TLDR: The Origin app is being completely discontinued by the end of the year but it's the only way I can download and install The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection.

I have purchased all content for The Sims 2 on CDs. When EA offered The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection through Origin, I got it to make it easier to install, especially for laptops without CD/DVD drives. I recently borked my laptop (the one without a CD/DVD drive). I got it sorted. I went to download Origin to get back to simming and it was no longer available. I tried to download The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection through the EA App, but although it would download, it was not installable. I reached out to EA and received a link that ultimately allowed me to download Origin and I have The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection back again.

I am concerned about running into problems again if the Origin app completely goes away and the EA App still does not properly support The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection.

Does anyone have any ideas on what I might do to safeguard against such an eventuality?

Take care,
Melody

Your old stuff should (in theory, anyway) be moved over to the EA app automatically. https://www.ea.com/ea-app

Some people have had issues with it, so if you can, wait it out a bit before you try again. That's what I'm doing, anyway.

I've partly disconnected my game from Origin through using a "no-CD" patch (George), so my UC game runs without having to open any of the Origin/EA apps. It still runs fine, and I'm sure it would've run fine even if the apps completely discontinued at some point as it is now, but if I ever had to repair it, that's where I'd run into trouble (I have my old CDs, but still...)

Haven't tried the new app yet, but still have a TS4 game that runs with it, so probably have to check it out at some point (not something I particularly want to test out because of my TS2 game, though - not sure how the app is going to react).

Just grab a downloaded copy of it, it's been on Good Old Games and some other places. EA no longer sell or support Sims 2.

I personally have my original disks that I bought from 2004 on as they came out and over here in Aus you are looking at $50 per disk. I have a full set of second hand lightly used disks + Prima Guides I bought off Ebay for $100. I had sims 2 on Origin but I can't access that account or any of the games purchased on it and although I did a live chat EA have never fixed or got back to me about it, the thieves. I now use another downloaded version which works perfectly well. Many options aside from EA who I wouldn't trust or touch with a barge pole. The fact that your game from them wouldn't run? Par for the course, expect nothing from them and you will be less disappointed. Download the game into a folder and keep it, go buy good second hand disks and keep them. You don't need EA.

It never hurts to be too cautious. A safe way to ensure your files remain on the EA App does require having the game already installed from the Origin App. Since you did manage to get the games installed again what you can do now is when installing the EA App, make sure you choose the custom installation option and have the directory of the games be "C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games" or where all your main Sims 2 game is already installed at. If you have EA App installed, then you can open the settings and change the game directory to the mentioned directory instead and it should recognize them.

That was how I was able to make a smooth transition without losing anything and my Sims 2, 3, and 4 game were already there like before on Origin and booted up just fine as if nothing ever changed.

Does anyone know if you can download the game to a new computer with the new app? I hate when companies try to fix what isn't broken...

They have Sims 2 on GoG? I thought it was unobtainable since EA stopped giving out the UC.

I have the EA app and it uninstalled Origin.
My game is still on my pc (and George still works).

Agreed with everyone else. Switching to EA App, everything was transferred over seamlessly. Only downside, for me, was the game resetting itself to default presets like resetting the tutorial or enabled edge scrolling, but otherwise no major problems. All my Origin games: Sims 2 UC, Sims 3, and Sims 4 have all remained during the switch with the same save files and whatnot. It runs Sims 2 totally fine with no new issues from my experience.

I would suggest just making backups of all your stuff just in case before you make the switch. Like others have said, theoretically, you should be fine.

It may not be on GOG any longer but its around. The version I am using is Mr DJ with an Ikea add on. Sims 2 has always been available. One poor guy I saw on YouTube went and bought a downloaded version from someone on Etsy, They must have sold them one of the many free versions of the UC!

You can back up the installation folder from Origin Games, or find Origin-based UC online. The installation process is a bit different from disk versions; you have to modify the target line for the installation exe (Touchup.exe) to match where it's located on your PC, but if you have the install log (Origin generates it automatically when installing the game) you can just copy the target line arguments from there. As a bonus, as long as you have the backup, all your fixes, edits, clean hoods and whatever else you might have in there will carry over too.

EA, however, is aware of the issue and it might be fixed, so don't lose hope. Some players are actually able to download the game, and EA App correctly recognizes it as The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection when the game is open. It's just that the mix-up between Store Edition and Ultimate Collection is causing this mess right now.

Well, it’s the new year and Origin still works on my PC. Can even still log in.

I did it this way, and it worked seamlessly. Thanks for the suggestion.

My version of the EA app linked directly to my Origin games folder, I originally got the UC back in 2016 by pestering EA for it (before the 2018 complete refusal to offer the game, even by code calling/photo evidence in my case.)
Using Lazy Duchess's exe for the huge lots (70x70+) and to bypass the Origin launcher, the EA App loads that directly so it doesn't have a check compared to the Origin one. Loaded EA app once to confirm the game was listed and then proceeded like normal to ignore EAnything.