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iloeh's avatar
iloeh
7 years ago
Solved

re-installing the game, which files should I save?

I really want to change my game's language and since the fast/simple ways all seem to come with having to mess around with the registry (= risk messing up my laptop?), I guess I'm just going to re-install the whole game (and my expansions) instead.

In order to not lose my current games and mods I've saved the following folders:

- CurrentGame.sims3

- Downloads

- InstalledWorlds

- Mods

Should I save something else? I'm using Origin if it makes some difference.

pc
technical issues
  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    7 years ago

    @iloeh  Instead of saving files within your TS3 game folder, you could actually save the entire folder and put it back once you've reinstalled.  But if you'd rather just save parts—and the advantage of that is that it would clear out your cache files—you'd need a completely different set of folders.

    • CurrentGame should always be empty unless you're actually playing; the only other reason you'd find files in there is if the game crashed, and in that case, the files should be deleted before you play again.  Your saves are all located in Saves.
    • Downloads holds Sims3Packs (both Store and custom content) that you've downloaded, even after you've installed the packs.  It's a good idea to hold onto these files so that if you ever need to rebuild your game folder, you don't have to hunt down all that custom content and spend extra time downloading the files.  But there's no reason any of that needs to stay in your game folder.
    • You installed Sims3packs are bundled into .ebc (store) and .dbc (custom content) files in DCCache.  The other files in DCCache aren't necessary.  For your premium store content to work, you also need ccmerged.package from DCBackup.  Everything else in that folder can go too, unless you like uploading content to the Exchange and want cc to stick to the files.  (This is not recommended.)
    • Installed worlds, either from the store or from third-party creators, will also have files in InstalledWorlds.
    • Installed venues, lots, or households will land in Library.  This is also where your own created builds and households are saved, i.e. anything that shows up in the bin for you to place in Edit Town.
    • Any sims you've saved into the Create a Sim bin will be in SavedSims.
    • If you take screenshots while playing and want to save them, be sure to grab the Screenshots folder.

    For a thorough explanation of everything in your game folder, check out Crinrict's guide:

    https://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2011/01/faq-user-files.html

1 Reply

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    7 years ago

    @iloeh  Instead of saving files within your TS3 game folder, you could actually save the entire folder and put it back once you've reinstalled.  But if you'd rather just save parts—and the advantage of that is that it would clear out your cache files—you'd need a completely different set of folders.

    • CurrentGame should always be empty unless you're actually playing; the only other reason you'd find files in there is if the game crashed, and in that case, the files should be deleted before you play again.  Your saves are all located in Saves.
    • Downloads holds Sims3Packs (both Store and custom content) that you've downloaded, even after you've installed the packs.  It's a good idea to hold onto these files so that if you ever need to rebuild your game folder, you don't have to hunt down all that custom content and spend extra time downloading the files.  But there's no reason any of that needs to stay in your game folder.
    • You installed Sims3packs are bundled into .ebc (store) and .dbc (custom content) files in DCCache.  The other files in DCCache aren't necessary.  For your premium store content to work, you also need ccmerged.package from DCBackup.  Everything else in that folder can go too, unless you like uploading content to the Exchange and want cc to stick to the files.  (This is not recommended.)
    • Installed worlds, either from the store or from third-party creators, will also have files in InstalledWorlds.
    • Installed venues, lots, or households will land in Library.  This is also where your own created builds and households are saved, i.e. anything that shows up in the bin for you to place in Edit Town.
    • Any sims you've saved into the Create a Sim bin will be in SavedSims.
    • If you take screenshots while playing and want to save them, be sure to grab the Screenshots folder.

    For a thorough explanation of everything in your game folder, check out Crinrict's guide:

    https://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2011/01/faq-user-files.html

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