no base game worlds showing in main menu, any advice please?

Try this: Delete the EA Games The Sims 2 folder. Start the game again to see if all the hoods generate. Enter the game to enable custom content if you intend to reinstall any or any later. Quit, start the game again, hopefully everything gets installed this time. You never have to uninstall or reinstall, just delete The Sims 2 folder and it should all regenerate.

If that doesn't work do try this

you need to open regedit (Window+R) and open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE then SOFTWARE

For 32 - Bit : Find EA GAMES folder and open the sims 2... change the Display Name... Delete the ™ out... and the problem is solved...


For 64- Bit : Open Wow6432Node then.. Find EA GAMES folder and open the sims 2... change the Display Name... Delete the ™ out... and the problem is solved...

Before it's should look like this : The Sims 2™ Ultimate Collection

After : The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection

Hmm, before you do the steps above you should check if you haven't accidentally overlooked the scrolling arrows in the main menu, just to be sure.