Downloading The Sims 2 [Wiki]

[leighweightacoma@lemmy.world]

This is originally from the r/Sims2Help Reddit Wiki

The Source: r/Sims2Help-Wiki-Download

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Downloading & Installing The Sims 2: Ultimate Collection (Windows only)

Step 1: Get a Torrent client & (optionally) a VPN

You need to have a torrent client to download the game - I recommend using Deluge (this is a direct download link for Windows, after downloading click on the file to install it - or click here if you need a download for another OS or version) as it is free and ad-free with no annoying pop-ups. qBittorrent is another popular alternative and may be easier to use with a VPN (instructions here).

Do I need a VPN?

It depends on where you are in the world and whether your country cares at all about piracy for personal use, and as such some people may prefer not to torrent without it.

Step 2: Download (Recommended Version - Magipack Repack)

We recommend using this download for the Sims 2 Ultimate Collection - this is a magnet link so it should offer to open your installed torrent client automatically. It will then start downloading the file.

Once the file has finished downloading, it will say that it is "Seeding", you can right click on this and choose "Remove Torrent". Make sure to select "Remove Torrent" and not "Remove With Data" from the confirmation pop up as you just want to remove the torrent from the client while keeping the data downloaded (the game itself).

Step 3: Install

You will need to extract the files once the download has finished. Open File Explorer and go to the location you downloaded the files to (usually your computer's Downloads folder by default). Windows 11 should be able to natively extract the files using the "Extract all" option when you right click the archive; for earlier Windows versions use a program like 7-Zip (direct download; this program has no ads and is free forever) or WinRAR.

Note that the archive is not extracted if you see this screen and if you try to run setup from here, you will get an insert disk error. The same error will also happen if you double click on the archive to "open" it in Windows 11 instead of extracting it.

Once extracted, double click on the setup.exe file to install the game. We recommend using the default install location (C:/MagiPacks/The Sims 2) which is outside Program Files as this makes it easier to make any edits for graphics, etc.

On the screen with the option to choose your language, we recommend scrolling down past the language selection and checking the box "my hardware does NOT support" Vulkan so that DXVK will not be included - DXVK is only needed on certain hardware and unless you know you need it, there's no need to include it as it can cause graphical glitches and prevent the game from launching on some devices.

If you accidentally checked the box and want to remove DXVK after, go to C:/MagiPacks/The Sims 2/Fun with Pets/SP9/TSBin and delete the d3d9.dll file.

You do not need to check the box for the Graphics Rules Maker as the game includes a modified Graphics Rules file from the Legacy Edition which should work best for modern computers (though you can still try the GRM later if you have issues) and all resolution and graphics options should be unlocked in the game by default.

You can also choose whether to include the Prima Guides and soundtrack from here.

Step 4: Play the game!

You can run the game by double clicking the "The Sims 2" shortcut on your Desktop. When it first opens (note this may take a while), after the initial loading screen you will see a window pop-up. Click enable custom content in the bottom left and click okay, then restart the game. This ensures the CEP (and any Store/Pre-Order/bonus items, if you keep them, as well as any other mod/CC you download) will work.

If you have any issues during or after installing, please check the technical support section and for other general questions or mods/CC information, check out the other wiki sections. Feel free to make a post in the sub if you can't find the answer to your problem!

What's included in this download?

• RPC Launcher (includes 4GB patch, first born syndrome fix + multiple other optional features)
• Store, pre-order, and bonus Maxis content (not CC)
• BodyShop Clean UI + Widescreen
• Pie Menu Text Strings fix (fixes some buggy text in game; located in Fun with Pets/SP9/TSData/Res
  /UI)
• UI text font fix (fixes some buggy UI text fonts; merged with ui.package in Fun with Pets/SP9/TSData/Res
  /UI)
• Sim shadow fix (fixes black box shadows; located in Fun with Pets/SP9/TSData/Res
  /Materials)
• Bright CAS fix (fixes overly bright or dark CAS; located in Fun with Pets/SP9/TSData/Res
  /Materials)

As mentioned, this version includes the Store, Pre-Order, and Bonus content - if you do not want this stuff, go to Documents/EA Games/The Sims 2/Downloads and delete the folders (or any individual items you don't want). Keep the file named _EnableColorOptionsGMND as this is part of the CEP, which doesn't do anything by itself but is required to use recolours of certain Maxis items.

This version mistakenly contains a duplicate of the preorder items - these are located in the install location under Fun with Pets/SP9/TSData/Res/Catalog/Bins. It won't cause any issues to have these duplicates but if you prefer, you can delete the Preorder-Bonus folder from Downloads OR delete everything in the install location under Fun with Pets/SP9/TSData/Res/Catalog/Bins except globalcatbin.bundle.package so that you only have one set of files - keeping the files in Bins instead of Downloads means they won't have a delete icon or CC star in game.

Alternate Download

This version is also the Ultimate Collection but requires several manual steps - we do not recommend this for non-tech-savvy users as many find steps 6-10 quite difficult. The download above is easier and completely automatic as well as including pre-order + bonus content. We keep this download simply as an alternate if required!

Click here (this is a magnet link - once you click this, your browser will ask to open it in your torrent client; you must have a torrent client already installed as per Step 1 above). Extract the files after it's finished downloading.

When you read through the instructions on this download, it will tell you to use the Graphics Rules Maker (GRM). Please do not use the version of the GRM included with the download - it is an older version that has several bugs. Instead download the latest version from the link provided above.

See the Technical Setup section of the Wiki to learn what settings you should use in the Graphics Rules Maker - there is plenty of other useful information there as well so please read that section after installing the game.

Standalone Installer (if you already have UC game files)

osab's Standalone Installer can be used to install the registry entries for the game if you already have the game files for the proper Ultimate Collection (from EA App, osab's Starter Pack, Magipack repack, games4theworld UC but not oldgamesdownload/MrDJ version and not for Legacy Collection) as well as installing some extra optional things (e.g. GRM, clean hoods, etc.).

Note that you may see a warning like this when you run the installer - this is just because the code for it is unsigned (as it costs money) but the application is safe to run and you can do so by clicking "More info" and then clicking the "Run anyway" button that appears.

The link above is for the 64-bit standalone installer, suitable for the vast majority of Windows computers today. If you happen to still have a 32-bit OS, the 32-bit version of the standalone installer is available here.

Choosing Packs / Not using the full collection

All of the above linked versions of the game include all expansion and stuff packs made for the game and come bundled with some helpful fixes. Be advised that, with these versions, you cannot choose which packs you install. It's all or nothing.

However, you can use the RPC Launcher to choose which packs are enabled when playing (note this is a debug feature, i.e. there may be some issues with it) or use the AnyGameStarter for the UC - please backup your hoods before trying either method to disable packs and note that the linked AnyGameStarter version is specifically for the Ultimate Collection. It will not work with disc installs or disc repacks such as the "Ultimate Collection" from oldgamesdownload/MrDJ. Also be aware that the AnyGameStarter can be quite buggy as it directly modifies the registry and can potentially mess up your Documents folder paths as well as the game install as a result - RPC's method of disabling paths is generally safer and less likely to cause issues.

The Sims 2 Super Collection (MacOS Only)

Please see the Mac section of the wiki. All of the information relevant to playing Sims 2 on MacOS is in that section - the rest of this section is only relevant if you play on Windows (including on Windows through Bootcamp or Parallels on a Mac) or Linux using Lutris or a Steam deck, for example.