Install Sims3pack Without Launcher

[Tordis Hurrle]

Ifeel kind of silly now, I wonder if the launcher issue crashing or having to manually exit it had to do with the login issue the launcher was having. It sounds like EA looked into the issue and it's been fixed. See EA_Mage's post in the thread linked below.

However, I think I figured out how to address this issue. For those who don't want to play offline, or who cannot or would rather not bypass the launcher, this problem can be solved simply by deleting the Sims3logs file in the game folder (Documents\EA\TS3). When that file is absent, the launcher won't run in the tray, and it won't throw an alert about an upload in progress when the launcher is closed. I've never seen any claims that Sims3logs contains necessary information, or that deleting it has consequences for ongoing games, although I haven't experimented with my main game folder. (If anyone knows what this file does, or any reason it might be important, please post here.)

I do take screenshots and then I rename them and move them over to my private files ... I don't post them online. If others here also do the same thing - then perhaps there's a screenshot count "flag" that has toggled in an ini file or something.

I know the game is still full of errors - all those negative 1 (-1) totals. Two minus two doesn't equal negative 1 and that issue has plagued other parts of the game since day 1. MAYBE the screenshot count flag also has that negative 1 problem. I don't remember if that's a memory leak error or a divide by zero error. Regardless ... MAYBE it's the screenshot count.

@TrexterZiam When I deleted the Sims3logs file, I could open and close the launcher as many times as I wanted without getting the uploading message, whether I was logged in or not. But after reading your comment, I spawned another clean game folder, loaded a new save, took 109 screenshots (because it turns out I can't count as well as I thought), saved the game, and quit. Once again, both errors issues resurfaced, but when I deleted the Sims3logs file again, both issues went away. I never deleted anything else, nor did I move my screenshots out of the game folder. Perhaps your system is behaving differently than mine, but deleting the one file seems to do the trick for me.

And yes, the file will regenerate and needs to be deleted every time you quit the game, but many of us clear our cache files after every session anyway, so for us it wouldn't be that big a deal to add one more file to the list.

I should reiterate that you don't need to play offline and bypass the launcher; one or the other will suffice. So if online play is your goal, you can just use the launcher bypass without bothering with any of the other fixes. You, or anyone who can't bypass the launcher, could even start the game offline and then reconnect at the Main Menu, logging in there to get the benefits of playing online, and the launcher would still probably behave itself.

I have noticed just like you mentioned - deleting the Sims3Logs.xml and Sims3LauncherLogFile.log from the Sims 3 folder is a great work-around. I usually delete those files along with the cache files just after I exit the game and don't have any problems.

In testing the launcher just now - basically opening the launcher and closing it a few times, it gave me the upload process error. Looking in the Sims 3 folder it only shows the Sims3LauncherLogFile.log

I don't play logged in. I don't log in unless I'm downloading stuff from the store. But haven't needed to do that for a long while as I've downloaded all owned store content earlier this year into a new folder and backed that up.

I've tested the start game offline, and open the launcher while offline. If you close it while offline - it closes without issue. If you go back online while still in game, and launcher open. It will give you the upload process error. As some how it detects it's back online and will try to call home so to speak.

Correct in that deleting just the log.xml the launcher works correctly - but - as soon as you play it rebuilds the file (minus all the accumulated specs it records) and then the subsequent start of the launcher is SOStuff again - won't close because it's in permanent uploading mode.

Thank you for testing out my screenshot theory. I think you are correct, the log file is the problem, that is what it is permanently uploading and gets stuck going nowhere. Even so, deleting that file is a one shot fix and it is re-broken again as soon as you play the game again.

Again, the issues with the launcher running in the tray and claiming to be uploading when closed out can both be remedied by removing the Sims3Logs file from the TS3 game folder in Documents. (As @172e3cda00349872 has mentioned, the Sims3LauncherLogFile may also be involved, although this has not been the case for me in particular.) But even better, the files' properties can be changed in a way that disallows whatever nonsense has been going on with the launcher. The path is:

This was enough to make the launcher behave as normal on my Windows 10 setup, but if it's necessary to go further, checking all the "deny" boxes for Admin, System, and appears to have no negative effects on the game. And this change can be undone just as easily, simply by unchecking the boxes again.

@172e3cda00349872 Thanks so much for sharing the the info about the launcher installs. It's good to hear that everything still works as it should. I don't think any of us want to have to scrap this workaround and start from scratch again.

If you do run into any trouble, though, please post back so we can try to sort it out. It's always good to have a few different people looking over the issues that crop up, especially now that the game is out of development and players have to figure out these things for ourselves.

I have recieved a few complaints during my time here at TSR that my Lots fail to install with the Launcher. I find this very disturbing. I have had some people test my lots in-game with 100% success, so I know the files aren't broken or anything, but when others tell me that they don't work, I get very confused. As of November 2016 I only have the WORLD ADVENTURES, AMBITIONS, AND LATE NITE EPs, and NO SPs at all, so any lots of mine dated before November 2015 do NOT require ANY EPs or SPs. Therefore, The problem clearly lies with who has certain CC properly installed, and who doesn't. With lots made ater November 2015, you may need to update your game to the latest patch or game EP I have to get them to appear. As of March 2016, I am currently using Patch Update 1.29, so as to avoid all the social crap nonsense going on with Showtime.

1.) PACKAGE FILES: as I ALWAYS say on my Downloads pages: You NEED to INSTALL the Extra CC Not Included files before you install my Lots and Sims into your Launcher, or it won't work! Download ALL of EA's FREE sets and things, including Riverview, at The Store if the frakking Launcher keeps telling you you're missing something.

When I list Package files I use in my creations, you MUST follow THE LINKS I give you, and download EVERYTHING I tell you to. The Launcher cannot read Package files, so you must already have the Package files in your Packages folder under Mods (under Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Mods/Packages. If you don't know what a Package file or Mods folder is, go her to learn what to do: =Sims 3: Installing Package Files. DO NOT try to install my Lots or Sims creatios in the Launcher without having FIRST put all the necessary Package files in you Packages folder. DO NOT.

2.) STORE STUFF (RIVERVIEW): Riverview is a MUST. REGISTER your Base Game at EA's TS3 site, and download the world--it's FREE (thank goodness). A lot of CC I use on my landscapes comes from Riverview--stuff like the wood logs and the scarecrow, especially.

2b.) STORE STUFF (WORLDS): I currently have Barnacle Bay, Hidden Springs and Lunar Lakes installed. There is exclusive CC that comes with these worlds that I may or may not use, so if you think something is missing, it might be one of these 3 Store Worlds.

3.) STORE STUFF (FREEBIES): As I said abouve, I recommend that you download it ALL. Any and everything Free at The Store: GET IT. I did, and I may or not use any of these CC objects/clothes in my creations. Sometimes I use them without even realizing it, and TSR does not always list what is included in the creations, I have come to realize. If you don't know what is being offered freely, this is a good site to see everything all at once, and then go to the Store and get them:

3b.) STORE STUFF (FREEBIES--ACHIEVEMENTS and MYSTERY BUNDLES): I learned a Mod the Sims a few weeks/months back that was possible to get FREE THINGS at The Store by uploading your sim Memories to the website. Eager for anything my broke behind didn't have to pay for, I started uploading my Memories to My Studio, and sure enough I received a lot of cool things from EA, which are all listed here: -help.blogspot.com/2011/05/news-memories-and-sims-3-store.html so besure to Upload your Memories, folks, so you can get the freebies too! ^0^ Also, a few moths ago EA started including a few TSM to TS3 conversions as Mystery Bundle PRIZES for buying simpoint bundles at the Store. I have them ALL. You can see images and learn more about Mystery Items here: =3877

4.) STORE STUFF (PAY): I won't name individual files, but I'll list Store Sets I own that I might USE STUFF from Mediterranean Life, Viva Las Vegas Living, Regency Arcade, Olympia Physique, Morrocco Mystique, Buccaneer's Bounty, Hacienda Luxury, Indulgent Living, Zen Againn, Asian Fusion, Old Town Starter, Worldly Goodies: Adrenaline Rush, Transportation to the Future, Pushin Pedals, Speedy Styles, ALL Futureshock, More Magic, Steampunk (plus Retur and Kitchen), ALL Street Couture, Through the Spyglass Bedroom, Frontier Finds Living Room, ALL Faire, Folk Life, Gothique Living and Sleeping, ALL Regal Living, Victorian Fashions, Complete Castle Kits, Tiki Living and Dining, Mid Century Fantasy Living, Killer Classics and Three Lakes, Boho Vintage Womens, ALL Jazz Age, Bayside Laundry and Kitchen, ALL Storybook.

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