I need to replace info I moved instead of copied so game will work again. I think I posted this in the wrong place previously. I know I'm gettin' to be a problem child here. Anyway, I was going to "MOVE" my movies ONLY to a flash drive to free up space because I could no longer copy my game to my existing DVD or flash drive. Then I bought a new flash drive with a lot of memory 16 gb and so decided to COPY ALL my files from EA Games-->Sims 2. I guess my earlier intention to move the movies/videos was stuck in my brain and so I hit move instead of copy. So when I went to use The Body Shop there was nothing to access. Same for the game it just sat there at Sims 2 Mansion & Garden Stuff and never opened up the neighborhoods. So I looked under documents-->>EA Games-->The Sims 2 on my C Drive and realized what I had done was move instead of copy. I tried to copy the stuff back into the game from the flash drive, but I'm sure I did it wrong because it has not helped. If I uninstall all the games (Sims 2 Holiday Edition, Sims @ Seasons, Sims 2 Freetime, patches for those and then Mansion & Garden Stuff) could I then try to transfer the files from the flash drive? If I do, where exactly do I put them? (This is why I don't back up as much as I should because the last time I lost everything I had backups but no way to put them into the game). I have all my stuff on this flash drive but I have no clue how to put the info back on my C Drive in the proper place. If I lost everything permanently I may commit suicide. This time I had way more custom Sims than before, and this time I had custom hair and tons of custom clothes I made. Yikes! If it helps, here is all that is on my C Drive in regard to Sims 2 (after accidentally moving everything to the flash drive Documents-->EA Games-->The Sims 2: Collections (only thing in here is Custom Collections, which seems to be a packaged file) Downloads (this file is empty) Logs Neighborhoods Teleport (empty) Thumbnails cigen Groups.cache Here is how it looks now on the 16 g flash drive after I moved (instead of copies) my files: Flash Drive-->EA Games-->The Sims 2 Cameras Collections Config Downloads (only one object in there "Sewn Outfits", which is a packaged file) HTTP Cache Logs Lot Catalog Music Neighborhoods Packaged Lots Paintings Projects Saved Sims SC4 Terrains Storytelling Teleport Thumbnails Accessory Cache cigen Content Registry Groups.cache I'm not sure why there is anything at all left on my C drive, really, since I thought I was copying EA Games and everything in it or at least The Sims 2 to the flash. Meanwhile I will get the dxdiag from my puter if it will help. Games and expansions I had on my C Drive: Sims 2 (actually Sims 2 Holiday Edition), Sims 2 Seasons, Sims 2 Freetime and Sims 2 Mansion & Garden stuff. M&G was the last thing I added, so that's the one I work out of or did work out of, at least. Here is some of the info I got from dxdiag Processor: AMD Phenom(tm) 9150e Quard-Core Processor (4 CPUs) 1.8 GHz System Memory 3838 MP RAM Windows Version (Windows Vista Home Premium 6.0) Free Hard Disk Space: Used Space: 167 GB Free Space: 418 GB Total Hard Disk Space: Capacity: 586 GB DirectX Version DirectX 11 Display Adapter (Graphic/Video Card) Name & Model Number: ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics (OX 9610) Display Driver Name and Version Number & date: atidxx 32, atidxx 64.d11, atiumdag, atiurr - Version 8.15.0010.0183, February 25, 2009 5:24-13 pm Approximate Total Video Memory 1917MB Game Detail (eg: Sims 2 CD or DVD Version, expansion packs owned) Sims 2 Holiday Edition, plus Sims 2 Seasons, Sims 2 Freetime and Sims 2 Mansions & Garden stuff Nature of problem: By accident I moved my files instead of copying them to a flash drive. Now neither the game nor the Body Shop that came with it works. I can't find any of my custom stuff either of course. Since I do have everything on the flash drive (as far as I know), I need to find out how to put it all back together again. I sure hope someone can help me soon! I can't play and I'm sure I've lost all my personal Sims again, my homes, plus all my custom stuff--like almost one hundred items in clothing that I recolored. Can't play---I'm having withdrawal symptoms! If I've posted in the wrong place (again!) let me know.
Okay, I tried again to move the stuff on my flash drive back into the right place it finally did so. The thing is when I inadvertently moved the stuff onto the flash drive it was EA Games-->The Sims 2. So when I just now copied it back (not moved this time!) it looks like this: EA Games-->EA Games-->--The Sims 2 (the one from my flash drive with everything in it). But under the first EA Games there is not only EA Games but The Sims 2 (the one that is incomplete Under The Sims 2 is all the stuff: Cameras etc through Groups.Cache However when I go in the game it is not accessing the files because my neighborhoods (specifically Pleasantview) are back to original, none of my created Sims or houses is there, nor any of my custom content. I'm thinking it is because it would have to go to EA then to EA again. So I moved the first Sims 2 to my desktop, then moved the 2nd EA with everything to my Desktop. I tried then to copy (it wouldn't let me move it) just the right one back to the game. But it still goes EA Games --EA Games etc. So now I do not know what to do. Here I have all my stuff backed up, but it's doing me no good, which is what happened with my first group of Sims several months ago. I so need help with this. I've got a feeling there's an easy answer to the problem but I have no idea what that would be.
Make sure you still have your backup on your flash drive. Can't you just delete the EA Games folder from your documents, then copy your EA Games folder off your flash drive to your documents?
thanks Flameback This is exactly what I finally figured out to do, duhhhhhh. But sure do appreciate your help, there was agood chance I would never have figured it out by mysel-ha! I had to keep trying, can't live without my Sims. Thank goodness I had everything on the flash drive...now I have to figure out if I can keep backing up to that or have to buy a new one for each backup (it's 16 g and my stuff is over 11 g now) $$$$$$!
Perhaps you could buy an external hard drive. They are pretty cheap now and you shouldn't run out of space anytime soon! You could even have multiple backups of different times.
I was wondering about that, the guy at Staples mentioned it. I've got so much stuff plugged into my existing hard drive and don't exactly know the ins and outs of adding another external device. I'm not sure how much more room (than 16 g) I would/could get. I've been thinking of just buying a second pc and using it for Sims, anyway. Just have to wait for money to descend on me like manna from heaven... Also, if I get another pc I want Windows 7 (this one is Vista and I really am starting to hate Vista), but then I would not be able to play Sims 2 on it. I'm not ready to give up my Sims 2 for Sims 3. Not yet, anyway. Meanwhile, if I want to use that extra big flash drive again, do I just delete my info and then I can copy my up to date stuff onto it without screwing up my game? Also when backing up do I need to copy EA games in its entirely, or just certain files like Projects and Movies?
I think flameback meant this type of external hard drive... :biggrin: http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Elements-External-WDBAAU0010HBK-NESN/dp/B002QEBMB4/ref=sr_1_1?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285086168&sr=8-1 You can get a ton of space for you simmies.
Gotcha, thanks, Nyx. I have one of those already (at least I think that's what it is), with some earlier backups of my Sims (the first version I had), plus my computer backs up every day to that one (MyBook), but I don't believe it backs up my Sims. It won't take my Sims files any more, not enough room. That's why I had to use a flash drive and had to get one with a lot of memory. I also have an online service for automatic backups in case my pc crashes (Carbonite), but according to them it only backs up certain files which I don't think include my Sims 2. Can anyone tell me if there is anything that will let me over-ride existing files on the flash drive so I can re-use it? Something that would be like old-fashioned audio tapes where you used to record over previous stuff? Or is that not possible?
Gotcha, thanks, Nyx. I have one of those already (at least I think that's what it is), with some earlier backups of my Sims (the first version I had), plus my computer backs up every day to that one (MyBook), but I don't believe it backs up my Sims. It won't take my Sims files any more, not enough room. That's why I had to use a flash drive and had to get one with a lot of memory. I also have an online service for automatic backups in case my pc crashes (Carbonite), but according to them it only backs up certain files which I don't think include my Sims 2. Can anyone tell me if there is anything that will let me over-ride existing files on the flash drive so I can re-use it? Something that would be like old-fashioned audio tapes where you used to record over previous stuff? Or is that not possible?
Gotcha, thanks, Nyx. I have one of those already (at least I think that's what it is), with some earlier backups of my Sims (the first version I had), plus my computer backs up every day to that one (MyBook), but I don't believe it backs up my Sims. It won't take my Sims files any more, not enough room. That's why I had to use a flash drive and had to get one with a lot of memory. I also have an online service for automatic backups in case my pc crashes (Carbonite), but according to them it only backs up certain files which I don't think include my Sims 2. Can anyone tell me if there is anything that will let me over-ride existing files on the flash drive so I can re-use it? Something that would be like old-fashioned audio tapes where you used to record over previous stuff? Or is that not possible?
*Sigh* I just tried to delete my EA Games folder that was backed up on MyBook in June and it keeps saying I need to confirm this action, but when I do it just comes back saying I don't have permission and this action is to protect my information on MyBook. So I guess I can never move or delete the information *scratches head*. If I'm the user, how do I prove this? It's so dumb (or I am) lol. I thought if I deleted the June backup (which I no longer need) I would have enough room to back up my current files on the device (there is not enough room now). I hit delete but it says "recycling to recycle bin" and that is the part that the computer dislikes; claims it is not permitted to send it to the recycle bin. Also the Geek Squad guy from Best Buy who set up my computer said he set it up so it would automatically back up to MyBook but I notice now that there is nothing in there with a recent date let alone today. Yet the computer tells me it is backing up every day at 10 pm. I was going to add the Ikea stuff and eventually Bon Voyage but I'm afraid to do anything right now. I do see that device you gave me the link for has a ton of room, I'm trying to find out how much room I have on MyBook. But maybe I will have to get it since I can't move anything or do anything with my info on MyBook, evidently.
Okay, I bought WinZip (after I found out this computer did not already have it), and I'm backing it up to a zip file. This should solve my problem for now. I have 3806 GB free space on my C drive and my Sims has expanded to 13.1 GB, should be no problem. Still not sure if my flash drive is just a one-trick pony.
You bought winzip? As in, paid for? Windows can create and open .zip files for free. WinRAR or 7zip (free) would be a much better choice.
