Problem with installation

Please uninstall your game + expansions again and then install in that order:

• The Sims 2™ (or Sims 2 Deluxe, Sims 2 Double Deluxe or Sims 2 Holiday Edition, whichever you have)
• University (or University Life Collection)
• Nightlife (disregard if you have Sims 2 Deluxe or Double Deluxe)
• Christmas Party Pack (US) OR Holiday Party Pack (UK)
• Open for Business or Best of Business Collection
• Family Fun Stuff or Fun with Pets Collection
• Glamour Life Stuff
• Pets (disregard if you have Fun with Pets Collection)
• Happy Holiday Stuff (Disregard if you have Sims 2 Holiday Edition)
• Seasons
• Celebration Stuff (disregard if you have Double Deluxe)
• H&M Fashion Stuff (disregard if you have Best of Business Collection)
• Bon Voyage
• Teen Style Stuff (disregard if you have University Life Collection)
• FreeTime
• Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff (disregard if you have Best of Business Collection)
• IKEA Home Stuff (disregard if you have University Life Collection)
• Apartment Life
• Mansion & Garden Stuff (disregard if you have Fun with Pets Collection)

Also, be sure to patch whenever you are prompted by the game to do so.

Source: https://help.ea.com/article/RN2229

I know this problem was posted over 5 years ago but I am having the same problem now. I have all the sim packs to Celebration stuff - I also have Mansion and Gardens installed for many years and use it to start the game. But I am now trying to put in the other 4 in between and it tells me this same thing. So which ones do I need to uninstall to put these other 4 in the game? I have always loaded them as I bought them and have never had this problem and IVe been playing for years. Was wondering from the poster if this solution worked and did it mess up current game play uninstalling them?

Hello,

One funny but efficient solution for this problem that caused us some trouble: Why would you submit to your computer's will ? When the popup that says "The update process did not complete successfully. Installation will now terminate" appears, DO NOT PRESS "OK". Press Ctrl-Alt-Del, then click on task manager and end the task of the installation. Tadaaa, the computer won't have the time to do its mischief and you can enjoy your fully installed addon :-)

(I don't know if it is needed but I add the administrator right as compatibility option).

Enjoy!

Hasn’t seemed to work with me ): gutted as I only just bought the disc. I’m using the same computer I’ve always used for sims 2, with windows 7 too!

@Shn00zle , please start a new post and describe exactly what is happening and what steps you have tried. 

So I put the Sims 2 Apartment life disc in as normal, typed in the code, and it started installing. Once it had finished loading, I got the the message “this product will now ensure your existing installation is up to date”.
I pressed okay, then got the following message “The update process did not complete successfully. Installation will now terminate”. 

It then proceeds to uninstall, and that’s it. The icon appears on my Home Screen as if it has installed, but when you go on Sims 2 as normal it’s not on there.  ):

I’ve tried anything I’ve seen on other forums, apart from uninstalling everything and re installing because I’ve heard that might not work, and I don’t want to lose my progress. 

Could the fact I’m using a used disc be the problem at all?

Any help is very much appreciated (: 

@Shn00zle , it shouldn't matter that you are installing from disk. I think the problem is occurring because the game is looking for the "latest patch" information from a site which may no longer exist. So, here's what I suggest doing. Google search for copies of the Sims 2 patches (there are sites that have these archived) and try applying the patches before you install the particular EP/SP. 

There is another way to install the game if this doesn't work. Let me know if this works and if it doesn't I'll give you the steps to take for installing the game.

Thank you so much I’ll let you know how it goes!

just wondering is it a good idea to try to apply the patches anyways in case of anything breaking?