How do I manually uninstall The Sims 3?

Answer
If you're having issues with the game and need to manually uninstall it as a troubleshooting measure, refer to the instructions below.

Backup the save data in Windows XP:

1. Click the Start button and select My Documents.
2. Select the Electronic Arts folder.
3. Right-click The Sims 3 folder and select Cut.
4. Right-click on your desktop and select Paste.
5. To restore your Sims 3 save games, move this folder back into the Electronic Arts folder after re-installing the game.

Backup the save data in Windows Vista:

1. Click the Start button and select Documents.
2. Select the Electronic Arts folder.
3. Right-click The Sims 3 folder and select Cut.
4. Right-click on your desktop and select Paste.
5. To restore your Sims 3 save games, move this folder back into the Electronic Arts folder after re-installing the game.

Delete the game files (in the default location):

1. Click the Start button and select My Computer.
2. Select the Local Disk (C:) drive folder.
3. Select the Program Files folder.
For 64-bit, select Program Files (X86)
4. Select the Electronic Arts folder.
5. Right-click The Sims 3 folder and select Delete.

Disclaimer: You are about to edit your registry. To avoid operational issues with your system, please follow the instructions exactly as they are written.

Backup the registry:

1. Hold down the Windows key and press R.
2. At the Run command, type in "regedit" (minus the quotes) and select OK.
3. Click on File and then Export...
4. Choose a location and name for the file; this will be your backup registry file.
5. Click Save.

Delete the registry keys:

1. Expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder.
2. Expand the SOFTWARE folder.
For 64-bit systems, expand Wow6432Node
3. Expand the Electronic Arts folder.
4. Expand the Sims folder.
5. Right-click The Sims 3 folder and select Delete.
6. Collapse the Electronic Arts folder.
7. Expand the Sims folder.
8. Right-click The Sims 3 folder and select Delete.
9. Collapse the Sims folder.
10. Expand the Microsoft folder.
11. Expand the Windows folder.
12. Expand the CurrentVersion folder.
13. Expand the Uninstall folder.
14. Delete the following folder if it appears:
• {C05D8CDB-417D-4335-A38C-A0659EDFD6B8}
11. Collapse the Microsoft folder.
12. Expand the Classes folder.
13. Delete the following folders if they appear:
• .Sims3
• .Sims3Pack
• Sims3
• Sims3Pack

Delete the uninstall files:

1. Click the Start button and select My Computer.
2. Select the Local Disk (C:) drive folder.
3. Select the Program Files folder.
4. Select Tools, then Folder Options, then View, then select "Show hidden files and folders."
5. Select the InstallShield Installation Information folder.
6. Delete the following folder if it appears:
• {C05D8CDB-417D-4335-A38C-A0659EDFD6B8}

The Sims 3 should now be completely removed from your system.


Note: I didn't write this or construct it, I found it on the Sims3 forum.

I found that uninstalling normally and then following this works better...dunno why...or maybe you're supposed to do that.... :/

You may be right Akasha! I just did it this way and still bits and pieces of the game remain. I didn't think of doing it your way, but since I obviously have to uninstall again...I think I will try it your way.

I did have a problem with that very last step...I could not find that particular file...

Yeah, when I did it they way that said, when I reinstalled, all my presets and stuff were still in the game, but if you uninstall and then follow that, it clears everything out. Also, if you have EP's and/or SP's, make sure to delete all of that as well...they have a different code, if you need them, I'll see if I can find them for you...