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I just bought the Sims 3 for Mac; both EA and Apple tech support are closed, so I thought I'd try here. The game will not install; I bought Leopard (10.5.6) and got the update (10.5.7) to meet system requirements, but I get an X over the install icon and an error saying "the architecture is not supported." EA tech support said that there was some patch I must be missing. What could it be?
I'm glad you decided to ask us here at Filetonic. I hope the information I found can help you solve this problem even if EA and Apple don't offer solutions that will help at this point.
If misery loves company, then you must be feeling pretty good right now. A quick look around found a lot of Mac users who are having trouble installing and running Sims 3, but some people have proposed workaround solutions that have worked for them.
Sims 3 Requirements for Mac
First off, are you sure you meet all of the requirements? You do need Leopard 10.5.7, so it was a good move to get that. You also need 2GB of RAM and 6.1 GB free hard drive space and at least 1GB of additional space so that you can save games and have space for customizations. Sims 3 won't run on systems that are using Power PC processors or Intel GMA 950 class of integrated cards. If you have all of the right components and you still can use Sims 3, then look below and see if any of this applies.
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Rename
One user says that he had success by simply renaming the Sims 3 folder as well as the application. He inserted "_" into the name (without the quote marks) and was able to launch the program.
Workaround
It is also suspected that there is something missing in the Sims 3.app folder structure that is stopping the program from running. Try this workaround. Go to Applications and find "The Sims 3". Right click on it and select Show Package Contents. From here, you should be able to go to Contents and MacOS. Double click on "cider". A Terminal.app window should open and launch the game from here. Apparently this is the only way around the problem at the moment until the publisher of the game issues a fix.
This is such a new launch that there are bound to be issues, but I can see how frustrating this would be for you. I hope that one of these tips is your "aha" moment and you can install and play the game. Let us know how it goes, and if EA or Apple offered any other ideas.
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Kat Delong | June 4th, 2009
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Maybe you can help me. My Macbook Pro does meet all the system requirements. However, when I try to install the games, it goes through the process and gets hung up on file 206 and won't load past that. What's more, it locks up so that I can't stop the install, and I have to force quit then restart my computer to even get the disk out. I know it's downloading something somewhere, because I went from having 60 GB free, to having 54.21 GB free after two install attempts. But no folder ever gets created, no files appear, I can't find any trace of what it downloaded to erase it.
If you can help me, I'd appreciate it. Either with finding the bits of files it installed onto my computer so that I can delete them, or with actually installing the game.
If you're wondering, My system is as follows:
Leopard 10.5.7, Intel Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, Radeon X1600. Thanks for your time.
Hello, here's some information that should help:
http://filetonic.com/blog/2009/06/11/sim3-for-mac-installation-error/
Thanks! The Filetonic.com Team
Follow us at www.Twitter.com/Filetonic
Hm, so I even tried this technique of going through 'Cider' and the terminal box came up but it still wouldn't start?!
Judging by the comments we've received and chatter we've been reading online, a lot of people are having trouble with installing this game. Unfortunately, it appears that this workaround works for some but not all.
I noticed that you said The Sims 3 won't work if you are trying to run it on a PowerPC, what, if anything, can i do if the mac that i have is a PowerPC?
Sarah,
Hello, here's some information that should help:
http://filetonic.com/blog/2009/06/29/sims-3-and-powerpc-incompatibility/
Thanks! The Filetonic.com Team
Follow us at www.Twitter.com/Filetonic
I can play the game but when I go to save it won't save...it stays stuck on freeze for about an hour until i get frustrated and do a force quit...any solutions? I called EA and they were of no help to me
Hi Maria, unfortunately this problem is most often related to the game installation or system compatibility. You should make sure your system can support the game, and then follow the steps to uninstall and reinstall the game. I hope it works! Thanks, the Filetonic.com team
i need to reload the game but cant find my box with serial number? what do i do???
Tara,
Hello, here's some information that should help:
http://filetonic.com/blog/2009/07/21/lost-sims3-serial-number/
Thanks! The Filetonic.com Team
Hey.
Can anyone help me?
I cannot save my game! My MB Pro freezes and I have to force quit. Noone seems to have a solution for this yet, any ideas?
Haven't found any information on this one. Does your computer meet all the specs? Do you have all of the latest updates for Sims3 as well as for your MacBook?
i just bought the sims 3 and i tried installing it but when it came to the screen during installation where you put in the code that is on the back of the manual it is stuck... It won't let me click on the continue button to go on and I already put in the whole code. I have tried restarting and everything
Christina, what operating system are you using? After rebooting and trying again, do you have the same error? Is there an error message of any kind?
I can't seem to install the sims 3 either... Everytime I'm installing it, it gets stuck at a certain point and it'll never finnish the installation...
Yes, I'm having the same problem... when I get to the part to enter the code it just won't let me click continue. My Mac meets all of the requirements and there is no error message, it just simply won't let you click continue.
Hey, I tried installing my game, everything worked fine but when it comes to the installation point, it gets stuck at 3 out of 517 files remaining. Yesterday I got it at 10 files, but then it got stuck again and now it won't past 3 files. I've tried almost everything and it won't work. :/
I've checked all of my system requirements and should be good-to-go on my iMac. However, like the poster above, I am stuck at 3 of 237 files. Initially, my machine was having trouble reading the disk at all, but once it did it was smooth sailing until this point.
Does anyone know anything about it stalling out?? I've rebooted my machine and force-quit the installer three times hoping I could get past this point. Ugh!
The game is then a waste of time and money - how can they release something and sell it for such a price if it doesn't f-ing work! To some money doesn't grow on tree's! I'm taking it back to the store and demanding my money back! If there is one thing EA needs to understand - its that customer satisfaction is always important, no matter how BIG a company thinks they are! Its the last time i purchase an EA game
I have a different problem. Sim3 installs fine if I don't accept the update offered. If I accept the update it seems to complete the install process fine but does not restart and locks up the app. Nothing will help except to uninstall and re-install the app and run it without completing the update. Tried all variations of installing including creating it's own administraor account on the system. Newish iMac, meets all specs.
Thanks
Michael
i hate this it dosent even work im stuck at this stupid point
Okay I'm having trouble installing the sims 3 and it gets stuck at continue too look what I found on their website...
ANSWER
If you are having trouble installing The Sims 3 from an install disk, follow the troubleshooting steps below:
Cover the basics
Make sure you have a a DVD drive, and not a CD drive.
Furthermore, make sure your DVD drive can read Dual-Layer DVDs.
Determining if you have a faulty disk
Make a note of the exact file that is causing the installation to crash (you should be able to see what file is being installed in the installation progress bar).
Try installing your game again. If your installation comes to a stop when the disk tries to install the same file as before, then you most likely have a faulty disk.
How to solve the problem
If you discover you have a DVD drive that does not read Dual-Layer DVDs, you might want to opt for a digital version of Sims 3.
If you have a faulty disk, and fall under our 90-day warranty, click here to read our Warranty policy.
FAULTY DISK??? WTF IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? NOW I HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOAD OF CRAP TO GET A NEW ONE??? >:( wow never buying from EA again...
Okay I just tried on my computer and it won't work becuz it won't continue but NOW I tried on my rommies computer and it let me??? WTH??
i have the same problem my solution is just to buy another game and return the one that you already have... i want to sue... until then buying another game is the only solution.
Installation freezes after 486 files of 577, when there's 7 minutes left. I have a mac osx 10.6.6. Can you please help.
Im having a slightly different problem. I can completely install the game but when i go to try to start it, it says "unknown error occurred" I installed the updates and they finished and I tried opening it through cider. Nothing is working!! Please help!!
I have a problem with downloading the sims 3, every time I try downloading it onto my Mac OS X it goes through the whole process and nothing is wrong, but when i try to open it up it says i can get an updated version, weather i press ok or cancel both ways it doesn't work and nothing happens, i meet all the requirements and i am getting very frustrated, any help would be appreciated .
I have a new Mac Book Pro, and installing sims3 was the easy part. The game loads as it should, and then when i choose a family to play, my pc freezes until i force quit.. Anyone know what i can do?
for the people who it wouldnt let click continue during the key code entry i had the same problem, i enetered one letter then it would lee me continue dont type anymore and just install it :)
hope i helped