Maybe I'm just being ignorant, but I can't seem to fix this problem. Maybe it's a simple setting that I'm unaware of. I cannot find any records of this problem.

I can only build on one level in any new lot that I create. I can however, build on more than one level on lots I created earlier. I first found this problem after playing the game for the first time in months. I temporarily removed all custom content, as I had added some before I opened it to discover the problem. I've patched. I've tried using the "set HighestAllowedLevel" cheat but it doesn't change anything. The level up and level down buttons remain gray. I've never had this problem before. If it's some setting that I don't know about, and is so simple, that it doesn't need to be posted in FAQ sections, I'm sorry.

Thanks for the help.

This is usually an indication of a no CD crack. Are you using one?

No, I don't use those. This is such a weird problem. I can't figure out what I did to cause this. Again, it's been a while since I played, so it could have been some other installation that I didn't intend to affect TS2 that's causing this. Please, if anyone else has or had this problem, let's figure this out.

Thanks

Well, you said you removed custom content and patched, so that's good...

Can you go ahead and try these steps of the Game Problem FAQ as well? http://www.sims2wiki.info/wiki.php?..._All_User_Files

... that page, Remove All User Files, and the next page, Test Without User Files... you'd want to then go in and create a new lot and test whether or not you can build on more levels...

I have never had the setHighestAllowedLevel cheat do anything for me - dunno why, just doesn't work. While it certainly sounds like something is wrong and you should track down what it is (cos you never know with this game - one thing goes wrong that might be a symptom of three other things that you might not realize for a few play sessions and by then you have several new families and houses that you just don't wanna lose, etc.)... there -is- a workaround trick when that cheat doesn't work... In the roofing section, select a dormer and place it on your top level. This should open up another level up top for building - repeat as necessary to gain levels and then remove the dormers (they're made of walls and a roof so you'll have to do both parts separately) after building on each level up.

this may not be relevant in your case, but i had the same problem when i downloaded a corrupted lot. removing the lot and its corrupted custom content solved the problem.