So I just installed sims 3, and was perusing the exchange, looking for items to add before I start playing.

Well some download, and some give me this message, along with a red circle that is crossed out.

"Installation failed. You must install the associated premium content before installing this style"

Ok well after some searching, I thought maybe it had to do with my firewall, so I turned that off. Still no dice. Then I saw I might have to download something from the store, that goes along with it? (make sense?). Well I got 1000 simpoints free with the game, so I bought this dress, and then when I tried to download an identical dress (just a different pattern) in the exchange, it still won't let me, and gives me that same error.

So what gives? How do I fix this?
I'm using win7 if that makes a difference.

I had the same problem- make sure you buy the original item from the "store" - I did that and still had no luck downloading. I finally got it to work by going to this site through aol- for some reason I can download any store items that way- but if I just start the launcher from the game- nothing works. Hope this helps you. Good luck !

Still not working

I'm having this problem as well. I bought store items and I can't download re-colors of that store item.

I keep getting the message:

"Installation failed you must install the associated premium content before installing this style."

I have the premium content installed already!!

That custom sim item is based off an item someone downloaded and purchased from the sims store, then made a custom version of it. So, to get the custom version you must buy the base item, then you can get the custom part of the download.

The answer to your question lies within the link below, provided by a sim guru:

https://easims.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/easims.cfg/php/enduser/std_
adp.php?p_faqid=22242

MistyIyed wrote:I had the same problem- make sure you buy the original item from the "store" - I did that and still had no luck downloading. I finally got it to work by going to this site through aol- for some reason I can download any store items that way- but if I just start the launcher from the game- nothing works. Hope this helps you. Good luck !

You are using AOL search engine?

Sgizzle09 wrote:That custom sim item is based off an item someone downloaded and purchased from the sims store, then made a custom version of it. So, to get the custom version you must buy the base item, then you can get the custom part of the download.

I already know this. I bought and installed the premium content already! It's in my game. I'm using it. However, I cannot install re-colors of the item.