Custom Neighborhood Disappeared

[Heidelberg]

Okay, I've seen posts for the "Big 3" neighborhoods that come with the game disappearing, but my problem isn't with Pleasantview, Strangetown or Veronaville. I had created Arbordale, spent weeks working on it, and after the last time I played the game (I was in Strangetown, and NOT Arbordale), I exited normally, but when I went back into the game Arbordale was gone from the selections. :wtf: I have 2 other custom neighborhoods that are still there just fine--only Arbordale disappeared.

I went into the game files (My Documents/EA Games/The Sims 2/Neighborhoods), and it's still in the files (it's N005), but the game doesn't seem to be pointing to it anymore. I moved out my EA Games folder from My Documents, then uninstalled the game, and did a fresh install. I tested everything before putting any of my custom content in, and everything looks fine. I put back everything, but Arbordale is still missing, even though I moved it back in.

I have all EP's and "stuff" packs (Holiday and FFS).

How do I get the game to see it again? Or, do I have to just suck it up, and recreate the whole thing from scratch by using the templates? :(

[Heidelberg]

Message from me again:

I've even posted this at the Official The Sims 2 site, and can't get any help there (I was hoping someone from Maxis would see it and offer help, but no luck), but I've found the people here are much better at breaking game code and coming up with solutions, so I'm hoping you geniuses here can help me.

[simsample]

Apart from looking at the hood in SimPE and seeing if you can spot any obvious anomalies, I can't really offer much help. This seems to be a common problem and it's difficult to find a link between different people who have had it happen, so that a solution may be found. The only advice I could give is to backup your files in future; so that if this occurs again you do not loose the neighbourhood. I've never had it happen myself before but perhaps if you could post some specifications of your computer (including what version of Windows you are running) and also how 'big' your neighbourhood is (approx number of lots, number of character files, have you been playing it for long etc), and also what EPs and patches you have then this could be useful in future.

[Heidelberg]

I haven't actually lost the neighborhood, as it's still there, the game just doesn't see it anymore. SimPE also sees it. Makes me think the pointer to it is missing.

I am running Windows XP Home Edition Version 2, Service Pack 2. HP Compaq Presario AMD Sempron processor 3500+ with 1.99 GHz, 960 MB of RAM. I have all EP's and "stuff" packs, including the FFS patch.

The neighborhood is 366 MB with 1000 files. It says it was created 03-26-06, and last updated 07-13-06, but if that date is correct, all I did was place some houses down. No new Sims, and I didn't play with any, either. There are 163 lots (That has to count downtown, university, and Bluewater Village) and 678 characters (that's gotta count townies and NPC's, too because there are only 15 or 16 families with an average family size of 4.)

There is a N005_Neighborhood.bak file, so I do have a backup of it, but I can't get it to restore, or don't know HOW to restore it.

One thing I have noticed: the FFS patch seems to have made the game buggier, rather than fixing it. I have an object that came with the original game (the tulip floor lamp), that Maxis added colors to with NL. It was originally just yellow with different colored stems. Now it comes in blue, yellow and red with just one color stem. With a fresh install of all EP's, all of the colors are there. Eventually, the game will crash, and all the added colors are gone, and just the original yellow is there. Obviously I can't change it because a.) I'm not a modder and don't know how to get into game files, and therefore, b.) it came with the game, and isn't a download. Until FFS and the patch, my game didn't crash. At least not as frequently as it does now. So, I'm wondering if somehow it didn't corrupt the file, but it didn't crash when it disappeared. I was able to exit the game normally. It wasn't until the next startup that it was gone.

[simsample]

The files may still be there, but they may be corrupted. I'm convinced that this is related to XP Home- there seems to be a game problem with the read-only protection on the Documents folder, and I rarely see the problem of missing lots/ neighbourhoods in XP Pro. The .bak file can be restored using SimPE; on the neighbourhood browser screen you have an option to manage backups. You should be able to access it there. For the tulip lamps- they have always had four colours since the original game, but the item had a bug- see this thread for details:
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=57977
The problem should be fixed with the new CEP files.

[Heidelberg]

Yeah, I had XP Pro on my old computer, and I liked it a whole lot better than the Home edition, but licensing issues, etc. have left me stuck with Home.

I'll try restoring it through SimPE. I'll also look to see if there is an updated version of CEP out there. I think mine's pretty old.

[Heidelberg]

For the tulip lamps- they have always had four colours since the original game, but the item had a bug- see this thread for details:
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=57977
The problem should be fixed with the new CEP files.

I can't access that thread. It says I don't have permission or sufficient access rights.

[Heidelberg]

Okay, I went into SimPE, but it doesn't even see the backup, so I tried to open the original neighborhood, and you're right. It's corrupted. There are no lots, and no Sims at all, Townies or NPC's. That neighborhood is shot. I'm hoping I can somehow recover Jodie and Jason Larson, and whoever that Gieke Sim was through a reinstall, as they were in that neighborhood, but if not, oh well. I like my own creations better, anyway.

Fortunately, I'm a geek and play the game with a notebook. I write down all the family names, who they're married to, siblings, parents, etc. I can recreate it from my notes, although the founding families' offspring will change, but that's okay as long as my founders are the same. Them I do in CAS. I didn't like the way I originally created the neighborhood, anyway, so this way I can start over with a different approach. I'll delete those files from my computer, and just start it over again. Thanks so much for your help!

As for the tulip lamp: That's interesting. When I did my clean reinstall of the game, I did it EP by EP. After I first reinstalled the original base game I intentionally checked it, and the tulip lamp was only yellow. Same with University. It finally came in colors once I reinstalled NL, and it stayed that way through OFB, and FFS. The game crashed on me again the other day, and sure enough, it's only yellow again. Kind of annoying. Again, I'll have to check my CEP and see if there's an updated version. Then the old uninstall/reinstall scenario. Good thing I don't have a life! LOL!!

[simsample]

Hehe, sorry- that thread is in the archive, that's why you cannot access it. Basically it was a fix for the tulip lamps, but this is now included in the CEP files- so your lamp should work wonderfully with the new CEP. I also remember that it was an issue fixed in one of the patches, so probably this fix was included in NL. The moral is, always update your hacks and mods, and always patch the game!
Ahh, sorry to hear the files are corrupted- I wrote a few tips about this here:
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?p=1333569#post1333569
Someone else with the same issues as you. I will also stress again to BACKUP YOUR FILES; if you only have a flash drive or CD then you could just back up the neighbourhoods themselves (as the custom content can be downloaded again). I linked in the thread I just directed you to but I'll link again as I want EVERYONE to back up their files:
http://www.modthesims2.com/article.php?p=1105148
You are very thorough with your neighbourhood records, hope you manage to recreate it again! Good luck.