This might interest you, Rohina:
http://www.simbology.com/smf/index.php?topic=7850.0;topicseen

Seriously, I just didn't pay attention to the fact that the TS3W file was an .exe.  I know that the exe files are important.  I just got a little click happy and didn't bother to pay attention to that particular one.  I am willing to admit to fucking up, and I DID admit to being new for doing this for the Sims 3.  I never had an issue with 2 or any of the other games I've ever downloaded and cracked...and I've been doing this for a very long time.  I just screwed up, ONCE. 

I didn't believe it was the Arr'd copies at fiirst because, on the site where I downloaded them, other people had said that they had been able to update the game successfully without having to screw with the cracks.  I didn't say it couldnt possibly be the issue, just that I didn't THINK it was.  And than, when I went to remove the cracks, I was unable to find a non cracked version of that file.

Kissing_Toast, I don't understand why I shouldn't use the cracks for Arr'd copies, when everything else I've seen says I should.  Would you please explain?

Jeremycraig, I honestly didn't realize it was an exe file.  I just didn't pay attention to that.  There is also a file in there the crack that I KNOW is an exe file, and it lists the EP number in it (which is what makes it obvious to me).  I should have paid more attention, and I'm not denying that at all.  But thats not really a N00b mistake.  Pets if the first EP for the sims 3 I've downloaded this way, and the cracks for the stuff packs didn't touch that particular file.  That said, I DID have the sense to try to find a non cracked version of that file to put in, but I couldn't find it on the ISO, so I asked for help.  I may be somewhat new to downloading for the sims 3, but I'm certainly not new to cracking games and the like in general, so I apologize for ranting, but I didn't think there was cause to insult me.  I do appreciate your help, though.

Jeromycraig, thank you for telling me that.  I didn't know that the TS3W file was an .exe file, but in all honestly, I can't find a non cracked version in the download of the Pets EP.  I did a search through all the folders, and its not there.  The only one that is there is in the "fairlight"  folder, which is the crack, so I can't just copy the thing off of the ISO.  Thank you for he advice, though, because I think I've realized how to fix the problem.  I  ought to be able to make a copy of that file before I install the crack after reinstalling.  I was hoping to be able to find that file on the disk so I didn't have to reinstall, but I cant find the thing, if it's there.  Anyway, thank you for the help.

Kissing_Toast, no dip, Sherlock.  That thought obviously never occured to me because I am such an incompetant n00b that I have absolutely idea what the fuck I'm doing, certainly haven't been doing this for years, and was, by no means, obviously just momentarily confused because I was unable to locate the invalid file on the goddamn disk.  So, maybe instead of being so arrogant as to believe that anyone who knows what they're doing doesn't make any mistakes and insulting people who attempt to politely ask for help why don't you just shut your mouth?

Jeromycraig, everything I downloaded I followed the intructions for to a T.  I'm not a total, N00b, you know.  I wouldn't be updating through the launcher, but I couldn't find this patch available elsewhere yet.  I also mentioned that I had this same issue before, but it managed to resolve itself without my having to do anything.  I think it might have been because I installed a new EP, but I can't remember for sure.  If you know how I might be able to get the update to work, I'd really appreciate you telling me.

What is LAA?  I've seriously looked up everytyhing I could find on this problem, and I can't get I can't get it to update no matter what I do.  It seems to find thinvalid file somewhere around the TS3W file, and I attempted to replace it, but I can't even find a file to replace it with.  THe one thats in there is a cracked one that came with Pets, but Pets didn't appear to come with a NON cracked one.  There isn't a copy of it on the base game disc, either.

I could use some help here.  I have 1.26.089 and I cannot get this patch.  Everytime I download it, it goes all the way to the very end and says "Invalid File Found" and won't let me install it.  I had this issue before, but one day it just randomly let me patch the game, so I have no idea how to fix it.  I have a couple of Arr'd SPs and the Pets EP, but I don't think that should be causing the issue, and I did try with my firewall off.  Could someone please tell me what's going on?

Im sorry for the double post, but everytime I saved an edit to my previous post it wouldn't take, so I just gave up.

Anyway, I finally got the bloody thing to work by installing a decrapified sims3pack of the pet shop while still keeping the lot file I made earlier in my libraries folder.  I'm not sure if this was the smartest way to go about fixing it, but it did work.  I figured I'd let everyone know what worked for me in case someone else ends up with the same issue.  Thanks again for all the help!

Thank you, Menaceman.  In that case, I do use Awesome Mod.  Can't play without it.

Sorry I couldn't get back to you until now.  I had to leave yesterday to help my husband take care of his grandparents for the night.  I don't think I decrappified the sims3 pack that I extracted the lot from, but I could always redownload it and try again to make absolutely sure.  I read something on here that said that decrapping the register breaks it.  I don't have a seperate download of the register, so I know I don't have decrapified version of that by itself.  If by AM you mean the Ambitions pack, I have that, too.  I've got all the EP's, just not the SPs.  In the downloads option for the store stuff, there are a few different posts with uploaded versions of the store...maybe I grabbed a bad one?  Which one did you grab?

I did what you said and now the store is showing up perfectly and it looks like everythings in it.  So, thank you again for that.  The only issue is that when I click on the register is says "browse" all greyed out because the store is closed.  I waitied for several in game hours (it was during the day) and no one came to open it.  Does it sometimes take a while to spawn or hire a worker or is this a sign that I screwed up?

Morriganrant, thank you so much!  I will go give that a go right now.  I really appreciate you explaining that to me, because I was extrememly confused and I have a much better grasp of the actual install process now thanks to you.  Again, thank you very, very much!

Just making sure I understood, the .package file that I downloaded of the store (which seems to allow me acess to the register and, I'm assuming, te other items) should just go directly into the library folder? 

Okay, I'm completely prepared to get flamed, but I did try to do my research properly, so please bear that it mind.

Anyway, I cannot get the limited edition pet shop to show up in my game no matter what I do.  I downloaded the sims 3 pack, decrapified it and that didn't work (obviously, I read after I tried that that with that item decrapping breaks the register), so I removed it and installed it from a clean sims3 pack and that didn't work either.  Finally, I tried downloading a merged .package file that someone on here posted, and that DID work, I think....because I found the register in buy mode so I assume the other items are there, too.  But, the lot doesn't show up in the bin.  I even tried moving the sims3 packs into the library folder (I'm not sure if I did that right, I didn't really follow the post that suggested it), but still, no lot.  Could someone please tell me what to do to get that bloody lot to show up?

When I went to reply to the original, there was a picture that said that necromancy was bad and if it had been more than 30 days since the last reply was posted, that I should consider starting a new thread. 

I just found the thread for alternative no 20k handout here:http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,12283.0.html  Instead of reviving it, I figured it would be best to start a new thread to ask if it was ever completed.  The most recent update was from a couple of years ago saying that a version 2 was in progress.