I have successfully downloaded the sims 4 on a external hard drive, but I am having issues downloading any custom content on cursefger or patron or anything of the sort because anything I download will just go to my documents folder on my laptop instead of staying in the external hard drive like i want it too.I've looked up several ways to try and stop it but i am not well versed with laptops since i only recently got one and any advice to create or make a symbolic link has been failing thus far. how can i make it so my mods stay with with the game and function?

@RedactedXOXO What happens when you try to create the symbolic link? Please post a screenshot of the Command Prompt window showing the command you entered and the result. In case you haven't seen it, here's a good guide to creating the symlink: https://crinrict.com/blog/2020/02/moving-windows-documents-folder-to-external-drive-via-symbolic-link.html

@puzzlezaddictIt typically says command incorrect or syntax incomplete or something about it not being worded correctly if I remember correctly. And typically I have to make sure I use the symbolic link with OneDrive but that doesn't even workIll try again and post a screen shot to show you

@RedactedXOXO The syntax error is because the first two quotation marks are the wrong kind. If you look closely, you'll see they're curved rather than straight. You also need to link to the Sims 4 folder on your external drive, not to the folder called SIMS, although the Sims 4 folder can be inside SIMS. However, if your user folder is in OneDrive, you'll need to modify the command. Here's what you'd write, except with your actual username rather than [username], assuming you want the Sims 4 folder inside SIMS: MKLINK /J "C:\Users\[username]\OneDrive\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4" "D:\SIMS\The Sims 4" If you'd like to get rid of OneDrive first, here's how: https://answers.ea.com/t5/PC/CURRENT-ISSUE-Sims-4-saves-user-content-disappearing-PC/m-p/12475370#Remove

It says it cannot create a file that already exist, i believe it is because the game itself is downloaded on the external hard drive but not the electronics arts folder, it just creates a new one every time i try to download any type of mod. Here's what showed up

@RedactedXOXO The problem is the Sims 4 folder in Users > your username > OneDrive > Documents > Electronic Arts. Move or rename that folder, and make sure OneDrive doesn't download a fresh copy. If you want to get rid of OneDrive first, please follow the guide I linked in my last post. I personally would get rid of it, but it is your choice.

Electronic Arts folder will not create/form on external hard drive

15 Replies

puzzlezaddict
Hero+
7 months ago
@RedactedXOXO Move the files from CurseForge to where you want them. Or is there another problem? CurseForge may not be set up to support a symlinked user folder, but if that's your only issue, you can move files around manually.
RedactedXOXO
7 months ago
Originally I thought it was maybe just a curse forger issue but that does not seem to be the case as I tried to move a mod from patron into the mod folder to no advil, so currently I am thinking that maybe I should try to delete and redownload the sims and follow the previous steps you've given me to see if that corrects the issue.
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
7 months ago
@RedactedXOXO Reinstalling the game won't have any impact on which user folder it's reading. Instead, please open this location:

C:\Users\your username\Documents\Electronic Arts

and let me know whether there's a Sims 4 folder or a symbolic link. They look very much the same, but a symlink has a little arrow on it. If you see a proper folder, then the symlink is gone, and you'll need to recreate it, after renaming or removing this new folder.

If the symlink is present, double-click it and tell me what files you see where you land. In case it's not clear, when you double-click a symlink, you're not opening it like you open a folder; rather, you're jumping to wherever the symlink points. You can see where you are in the address bar, above the list of files and folders.
RedactedXOXO
7 months ago
@puzzlezaddict I found the file and it does not have a symbolic link
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
7 months ago
@RedactedXOXO Then you need to remove or rename it and try again to create the symbolic link. Then look again and make sure it's there.

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Electronic Arts folder will not create/form on external hard drive

15 Replies

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