The custom content I downloaded before NL works fine in my game. (mostly furniture and clothes). The problem is the items I'v downloaded after NL doesn't show up in my game.

I've tried creating a new Downloads folder, placing the original one on my desktop, then dragging all the files into the new folder and deleting the old....nothing changed.

At least I still have my custom content showing up, but I would really like to be able to get new stuff. I'm a bit new to downloading, so I'm not sure what to try next that is safe.

Thanks for any suggestions you can give me.

Is your personal packaging options activated or not ? To check it, go into your settings options (F5 or the three points icon button), then go click on the mechanism icon button (display settings) and activate your personal content by selecting "on" in personal content and desactivate the recalling screen so the screen that will remember your personal content is activated or not won't appear anymore. In fact, this new option has been added with nightlife expansion, that's why it's different from university.

Oh yes, I've done that, but still only original custom content shows up.

Chemy, are you talkin just clothing and genetics and furniture, or hacks too? I don't know if this works this way for everyone, but for clothing, genetics, downloaded sims, etc, many times will not show up in my game unless I run body shop after downloading and before loading game. If your problem is with hacks make sure they are updated and approved for Night Life. Hope this helps.

I'm not sure if some are hacks. It's furniture, fence, doors and make-up. Some I know are just re-colors. The ones that could be hack, I'll try re-loading.
When you say to run body shop, do you just mean that I should open it? I did that. Still nothing.

Do you have the "colors_enable_options.package" that enables you to view recolored objects. If you don't have it in its updated versions, may your personal recolored objects not appear on your buy menus.
You can find this package on this site but I don't know really where it is.

No, I don't have it. I've wondered if I need it since I've downloaded over 600 items and they all work fine without it. So it seems to me that it couldn't be the problem, unless it all works differently now with NL.

I downloaded the CEP and it enabled a few paintings to show up that I had previously downloaded. I moved my make-up items, hair and eyes into the SavedSims folder, but they still aren't showing up and neither are the build items or furniture items. The files are unziped and are in my Downloads folder but still everything that I downloaded before NL shows up and everything after, doesn't.
Anyone has any further suggestions?
Thanks.

Yay, I found the problem!!
It seems that I was downloading to C:\Documents and Settings\user name\Desktop\EA Games\Sims 2\Downloads and it wasn't registering. I realized that everything I had downloaded before NL (and worked) was in My Documents rather than Desktop. For some reason though, the desktop version would come up when downloading. Anyway, glad to have solved this.
Anyone trying to download, make sure you put files into:
C:\Documents and Settings\User name\My Documents\EA Games\TheSims2\Downloads

Thanks to all for helping me!