Mod The Sims - CAW and Sims 3 Version Mismatch Work-Around

Reproduced with permission of Kiritra; I have reworded it slightly so any errors are most likely mine. Please correct me if you spot any mistakes, or can offer any improvements!

The original thread was here; not much is left now I'm afraid.
http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=450303

CAW and Sims 3 version mismatch work around explained

Please first follow all steps in this guide regarding removal of custom content and clearing caches.

This should work in all cases where your game is newer then your CAW version (that is to say after a new patch), but isn't likely to work when you don't have the latest EP or SP (see below).

This condition will usually result in the following error:

STEP 0 Be sure that you are using a CAW version that is compatible with your game version; if you have the latest EP or SP then it is likely you want the lastest CAW:
Download it from the EA Site at this link. <----newest version.

If you do not have the latest EP/ SP then please see the table below; each CAW version will only work with compatible game versions because it is coded to look for files from the new EPs, when this is the case it normally crashes to desktop, runs Launcher instead of EIG mode or else gives one of the following errors:

STEP 1 Be sure that User Account Control is disabled if you are on Win 7 or Vista (Google 'turning off UAC'), otherwise you will not be able to edit the files. Remember to re-enable UAC after you have completed this!

If you still get an error that you don't have permission to edit the file:

Quote:

Originally Posted by auntielynds

Take a deep breath. You can try opening it as administrator, or, copy it to the desktop, alter and save, then replace the original with the altered one.

STEP 2 Locate your game folder, by default:
32 Bit Operating System: C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\[Latest EP or SP intalled]\Game\Bin
64 Bit Operating System: C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\\[Latest EP or SP intalled]\Game\Bin

For Digital (Origin) and Steam versions:

Quote:

Originally Posted by simsample

The Steam versions are irrelevant as regards this thread, as CAW will not work with the Steam versons. The Steam install has a different game version, also it has different reg keys and a different file structure. The advice for Steam gamers seems to be to install the Origin version of the game if they want to run CAW:
http://forums.steampowered.com/foru...d.php?t=1746411

The Origin versions of the game are now installed to [Game Install Location] \Origin Games \The Sims(T) 3, which on a default install would be C:\Program Files (x86) \Origin Games \The Sims(TM) 3 or C:\Program Files \Origin Games \The Sims(TM) 3.

If you still cannot find your game install location then right click the shortcut you use to start the game, choose 'properties' and then 'open file location'.

STEP 3 In your Game\Bin folder, backup the Default.ini file. To do this, copy it to a safe location so that you can restore it later should you need to.

STEP 4 Locate your CAW folder, by default:
32 Bit Operating System: C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 Create a World Tool
64 Bit Operating System: C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 Create a World Tool
Or right click the short you use to start the CAW, choose properties, then open file location.

STEP 5 In your CAW folder, open the Default.ini file with notepad -if you get a file access error see step 1.

STEP 6 Find the section of the file that looks like this:

Code:

     [Version]   
               languages=en-us,fr-fr,es-es,es-mx,de-de,it-it,nl-nl,sv-se,
                             da-dk,no-no,fi-fi,pl-pl,pt-pt,hu-hu,cs-cz,
                             pt-br,el-gr,ru-ru,ko-kr,zh-hk,ja-jp   
               GameVersion = 1.11.12.012037 
               CompatVersion = 12
               WorldBuilderCompatibilityVersion = 9

Copy it to the clipboard by highlighting the last 2 lines (CompatVersion & WorldBuilderCompatibilityVersion) and pressing Ctrl-c or right click copy.
Please note the numbers in your section might be way different depending on your version of CAW it doesn't matter copy it, this what CAW requires to work.

Close the Default.ini file without saving.

STEP 7 Return to the sims game folder from step 2, open the Default.ini from the Game/Bin folder with notepad. Again, if you get a file access error see step 1.

STEP 8 Find the section of the file that looks like this

Code:

     [Version]    
              languages=en-us,fr-fr,es-es,es-mx,de-de,it-it,nl-nl,sv-se,
                             da-dk,no-no,fi-fi,pl-pl,pt-pt,hu-hu,cs-cz,
                             pt-br,el-gr,ru-ru,ko-kr,zh-hk,ja-jp 
               GameVersion = 1.11.12.012037 
               CompatVersion = 12
               WorldBuilderCompatibilityVersion = 9

Highlight the last 2 lines (CompatVersion & WorldBuilderCompatibilityVersion) and hit ctrl-V or right click paste, to replace it with the version that you copied earlier. Save and close the Default.ini file.

STEP 9 Turn UAC back on if you turned it off in step one.

STEP 10 Before patching to a new version, restore the backup of Default.ini to the Sims 3 Game/Bin folder, or the patch will fail. To do this, copy the backup Default.ini file and paste it into the location in Step 2.

If you didn't make a backup and need to patch, try downloading the full version of the patch, which should work.

Using this method, others from here and MATY have had good results.
I REPEAT: this is for cases where you game is newer then CAW

In Cases where EPs/Sps are missing-
Look for the latest EP/SP that you own, on the table below.
The patch levels for both the EP/SP and the base game are the maximum that can be used with that version of CAW, patches of a lower version are fine but higher will break CAW.
Also, if you don't have Town Life Stuff and/or Generations you can't run CAW 1.11.10 plus, or patch 1.24.3 with CAW 1.11.9 or lower, it will not work.

Old CAS version downloads from: Auntielynds

the table below
CAW Version	BG Version	Expansion	patch	Stuff Pack	patch
1.5.126	1.8.25	World Adv	2.3.33*
1.6.72 from 1.5.126 *This is a patch	1.11.7	World Adv.	2.6.11	High End Loft	3.2.8*
1.9.14	1.14.11	Ambitions	4.2.32*	High End Loft	3.5.8
1.9.16	1.15.34	Ambitions	4.3.4	Fast Lane	5.0.44*
1.10.9	1.17.60	Late Night	6.0.81	Fast Lane	5.2.4
1.10.9	1.18.9	Late Night	6.1.11	Fast Lane	5.4.4
1.11.4	1.19.44	Late Night	6.2.4	Outdoor Living	7.0.55*
1.11.9	1.21.123	Late Night	6.2.4	Outdoor Living	7.0.55
1.11.10	1.22.9	Generations	8.0.152*	Outdoor Living	7.3.2
1.11.12	1.24.3	Generations	8.0.152	Town Life	9.0.73*

*This SHOULD work without the fix as it is the patch level and CAW version intended, if not perform the above fix.

Apply the steps above to both EA's latest EP/SP that you own and the basegame sims 3 folder, that is to say do steps 2-8 to in both the basegame sims 3 folder and the newest Stuff pack or expansion folder, steps 1 and 9 only need to be done at the start and the end of it.

Tested CAW 1.11.12 with base game patch level 1.24.3
Tested CAW 1.6.72 with WA no patches beyond those required to install WA...
Tested CAW 1.9.16 With WA & AMB no patches beyond those required to install AMB..
Tested CAW 1.11.9 with LATE AMB WA no patches beyond those required to install Late night...
Tested CAW 1.11.12 With GENE, LATE, AMB, & WA, patch 1.24.3.....
Again always the newest if you have GENE but do not have any combo of WA, AMB or LATE, it is still CAW 1.11.12 and patch 1.24.3

Again, full credit to Kiritra for this information; also thanks to auntielynds for the CAW archives, and to all others who contributed by testing.

15th Oct 2011, 2:22 AM	#2
Merit Test Subject Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 18	Thanks for reposting, Simsample. Stuff happens, but it's still unfortunate. Do you think they are going to update for Pets or will they wait until a patch for Pets is made?
Merit Test Subject Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 18	All the powers in the universe are already ours. It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark. ~Swami Vivekananda

15th Oct 2011, 9:47 AM	#3
simsample Original Poster 'Death, death, death' Until the sun cries morning Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 16,822 Thanks: 7907 in 83 Posts 18 Achievements View My Journal	I am fully expecting that they will release an update of CAW for Pets, so if you install Pets be sure to backup your CAW projects!
	I will choose a path that's clear- I will choose free will RUSH Headlong Flight Performing Arts Award Star Rush OC Please check out my profile policies before PMing me! Thanks.

17th Oct 2011, 5:09 AM	#4
LadyGreenEyes649 Field Researcher Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 282	Was posting on the old thread, but guess this is the new one. Just wanted to say THANK YOU!!! Finally got Generations, followed the steps, and it WORKS!!! YAY! doing virtual cartwheels SO happy. Thanks, Kinitra, and SimSample, for posting these tips. Know where I will look if we have the same issue after pets! Did I mention you all ROCK?

17th Oct 2011, 11:48 AM	#5
BloomsBase Mad Poster Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,962 Thanks: 1589 in 20 Posts 11 Achievements	Thank you! Did the trick

24th Oct 2011, 7:49 AM	CAW Update #6
horsinround1974 Test Subject Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 5	I haven't used CAW since I began with the Sims 3, but decided to start tonight. Upon looking at the version when I opened CAW I was a bit concerned that it might not be the right one for Pets, so I started looking around, and was lead to this thread. When I opened both of my default ini files they said "CompatVersion = 13 WorldBuilderCompatibilityVersion = 10". I'm assuming this means that CAW has already been updated for Pets, as I have it installed, and everything matches up. Now I get to figure out how to use CAW, and eventually I might learn to make some CC of my own. I've been playing the Sims since the beginning, and using lots of custom stuff all along, but am anxious to learn how to do some of this stuff on my own.

26th Oct 2011, 9:55 PM	#7
simsample Original Poster 'Death, death, death' Until the sun cries morning Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 16,822 Thanks: 7907 in 83 Posts 18 Achievements View My Journal	horsinround1974, yes- CAW was updated for Pets pretty quickly. It even seemed to work for those without Pets (basegame 1.26) so hopefully you won't have any problems!
	I will choose a path that's clear- I will choose free will RUSH Headlong Flight Performing Arts Award Star Rush OC Please check out my profile policies before PMing me! Thanks.

27th Oct 2011, 12:04 AM	#8
BloomsBase Mad Poster Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,962 Thanks: 1589 in 20 Posts 11 Achievements	i had to change them again after the patch......

30th Oct 2011, 9:29 AM	Help? #9
pillowsforpresident Test Subject Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 4	I still get the error message, even though in the default.ini the last two lines are now matching is it something i'm doing wrong? Edit: Nevermind, i just uninstalled my stuffpack and updated my base game, it works fine now!
	Last edited by pillowsforpresident : 30th Oct 2011 at 10:34 AM.

6th Nov 2011, 3:32 AM	#10
MintyZoi Test Subject Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 35	Is 1.11.12 still current? I have pets now so I want to make sure I am up to date.
MintyZoi Test Subject Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 35	*The two most common elements in the world are hydrogen* and stupidity. I happen to possess both.** (Underneath spoiler is pretty, helpful links)

6th Nov 2011, 10:34 AM	#11
simsample Original Poster 'Death, death, death' Until the sun cries morning Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 16,822 Thanks: 7907 in 83 Posts 18 Achievements View My Journal	MintyZoi, I updated the first post- the current version is 1.13.3, the link is the same though (as EA always upload the current file to the same location).
	I will choose a path that's clear- I will choose free will RUSH Headlong Flight Performing Arts Award Star Rush OC Please check out my profile policies before PMing me! Thanks.

20th Nov 2011, 12:36 PM	#12
Shelly1991 Lab Assistant Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 60	I have all the EP's but none off the SP's so wich version should i use? Grtz

20th Nov 2011, 1:01 PM	#13
simsample Original Poster 'Death, death, death' Until the sun cries morning Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 16,822 Thanks: 7907 in 83 Posts 18 Achievements View My Journal	Shelley, if you have Pets then you should use the latest version of CAW, which you can download here: http://llnw.thesims3.com/content/gl...w/worldtool.exe
	I will choose a path that's clear- I will choose free will RUSH Headlong Flight Performing Arts Award Star Rush OC Please check out my profile policies before PMing me! Thanks.

21st Nov 2011, 6:50 PM	#14
Shelly1991 Lab Assistant Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 60	It's still not working i have no clue of what i'm doing wrong please help me

23rd Nov 2011, 3:22 PM	#15
simsample Original Poster 'Death, death, death' Until the sun cries morning Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 16,822 Thanks: 7907 in 83 Posts 18 Achievements View My Journal	What game version is your game? I need to know the version of all EPs and basegame. http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title...ind_Gameversion
	I will choose a path that's clear- I will choose free will RUSH Headlong Flight Performing Arts Award Star Rush OC Please check out my profile policies before PMing me! Thanks.

23rd Nov 2011, 5:13 PM	#16
Shelly1991 Lab Assistant Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 60	GameVersion Basegame = 1.26.89.013002, GameVersion Ambitions = 4.0.87.006001 GameVersion Pets = 10.0.96.013001 GameVersion Generations = 8.0.152.011001 GameVersion Late Night = 6.0.81.009001 GameVersion World Adventures = 2.0.86.002002 Thanks for helping me!

23rd Nov 2011, 7:01 PM	#17
simsample Original Poster 'Death, death, death' Until the sun cries morning Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 16,822 Thanks: 7907 in 83 Posts 18 Achievements View My Journal	World Adventures, Ambitions and Late Night are unpatched. This doesn't matter for normal gameplay, but some people have experienced problems with CAW and unpatched games, so it's worth patching those to try. http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title...elp:Patch_Table http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title...wnload/Archived
	I will choose a path that's clear- I will choose free will RUSH Headlong Flight Performing Arts Award Star Rush OC Please check out my profile policies before PMing me! Thanks.
	Last edited by simsample : 23rd Nov 2011 at 7:29 PM. Reason: Corrected mistake! Sorry Shelly.

23rd Nov 2011, 7:25 PM	#18
Shelly1991 Lab Assistant Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 60	Can't find the newest patch for generations

23rd Nov 2011, 7:29 PM	#19
simsample Original Poster 'Death, death, death' Until the sun cries morning Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 16,822 Thanks: 7907 in 83 Posts 18 Achievements View My Journal	Sorry, I mistyped- I meant Ambitions. Generations doesn't need patching. So to clarify, you need Ambitions patched to 4.10, Late Night patched to 6.5, and World Adventures patched to 2.17, as on the patch table I linked.
	I will choose a path that's clear- I will choose free will RUSH Headlong Flight Performing Arts Award Star Rush OC Please check out my profile policies before PMing me! Thanks.

23rd Nov 2011, 7:42 PM	#20
Shelly1991 Lab Assistant Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 60	It still not working i reinstalled but still no luck

25th Nov 2011, 7:47 PM	#21
simsample Original Poster 'Death, death, death' Until the sun cries morning Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 16,822 Thanks: 7907 in 83 Posts 18 Achievements View My Journal	So what are your game versions now? And what is the gameversion of your CAW?
	I will choose a path that's clear- I will choose free will RUSH Headlong Flight Performing Arts Award Star Rush OC Please check out my profile policies before PMing me! Thanks.

2nd Dec 2011, 12:34 PM	#22
kchaos Test Subject Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 48	Hi. I'm reporting a prob with my CAW: after I've played in-game it doesn't load the .world file anymore. It does load a bkp file with the same name. I own no CC at all, and my games patches are the following: - Base Game 1.26.89 - Ambitions 4.10.1 - Pets 10.0.96 - CAW 1.13.3 (.ini files also checked, were already compatible) I've cleared all caches files, no results..... Is there any solutions I haven't read yet? Thank you so much!

2nd Dec 2011, 1:44 PM	#23
simsample Original Poster 'Death, death, death' Until the sun cries morning Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 16,822 Thanks: 7907 in 83 Posts 18 Achievements View My Journal	Try reinstalling CAW, as it helped for this person: http://www.the-isz.com/nraas/index....-w-major-issue/
	I will choose a path that's clear- I will choose free will RUSH Headlong Flight Performing Arts Award Star Rush OC Please check out my profile policies before PMing me! Thanks.

2nd Dec 2011, 2:16 PM	#24
kchaos Test Subject Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 48	yep, that's what I've done right now, downloading it from the link you gave above. what i hadn't tried before was loading a small world, which works. but than, again, a bigger world makes it crash....

2nd Dec 2011, 3:09 PM	#25
simsample Original Poster 'Death, death, death' Until the sun cries morning Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 16,822 Thanks: 7907 in 83 Posts 18 Achievements View My Journal	All large worlds make it crash? What are your system specs? A lot of people with lower end computers have been having crashing with CAW since Pets, it seems that the system requirements have increased significantly.
	I will choose a path that's clear- I will choose free will RUSH Headlong Flight Performing Arts Award Star Rush OC Please check out my profile policies before PMing me! Thanks.