Quick Reply
Search this Thread
Scholar
Original Poster
#1 Old 2nd Oct 2025 at 2:08 AM

This user has the following games installed:

Sims 2, Nightlife, Pets
Default New Laptop with Windows 11 and Discs question
Hello, hope everyone is doing well, sorry I haven't posted in a while!

Real life took over and my old laptop got so slow it was unusable, so I haven't 'simmed' in a few months!

It's that time of decade so I got a new laptop with Windows 11.

I have been googling things and read this post here https://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=672778 which is a similar question to mine. I hope it's ok if I ask a few things please?

I'd prefer to use my discs, because I don't want to play University or Open For Business. I'd like to install Base Game, Nightlife and Pets, then play a bit to relearn things, then install one expansion pack at a time (I have already bought the other discs), playing each one for a bit so I can get used to it slowly (kind of want to savour each one).

So far I have installed and patched BG, NL and Pets.

I then installed a 4GB patch from here https://ntcore.com/4gb-patch/ because I don't have M&G. Do I need to do that on Bodyshop too?

I did install the game in the usual place (Program Files (x86) folder), but now I'm wondering if that was a mistake, do I need to uninstall and reinstall to C:/Games folder instead? Or can I move the files without reinstalling them? I don't want Windows messing about with them or creating virtual duplicates, as I use SimPE a lot and am hoping to get back into Milkshape too.

I loaded the game and it crashed when I chose a neighbourhood (twice in a row). Windows did a 'Compatibility Mode' pop up so I said yes, but then when I clicked on the Pets exe in TS Bin it didn't look like it had changed it. I googled it but got a bit confused, as there were a lot of different answers.

Is it right to then tick Windows 98/Windows ME, then Reduced Colour > 8 bit (256) colour and then Run as Administrator?

I think I then need to run Graphics Rules Maker. My graphics card is a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050.

I downloaded Grumpy Loader but am not sure how it works, do I choose the Pets exe in TS Bin to 'Load'? Do I need to use it every time I launch the game?

Then do I need a no-CD patch after that, or is that the same as the 4GB patch I added earlier?

Have I missed anything else out?

I bought an external disc drive, but it is a bit of a pain as it kind of takes the 'lap' out of laptop - can I take the disc out once the game is playing, or do I need to clip it to my laptop or buy a special raiser or something (like maybe a drawer/box for the disc drive and the laptop sits on top)?

Sorry for all the questions! Thanks to anyone who can help
Mad Poster
#2 Old 2nd Oct 2025 at 3:34 AM
I mean, if you don't want to play University or OFB, you can just not use the features from those EPs. It's not like the EPs actual add content to the game that you can't very easily avoid.
Mad Poster
#3 Old 2nd Oct 2025 at 5:03 AM Last edited by simmer22 : 8th Oct 2025 at 1:48 AM.
Quote: Originally posted by Dizzy-noodles
I then installed a 4GB patch from here https://ntcore.com/4gb-patch/ because I don't have M&G. Do I need to do that on Bodyshop too?


Yes, that's a good idea. Makes Bodyshop less likely to crash, especially if you want to load in a lot of CAS CC.
Check if Bodyshop works after the patch, and if you have any issues with it, try running GRM on it as well.

Backup your GraphicRules files before messing about in GRM, just in case. The one for TS2 is in "Config", the one for Bodyshop is in "CSConfig", in the install location of your latest EP, "...\TSData\Res" folder. GRM does a backup of the files, but if you do more changes you can risk it saving a new backup over the previous backup.

Quote: Originally posted by Dizzy-noodles
I did install the game in the usual place (Program Files (x86) folder), but now I'm wondering if that was a mistake, do I need to uninstall and reinstall to C:/Games folder instead? Or can I move the files without reinstalling them? I don't want Windows messing about with them or creating virtual duplicates, as I use SimPE a lot and am hoping to get back into Milkshape too.


The game does work fine in the Program Files location, but can be a bit more annoying when you need to access/edit the install files.
Windows/OneDrive is more likely to mess about with the save files in the Documents location, especially if it's in any way connected to OneDrive.

Quote: Originally posted by Dizzy-noodles
I loaded the game and it crashed when I chose a neighbourhood (twice in a row). Windows did a 'Compatibility Mode' pop up so I said yes, but then when I clicked on the Pets exe in TS Bin it didn't look like it had changed it. I googled it but got a bit confused, as there were a lot of different answers [...]

...I think I then need to run Graphics Rules Maker. My graphics card is a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050.


Compatibility mode can clash with the 4GB patch, so you don't want to do both (setting to "run as admin" would be fine, though) - use the 4GB patch, and instead fix your GraphicRules file (GRM). Most likely the root of the crashing problem is there, especially if you have a Nvidia card. Two of the tick boxes in GRM are especially important with a Nvidia card.

Quote: Originally posted by Dizzy-noodles
I downloaded Grumpy Loader but am not sure how it works, do I choose the Pets exe in TS Bin to 'Load'? Do I need to use it every time I launch the game?


I think the Gumpy Loader is more used for installing than for playing. Some of the discs can be a bit more troublesome to install than others.
(But personally haven't needed to use it - so maybe someone else can fill in here?)

Quote: Originally posted by Dizzy-noodles
Then do I need a no-CD patch after that, or is that the same as the 4GB patch I added earlier?


The no-CD patch(es?) is a way to go around the launcher, and allows playing without using the disc (plus a few other things). No idea if there's one for the lower games (the only one I know of is for M&G). If you could find one for your current highest EP, that would mean you didn't need to use the external disc drive for playing (but it's handy for reinstalls and such, of course).
It's not the same as the 4GB patch or the game patches.
Mad Poster
#4 Old 2nd Oct 2025 at 6:59 PM
I remember you! Welcome back!
Scholar
Original Poster
#5 Old 4th Oct 2025 at 12:25 AM
Thanks everyone

@kestrellyn = Thanks, I was actually thinking that once I get Sims 2 working on the new gaming laptop, I might try the whole lot on the old gaming laptop and see what they're like to play (I think it was £25ish on Steam last time I looked, so not too bad).

But it'll probably take me a while before I'm ready, lots to do on the new gaming laptop first.

@Charity = Thanks, it's nice to be back, I hope you are well

@simmer22 = Thanks for the detailed, helpful advice .

I ran out of time on Wednesday, and had to do overtime on Thursday. I've got a busy weekend coming up, so I might not be able to try again until Sunday night, but then I'll work through your advice and see how I get on.

I do have a bad habit of 'perfectionism stopping me doing things' but I'm trying to get better at that. If I try to do a little bit every day I can hopefully make progress that way, instead of going at 90 miles an hours as I have been this week!

I think I need to refresh my memory on the install process, it was a few years since I did it on my Acer laptop and my old gaming laptop, they were both Windows 10 though, and also I just can't remember what I did.
Scholar
Original Poster
#6 Old 8th Oct 2025 at 12:49 AM Last edited by Dizzy-noodles : 30th Oct 2025 at 2:05 AM.
Ok so I'm back and giving this a go. I'll write my list of steps in case it works (for me and others to refer to). If it doesn't work I'll edit the list until it does, but fingers crossed! (Please note I am only using Base Game, Night Life and Pets to start with).

I have uninstalled OneDrive completely now, as I don't want it or use it anyway.

The list is now under the Spoiler below


23/10/25 = The game seems to be working, hooray! Phew!
Scholar
Original Poster
#7 Old 30th Oct 2025 at 2:13 AM
Hello everyone!

Just as an update, my game is working now, so I was wondering, would the list I have made in Post 6 be useful for other people as a sticky post or tutorial?
-·-- -·-- --··
retired moderator
#8 Old 30th Oct 2025 at 4:25 PM
Scholar
Original Poster
#9 Old 1st Nov 2025 at 7:38 PM
Quote: Originally posted by simsample
@Dizzy-noodles Yes, I think it would!


Thanks, do you know what I need to do please, do I need to ask a mod or something?
-·-- -·-- --··
retired moderator
#10 Old 1st Nov 2025 at 8:00 PM
I am thinking that it might make a good replacement as a sticky for this thread: https://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=500523
@HugeLunatic Do you have any advice here please?
Me? Sarcastic? Never.
staff: administrator
#11 Old 2nd Nov 2025 at 1:27 PM
I can't sticky a post mid thread. And I can't seem to split posts, which I thought splitting was the post and everything after anyway. xD

As guide to installing, step 10 should be removed because other than installing the shadow fix, that is not relevant to installing and playing the vanilla game. And I would argue that it shouldn't even be step 10! But the very last step. The game should always be run before adding any outside content to ensure the vanilla game works.

Create a new thread without the contents of step 10 and I can sticky that.
Scholar
Original Poster
#12 Old 17th Nov 2025 at 4:31 PM
Sorry for the late reply @simsample and @HugeLunatic!

I'll remove Step 10 and do that now, thanks.
Back to top