# My computer ate my sims! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 18, 2006, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-ate-my-sims/353118 "2006-04-18T03:30:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mrald](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mrald](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrald)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-ate-my-sims/353118/1 "2006-04-18T03:30:44Z")
OKay I installed the new family fun stuff on my computer yesterday. I followed the instructions, but It screwed everything up. Nothing will play. I had a back up of my saved games, but ended up having to uninstall all my sims. Now it will not load any on the sims cds to reinstall. Does anyone have any idea what I did wrong and how to fix it? ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-ate-my-sims/353118/2 "2006-04-18T04:19:52Z")
> [@mrald](#): > > OKay I installed the new family fun stuff on my computer yesterday… Explain, please. Is this an authorized Sims expansion pack? And where did you get it? ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-ate-my-sims/353118/3 "2006-04-18T04:25:04Z")
> [@Rico](#): > > Explain, please. Is this an authorized Sims expansion pack? And where did you get it? Yes, it’s a new expansion pack that was just released recently, and according to the reviews, it’s pretty buggy. > **[Amazon.com: The Sims 2: Family Fun Stuff - PC : Video Games](https://www.amazon.com/Sims-Family-Fun-Stuff-PC/dp/B000EHIXJY)** > > Product Description > > > > > > > > > Add excitement to your Sims’ family with this all-new collection\* of furniture, clothing, and décor. Decorate the home with an assortment of cool new furnishings, including upscale living room items... Sorry, I don’t know how to help the OP. ---
**Author:** ![mrald](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mrald](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrald)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-ate-my-sims/353118/4 "2006-04-18T04:36:15Z")
My husband bought it for me at wal-mart. I am just sick about losing all my game. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-ate-my-sims/353118/5 "2006-04-18T04:38:57Z")
I initially thought that your computer ate your SINS. Which would be a pretty useful thing for a computer to do. ---
**Author:** ![VegemiteMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/df788c/32.png) [@VegemiteMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VegemiteMoose)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-ate-my-sims/353118/6 "2006-04-18T06:45:52Z")
I do not have this game myself, but here are some general ideas. Do you mean that 1. You lost all your saved games when you uninstalled the game and have no backups? Or 2.You have the saved games backed up and just need to be able to reinstall the game itself? If #1, then double check to see if the saved games might still be in the directory where the game was originally installed. Some games when they are uninstalled, leave several folders of things like saved games or user identities. Some get rid of everything. So if the game was originally installed in **C:/Program Files/EA Games/Sims 2** for instance, check there to see if there is anything at all left. If there are saved games left in there - then back them up now. Here is a link to an [EA customer support page](http://support.ea.com/cgi-bin/ea.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_sid=6Kfk7j5i&p_lva=&p_li=&p_accessibility=&p_page=1&p_cv=&p_pv=3.1715&p_prods=7%2C700%2C1715&p_cats=0&p_hidden_prods=&prod_lvl1=7&prod_lvl2=700&prod_lvl3=1715&cat_lvl1=0&p_search_text=&p_search_type=answers.search_nl&p_new_search=1) that may help. ---
**Author:** ![mrald](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mrald](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrald)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-ate-my-sims/353118/7 "2006-04-18T07:28:56Z")
> [@VegemiteMoose](#): > > I do not have this game myself, but here are some general ideas. > > Do you mean that > > 1. You lost all your saved games when you uninstalled the game and have no backups? > Or > 2.You have the saved games backed up and just need to be able to reinstall the game itself? > > If #1, then double check to see if the saved games might still be in the directory where the game was originally installed. Some games when they are uninstalled, leave several folders of things like saved games or user identities. Some get rid of everything. > > So if the game was originally installed in **C:/Program Files/EA Games/Sims 2** for instance, check there to see if there is anything at all left. If there are saved games left in there - then back them up now. > > Here is a link to an [EA customer support page](http://support.ea.com/cgi-bin/ea.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_sid=6Kfk7j5i&p_lva=&p_li=&p_accessibility=&p_page=1&p_cv=&p_pv=3.1715&p_prods=7%2C700%2C1715&p_cats=0&p_hidden_prods=&prod_lvl1=7&prod_lvl2=700&prod_lvl3=1715&cat_lvl1=0&p_search_text=&p_search_type=answers.search_nl&p_new_search=1) that may help. I have the files saved, but the game would not play so I uninstalled now it will not reinstall. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-ate-my-sims/353118/8 "2006-04-18T11:58:58Z")
My daughter had a similar problem. She tried everything, and was frustrated for a week until she contacted technical service. They gave her details on how to “completely” uninstall the software. Apparently you have to go to some mysterious place in the hard drive, uninstal some folders; go to another secret place, look for or use the special code numbers they provide and uninstal more files. I don’t know what the hell’s going on…I’m “middle-aged” man, and she’s 15…I can’t compete. ---
**Author:** ![mrald](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mrald](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrald)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-ate-my-sims/353118/9 "2006-04-18T12:17:46Z")
Wow okay, well I will contact tech support then. Maybe I can do a search and rescue and re-create my families.