Nope I have the CD version and I don't have Norton I have Panda.

I don't have any of those... I guess I'm just unlucky

Yeah see thats the thing I don't know. And it doesn't tell me what software its conflicting with. I just said forget the patch and did a system restore I have had it EA I'm done buying their crap and downloading their patches that break more than they fix. They will not be getting another dime from me. No one tells me what I can and cannot put on MY computer *grumble*

So the new FT patch was released today. I was SO happy it fixed things from like 3 years ago. BUT apparently it comes with an update for SecuROM. If you have emulation software then you are screwed. I cannot play my game and EA is giving me the run around right now and I'm really upset. I cannot play my game at all. I spent almost 300 dollars on all the EPs and SPs. Does anyone know of a work around so I can use it? When I try to play the game it says "Conflict with emulation software detected" and then will not play the game. *cries*

You haven't patched all your expansion packs have you? You NEED to do that with every game you have. The pets patch fixed (for the most part) pets sinking into the floor. Here's where you can get the patches: http://thesims2.ea.com/update/index.php
And again patch EVERY expansion you have because the fix lists are always huge.

Really? Do you remember why they corrupt faster in sub folders? I'm an organization fanatic and I don't know if I could stand throwing them into one big folder This is the first I've heard of that.

FYI: to condense files open them up first in SimPE and "You have to give each MMAT a different Instance number. The Instance number for main color MMAT is usually 0x00005000, so give the others like 0x00005001, 0x00005002... to prevent resource conflict. Make sure only one MMAT is true for defaultMaterial." (from Lord Darcy). Then once they all have different instance numbers hit "New" then "Add". Add all the recolours for one object hit "save as" and you're good to go. I've been doing this all weekend lol.

lol thats how I just killed mine

Servos have ghosts?? Sweet! Ya learn something new every day! Hehe *runs off to kill a servo*

Well I did a fair bit of reorganizing and LOTS of condensing of files (using simPE to put recolours into one files instead of like 15) so the new tally is:
799 files
1.14 gigs
55 folders

Your welcome Good luck!

Yes you could The only problem with stuff not showing up I've seen with sub folders is some CAS/Bodyshop stuff like blush and lipstick so I keep that in my main downloads folder. Beyond that sub folder to your hearts content! Example Downloads/Objects/Decorative/Paintings/New Meshes. I'm pretty sure its unlimited in what you can do there.

Well for starters get the clean installer via mod the sims 2 that will help you sort through a lot of the mess. In reference to getting rid of meshes what I did was get rid of everything I could not identify or recognize. It did involve re-downloading a few things from time to time but I got rid of SO much junk that was just fluff and clutter.

There is also Delphy's download organizer over at MTS2 that detects orphaned meshes and duplicate files (clean installer does this also). Personally I preferred my mass purging way LOL. It made me get rid of stuff that I realized I didn't really need and only kept the really nice/important stuff.

With organizing I don't have that many clothing files left (301 to be exact) so I just rename them to something I recognize (IE: AF_SpandexRecolours. I rename all the files associated with it as well so subsequent files get named AF_SpandexRecolours (2) etc etc) then throw them all in one folder titled "Clothing". For some people who have thousands of clothing files that won't work. You could do by gender or site as you already are.

My objects/object recolours I have in a seperate folder and then seperate folders in there for each section of buy/build mode. I also have a hacks folder and in there is where I keep files by creators.  I hope that helped in some way... even if it was long winded hehe.

When I first started my downloads folder was a MESS. I had 3 gbs (3800 files) but a lot of it was orphaned meshes and crap I didn't use but couldn't get rid of as I didn't know how and they were name "vtyf4hbm_bvf45b.package".
Since I've learned to clean up, organize and use seperate folders I have maged to get it down to 697 mbs (1380 files). It took me two months of renaming, organizing, redownloading if I accidently got rid of something etc etc etc. NEVER AGAIN. LOL. Now I try to keep it at that number.

Thanks for the update on SimPE!