Retrieving lots and sims from an unplayable game

[beanj3]

So I'm finally admitting that my game is probably a goner. As soon as one problem is fixed, another pops up so I'm calling it a day the only problem is I need some lots and several families for a story I'm writing so can anyone tell me if it is possible to retrieve lots and families without having to actually load the game? Most of my sims were NOT created using BodyShop unfortunately....but I would love someone to be able to tell me I can still get them. My game is virtually unplayable so it will be almost impossible to package the lots and sims from within the game.

Anyone want to touch this one??  Please, please, please help!!!

[pandasan]

So is the problem that your neighborhood has become corrupt or something? I would suggest backing up your Neighborhoods folder, but if the entire neighborhood is bad, you wouldnt want to restore it in a new game anyway.. Do you have SimPE? There is a way to export your sims so that they can be recreated just as if you had made them in bodyshop. I'm not sure what to suggest about your lots.. If the lots themselves are not corrupt, you might be able to copy a backup of them from
My Documents\Ea Games\The Sims 2\Neighborhoods\N###\Lots
(Where N### represents the specific neighborhood folder)
Please ask if that was really confusing!

[MissDoh]

Did you try to remove all your downloads to see if without any the game would run normally?  If it does then add small batch at a time to find the culprit(s).

You can package sims using SimPe, follow the step 1 of this tutorial to do so:  http://www.insimenator.org/showthread.php?t=18184

As for your lots, the ones that are in the lot bin can be saved by backing up  your lotcatalog folder.

I do not know how to package lots that are place in the hoods from outside the game.

[beanj3]

I've been having problems with my game since September.  I've researched my entire downloads folder...taken it out, run the game, put it back in, run the game:  the whole gamut!  I think at this point that the whole neighborhood is corrupt.  I don't know how it happened though.  I just want to save three or four lots but I can't even scroll in the neighborhood!  I do have SimPE so I'll see if I can figure out how to get the sims I want.  I was just hoping that it was possible to extract a specific lot right from the folder like in Sims 1.  

I've looked in the lots folder but have no idea which lot number corresponds with what, you know?

I appreciate your help!

[MissDoh]

It is hard to tell which lots correspond to what, it depends if you deleted some of Maxis ones, if you put any in the lot bin prior to installing a new ep, etc.