Changed the resource.cfg to read .dbc files.
The content from other sites is in DCcache. That works for me fine. I have not very much custom content.


I think, maybe it is not so good to have too much files in mods. EA make allways the big files with content to read for the game. Not one file for one object.

coconnor, unfortunately I didn't back them up :(

Okay.. I spoke too soon!  :-X

Coconnor, with your edited resource.cfg code my game crashed after load. After multiple trials I came to the conclusion that was the problem. So I tried Imyouboy's edited code and it loaded fine with all the DCCache files in the mods>package. After multiple trials, chantings, sacrifices, voodoo, witchcraft, prayers, and head bashings I got the game to load...but with none of the CC  :(

I have a few hairs from sites in .packages and other misc CC... and I have almost all store stuff (but recent) and NONE showed.  >:(

I understand why EA fucked up illegal store shit but why every other CC? I remember when will wright made the game he envisioned an extremely customizable, open game. Now we have EA stamped payshit.

Anywho.. any other possible suggestions?

The only files that worked were the modern minimalist. Im about to cave and buy the sets i really miss :(

@Batman:  That seems odd.  I tend to think it is the CC and not the Resource.cfg.  I'm using the resource.cfg I posted, and I have no problem with my custom content ~ as far as I can tell, all of my store stuff is in game and what little package files I left after the last patch seem to be showing up fine as well (I had begun moving some of it back but when this new patch came out, with all the trouble people have had, I moved most of it back out.)  I copied the content of the DCCache file to Mods>Packages, but also left it where it was.  Game is running fine and has not been crashing.

@simfan:  Yes, I guess.  I don't even know if you re-download any "shared" files whether they will install.  When I went to TSR to tell them not to direct people to "google" me on MATY, but instead to post the contents of the Resource.cfg file on their site, I noticed that a lot of them seem to be saying that EA has "broken the launcher" with this patch, rather than having a more "insidious" intent.  Of course, this could be bullshit ... and there are people complaining, but since people here have also had problems with the launcher, perhaps this is true and they will again "patch the patch" in an attempt to fix it.  If that happens, maybe things will work as usual.  I, in fact, had a problem with the launcher when I used the World Adventures shortcut, but when I used the shortcut for the base game it worked fine.  So, I don't know what to think.

I'm really NOT an expert at this at all.  Just reading and observing here, and a somewhat more advanced knowledge of the workings of my computer.  No modding experience at all, though.

Cocoonnor what version are you running (both sims + am)? Maybe this has something to do with it.. Is your version illegal or store bought?

I am running 1.8/2.3 - store-bought versions of both games.  As you know, AwesomeMod is updated frequently, so is also frequently changed in my game.  I try to update before each time I play to make sure I have the current version.  I played for awhile last night, so it was the one posted yesterday - 12/22/09 @ 4:22 AM.  I have now downloaded the one from today - 12/23/09 @ 10:10 AM but will most likely not get to play the game tonight.

The laptop I play on has a Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 processor @ 2.20 GHz per core; 4 GB RAM, running Windows Vista 64-bit and an NVidia GEForce 8600M GT video card with 512 MB RAM.  Surely not the best, but better than my old desktop, which couldn't run it.  One of these days I'll be able to replace it, but I'll also have to replace my son's desktop which is almost as old!

Just jumping in - I am having no problems with getting pirated EA Store content to work using the methods previously discussed, and I have pirated versions of both the base game and WA. I don't think that has much to do with anything. Computer specs could be an issue though; I have a nice graphics card and an Intel i7 CPU.

I had the exact same issue with clean game, with and without AM, NO custom content.  I do have a BRAND NEW laptop with an "unsupported video card".  The game works fine with the previous version.  Add in this patch and I get CTD at loading the neighborhood.  I THINK it's a video card/patch issue.  I'm not going to have time to try the patch again until after the holidays.

Bah I just realized that I forgot to install the more recent AM.  :o

I blame EA for making me overlook it, though.  ;D

I can't convert the resource file back from txt to cfg on any of my three computers.  Can someone post their altered resource file for me?  Much appreciated. 

Here's mine. It's very basic. It allows for three levels: the main folders, sub-folders, and sub-sub-folders:

Priority 500
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.dbc
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.dbc
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*.dbc

http://www.mediafire.com/file/ywmoya1tzkl/Resource.cfg

Coconnor, did you use dbc files that were saved before you patched?

Yes.  I had all my content installed before I patched, so those were the .dbc files already in DCCache.  I did not have to reinstall most of my stuff.  I had moved out my downloads folder, DCCache file, Saves, Mods before reinstalling/patching.  It pays to back-up your stuff.

Okay, so here's my lame ass question. I Just got both Sims 3 and WA tonight, and have been trying to get my newly downloaded Store content to work, but it won't work cause of the damn patch. If I just patch Sims 3 to 1.7, should I be able to install my store stuff fine? And what do I do with WA? No patching for it at all, right?

http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,17614.0.html

Scroll down to the second half/bottom of this thread.

And yes :)

I have this issue as well.  I've been reading this thread rather extensively and I believe I understand how to "correct" this problem.  What I would like to know, is, do you think that EA is going to release a patch shortly that would render this fix useless and require additional maneuvers?  I would simply prefer to wait for a more permanent solution if that is the case.

It's entirely possible.  There has been talk that EA "broke the launcher" with the latest patch and so it seems they may come out with a patch to address that.  Who knows when that will be?  Also, I don't know what, if anything, else it may break or fix.  Undoubtedly, there will be a way around all that as well.  But, I agree, a game should not be this much work.

I hope ea fixes the launcher soon! I can't play the game with a half stocked catalog of furniture and clothes.

Edit. Fixed

A huge "word" to this.  Even if you've been completely vanilla with your game, it requires you to patch BOTH the original game AND the EP to work, will not do it automatically via the launcher, and DOESN'T TELL YOU HOW TO FIX IT YOURSELF.  I had to come here to find out how to get past the "WA is not compatible with TS3 installation" error message, because naturally the launcher only wanted to patch WA, and downloading the TS3 patch manually FROM EA gave me an error message that the fucking patch wouldn't work with my version of TS3, even though I downloaded the US patch for the US game.

Now my head hurts and I'm all scowly.  >.<

This is rather odd. I admit that my graphics card fails hard, and I wasn't expecting it to run Sims 3 to begin with, but it did. However, after I patched Sims 3 to 1.8 the map started glitching. It doesn't do it in Edit Town mode, only when in an active household. I'm wondering what could have happened that made it suddenly start happening when it had been running along (at low quality) perfectly fine before I patched about a week ago. The only mods I have in are AwesomeMod and Ruleof6.

ETA:
It's in Sunset Valley, so it's not a Riverview problem. Also, it's the Awesomized version from the Pudding Factory.

Following the instructions here, I was able to update to the newest patch, keep all my CC and get CAW. I used the dbc folder and updating the resource.cfg method to make all my Sims3packs show. It's worth noting that only "alternative" sims store downloads were affected. I moved Riverview to the Non-packaged folder in Program Files, so I don't know if that would have been an issue or not.

Baaa, for all the advice given here.

Coconnor, any chance you can upload your cache files and they will work for me??

Thanks, for some reason I couldn't edit it right.

I PM'd you and was trying to upload the file, but it's too large for 4-Shared.  I then tried to zip just the file ending in .dbc and upload that ~ also too large.  I'm not sure if it would have worked anyway.  Tomorrow, I'll try another source when I get a chance.  I'm on the Board of my Homeowner's Association, am the webmaster, created the website and have an FTP server with that, so I'll try that and if I can make that work, I'll send you a link to the file.

My game's Resource.cfg file, which I found in the World Adventures Game/Bin, looks like this:

Priority -29
PackedFile UI/UI.package
PackedFile Automation/AutomationData.package
PackedFile Jazz/JazzData.package
FileType 0xf0ff5598 triggers
FileType 0x0333406c xml
FileType 0x1a3201cd mod
FileType 0x025c95b6 layout
FileType 0x025c90a6 css
FileType 0x062e9ee0 ttf
FileType 0x062e9ee0 otf
FileType 0x062e9ee0 ttc
FileType 0x03b33ddf mod
FileType 0x0604abda dreamtree

I've tried putting an edited Resource.cfg file (following the suggestions in this thread), in both The Sims 3 and World Adventures folders.  However, my custom content and even legitimately purchased store content is still not showing up.  Is this the Resource.cfg file that should be edited, and if so, how should it be made to look? (I've discovered that removing this file and replacing it with an edited Resource.cfg file results in having the game even refuse to start.)

Right. Leave that file alone and don't touch anything. You're clearly not ready to deal with this. Just reinstall and don't patch past 1.7.9.

Nevermind, it's fixed. In case anyone else encounters a similar problem, I fixed it by the really elementary step of moving my Mods folder to the World Adventures folder, and now all custom content, including the purchased store files, is showing up in the game.  I didn't realize that folder also had to be moved.  Duh!  Luckily no reinstall was needed.

If you have the link i would love your cache files too. My TS3 base game is all they way back at my college and im here for a month. So it is not just laziness haha. I would reinstall if i could.

Thought I'd also add that my Launcher seems to be working fine. I've blocked it with my firewall, you have to do it for both the base game and WA, but I've been able to install a world and some lots from MTS.

Mine doesn't, I can't install many third party downloads.

Just thought I would add my name to the list of people having trouble installing any sims3pack files.
I bought myself a bigger hard drive, I installed Windows 7, and I'm now in the process of installing all of my games etc.
I installed Sims 3 (the Razor version), updated to 1.7x, installed WA, patched WA and then patched Sims 3 to the latest version. In retrospect, If I'd checked this site first, I would've avoided the latest patch.

I grabbed the Downloads folder from my old hard drive (Sims 3 is still installed over there) and put it in my new Downloads folder. I tried to installed them, and although they all said they installed successfully, I noticed barely any of them showed up in the Installed Content section of the launcher (all that showed up is some LianaSims custom clothing, and some of the extras from Riverview [the overalls and water tower]) The LianaSims clothing shows up in game, but not nothing else.

I have tried adjusting my Resource.cfg file, I moved my dcdb0.dbc file, and tried unpacking the Sims3Pack files with Delphy's tool, and placing the new .package files into my mods/packages folder. Nothing has worked so far. Some of my mods work (nointro, body sliders) and some don't show up (Realism Contacts for example).

As far as I know, I haven't missed any steps out, but please tell me if I have.

Edit - Just FYI, I haven't downloaded anything from EA since I reinstalled in Win7, and I have the nav.bin file.

Maybe I should add that I have retail versions of both games, some store content grabbed from here and I've never downloaded anything from EA directly, not Riverview, CAW or even my "free" sims points.

For those that need the store items in .dbc format:

http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/5246255/The_Sims_3_Store_content_in_DCCache_format

Enjoy!

If you don't mind me asking, what firewall are you using? I'd love to be able to get my launcher working again.

My firewall is Norton 360, lame and a resource hog I know. I did have trouble installing my own world via the launcher though. I had to use Delphy's tool finally.

Amazing! I never thought to look.

I've been experimenting with importing .packages to single dbc files using s3pe, and having to go through each conflict manually due to it's limited importing features. Though I have discovered a few mods with errors along the way, which has helped me further filter troublesome mods (there are quite a few mods out there that are broken in some shape or form)

Overall, upon initial tests, by decreasing 691 custom content .package files into 8 .dbc files, I've doubled my frame rate and halved my loading time between for game startup and entering CAS/Build/Buy. The real test is whether my merges are correct, but so far so good.

I imagine it would also be possible to add new store content this way, by first unpacking the .sims3pack and then repacking it into a custom DBC, but what I'm interested in is what process the game handles when the .exe is invoked by the launcher to install sims3packs that isnt being done by the manual conversion.

I have a comment and a question,  Snaitf's files work great on a Mac.  My question is can I install other free .sim3packs?  or do I have to install those first then add Snaitf's files?

Thank you

Got almost everthing working. Sims 3 is loading (no WA until now), Riverside and CC are showing up. Old games from Riverside not showing on "select game" screen and this made me somekind of gnäh.

I created a new game on Riverside, moved a Sim to a lot and saved the game. The folder has been created at "C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Benutzer\Eigene Dateien\Electronic Arts\Die Sims 3\Saves", which leads me to a big sorry for my German roots and just means "c:\blah\My folderElectronic Arts\The Sims 3\Saves".

Restarting the game, does not show the saved game and it is in this case as well not playable.

Doing the same with Sunset Valley works as it should, the lot shows up on start.

Could anybody second this behavior or does anybody, here at the board, even know a solution / link to a solution?

Please be patient with me, I am a retardo lander and a ESL writer. Thanks anyway for your kind and appreciated feedback.

Cpt Bit, you need to follow instructions in this thread: http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,17610.0.html
That should make your Riverview work.  I didn't need to do step 3.

Thank you for the useful hint without poking me with sticks!

I have tried coconnor's fix, but unfortunately for me, it's not working.  I have read all 17 pages of this topic, so try not to poke me with sticks, mmk?  I've been avoiding replying to this topic, but it looks like I have no choice.

Here's a break down of what I did, step by step.  If I did something wrong, let the stick poking begin.

-Working on a Mac (not like that matters)
-Retail copies of TS3 and WA
-Pirated store content (Suck it EA, I already gave you my money for your game)
-All content and files are backed up

1. Fresh install of TS3 and WA
2. With no CC and no mods at all, I patched to 2.3
3. Fired up game with no CC and no mods.  Missing that annoying new little sparkling shopping bag icon.  No biggie, I don't want it anyway.
4. Quit game and installed all sim3packs (including arred store content) via The Launcher
5. Downloaded Framework and installed into TS3 base game folder (not WA folder)
6. Copied and pasted d3dx9_31.dll file to WA game/bin folder from TS3 base game game/bin folder
7. Edited Resource.cfg file in TS3 base game folder AND mods/files folder as follows:
   Priority 500
   DirectoryFiles Mods/Packages/... autoupdate
   PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.package
   PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.package
   PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*.package
   PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*.package
   PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*/*.package
   PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.dbc
   PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.dbc
8. Created a "dbc files" folder in TS3 base game mods/packages folder
9. Pasted the following files from DCCache folder into "dbc files" folder (these are all I had in the DCCache folder)
    dcdb0.dbc
    dcdb0.ebc
    missingdeps.idx
10. Fired up game and all third party sim3pack files worked, as did content legally purchased (with sim points) from the store.  Arred store content   did not work.  AwesomeMod also worked.
11. Quit game and transferred "mods" folder from TS3 base game folder to WA game folder
12. Fired up game, but got the same results as stated in step 10.
13. Banged head against desk and began this post

If I missed something obvious, please beat me with sticks, rocks, and other blunt objects.

Should I have installed the pirated store content BEFORE patching?  I read that somewhere here, but I'm not sure if it's absolutely necessary.
If all else fails, I suppose I can go through the pirated content, figure out what I really need out of it, and convert it to .package using Delphy's tool (I'm running Boot Camp with Windows Vista installed on a partition so I have access to a Windows system).

First obvious thing I see that's wrong is that you need the d3dx9_31.dll file in both directories, i.e. TS3 Game>Bin folder and in the WA Game>Bin folder.  Try that and see if it works.

Ack, I mistyped (mis-typed?)!  I do have it in both folders.

Try placing the Resource.cfg file into only the Mods>Packages folder in the directory where you actually have the package files.  For instance, my Mods>Packages (framework files) which contain the actual package files (and the .dbc files) are in my World Adventures directory.  But remember, if you read my "How To Install The Framework & AwesomeMod" stickied thread, that the Resource.cfg file should only be placed within the applicable directory and not within the actual Mods>Packages folders.

I do not have a Resource.cfg file in myTS3 directory, except the one in the Game>Bin folder (which should not be edited).  Mine in that location reads (in the event you need to copy & paste it back into yours):

Priority -29
PackedFile UI/UI.package
PackedFile Automation/AutomationData.package
PackedFile Jazz/JazzData.package
FileType 0xf0ff5598 triggers
FileType 0x0333406c xml
FileType 0x1a3201cd mod
FileType 0x025c95b6 layout
FileType 0x025c90a6 css
FileType 0x062e9ee0 ttf
FileType 0x062e9ee0 otf
FileType 0x062e9ee0 ttc
FileType 0x03b33ddf mod
FileType 0x0604abda dreamtree

Do not edit the resource.cfg files that the game creates unless specifically instructed to do so by someone like Pescado.  The one you edited appears to be correct and should (again) be only in the directory which contains the framework files that actually contain the package files.

Also, as a point of interest, all my content is installed and working, but before I reinstalled and patched, I had removed my Downloads folder to my desktop and simply replaced all the files afterward into the Downloads folder created in the new install.  Everything is there and everything shows up in game.  The only problem I've had is that new store items (such as the Santa hats) do not install with the launcher.  Third party Sims3packs install just fine with the launcher.

Hate to say it, coconnor, but it was a no go.

I deleted the Resource.cfg out of the TS3 folder and left it in the WA folder, but alas I am still stuck with no arred content.  *plants face into desk*

I'm thinking that I have 2 options; 1) uninstall, reinstall, and only patch up to 2.2.8 or, 2)use Delphy's tool to extract the sims3packs to .packages.  I'm afraid to do that second part though because of all the reports of it causing the game to start up super slow and lag horribly.  :(

What Resource.cfg did you have in your TS3 folder?  Was it the one you created and posted the content of?  Or did you edit the one in the TS3>Game>Bin folder?  You need the resource.cfg file created by the game in that folder, and the content should read as I posted in my last post.  If you edited that one (in Game>Bin) and subsequently deleted it, you will need to recreate it.

Where are your mods now?  In WA?  If so, the Resource.cfg, which you downloaded with the framework (or via Delphy's Installer Monkey) was supposed to be edited to read as you have it, i.e.:

Priority 500
   DirectoryFiles Mods/Packages/... autoupdate
   PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.package
   PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.package
   PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*.package
   PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*.package
   PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*/*.package
   PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.dbc
   PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.dbc

must also be in the WA directory, but not within the Mods>Packages folder.  Make sure you moved the Resource.cfg with the Mods>Packages folder.  If that does not work, I'm not sure what you're doing wrong.

Is your launcher working?  Had you deleted your downloads before reinstalling & patching?  Or did you just move them?  When presented with the option to retain your custom content and saved games, did you save it or did you wipe it all out?  I did not delete them, but backed them up to the desktop just in case and opted to save them.  I think that's why mine is working. You could try reinstalling the content that is not working via the launcher.  Mine works if I use the TS3 base game icon to start the launcher.  The WA one does not work well. I have not converted any Sims3packs to package, but I have not had to.

I still have the original game Resource.cfg in the TS3/Game/Bin file.  It is unedited and looks exactly like the one you posted earlier as a reference. 

The one I edited was the one that came with the framework. 

My mods are in the WA folder, so that's where I have the edited Resource.cfg file.  Just to be clear I have 2 edited Resource.cfg files (I'm pretty sure that's what I read in this forum, but I may have been mistaken).  One is in the WA folder and the other is in WA/Mods/Files folder.

My launcher seems to be working.  I don't get any error messages or anything except when I try to install sims3pack files.  Then I just take my Mods folder out of the WA folder temporarily, install the sims3pack files, and move it back in.  The Launcher installs third party sims3packs just fine, but not my arred store content.  It says that it installs it, and it shows up in the "Installed Content" section of The Launcher, but after I start the game up it just kind of disappears.

When I uninstalled, I just dragged and dropped my Downloads folder (out of users/electronic arts/sims 3) onto my desktop.  When it asked me to delete everything I said ok because I already had it moved out of the directory.  I wonder if you're right and that's why yours is working and mine is not.  Hmm   :-\

Did I cover everything you asked?

No, you should only have one edited Resource.cfg file and it should not be in the Mods/Files folder.  In fact, the "Files" folder should not be there either, so delete it.  It was something Pescado had for an earlier process and had not taken out of the framework until recently, I believe.  You should have Mods>Packages and then whatever sub-folders you have created (within the limitations of the resource.cfg) for organizational purposes.  You do not need the "File" folder, and should not have the extra resource.cfg.  Just the one in the World Adventures directory.  Try that.

Well, I was really hoping that removing the mods/files folder was gonna do it.  Unfortunately, it did not.  I think I'm going to throw in the towel on this one.  I converted my arred sims3pack files (the ones I really wanted) to .package with Delphy's tool and they show up in the game just fine.  I don't notice a lag of any kind, so I think I'm just gonna do it this way. 

Coconnor, I want to give you a huge thank you for all of your help and patience with me.  I feel horrible that you had we had to keep going back and forth like we did.  You are truly awesome and I wish there was something I could do to repay you for your time spent on my problem. 

Perhaps you'd like to poke me with a stick?

Has anyone else noticed that the size of the .dbc files does not remain constant with game play?  Tonight when I started playing my dcdb0.dbc was at 205,055KB, dcdb1.dbc was at 204,048KB and dcdb2.dbc was at 8,500KB.  After quitting the game the figures were dcdb0.dbc at 204,821KB, dcdb1.dbc is now 204,526 and dcdb2.dbc is now 8,510KB.  

I had not installed or deleted any content at all.  I simply played a day of work, followed by a 3 day trip to China and home to bed.  The .dbc files in the mods>packages files still have the starting numbers, no changes.  This makes me wonder if the .dbc files from the documents section should be copied to the program area each and every time we play.  Comments?  Words of wisdom?  Suggestions?  I don't know what the correct course of action should be, i.e. not worry about the difference, or, copy the files each game start, if there is a difference in the numbers.    

Nope!  Don't want to poke you with a stick because you're not an idiot.  You are spelling correctly and using punctuation.  Wish we knew what is wrong with your set-up, though!  Thanks for the compliment, but I'm really not that awesome. 

I wish I knew what was wrong with it too!  I'm glad I'm not perceived as an idiot (yet lol).  I'm kind of a grammar and spelling freak, so I I tend to proof read my posts many times.  The only thing I can think of now is that maybe I should have installed all of the arred CC before I installed the 2.3 patch.

Maybe one day I'll test that out and let you know.  ;)

Thank you!  It solved my loading problem  :)

I'm sure that no one really cares, but this information might be relevant to someone who had similar problems as I.

I got all my shared/pirated content working!  Turns out what I said in my last post about having to install all of the shared content before I patched to 2.3 was correct. 

I had to uninstall/reinstall again, but this time I installed all of my shared content before I patched to 2.3.  Then, I followed coconnor's instructions and it actually worked this time.  The only thing I'm having an issue with now is The Launcher.  The freakin' thing takes forever to come up when I click the WA icon on my dock.  TS3 has always run a little slower on my Mac as opposed to my PC (which happen to reside in the same computer, btw.  Gotta love Boot Camp!), but it seems like it's taking longer than before.  Whatever, I can deal with it.  Now I can stop banging my head on the desk.

So, as I struggled through these 17 pages of notes scrounging for answers, I decided that once I deciphered everything I was going to post at the end with the step-by-step instructions so no one else would have to read through all that.

1. Once you have installed patch 1.8 you cannot receive anymore arr'd items using the Sims 3 Launcher. If you have already installed the patch you have to uninstall the game and download everything in version 1.0.

2. Go to your Mods>Packages folder and create a new folder for your .dbc files.

3. Go to your DCCache folder (located in Documents>Electronic Arts>The Sims 3 and copy ONLY the .dbc files. DO NOT include the .ebc files (legit store downloads) or the .idx file.
    *Note, you cannot cut the .dbc files. You have to copy them then delete them later.

4. Paste .dbc files into new folder in Mods>Packages.

5. Delete .dbc files from DCCache Folder

6. Go to DCBackup and delete these files. All of them. (if you are uncomfortable deleting them, move them to a folder on the desktop or a new folder in Documents)

7. Go to C:>Program Files>Electronic Arts>The Sims 3. (your mods folder should be in this folder) This is where the Resource.cfg you NEED to edit is located. Double Click and open in Notepad.

8. Add:

PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.dbc
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.dbc

to the end of the Document.

9. Save the new document to the desktop.

10. Delete old Resource.cfg (still in the C:>Program Files>Electronic Arts>The Sims 3 folder) and move the edited one into that folder.

Thank you Coconnor for your great work. I am not trying to steal the glory, just make it easier to read!

Happy Simming everyone!
 

@ elliebanne:  I did not create this method, so not sure what you're thanking me for.  I wrote the instructional post on "How to Install The Framework & AwesomeMod", and try to assist where I can.  However, it's great that you took the time to summarize the instructions in one place for people!

Thanks everyone for the help. I've spent 2 hours trying to make heads or tails of whats gone on with all the store content and how to get it back.

I finally managed to get it all to show up after realising I was editing the wrong resource (one I didn't even need!) from the files folder that came with the framework and the one I needed to edit was sitting outside of that folder.

Easier way to follow (this cleared things up for me) I found at
http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=382520
(its basically what elliebanne posted but with a few pictures to make it easier to understand)

:D

Okay, this is starting to get annoying. After updating to 1.8/2.3, I'm getting consistent CTD after the game finishes the loading process. I've tried removing my cc, clearing cache files, etc. Nothing seems to work, and I haven't been able to find anything in this thread to fix it.

Looks like it's the old uninstall/reinstall/repatch dance again.  >:(

Edit: After reinstalling, it was still crashing. Went over my gamefiles with a fine toothed comb, and found pre-1.8/2.3 Awsomemod lurking in my Sims 3 install mods, instead of in WA, where I'd thought I'd moved everything. Oh well, nice and clean now, only took at the most an hour total time away from me.

Are you using Awesomemod? Did you d/l the 1.8/2.3.3 version of it?


OT - I decided it was time to update my game, as borked-up it might turn out in the end. So, if everything works out OK, the only thing I should be worried about are new store contents, and how to install them. I`m thinking about (put your poking sticks away!) TSR Merlin...Launcher refused to install new houses I d/l, notifying it needs "software update", so I had a go with the Merlin and it worked flawlessly...what do you people think? Could it work?

The launcher (at least the base game launcher) has been installing all third party custom content just fine. The only problem is with shared store content, AFAIKT.

Don't know anything about this TSR Merlin. It will be interesting to see the reactions/opinions of others here.  As a test, try to install some store content from the Pudding Factory download thread using this program and report back.

Ai, ai! Just have to find something from the store I don`t already have installed...

EDIT

O_o...it...WORKED...

I d/l that christmas stuff set (deco), opened each s3p with merlin and installed. Opened the launcer and saw that they did show up in downloads section, but didn`t have the "installed" icon. Started the game, loaded a house and - there they were! However - where did they install? Since I bypassed the launcher, there were no files in DCCache folder. Did they go directly to my .dbc files? Coconor, I followed your instructions and moved those to my mods folder, modifying the Resource file (you know, the workin method we all used), so...did the Merlin install them there? The items don`t have a custom icon in game.

K, is someone willing to second this one?

TSR Merlin seems to install .package versions of your sims 3 package files into your "Mods" folder. I don't use TSR Merlin, because it's a buggy piece of shit, and because converting sims 3 package files into regular package files makes my game lag like crazy.  ???