Sims 4 Unable To Start Because Game Data Is Missing Or Damaged
Macedonio Heninger
@mptpygh1mu2h Just to be sure, you tried moving or renaming the entire Sims 4 in Documents > Electronic Arts? If you haven't, that would be the place to start. And please make sure the folder is actually gone now, that it hasn't reappeared for one reason or another.
After a long time, I wanted to go play The Sims. Which I have a lot of expansions for.
I have a new laptop, I tried downloading the origin - I see that's no longer possible - so I downloaded the ea app.
Everything went fine, the app downloaded, I logged in. I found The Sims in the library and just got it installed. Everything went fine like that.
However, when I now turn on PLAY, the game doesn't start at all and an error message pops up, see attachment (game can't start because data is missing or corrupted).
I've tried to look up the hints, but I don't know what to do anymore. I've had the game repaired, nothing. Uninstalled and reinstalled, also nothing.
I also don't have any CAS demo installed according to the first post. So I don't know what to do
@Petulkaaa I've split your post into its own thread because this error is unrelated to the one covered in the thread where you originally posted. This isn't usually an installation error; the more common cause is the game's inability to access the user folder. That, in turn, is most often caused by OneDrive, so please try pausing syncing before launching Sims 4. You can see the option by right-clicking the cloud icon in the lower-right corner of the screen.
When I clicked on play it just came up a white square/box saying that data is missing or is damaged!? I have tried to repair several times and it doesn't work. So then I tried to reinstall but that doesn't work either. I don't have any downloaded mods or anything like that, just expansion packs from EA. Please help me!
@fippsi04 Try pausing OneDrive syncing, whether you actually use OneDrive or not. Right-click the cloud icon in the lower-right corner to see the option. If it's not there, OneDrive isn't running, and that's fine (and a good thing; please don't enable it).
If that doesn't help, please try playing in a clean user folder. Move the entire Sims 4 folder out of Documents > Electronic Arts and onto your desktop; if it copies instead of moving, or you get an error when moving it, stop here and let me know.
Otherwise, when you launch the game, if it launches, a clean folder will spawn with no content. (Your saves and other content will be intact in the folder you moved but temporarily not read by the game.) Don't add anything to the new folder yet; just let me know whether you can get far enough to start a new save and play in live mode for a bit.
I recently got a new desk top and tried to install Sims 4 onto it. Kind of at wits end at this point. I've installed it and deleted it several times, repaired it. Installed with all my owned expansions and with just the base game. I currently have no custom content, and the game has not generated a folder in my documents as far as I can tell.
@jasonjove If OneDrive is running on this computer, whether you use it or not, please try pausing syncing. You can right-click the cloud icon in the lower-right corner of the screen to see the option.
Appreciate the help. I didn't have one drive installed, but I was syncing to some folders (?) I installed OneDrive, paused syncing once it was in place, then repaired the Sims 4 file. I have not seen any change in performance, identical error when attempting launch.
If that doesn't help, please create a new admin Windows account and try there. Make it local, as in, don't link it to your Microsoft account. You'll be able to (try to) launch Sims 4 without reinstalling anything.
I would suggest disabling OneDrive again; it causes more problems than it solves. There's no need to pause syncing if it's not running in the first place, and the pause is more of a temporary workaround than a solution.
I just recently installed The Sims 4 through the EA app and since I have game pass I got the EA Play version with the Get to Work expansion. Once it installed I got an error message that says "Unable to start: Cannot start because game data is missing or damaged. If you have mods installed remove them and try again. If not, please repair or reinstall the game via Origin. [de4ee14f:29f00e76:00000000:4b0d852b]" I have tried reinstalling many times, repairing the game and reinstalling the game without my antivirus software, tried reinstalling without the pack and all gave the same message. No clue what's happening this is my first having this message.
@HuntDog022 Try uninstalling and then reinstalling Sims 4 into a different folder, one that you create fresh just for this purpose. You can call it whatever you like, just don't put it inside an existing folder. (For example, C:\Games is fine, but don't use C:\Program Files\Games.) Install while your antivirus is disabled, and test the game before reenabling the antivirus.
I have this message coming up on my game. I have uninstalled, reinstalled, repaired, refreshed my folders. also made a new user on my computer and re downloaded origin on it and that didnt work either. I updated my computer yesterday and everything was working fine prior so i assume it has something to do with that. Message: Cannot start because required game data is missing or damaged. Please repair or reinstall the game via Origin.
I have the same problem. After following all of the steps, the Sims app creates a legacy sims edition folder in the ea folder, which only contains a empty saves folder and userdata.lock and userdata.ini files. I'm booting the sims from the origin app. My iMac is running Catalina 10.55. Any other help is greatly appreciated.
I have heard about this happening to a lot of people, unfortunately I saw all the stories *after* I filed a claim. I will soon have to mail my damaged phone back. I contacted T-Force and they said that I cannot turn it in in-store since the Protection stuff all goes through Assurant. I am scared they will lose my returned phone and then bill me for it, as has happened to so many other people.
Has anyone successfully done a return with Assurant? Any advice as to how I can protect myself - like getting a receipt and buying package insurance? I've also heard filming myself boxing the phone and sending the package is good, does that really help?
And what can I do if/when they lose my phone?
Also, has anyone actually had a *good* experience with Assurant or Jump? Literally all I am seeing is horror stories.
Thanks! They're having us send it back USPS now....I got a receipt with the date, weight & tracking number, so hopefully that will be enough if they lose it.
Also, I found some stickers with the IMEI and a bar code for my broken phone, so I sent it back with one of those stuck to the glass, hopefully will help them keep track of it at the warehouse.
In the last 2 years I have had 2 warranty replacements and 2 broken screens. The last one, a warranty replacement was lost in house by T-Mobile. It was shipped UPS 3rd day with a provided label. UPS confirmed delivery to Ft Worth and was signed for by T-Mobile. Unfortunately, T-Mobile does not document the opening of received boxes and the only record they have is by scanning the phone for the IMEI. Mine was never scanned so now I am charged $860.50 for their error and sloppy bookkeeping. It would have been no better if I requested a return receipt because that does not prove that the phone was in the box. Also shipment is only insured for the minimum $100. Of course, if T-Mobile loses the phone as they did in my case, it would not be covered either. I talked to 4 experts and 2 supervisors and the best they would do is knock off a couple hundred bucks. I was told I should have returned the phone to a local store, however, when I made the claim, I was told I could not drop it off at a store. Next T-Mobile said that was done because the local store was closed, which was not true. I Did drop by the store 1 mile from me to help transfer the data, but they were not permitted to touch a phone because of the Wuhan virus
I am disputing the charge and if that does not work, I will sue them in Small Claims Court. I also contacted my Congressman who is considering consumer protection legislation for situations like this.
I want in on the lawsuit too! There is something fishy going on. Im in a similar situation right now as well. They said they received the package but no phone was inside,but my tracking of the phone through usps says it made it there within 3 days and there wasn't anything wrong with the package! Assurant says it was open and tampered with but they dont have any pictures to prove it. Its there word against mine. I sent the broken phone. Why would I keep it? I've paid my deductible and returned it. 575 dollars they are trying to charge me. Im going to get in touch with a lawyer this week! This is extortion!
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