Question about backups/moving files

[Vimpse]

I'm not entirely sure if this is where I should post this since it's not a super-technical thing and technically I don't even have a problem, just a "game help question" - it might be a horribly stupid question too, but here I go:

Recently I installed my TS2 games on a different (better :heyhey:) computer and I wanted to just start the game from scratch so I didn't try to find out how I could move any of my existing neighborhoods etc to the new computer, but now that it's been a while I find myself missing one of my custom neighborhoods and my stupid question is this: how can I move that neighborhood to the new computer? Is moving the "N(number-whatnot)" folder from Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Neighborhoods on my old computer to the new computer enough (obviously as long as the neighborhood doesn't have a conflicting number with one already there)?
In addition to that, if that's all it requires, here's another potential issue: on my old computer I didn't have Ikea installed (because at a reinstall at some point my old computer decided that there was a registry error something whatnot and it wouldn't install it... that's unimportant anyway, point is my old computer doesn't have Ikea) but I do on the new computer - i.e. otherwise the two games are exactly the same EPs/SPs... will that be an issue in moving the old neighborhood?

Aaaand at the end, just to be completely idiot-proof up in this thread: does the fact that the old computer runs XP and the new one runs Windows 7 impact anything? Does it make a difference to getting this neighborhood from one to the other?

Edit: Oh, and another thing: when I installed the games on this new computer I copied my downloads folder from the old computer to the new computer so the CC and everything is exactly the same. Naturally I've used CC in the neighborhood on the old computer (the one I want to move) but since the old computer is XP and the new one is Win7 the path for the downloads folder isn't exactly the same... will that be a problem? If I move the neighborhood will all the CC be borked or does it find it again? The content of the two downloads folders should be identical.

I'd really appreciate if someone could answer these questions even if they seem pretty dumb and the answers to them might be right in front of me on the internetmachine :( :help:

[M.M.A.A.]

I remembered a thread about renaming neighborhoods which should help, here: http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=461645&highlight=rename because sometimes, just moving the neighborhood file and renaming wont get it to appear in the game. Check the thread and see if it helps.

[Vimpse]

I had incredible deja vu while reading that thread, I'm pretty sure I've looked at it before. Sadly it doesn't really help me though, does it? I mean, IF just moving the neighborhood folder from one computer to the other is a safe way of doing it then that thread would be relevant if the moved neighborhood has a conflicting name with an existing one, which I don't believe it will. Soooo... still looking for some answers to the questions in my OP.

[Mootilda]

Just to be clear:

- You deleted the entire Neighborhoods folder on the new machine before copying?
- You copied the Neighborhoods folder to the correct location, which is different than on your old machine?

If you copy just the N<number> folder, you risk having a conflict with an existing neighborhood, even if the folder name is not the same. You can test whether this is true by temporarily removing all other neighborhoods from your Neighborhoods folder. If your old neighborhood works without any other neighborhoods in the folder, then you have a conflict.

To fix this, first try deleting the NeighborhoodManager.package. It will regenerate.

If that doesn't work, you may be able to fix it by changing the internal neighborhood ID using SimPE. Ask and I'll give you instructions.

The following things will not make your old neighborhoods unplayable:
- Having Ikea installed on the new machine.
- Changing from Windows XP to Windows 7.

[Vimpse]

No, no, no - I haven't copied or deleted anything (yet). I installed my games on the new computer and the ONLY thing I copied from my old computer's TS2 documents directory was the content of my downloads folder. Now I want a neighborhood from my old computer on the new computer so I can continue playing it: do I just copy the N007 (or whatever number it has, as long as there is no conflicting numbered neighborhood already there) folder from my old computer and paste it in the neighborhoods folder on my new computer?

^ if yes: what about the CC? Since the old neighborhood was built on XP and not on Win7, the path of my downloads folder isn't the same - but the content of the folder is. If I move the neighborhood will the CC appear as it should?


edit: You edited your post while I was typing this... and I'm a bit confused now. What can a potential conflict be if the names aren't the same? I haven't tried moving it yet since I wasn't sure if copying that folder actually was the only thing I'd have to do... so basically what I should just try doing now is copying my old neighborhood from my old computer into my new computer's neighborhood folder and see what happens...?

[Mootilda]

There's a lot more to a neighborhood than the folder name. It's possible to have an internal conflict between two neighborhoods... internal to the package files.

The easiest thing is to copy the neighborhood and see what happens. If you "lose" a neighborhood, then post back and we'll try to walk you through the steps to get it back.

[Vimpse]

I might just... not try to do it at all, I'm much too scared of messing things up. :lol: It's not criiiiitically important that I get the neighborhood anyway, so it might not be worth the trouble. Thanks though, at least I learned something! :)

[Mootilda]

If you have backups of everything, then nothing bad can happen. I often move neighborhoods between machines, along with installing other people's neighborhoods.

Usually, there's no problem at all. Occasionally, I've had neighborhoods conflict internally, but there are several easy fixes.

[Whiterudder]

Well, what's the worst that can happen? You end up without the old neighbourhood in your new game - not so terrible. ;)
Backup your new TS2 folder before trying anything, and if it does go wrong, you can just delete the messed up TS2 folder and replace it with the backup. Simples!

[Pixelhate]

Plus, with Mootilda on your side, you're very safe, she's an expert on that matter. The only real risk is to gain experience and understanding ... :)

[Vimpse]

I gave into your zen-like "really, what's going to happen if you backup your game?" and copied the neighborhood (N006, for the record :P) between the two computers and... drumroll please... nothing exploded or crashed or disappeared or messed up. Darlington Heights appeared in the neighborhood menu as it should, all the lots appear as they should, all the CC is where it should and I'm feeling silly about being so scared to move it!

Peer pressure really does work! Thanks :)