Before trying any system changes, copy your saves from Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Saves to your desktop.
It was a typical Wednesday evening when Sarah settled into her favorite armchair, ready to dive into the virtual world of The Sims 3. She had been a fan of the series since the first game and was excited to try out the latest installment. However, as she began to set up the game, she realized she didn't have the CD handy.
Which of The Sims 3 are you currently running?
For users who prefer to run the game directly to avoid the disc check with certain mods: Navigate to your game installation folder: \Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin Locate the executable file named (The Sims 3 Windowed). Right-click it and select "Create Shortcut" to place a direct link on your desktop. Do you have your original product key available to help you register the game digitally? 3 Ways to Play Sims 3 Without the CD - wikiHow 10 Mar 2025 —