Hi,
Does anyone know if there is a way (legally) to extract specific files from a physical CD of Sims 3? I'm referring specifically to Limited Edition content. ie Showtime Katy Perry Edition (don't own), Supernatural Plants/Zombies Edition (don't own), Sims 3 Base Game Target Exclusive (don't own. I had it in my hands a many months back and I didn't buy it ((I'm still kicking myself over that))), etc. See this link for more full list:

https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/Limite...he_Sims_3:_Pets

Though I'll continue to refer here it as "extracting" maybe that's not the correct verbage...maybe, partial reinstall??? I found a similiar MTS forum question where someone wanted to extract a hairstyle and clone it from an expansion pack. That's not what I'm referring to...or at least I don't think I am...And I found this other one, https://modthesims.info/t/524232, but that didn't seem relevant. Though that last makes me wonder if site rules allow anyone to answer my question. And this one https://modthesims.info/t/437605 and https://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=486724 sound like they might be referring to Registration Gifts for Store?! Maybe this one: https://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=494288 ?!

...Point is, I tried looking first. Couldn't find the answer, so I'm posting a new question. Anyways, I currently have all the EP and SPs (though not worlds nor Store Content) installed. And today I found a Island Paradise Limited Edition and bought it. Now I already have Island Paradise EP installed, so I just need the Exclusive Island Survival Pack extracted to install. This would be for my personal use, not for upload or anything of the sort. And I just trying to figure out if there's a way without uninstalling the original Island Paradise EP and reinstalling the new IP EP Limited Edition. It just seems like a hassle. So does anyone know if it's a separate file within the CD contents, or if it's fully intrigated into the package file? Something I can sortof copy and paste. I'm currently looking and exploring the file folder displays of my installed EP and the CD, and I'm not finding another different so far. Just brainstorming here: Is it possible to copy and paste the main package file from CD and replace the one on my computer without a full uninstall/reinstall? Because that sounds like magically easy solution so of course I worry it might break my game. Additionally, I worry a full uninstall/reinstall of EP might freak out my Store Content and/or CC and I will have to reinstall those...or potentially my saves. You know how delicate those files meshing together can be. And yes, I will backup those files before I proceed. Just a while back my Store Content freaked out, the game refused to accept the files or my backups and I had to reinstall my SC from the Sims 3 Store Directly. And that turned into a whole few hour thing. So I guess my 2nd question regarding Store Content freakouts is... (see other post)

Any help (that's legal) would be appreciated because I plan on tracking down and buying all the special editions and would love to not have to fully unistall an EP fully each time I find another one.

Thank you,

As far as I know, short answer, no. For the TS3 tools that I'm familiar with, you need at least the base game and whatever content (EP's SP's etc) also loaded on your machine for the tools to extract anything. Same for world only content.

Thank you for the info. Do you believe a simple copy/paste/replace of the CD to Computer of the EP's package file is doable? Or is a full uninstall/reinstall of the EP the smarter and more prudent option?

Try it. I've never done that, but as long as you make a back up, go for it.

Thank you. Before I do that, I have 2 questions:
1. Do you know where the package "lives" besides drive/thesims3/ep10/gamedata/shared/packages and caches under my documents? I feel that if upon install the EP the file is created in multiple locations, changing one but not the other would probably not make my game a happy camper.
2. If I go the full unistall/reinstall route, the one concern I have is a CD install itself. I'm curious, what are your thoughts regarding a CD copy of the game potentially and accidently breaking the cohesion between the game and store content files? See my other post: https://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=688581
TLDR to that post: Since June I've been very conservative and careful in the number of things I change/install in to my game. This is after something caused a launcher and game error with Store Content and required a a full reinstall of all my purchased store content. As stated in the post, with the Sims3Store still up, if my game breaks again, or differently, the store content is redownloadable at this point, though potentially not in the future. Thoughts?

Drive? My disks load to C:Programs (x86). I've heard you can run off of external drive, but that's all I know about it. I have an EA folder in Documents, with Sims 3 folder inside and everything else inside that... Mods folder, etc. As far as I know, EP's and SP's load wherever your base game is. Store content probably loads thru the launcher, and is stored in Downloads folder.

If you're worried about saved store content, put a copy in a zip and save to thumdrive. I have all disk. Only issue I currently have is loading to a win11 laptop. I need to look thru the posts regarding that. On win10, I had no prolems loading disks.

There actually isn't any difference between the installs themselves, all the 'special edition' means is that it includes codes for exclusive Store content. The content is not on the disc. No need to frankenstein your game :p

If you bought a special edition, when you register it on the TS3 Store it should redeem your exclusive content. Which will be added to your account to install through the launcher.
Some may have also had the content as a separate code inside the CD case, which may be missing or claimed if you bought a second hand copy.
Even if you already registered a particular expansion pack, it should allow you to re-register a version that had more content. I recently did this with a copy of World Adventures from a thrift store, I was able to redeem the Explorer's Loot from it even though I'd already registered a digital copy of WA earlier.

It isn't the registration gifts I'm referring to. For Island Paradise, the Registration Gifts are the Tropical Waters Hot Pack, where as the Limited Edition comes with the Island Survival Pack. https://the-sims-3-exchange.fandom....nd_Survival_Kit

Thank you for the advice though.

edit: Separate code, I know what you're referring to. Like the Date Night Exclusive clothes, right? Unfortunately, no separate sheet with survival pack within. Also, nothing appears in sims 3 store search bar of anything close to the survival pack, like the date night is. Also, per this website (though not verified yet) (https://the-sims-3-exchange.fandom....nd_Survival_Kit) the items should appear under purchase history...Though it's a no go so far for me.

Thank you for the advice.

edit: Sorry. I said 'drive' to keep it generic. I also have sims3 installed on c drive

Update: Still unsolved.

1. I just discovered, in the EA App, the 2nd screenshot of the EP, is the same screenshot as the Island Survival Kit on the back of the CD case. Though, I just confirmed that the kit was not ingame for me. But I did install originally from CD, not app.

Can anyone that bought the IP EP from the EA App confirm whether or not the Survival Pack came default without you knowing? See contents: https://the-sims-3-exchange.fandom....nd_Survival_Kit

2. Originally, I registered IP in the Sims 3 store to download the hat registration gift pack. For the newest CD (the limited edition one), per the of https://the-sims-3-exchange.fandom....nd_Survival_Kit I registered also in the store, hoping it would add the survival pack to my store purchase history. It did not.

Does anyone else own the IP EP Limited Edition CD? Can you confirm if you received your Survival Pack via Sims 3 Store post registering your game, if it showed in your launcher as a separate pack (similiar to the relationship between Dragon Valley and Celtic) or if it is simply in game as though it is any other item?

Update update:
Attempt 1:
-I uninstalled via Windows Settings
-reinstalled via CD
-weirdly, at no point did it ask me for my 20 digit key. (perhaps because it realized I had just registered in the 20 digit key in the online store. I had never installed a EP after the store registration before. So dunno, but I suspect that was it)
-luckily, it doesn't appear to have broken the delicate balance of cc, store content or etc
-startup loading game window still ITF (last EP I installed). This is fine. Just in the past, every EP I installed switched the loading screen. Honestly, I don't care I was just expecting a change in loading scrns.
-loaded game. No Survival Pack content
-at no time did I receive that error message that items were replaced due to expansion pack errors. So thats good.
-uninstalled via Windows Settings

Attempt 2:
-installed via EA App
-luckily, it doesn't appear to have broken the delicate balance of cc, store content or etc
-startup loading game window still ITF (last EP I installed). This is fine. Just in the past, every EP I installed switched the loading screen. Honestly, I don't care I was just expecting a change in loading scrns.
-loaded game. No Survival Pack content
-at no time did I receive that error message that items were replaced due to expansion pack errors. So thats good.
-attempted to reenter my registration game code into store, it would not allow double enter. Though the first try (see above post) it did have a popup that confirmed it register the game. So now I have 2 copies registered to my name.
-uninstalled via Windows Settings

Attempt 3:
-was gonna reinstall via CD but select 'yes' this time on 'install latest origin app', hoping to game the system, but I chickened out before it the install was at 20%. (the origin question is after the install). Canceled install

Attempt 4:
-installed via EA App...my logic, newest version of EP to match the newer version of everything else...though I never had issues with original IP disk...dunno...
-counting my lucky stars nothing broke in the Kerplunk Game that is sims 3 files...though it would serve me right with all the messing around I did
-loaded my game again, no change
-at no time did I receive that error message that items were replaced due to expansion pack errors. So thats good.
-exited game and cleared caches to hopefully make survival pack items appear. Nothing.
-giving up for now
-Since the EPs are going to be the same (since no survival pack), either way with either disk, I going to try and resist to urge to unistall again, just to reinstall the OG CD, for continiuty's sake. I know it's a dumb thought and impulse...And there's no difference between CDs. And technically, it will never the exact same as because I reinstall the EP recently and it's not at its original organic time slot. So it's pointless really. And it increase breaking game chances...needlessly...again...But I reealllyy want to. Anyone else ever have thoughts/impulses like that?!

Question for anyone that has any Limited Edition packs (Supernatural Zombies, Katy Perry Showtime, etc.), how did you receive your Limited Edtion gear. Again, not the registration gifts (for exampl the zombie tshirts). But the Limited Edition stuff (for example, the zombie plant shooter).?

I'm just not sure where to go from here.

trail 1:
https://simsvip.com/2013/06/24/rede...-bonus-content/

...per the comments section, at least a decade ago, I wasnt the only one having these issues...buut, a decade ago, origin was still a thing. And per, this website, I did (just in case) check my email inbox and spam folders for codes being sent. nothing.

trail 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btf1ITF5ANM

...per the comments section, I got the idea to check debugbuy and unlockoutfits under IP filter. Nothing. Tried discoverallunchartedislands cheat looked under IP filter. nothing.
...per the video, looked under store content filter. nothing

trail 3:
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical...ck/td-p/1256328

...another sims3store download suggestion

trail 4:
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical...al/td-p/1259930

...again, with the suggestion of email codes...perhaps I will contact support

...ok, I contacted support. Like last time, nothing came of it. So, I asked if there was a general game "suggestion box", so perhaps they might start selling the Limited Editions and Katy Perry on the EA App. The worker said there was no suggestion box, but I could "submit a bug" and ask for the extra EPs/SPs missing from the EA store there. Which seemed promising, until post conversation, I was having trouble locating (despite the link provided) the submit a bug page. The page is cleaned out of any helpful buttons.

And per this forum, nothing ever will ever came it even if I do find it.
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical...3/td-p/13659747

...ok, I found the general bug forum, since the sims 3 bug submit button seems to no longer exist. I posted a general inquiry regarding suggestion box so perhaps they might (probably not) add Limited Edition and Katy Perry to the EA App. My post:
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Bug-Repor...14374737#M57350

...I know in the post I put I would pay full price for all. But honestly, Katy Perry (and maybe Katy Perry Showtime) is the only EP that I pay full price for. For the others, I'm not paying $20 for essentially DLC/mini-SP on a game I've already boughten. I'm not saying that there's not a fan base that would pay for the extra lost sims3 stuff. And maybe others would pay full price. I just don't know if I would personally pay full price for a few extra pieces. Would you guys pay full EP/SP price? Personally, I might be able to justify $5-$10 a pop for these special releases. So I guess that was a part oversimplication, part lie on my part. How bout you guys, if EA releases the Limited Editions, Katy Perry, Katy Perry Showtime, Target Special Release, etc. All the lost/rare sims 3 stuff that's out there, how much would you be willing to pay?


I will update here as I go.


...I know I may be overexplaining my findings, but I love it when I have a problem and I find a MTS thread that spells everything out in depth. And I know I would have loved it would have existed for this topic. So I'm compiling my researching so, in the future, even if I don't find an answer, this thread may help someone else.

There is very rarely any need to reinstall the game itself.

ANY extra bundled content is as I described, not just the registration gifts.
I know this for certain because I have most (if not all) of the .sims3packs that shipped with expansions- the Island Survival Kit for example is called EP10LimitedSet.sims3pack. If you didn't download and install that, you don't have those items.
They are functionally identical to any other Store content, but it's normal that they aren't visible on the website because they aren't available anymore.

It's certainly possible that parts of these services could be broken / the items may fail to redeem as well, as the Store site hasn't been updated in quite literally a decade.
You may want to look at the contents of the CD case, if it's a physical copy you bought, to see if they had expiry dates for redemption.
Either way, you may simply be out of luck. EA support more or less can't do anything about issues with the TS3 Store.

The special edition Showtime used to be sold on Origin/EA App but I believe their rights to the music and/or KP branding expired and that's why they cannot sell it anymore. Many of their collaboration items probably have a similar status.

As for rare/lost... well, that's technically not really a thing in this context. Redistributed and archived Store content has been a thing forever, I don't think there is a single release that's officially lost media because of that.
We aren't technically allowed to link to such things, but MTS is also relatively relaxed about the subject because well... it has been 10 years and many of them can't be legitimately purchased anymore so it blurs that line. Few would pay for what we've been sharing amongst ourselves this whole time :p
It would be nice to have the safety net of an official release, as I do like to preserve media in pristine/original form, but the aforementioned copyright expiry + that's just not how EA runs their business.

Thank you for your thorough answer. I learned alot.

edit: Before I act, I will thoroughly research this. Though at first glance, and if official release will never happen, I do not believe I'm comfortable with any of the alternatives. (Apart from hunting 2nd hand stores/internet marketplaces ((thriftbooks/amazon/hpb,etc)) for hard copies of the LEs/ KP EP). Which the above post proved that a hard copy doesn't necessarily mean access. And if all of this is the case, regarding official releases and useless CD copies, I'll just have to live without these files. And hunting LEs will no longer be my white whale/s...Though perhaps the KP EP will work independently (and maybe the showtime one too) due to being full EP/SP (please dont take my word for it).

I'm finding search results and reddit threads to give me pause, if not a downright stop. I'm listing them here as a shortcuts for others. Hopefully, it will give others the appropiate pause as well.

https://answers.justia.com/question...ingement-297663
https://answers.justia.com/question...mes-from-958287
https://www.reddit.com/r/abandonwar...rchiveorg_safe/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Roms/comme..._from_internet/
https://www.reddit.com/r/DataHoarde...gger_copyright/
https://www.reddit.com/r/DataHoarde..._work_from_the/
https://www.reddit.com/r/emulation/...rom_archiveorg/
https://youtu.be/D14y1t43FIk?t=1004