More Awesome Than You!

I had some problems installing Sims 3 and the expansions and stuff pack in the Program Files (x86). I was getting service initialization failure. Also I was getting the 'The sims 3 is corrupt and not installed properly' error when I tried to installed Ambitions. However, when I installed them in Program Files, installation was as normal as on the 32 bit and the game could run. Does it make a difference which Program files folder I install the game in?

On XP 64-bit, my Sims games work best in the Program Files (x86) folder. What system are you using?

The location shouldn't really matter, unless Sims 3 is allergic to parentheses in directory names but I kind of doubt it. Probably just a coinkidink.

I tried it on my xp 64 bit first, it had those problems. Then I tried it on my seven 64 bit, it had the same problems. Is it harmful to my computer if I installed the game into Program Files instead of Program Files (x86)?

Program Files is for 64-bit programs, Program Files (x86) is for 32-bit programs (like The Sims 3). It's not going to harm your computer, but it's totally pointless to mix them up like that.

I would install in Program Files (x86). I tried a few times but errors arose and I was unable to proceed to ambitions without getting the sims 3 is corrupt or not properly installed error

You probably have your UAC settings too strict.

Unless you mean this error, which is absolutely useless and means nothing:

(http://i.imgur.com/72R28.jpg)

I run Sims 3 with all EPs and SPs in my own folder named games. It is not in any of the program files folders. I am on Vista 64bit. I have had no problems with it at all.

I don't think it really matters.

I don't know whether this will help, but don't install to C:/Program Files (x86)/....  Install to C:/Games/... instead.

When I try to install ambitions after I have installed WA and High Loft, this error comes out.
"setup has detected that the sims 3 is corrupt or not properly installed , setup is unabled to contiue".
However, no problems arise when I installed them into Program Files

I can confirm that location should have no importance. My TS3 installation, with all EPs and no SPs in in D:\Electronic Arts, using windows 7 64bit. When I was using Win7 32bit, I had TS3 installed on another physical hard drive entirely, not just another partition (though this should make no difference as far as I'm aware, but then, what you're experiencing shouldn't happen either, so...) and it worked. Though vista wanted the last EP in program files for some reason, if I wanted to use CC. I triple checked and it was not a framework fail - I happily merged the newly created folder with the (backup) older one (this was before ambitions) when I reinstalled the EP in C and it automagically worked. I think that eliminates the possibility of Win7 being the cause , or the fact that you use the 64bit version of it, but I don't have an explanation of why this happens.

Besides that, which was probably TL;DR for some, I have this idea: have you tried patching manually (not during the amb installation, if that's you most recent EP), before installing? Because I do vaguely remember a new patch between Amb and LN, though I might very well be wrong, and I think that's when I switched from vista to 7, and I no longer had to install the latest EP (amb, then later LN, though I had amb only on Win7) in program files instead of wherever I pleased. Simprograms, however, seems to support the existence of such a patch, by not listing LN updates for 2/3 patches available for amb, specifically the first 2 here (http://www.simprograms.com/the-sims/the-sims-3/the-sims-3-patches/the-sims-3-ambitions/).

So far it is running okay, about the same as it runs on my 32 bit. I don't normally patch my game as problems arise from it because of my non-original software. I think there's a solution for this but I have not tried it. If I have Sims 3, WA and High Loft in program files, and then Ambitions and the rest of it in Program Files x86, the game runs. I tried installing it in D and in C:/Games but the same problem arose. However, if it is in Program Files on both XP & Win 7, the game runs fine.

I will add a +1 to installing to C:\Games\. I am on Win7 x64 Ultimate, with UAC on low [sometimes off].

Works fine for me. Wish I could say the same about The Sims 1 though, it crashes unless I add -nosound to the target line -.-

Yes, we get that from the thread you created about it.  This thread is about Sims 3.

I'm running the sims 3 on a 64-bit machine without problems. The game isn't installed on C:\ though, but on a different disk.

It didn't work on my friends laptop though, she had to run setup as an admin and install to a different directory.

Is it ok/safe to install the Sims 3 base, WA and High Loft in the Program Files, while the rest of it in Program Files x86?
My save takes about 1 to 1.5 hours even with less than 1 hour of play and I don't know if it's being caused by installation in Program Files.

Do not install any games to the Program Files directories.  Install to C:/Games.

@ Jeebus
I tried to install in C:/Games. I get the error "setup has detected that the sims 3 is corrupt or not properly installed , setup is unabled to continue" when trying to install ambitions after installing the base game, WA and HL.
The game ran once when I installed the base game, WA and HL in program files, and ambitions in program files x86. Is this not advisable?
I have run out of ideas.

It is possible to install in non-default locations, I install on a different drive set-up specifically for games, and many others use a games folder as has been recommended to you.  The fact you get those messages has nothing to do with installing to a non-default location, but a sign that you have fucked something up when installing.  You're not being totally stupid and installing the EP/SPs in the same folder as the base game and thus overwriting the original game files and causing the problem?

Is there any particular reason to install games in the game folder? Are there any advantages for this?

It keeps the install away from the program files folder and the annoying UAC (if it is on) and the other crap that goes with it when you try to modify anything in there.  Plenty of people install into the default location without problems, others seem to have issues, especially if UAC is active.

I would be more concerned about the OP splitting the install between two different locations than installing into the program files folder.  They also wouldn't be the first to use the same folder when installing an EP or SP and overwrite the original game files, because they are too stupid to work out that they go into their own folders.

Pick a directory, any directory, and install them ALL there. The Program Files directory is ONLY supposed to be for x64 programs, and the Program Files (x86) is for regular 32 bit programs like The Sims.

I suggest a reinstall.

I'll try again. I'm on admin account. I would go ahead and install if not for the error.
Each EP & SP are installed into their own folders. WA and HL creates their own subfolder whereas I've to create for the others.

Make sure if you have UAC on .. that you allow the installer admin rights. It should ask but may not be for some reason.
On some setups you have to own the folder you are installing to. This means right clicking c:\games and unchecking say the read only (it often gets default turned on in the specific sort of case I am mentioning)
It will ask you if you want to do this to all folders, agree and move on.

Installing it in Program Files (x86) isn't a huge no no, but it can be a pain. It isn't nearly as painful as it used to be when one would need to alter the folders there for mod installation.
Installing to multiple directories also -shouldn't- be an issue, but it is messy and easy for the links between the files to break. Sims 3 already has so many reasons to reinstall on a hat drop it is safer and less hassle to just give it its own place to be all fubar in.


As for the full install, this might be odd but I had no issues at all installing all the main expansions .. then installing stuff packs after. Do remember you must TELL it to install to a different directory, thus a custom install.

You could have a flawed release. I just started simming again after a 2 year break, and had to reinstall 4 times changing the group source of various releases until it was error free. I have all expansions & stuff packs installed, and am patched to 1.24 on win7 x64. Runs great with no error messages...in default install directory. Awesomemod also.

@Ryslin - I'm not sure about UAC. I'm on admin account on XP 64 bit.
@SickPuppy - Normally I cannot patch, but somehow I don't know if I was lucky or did it right, I managed to patch without getting the invalid disc error.
I managed to install in the x86 Program Files but I had to download fresh copies of WA and HELS with their cracks. I'm not sure if this is an issue, but prior to this my WA and HELS were standalones.
However too, the saving time is between 1 hour to 1.5 hours and my save file is about 900 MB.

Thanks everyone!  :)

900Mb is kinda large for a single save file, but then, if you played for long enough...

Use a noCD mod rather than a crack - it helps with the invalid file errors when patching. As for UAC, I think going to control panel -> User Accounts -> change UAC settings will give you some details.

gilmar...I may be copiously reading between the lines here, but are you applying a crack before all expansions are installed?

@SickPuppy

Yes I normally apply the crack accordingly after I install each expansion. Normally on the 32 bit, after installing each expansion and pasting the crack, before I install the next expansion, it will ask me to update and I'm allowed to install afterwards. However, I've not faced any errors so far of invalid discs installing this way.

Only your most recent EP needs to be cracked, if you insist upon cracking.

Here's my install order:

The Sims 3

The Sims 3 World Adventures

The Sims 3 High End Loft Stuff

The Sims 3 Ambitions

The Sims 3 Fast Lane Stuff

The Sims 3 Late Night

The Sims 3 Outdoor Living Stuff

The Sims 3 Generations

The Sims 3 Town Life Stuff

apply 1.24.3 patch & no-dvd crack

------------------------------------------

but yeah, like Naiad says, you only need to use a crack for the last add-on you install. The crack files should be put in the base game directory (C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin).

Also, there are a lot of bad 1.24.3 cracks out there...if you want to use mine, let me know and I'll upload it tomorrow. I'm not sure if attaching it to my post would violate any forum rules.