Sims 4 New install and 2 files

@Callanosaurusrex  There should always be two Sims 4 folders.  One contains the game's program files, as in, what the EA App installs, and you can choose to install wherever you want.  The other folder contains user data—saves, mods, etc.—and is always in Documents > Electronic Arts.  If you'd like to move it, here's how:

https://crinrict.com/blog/2020/02/moving-windows-documents-folder-to-external-drive-via-symbolic-link.html

You can move this folder almost anywhere, but please do NOT combine it with the program files.  Doing so can cause all kinds of problems.  If necessary, simply create a new folder on your external drive into which your Sims 4 user folder will go.

I messed something up that I have no way to fix.

I tried to move my documents folder that was on PC to the drive and when it didn't sync up my saves anymore, I realized that I couldn't have my old game file on the drive, like you said.

Now when I tried to move the document folder back, it no longer is reading that game file is part of the game. I have tried over and over to fix it, but when I load the game, none of my save files appear and it only says new game.

I cleared my recycle bin before I knew about this issue, so I have no way to undo what I did. I have tried to make the documents folder with just a new folder with the name Electronic Arts and it does load my sims 4 game saves there with all my screenshots and trays, but it just won't register into the actual game itself.

I'm looking at the main screen right now, and it has the blank Sim with New Game next to it.

I don't know what to do to fix it. It just won't project my saves into the game anymore. Do I just paste my game file into the other Electronic Arts folder where the EA app program is in program files? Or would that not work? 

I just wish I never tried to move the documents folder in the first place because now I can't get it back to how it wad before. 

@Callanosaurusrex  You'll need to find the location of the Sims 4 user folder the game is actually reading and move your saves and other content there.  Here's how to find the folder:

https://sims4.crinrict.com/eng/2018/07/how-to-find-your-user-folder/

If you'd like the location of the user folder to be somewhere else, list its current location and the one you'd like to use, and I can help with the process of moving it.

Yesterday I made a new game save to try and see if I could find it myself, but it never showed up where I was expecting. 

I did as the guide said and found the game files in...

C:\Users\Public\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Recorded Videos

I'd like this moved to...

C:\Users\cgbri\Documents\Electronic Arts

Or just ending in documents if is better to move the Electronic Arts folder instead of the Sims 4 folder.

But first, can I replace this fake new game save by pasting my old game saves and stuff in there first, or should I wait until I have moved it?

This Public Documents EA folder was made by default through the game, so I could technically leave it there and just replace the game file with my old one now that I know where the game is directing to.

By the way, you are such an angel for doing this! Thank you!

@Callanosaurusrex  I would wait to move any saves until your user folder is where you want it, if for no other reason than to avoid any potential complications or sources of error.

The next question is the location of the Documents directory in this Windows account.  As you can see, the computer has several Documents folders, but only one is the directory, as designated by Windows.  Sims 4 will try to use that location, and if it can't, it sometimes defaults to the Public Documents folder.  So the key is to change the directory to what you want and make sure it's in a location the game can access.

Please search in Windows for Command Prompt, open it, and enter this command, starting with reg query:

reg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders" /v "Personal"

That will return the location of the Documents directory.  You can change it directly in the registry:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/operation-to-change-a-personal-folder-location-fails-in-windows-ffb95139-6dbb-821d-27ec-62c9aaccd720

However, if OneDrive is involved, it would be best to address that first.  Please see this section of a guide I wrote for disappearing content:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/PC/CURRENT-ISSUE-Sims-4-saves-user-content-disappearing-PC/m-p/12475370#Remove

Alright. Everything has been worked out. Thanks to puzzleaddict and all their help, I was able to fix my Sims 4 transfer issues and recommend everyone follow what they said.

No video on the internet that I have found showed the person ACTUALLY transferring their files to an entirely new computer. They are all the same in that they just show you where to copy and paste your files into a hard drive for transfer, but fail to show you what happens when you find the Sims 4 game files after installing on the new computer.

This messed me up because I had never seen the application files before, the ones that house all the packs and functions of the game proper. I have only used and messed with the data files where saves and mods are kept.

So, after my journey and tears and stress, here's what to do...

Download the EA App to new computer and sign in with the account that owns your game. If you are a minor, it's likely under your parent's Gmail address, along with a password for the ea app. This can be changed to a new address, but you do need the original password of the current account address. After entering both the pass and address, you can give ownership to a new account. Then you're set.

After downloading the ea app and making sure the correct account is signed in, start to install the Sims 4, found in library on the app. There will be a little paper clip icon that shows where the Game Files will be saved. These can be saved anywhere you choose, even externally. DO NOT DELETE EVER, it will make you reinstall the entire game and packs if you do delete it. It won't delete your save files, it just wastes your time, so try not to delete. Inside is EP01 and every pack you own with the corresponding pack number, so don't be confused like I was since I had never seen this file before.

There will only be one of this file, and it has the most storage, so I recommend keeping it on a drive to save space on the computer, which is why I have one in the first place because mine was too small for the disk space.

Enter the game to make sure it runs. There will be no saves for you to continue since you haven't transferred the save files yet, so don't be scared. Go to settings and go to screen capture and look for the url where your screenshots will be saved. This tells you where the master save file will be, and it's a pain to try and move unless you know how, so just leave it where it is and write down the url for reference so you don't forget where it is.

Tip: press c to take a picture of your screen, and when you leave the game, head to that url and find the screenshot folder and see if the picture is in there. This is how I could tell the difference between my working and not working folders, AKA, duplicate folders that weren't part of the game that I made by accident.

This is the place where you will paste all of your saves, mods, screenshots, basically, copy the entire Sims 4 folder on your original computer and replace the new one. That way you have all your settings, saves, lots, and all else transferred so you don't have to pick and choose what to transfer.

If at anytime you feel your game isn't saving to that folder, just head to the screen capture settings and refer to the url to see if it changed or something. I thought mine did, but I just read it wrong and didn't write it down, so I almost had a breakdown when my mods weren't working, but I was just pasting them in a duplicate file.

Also, I have 4 Sims 4 save files, the one where mods and saves go, and a backup of my original saves on the drive. One is in documents, another in user/mine/documents, and the real one from the url in settings under user/public documents. 

I am too afraid to delete the other 2 after finding my real game file, so I'm just going to quit while ahead and maybe figure it out after the login event coming next month.

I'm just worried that they will delete each other if I delete one, because when I would paste something in one, they others, except the public document one, would sync together, so if this happens to you, just leave it unless you know better.

Hope my battlefield of ignorance helps, because I found nothing of help online until making this post and a kind soul walked me through it.