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Field Researcher
Original Poster
#1 Old 6th Feb 2025 at 4:31 AM
Default Any difference between the Legacy version and the Ultimate Collection?
I have the Ultimate Collection my EA App. Is there any difference between that and the Legacy Version? Is it worth buying for the Legacy Version?

Also, I still have my old TS2 neighborhood files. When I try to put them into the Ultimate Collection, the game crashes on various loading screens. This isn't a new problem, I just haven't tried in 6-7 years.
Mad Poster
#2 Old 6th Feb 2025 at 6:32 AM
LC doesn't have IKEA, Bodyshop, the original sims2pack installer, and is currently riddled with various bugs the UC doesn't have.

If you have the UC and it's working, use that one for the moment. There are probably many more bugs to sort out before the Legacy version works fine for everyone who has it.

You should be able to use your old hood files from disc versions for the UC. Only caveat is if you've got a disc version with the Store edition installed (the collection discs that came out in 2008-11). The Store version/"pack" was included in those (not sure if it had to be installed), and is set as a much higher version than M&G, so there could potentially be issues between the UC and those versions for the saves, since the Store version is not included in the UC.

If you have CC/mods, you should also be able to use those from the CD versions to the UC (for the Legacy version you'd have to go through them - any mods that edit install files likely need special attention/updating, some could be outdated, and IKEA items are likely to crash the game).
Field Researcher
Original Poster
#3 Old 6th Feb 2025 at 3:06 PM
Quote: Originally posted by simmer22
LC doesn't have IKEA, Bodyshop, the original sims2pack installer, and is currently riddled with various bugs the UC doesn't have.

If you have the UC and it's working, use that one for the moment. There are probably many more bugs to sort out before the Legacy version works fine for everyone who has it.

You should be able to use your old hood files from disc versions for the UC. Only caveat is if you've got a disc version with the Store edition installed (the collection discs that came out in 2008-11). The Store version/"pack" was included in those (not sure if it had to be installed), and is set as a much higher version than M&G, so there could potentially be issues between the UC and those versions for the saves, since the Store version is not included in the UC.

If you have CC/mods, you should also be able to use those from the CD versions to the UC (for the Legacy version you'd have to go through them - any mods that edit install files likely need special attention/updating, some could be outdated, and IKEA items are likely to crash the game).


Thanks for the info! I did not have the Store version. But when I try to load one of my old saves, the game crashes at various stages of loading. I guess I just won't be able to play those!
Mad Poster
#4 Old 6th Feb 2025 at 3:21 PM
Did you have all EPs on disc?
Field Researcher
Original Poster
#5 Old 6th Feb 2025 at 7:01 PM
Quote: Originally posted by Charity
Did you have all EPs on disc?


Not all of them, no. I got the remaining ones from the UC. Is that why I have problems?
Needs Coffee
retired moderator
#6 Old 6th Feb 2025 at 9:46 PM
How exactly did you put your hoods into your new game?

"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives." - Unknown
~Call me Jo~
Mad Poster
#7 Old 6th Feb 2025 at 10:10 PM
When you tried to install your old hoods, did you have the same CC setup (ie the same downloads folder)?

Check out my thoughts on Psymchology (Sim Psychology) - latest post is on the main six aspirations.
Mad Poster
#8 Old 6th Feb 2025 at 11:09 PM
Did you overwrite folders, or did you remove the old hood folders and put yours in (or alternatively just put in any custom hoods you had)?

If you were missing any EPs you shouldn't technically have issues, since you're adding packs and not removing them (removing pacsk would be an issue). I'm not sure if missing patches for the CD versions could be an issue, though.

Have you deleted the cache files?

Have you done all necessary fixes for the UC? (4GB patch, GraphicRules, etc.) - The UC needs access to 4GB on modern hardware, without it you're looking at a lot of crashing. Have you done other fixes?
Field Researcher
Original Poster
#9 Old 6th Feb 2025 at 11:47 PM
Quote: Originally posted by simmer22
Did you overwrite folders, or did you remove the old hood folders and put yours in (or alternatively just put in any custom hoods you had)?

If you were missing any EPs you shouldn't technically have issues, since you're adding packs and not removing them (removing pacsk would be an issue). I'm not sure if missing patches for the CD versions could be an issue, though.

Have you deleted the cache files?

Have you done all necessary fixes for the UC? (4GB patch, GraphicRules, etc.) - The UC needs access to 4GB on modern hardware, without it you're looking at a lot of crashing. Have you done other fixes?


I have done the 4 GB patch but when I check the config files it shows 2048 instead of 4096 MB. Sometimes 1024.

To install them I renamed the UC folders and dragged my old folders into the location. Also tried having it create a new folder and then just move the Neighborhoods. Still crashes. Sometimes it gets to creating Pets, Weather, Magic etc. Odd that it would say that because I definitely had Seasons and Pets. I didn't have whatever pack put Magic in the game.

I've done a repair. But I haven't done a reinstall of the UC.
Mad Poster
#10 Old 6th Feb 2025 at 11:57 PM
AL has the "magic" one (witches - there are hidden lots).

If you do "repair", you most likely have to redo the patch, as "repair" and a reinstall tends to reset all the install files. Any changes dome in the install files will most likely be removed. This also includes the 4GB patch.

For the 4GB patch, try to copy the EXE file to the desktop, apply the fix there, then replace the file. If you've installed the game in Program Files, it's most likely a Windows issue with access that hinders the file from being properly edited.
Field Researcher
Original Poster
#11 Old 7th Feb 2025 at 12:05 AM
Quote: Originally posted by simmer22
AL has the "magic" one (witches - there are hidden lots).

If you do "repair", you most likely have to redo the patch, as "repair" and a reinstall tends to reset all the install files. Any changes dome in the install files will most likely be removed. This also includes the 4GB patch.

For the 4GB patch, try to copy the EXE file to the desktop, apply the fix there, then replace the file. If you've installed the game in Program Files, it's most likely a Windows issue with access that hinders the file from being properly edited.


I tried the copy to desktop thing. Did not work. I was thinking of digging up an ancient laptop with Windows XP and finding my CDs, installing there, and seeing if they open on a legacy setup from ~2005 to see if they are corrupted or not.
Field Researcher
#12 Old 7th Feb 2025 at 12:11 AM
Repairing the game doesn't fix registry keys, I unfortunately experienced with the Sims 4. Had to manually edit the registry to be able to launch it. But I digress.
Field Researcher
Original Poster
#13 Old 7th Feb 2025 at 12:19 AM
Quote: Originally posted by Craft90
Repairing the game doesn't fix registry keys, I unfortunately experienced with the Sims 4. Had to manually edit the registry to be able to launch it. But I digress.


How about uninstall and reinstall? The game opens when I have it create a new set of save files. Although, I didn't try opening a preloaded house.
Field Researcher
#14 Old 7th Feb 2025 at 12:25 AM
Quote: Originally posted by pjsutton
How about uninstall and reinstall? The game opens when I have it create a new set of save files. Although, I didn't try opening a preloaded house.

I couldn't uninstall it. It was missing from programs in the control panel and EA App wouldn't let me uninstall it either. Couldn't find an unistall exe either. Now this was for Sims 4. Not Sims 2 UE.

It may not even be relevant for you. If the game can uninstall properly (via Programs, other measures may leave keys in the Registry) it should also clear the keys.

In my case, I accidentally installed Sims 4 via Steam and when I uninstalled it from there something in the registry broke so the EA App didn't register the Sims 4. It just wouldn't launch. So I looked up how to manually uninstall Sims 4.
Mad Poster
#15 Old 7th Feb 2025 at 4:24 AM
Quote: Originally posted by pjsutton
I tried the copy to desktop thing. Did not work.


"didn't work" as in, it still showed 2048 mb in the Config-log? Or something else (couldn't replace the file...?)
Forum Resident
#16 Old 7th Feb 2025 at 4:29 AM
Quote: Originally posted by simmer22
LC doesn't have IKEA, Bodyshop, the original sims2pack installer, and is currently riddled with various bugs the UC doesn't have.


So EA is still EA. What sort of bugs are there? Should I ask Epic (which I had never used before and will probably never use again) for my money back, and try later?

Never had IKEA or Store Edition, so no issues there. Also never had BV, AL, or M&G, so no idea if there would be issues there.
Field Researcher
Original Poster
#17 Old 7th Feb 2025 at 5:28 AM
Quote: Originally posted by simmer22
"didn't work" as in, it still showed 2048 mb in the Config-log? Or something else (couldn't replace the file...?)


It still showed 2048 MB. I downloaded a "flexible" exe and it worked! Shows 4096.

I downloaded an updated GRM and the game is beautiful and running awesomely now with a new save folder. When I switch back to my old saves, it crashes again. Hmm.
Mad Poster
#18 Old 7th Feb 2025 at 6:33 PM Last edited by simmer22 : 7th Feb 2025 at 6:43 PM.
Are you using any CC? Some CC and/or mods could be crashing the game. Even if the CC worked fine with the other version, it's possible it's no longer working fine now.

Quote: Originally posted by pjsutton
...I renamed the UC folders and dragged my old folders into the location. Also tried having it create a new folder and then just move the Neighborhoods. Still crashes...


Just renamed the hood folders? It's better to remove them (or move them out) - sometimes the game is still able to find the files even with a renamed folder. Any files you don't want the game to read should be placed outside the "The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection" folder. If you renamed the folders because you wanted to keep the original hoods too, you have to also rename all fiels with the "N00X" prefix inside the folder, or the hoods won't work properly.
https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/Game_g...hood%27s_folder (Guide on renaming hoods, if you need it)

For the hoods that come with the game (E/F/G001 + N001/02/03), the easiest is to remove the same hood folder in the UC game, then replace with the one from your old game. For custom hoods you should be able to drop them in (any hoods N004 and up, or with custom names).
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