Title: Resolved: Installation Order for Expansion Packs Post by: Chairman Greg on January 27, 2007, 04:38:14 pm In preparation for finally biting the bullet and installing all the stuff up to (but not including) Pets, I wrote a tutorial topic of the installation order (http://hullabaloo.simshost.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7860) at the Hullabaloo.
I don't want to post it here, too, because I don't want to try to maintain in two places. If you click the link, the Insim BBS should pop a new window with the Hullabaloo topic. You don't need to create a Hullabaloo ID unless you want to post a note there. Now, here are the big questions: [LIST=a]
Title: Resolved: Installation Order for Expansion Packs Post by: Sleepycat on January 27, 2007, 04:55:26 pm after looking at your tutorial - if you don't have Pets then you don't need to install the Pets Bodyshop Patch...
a. I did when I recently reinstalled the game and EPs + SPs b. they all have bugs but the patchs fix a lot of them (Pets isn't that buggy) - you can get fixes for a lot of the unfixed EP bugs at MATY c. word is that you don't but I always leave my neighborhoods in when I install a new EP/SP (always backup your hoods first!) Title: Resolved: Installation Order for Expansion Packs Post by: ancienthighway on January 27, 2007, 05:27:42 pm In actuality, it makes no difference as to the order EPs and SPs are installed. I'm pretty sure I saw a post by a Maxoid some time ago that stated this.
As for your questions 1. Patch as you go. I believe if you don't the installation process may prompt for patches needed but not installed, but why take a chance. 2. I agree with Sleepycat that Pets wasn't as buggy as everyone made it out to be. The two biggest bugs are Pets was based on the unpatched OFB engine and Bodyshop. There is a patch available for Pets Bodyshop. 3. After making a backup of my game, I've always left my neighborhoods and CC other than mods/hacks in the game when installing. IMPORTANT NOTE: Always remove downloads that you want to keep before uninstalling. The process of uninstalling will delete without prompt everything in The Sims 2 folder. Title: Resolved: Installation Order for Expansion Packs Post by: Chairman Greg on January 27, 2007, 05:40:05 pm Thanks, Sleepycat!
So, an important part of the preparations is to make sure you have all the patches ready. And all the fan-created hacks. I'm thinking that if I don't need to have the Neighborhoods in place, it would be easy to make a backup by simply renaming my The Sims 2 folder and then installing from scratch. But just in case, maybe I'd better haven't them there and just start from where I am. So I'll just need to do steps 5 through 11 in my tutorial. Then come the hacks; hundreds of 'em. I tend to install hacks and fixes by Squinge, TwoJeffs, and JM Pescado, in that order of preference. Updating those things is gonna be quite a chore! Title: Resolved: Installation Order for Expansion Packs Post by: Sleepycat on January 27, 2007, 08:24:11 pm your welcome :)
the easiest way to update JM Pescados is to download his directors cut and then delete the hacks you don't plan to use. most of his RTFMs are available in a zip, thanks to Venusy http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,6109.0.html IMO his are the most important since he mostly does game bug fixes. Twojeffs is working on his new directorys (and directors cut) that will make downloading his easier http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,7158.0.html Title: Resolved: Installation Order for Expansion Packs Post by: BeosBoxBoy on January 27, 2007, 11:28:07 pm Chairman Greg:
I recently re-installed and currently only have the base game and Uni EP installed as well - and believe it or not - I like the game better :lol: I am annotating your list with notes based on the past two years of experience helping and trouble-shooting 1000s of help requests & PMs Quote
As an addendum, there are problems with certain Maxoid-made items on the exchange with some installs; the Urbz for instance often causes issues for many players and the Alienware computer does not support Uni & OFB menu interactions. Title: Resolved: Installation Order for Expansion Packs Post by: Chairman Greg on January 28, 2007, 02:30:16 pm Wow! Thanks, Jakov! I'm thinking I should cross-reference that thread over there to this thread over here so folks can get the collective wisdom about all these things.
I was successful in installing everything except Pets and after a few timid tests, it looks I just need to hunt down some conflicting hacks to get everything working smoothly. I know that's old hat for most folks but I was terrified about what it might do to my game! I did patch as I went, though each pack checked to make sure the game was already patched before it installed. Sometimes EA gets it right. :) I'm inclined to agree with you. I really like the game with just University installed and could probably have fun playing with just that toy for another decade or more. My primary motivation for installing all the other toys was wanting the additional goodies and animations for story illustrations; I was suffering from acute expansion-pack envy. :) Now my sims can look out at the view and actually have a view to look at! (http://thesims2.simshost.com/images/ts2screens/n018/anja4/anja4_0301_anja_neil_sheila_hidden_bluff.jpg) Before yesterday, I had to Photoshop stuff like this! Well, it's a big deal to me! (It's a scene from Anja's story over on the adult site.) I installed almost the full set of FFS hacks; still need to make sure that the Squingification of my game is up to date. And I am very happy to report that Insimenator is working like a charm! Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! Thanks to Eric for such outstanding work on it! Can't say that enough! :happy7: Of course, now all my sims are campaigning for cars and places to go in them. It never ends! |