Since the patch 1.21/1.22 there is a new file you need to add to your DEP.

It's called ts3w.exe and can be found in the following directory:

c:\programs\eletronicarts\thesims3\game\bin
or
c:\programs(x86)\eletronicarts\thesims3\game\bin

You can remove all the others.

Make sure to restart your computer after adding the new file

Instructions for it can be found here: http://www.simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Data_Executio
n_Prevention

More reasons for crashes can be found here:
http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2011/01/error-game-crashes-ctd.htm
l

So patch and add? Thanks!

Did you patch yet ? It's the reason for most crashes but there are many more.

Yeah I've patched. I was crashing without the patch though.

Then add that file, yes.

What about mac users? I don't have windows for my computer.

Sorry, I can't help you Mac guys. I have no clue about macs.

Mac systems don't need any DEP manipulation. But if Launcher keep crashing, you can bypass it.

Mac instructions similar as always, just type in ts3w.exe instead of the file listed here towards the bottom: http://www.simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS3_Bypassing
_the_Launcher

is this only if you already had installed Generations? or will it automatically get added once you get Generations and add the patches during the installation? I'm getting Generations today and wondered why this isn't something that is automatically changed once you install everything via the physical copy of generations.

I've followed your instruction to the base game file, but I don't understand at that point. I don't see the file you're talking about or what to "delete" Sorry

Thanks

Thank you so much, crinrict, for posting this. I installed the new patch after my computer crashed after installing Generations. Then it started crashing faster. I have now added the new file to my DEP, and restarted my computer. I am about to go into my game. But one thing I was wondering was why my launcher still says that my version is 8.0.152.011001, is that what it should read for the 1.22 patch?

@ellacharm3d: Thanks ella

@KaruBlack: DEP is nothing that is done automatically. You will need to add the file manually. Read the instructions at MTS that I've linked. The patch 1.22 (and generations but the patch will do) added a new exe file which is now executed instead of the one that was before. That's why this one has to be added to DEP

@mylovebuddy: Did you patch ? You only need to delete something if you've added files to DEP before. But it's ok to leave them as well.

@singgoutloudx: 8.0 is the version of generations. To get the version of your base game just hover over the little base game icon on the bottom left of your launcher. That should say 1.22.

@KaruBlack,
the purpose of this step (the DEP thingie) is to bypass some checks Windows perform to protect the system from malicious attacks by any program (viruses/trojan/spyware tend to be executable files). Doing this is forcing Windows to basically ignore whatever the *.exe file wants to do to the system.

If you start the game via Launcher, it would now launch this ts3w.exe file, as far as I understand the mechanics of it. Prior to 1.22/8.0, Launcher would trigger TS3.exe or the corresponding EP/SP executable.

Problem is Launcher always misbehaves, so we tend to start the game directly.
And when the game tend to crash with TS3.exe too, due to the aforementioned checks that Windows thinks is violating the system's integrity, we add it to the DEP list to be excluded from such checks.

So, change in procedure with 1.22 onwards, just another differently named *.exe file to add.

@mylovebuddy,
if you haven't done any DEP steps before, there's nothing for you to delete.

@singgoutloudx,
hover over the first icon for base game, what does it say?

ps: Hi, crin!

I can't seem to edit my DEP list and make the changes stick. It reverts right back to whatever I had on the exceptions list before despite hitting "apply" and rebooting my computer. However, I belive TS3W.exe is added and I still can't get the game to run more than one minute without freezing. My specs more than exceed the minimum requirements so I'm not sure what the issue is.

Thanks for posting this!