My computer is currently being upgraded to a Nvidia 9800 GTX graphics card and a 700 watt power supply. While it has been in the shop, I purchased the rest of the expansion packs to complete the set. I now have:

Double Deluxe (w/ Nightlife & Celebration Stuff)
*University Life (w/ Ikea and Teen Style Stuff)
*Best of Business (w/ H&M Fashion & Kitchen&Bath)
*Fun with Pets (w/ Mansion&Garden & Family Fun Stuff)
Seasons
Bon Voyage
Freetime
Apartment Life

I placed an asterisk next to the collection expansions because I was curious about installing them. I read that expansions should typically be installed in the order that they were first released. I simply wondered if that rule still applied to these newer collection expansions, or if it would be better to install them in a different order?

I installed Fun with Pets and Best of Business onto my brother's computer just to mess around with them. I realized when I tried to download the game patches from the Maxis website that the patches did not seem to apply to these collection expansions. I got an error message saying that you must have that expansion installed to use the patch. I wondered whether these collection expansions come with the patches already in the game?

I also wondered about bringing my old Downloads folder to my new expanded game. It has roughly 35,000 files in it, but since some of the content is specific to certain expansions and not others, I thought maybe it might be better to ditch the whole thing and start fresh. I'm hesitant to do that because of the massive amount of time I spent downloading those things. What are the pros and cons to keeping the old Downloads folder in the new expanded game?

I have two Sims 2 games backed up and saved, but since I'm not particularly attached to them anymore, I don't care whether or not I reinstall them to the game.

Thank you to any and all helpers who reply to this post.

Sims 1 required that you install the EPs in order of release. Unless something changed with the collection packs that I'm not aware of, you can install the EPs and SPs in any order once the base game is installed. You shouldn't have any problems with your old downloads as long as you're just adding new EPs or SPs and haven't removed any of them. As for the patches for the collections, I believe that they did come with the patches but don't quote me on that. Just a guess based on when they were released.

You may have issues with hacks, which will need to be updated for the new EPs; all your other CC should be fine.

I just wanted to let you know that my game and download folder is installed and working properly. Thanks again!

Yay! Happy simming