The Sims 2 HomeCrafter Plus - Portable Version

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The Sims 2 HomeCrafter Plus - Portable Version

Version 1.0 - July 19, 2026

Overview

This is a portable version of The Sims 2 HomeCrafter Plus that runs without requiring a full install of The Sims 2.

To launch the program, run:
Code: 
\Portable_TS2HomeCrafterPlus\HCBin\Portable_TS2HomeCrafterPlus.exe


Why? I created this project because my Wife would ask me to help her create custom wallpapers but I didn't always have Sims 2 installed.

How? Using Ghidra and HxD, I manually patched the original .exe so that it looks for the game's asset files in a local "Game" folder (next to the .exe) instead of trying to find the install path in the Windows Registry.

Configuration

I also patched the app to check for a "portable.ini" file.
  • By default, a "\UserData\" folder is created next to the app on first launch, and all content is saved there.
  • To instead save content to the user's Documents folder, rename or delete "portable.ini". (This is where HCP normally saves your stuff.)

Example paths:

Code: 
portable.ini 
    =>  \Portable_TS2HomeCrafterPlus\HCBin\UserData\The Sims 2\
    
portable_disabled.ini (renamed/deleted)
    =>  C:\Users\username\Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\


Required Game Files

Using Process Monitor (and lots of trial & error), I tracked what files HCP was actually trying to load and copied those into the \Game\TSData\ folder.

By moving over only the files HCP actually needs to function, and manually removing unnecessary files from some .packages using SimPE, I was able to bring it down to approximately 255MB. I'm sure, after a lot more time and effort, I could get the file sizes down even more.

If you'd like to use your own, original, files, these are the files I copied from a base TS2 install:

Code: 
Game/
└── TSData/
    └── Res/
        ├── Catalog/
        │   ├── Materials/
        │   │   └── Materials.package
        │   └── Patterns/
        │       └── catpatterns.bundle.package
        ├── Materials/
        │   └── Materials.package
        ├── Sims3D/
        │   ├── Objects00.package
        │   ├── Objects01.package
        │   ├── Objects02.package
        │   ├── Objects03.package
        │   ├── Objects04.package
        │   ├── Objects05.package
        │   ├── Objects06.package
        │   ├── Objects07.package
        │   ├── Objects08.package
        │   ├── Objects09.package
        │   └── Textures.package
        ├── Text/
        │   ├── eCAS.package
        │   └── UIText.package
        └── UI/
            ├── Fonts/
            │   ├── AR Heiti2 B5 (bold).mxf
            │   ├── AR PYenti GB (bold).mxf
            │   ├── AR PYenti GB.mxf
            │   ├── AsiaSDNR-M (bold).mxf
            │   ├── AsiaTK.mxf
            │   ├── DFPGothicP (bold).mxf
            │   ├── DFPGothicP.mxf
            │   ├── FontStyle.ini
            │   ├── HelveticaNeueLT Std Medium.mxf
            │   ├── ITC Benguiat Gothic (bold).mxf
            │   ├── LetterGothicStd.mxf
            │   ├── Maxis Password.mxf
            │   ├── Phantok.mxf
            │   └── AR Heiti B5.mxf


Troubleshooting

Issue: The preview area is blank/empty.

Cause: The included "Graphics Rules.sgr" is from the Legacy Edition that added support for modern video cards. On older hardware or virtual machines, this can cause rendering issues.

Fix: Replace it with the "Original_Graphics Rules.sgr" file (after renaming), located in the "Graphics Rules" folder.

Code: 
\Portable_TS2HomeCrafterPlus\HCData\Res\UKConfig\


Acknowledgments

Kiral - For giving me the idea to patch the app instead of making changes to the Windows Registry.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfi.../?id=3420320277

r/sims2help - for providing the Graphics Rules file from the Legacy Edition:
https://www.reddit.com/r/sims2help/.../graphics-rules
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