Had a look in the FAQs but can't find exactly what problems I'm having (so sorry if I've glanced over them with realising!) Plus, I'm sorry if this is kinda long - just trying to explain my issues as best I can which probably isn't very well!

Anyhow, I've been having some problems with installing and gameplaying since getting The Sims 2.

First off, when trying to install The Sims 2, I gotta the 'transfer error' message which, through Googling, I've discovered is quite common. It got to something like 17% before this happened. I managed to remedy that by transferring the files from the disc onto my desktop and installing it from there.
However, the same thing happened again when I tried to install Open For Business but it only got to 1% and the error seemed to be caused by something called 'Voice3' which I found in a compressed folder.
When I tried to copy the files onto the desktop, I got an error message telling me it could not copy 'compressed.zip' - the one which contains 'Voice3'.
So, what I did, was to open 'compressed.zip' in WinRAR and transfer everything bar 'Voice3', thinking it wouldn't effect the game all that much.
However, when I try to open OFB, I get the blank box with a cross pop up. When I manage to open Double Deluxe, some of my items show in the catalogue say 'No Pic'.
When I try to place them, nothing is there and I cannot interact with it.
One of these items is an antique cash register so I'm presuming it's caused by OFB.

I managed to install two stuff packs (Teen Stuff and Mansion & Garden Stuff successfully).
I don't think the problem lies with the disk as it's in good condition, and I've had it with both of the games. Plus it does seem to be kind of common (yet I haven't been able to find a successful remedy as of yet).

I really can't think what's causing it.
I had no CC at the time of installing The Sims 2 - only in The Sims 3.
I have a Sims 3 .package file installer, if that's somehow conflicting.
My hard drive has a recovery partition - I think I might have read somewhere about partitions conflicting? I may be wrong.
It just sucks I can't get a lot of items.

I'm running Windows Vista Home Premium.
When I get back to my laptop I can get specs if need be.
It's a HP Pavilion Notebook.

Any help with regards to what could be causing it and how I can go about remedying it would be greatly appreciated!

Last edited by Dahlia Noir : 6th Mar 2010 at 08:33 PM.

Have you had any problems playing other CDs/DVDs in your DVD drive? If two brand new disks have the same problem, it would seem to suggest the issue is with your computer. Do you have another computer you could try installing onto, just to see if the install goes smoothly?

Are your disks CDs or DVDs? Or a mixture of both?

Nope, I've always been okay installing and playing discs.
I didn't have a problem with The Sims or The Sims 3.

They're the DVD discs - The Sims 2 just has one install disc.
The laptop itself is less than a year old - not sure if that would make a difference.

It's strange because many of the open for business items seem to be showing in the catalogue.

EDIT: I've now noticed I'm getting another glitch.
Some of my items look like they're covered in newspaper - they're white with black text and red and blue lines.
Again, I'm guessing it's OFB as one of them is the flower dispenser.
Here's an image so you can see what I'm talking about.

Last edited by Dahlia Noir : 8th Mar 2010 at 05:49 PM.

The newspaper print thing reminded me of these:
- http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=299222
- Game_Help:Corrupted_Objects.package^wiki.

Most likely when the discs couldn't be read properly the files were not installed correctly.

I went to the store and managed to swap the discs, and it installed fine!
Although I'm still seeing the 'newspapery' corrupted image thumbnails, however the actual items aren't corrupted which is the main thing.
I can only presume there was something wrong with the disc, despite the fact it didn't appear physically damaged.

Thank you for everyone's advice though

To get rid of the broken thumbnails, replace these files with the ones from the new disk:
...
The Sims 2\The Sims 2 Open For Business\TSData\Res\UserData\Thumbnails
Replace all of them, but especially the buildmodethumbnails.package.

Problem should then be 100% fixed.