Original (medizinschrank) at the Graveyard:

http://files.sims2graveyard.com/shaklin/

Recolors at FeeEssen (free reg. req.):

http://www.sims2-feeessen.de/include.php?path=contentarchive&letter=S&catid=0&themeid=0&type=4&order=&entries=84

It's the last item on that page.

Maybe necrodog's do-rag? (Black, white, grey, red and blue included in download)

http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=179736

Some recolors:

http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=186573

Recall some do-rags at Peggy's site as well (some stuff $$$, some stuff free) -- might still be there:

http://www.peggyzone.com/DownloadList.html

A lot of the Peggy $$$ stuff is also at the booty, but that seems to be down at the moment.

http://ls.paysites.mustbedestroyed.org/booty/ts2/
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You might also foind something you like inside the 6 pages of Bordyshop items at Sirona Sims:

http://www.sironasims.com/category/bodyshop

If using a default set, remember that you can have one and only one default set installed in your game at any time.

Vaguely recall some deco only stringed instruments out there, if those might do...

Collars for whom? Male? Female? Unisex? Pets?

What you describe doesn't rule out (1) a scratched or dirty disk or (2) either an installed DirectX 9 which needs updating or even a partially-corrupted DirectX 9 installation.

First, would suggest checking what DirectX is installed on your computer. To do so:

   1. Click Start, and then click Run.
   2. Type this into the entry field: dxdiag
 and then click OK.
   3. On the System tab, note the version of DirectX displayed on the DirectX Version line.
   4. When you are finished checking file versions, click Exit.

You might consider a from scratch install of the latest DirectX 9 version. But would also as strongly as possible recommend creating an up-to-date system restore point before doing that so as to be able to go back to previous settings, just in case.

DirectX 9 latest version here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=2DA43D38-DB71-4C1B-BC6A-9B6652CD92A3&displaylang=en

Note that install of DirectX can only b performed if you are logged in or otherwise using an account on your computer which includes admin privileges.

Ghost do what ghosts do. Given enough time and enopugh appearances, and/or the angrier a ghost becomes (if ghost of a dead spouse, having the survivng spouse remarries or cheats will make the ghost mad, as also will having the surviving family move out and leave the urn/tombstone behind) will probably extend their floating range. Their behavior is also partially tied to whatever the niceness level of the perosn (ghost) is/was.

Even so, they do have a tendency to float around the more environmentally attractive rooms, which usually are not upstairs. Also, after initiating scares, they are more than likely to curtail travel or just return to the tombstone/urn.

While locked doors upstairs or locked child gates on stairs, etc. should not affect ghosts, they may deter them in favor of floating around in unlocked parts of the house.

Some hacks, such as the Ghostbuster one at MATY, wil directly curtail or narrow ghostly visits. Don't personally know of any hacks to increase or expand ghost behavior.

Short answer: No. The necessary animations accomapanying the new instruments come with the EP.

Longer answer: What is the problem with getting FT to function? Does it not fully install?

If it does fully install, did you install the patch for FT? Have you installed the patches for all the EPs/SPs you have?
Always -- always --- patch all your EPs and SPs. Patches available here:

http://thesims2.ea.com/update/

If FT did fully install, it may well be that you already have some custom content (mods or items) which are incompatible with or need to be updated to FT compatibilty.

These tips on preparing before installing any new EP or SP may be of help:

http://www.simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Preparing_for_the_Next_Expansion
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Spanish moss here (free reg. req.):

http://www.sapphiresims2.com/showthread.php?t=36908
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For recoilor(s) of the Seasons potholder, take a look at some of McAlli's kitchens (the Very Cherry set includes a recolor, as might some of the other sets), here:

http://www.modthesims.info/browse.php?f=388&showType=1&gs=0&showAll=1&u=73140

As for deco potholders (non-Seasons, as far as I know), a nice group is here:

http://www.piggis-sims.net/Bienchen83/dll_seiten/m_deco09.htm
.

What caffeinated.joy said just above.

Here are a number of repositories listing lots and lots of links to a variety of clutter (as with any such compilations, some sites linked to within them may have gone bye-bye since the listings were compiled):

http://www.sims2wiki.info/wiki.php?title=Content_List:Decorating_Themes/Clutter_and_Functional_Home_Decor

http://exnemsims.com/forum/showthread.php?s=0393adf30aa8bd169cb443b3fa010357&p=12581#post12581

http://www.digitalperversion.net/gardenofshadows/index.php?PHPSESSID=0vo1cclfpd6aehhikm76ie0gq1&topic=2119.0
.

A good place to start looking for items such as those is the wiki.

Not just the link provided below, but throughout the sections there you may discover items which fir the bill.

http://www.simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Content_List:Sci-Fi#Skintones_3
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Guessing that you are looking for Olemantiker's Factory set, which was here until the hoo-ha last year. It is now at Beosboxboy's site, which is partially adult in nature, but the link I'm giving is to the particular page where the Factory set (non-adult) is:

*linking to adult sites (even if the download is not adult in nature) is against site rules. Link removed.*

As others have correctly stated, Winrar does not and cannot install anything into the game, and for Sims2Pack files, just right-click on them and choose Clean Installer to handle and install them.

That said, if you don't like Winrar (in my own opinion it is bloated, crappy nagware), then uninstall it and use something else to unpack zip and rar files. Personally, I like the free, safe, unobtrusive and user-friendly 7-zip:

http://www.7-zip.org

Not sure, but it reminds me of some of the offerings at Bei Hügo:

http://www.xn--hg-gkaw.de/houses.htm
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