Transferring Sims 3 To Another Computer?

pocketmonkeyhampster wrote:I'm getting a new PC and I'm planning on transferring my game with the saves and expansions etc. to it. I have store bought copies of the base game and generations, then I have Ambitions, Late Night, Pets, Showtime, Seasons and University life all downloaded from here.
I've been searching all around for how to do it, but I couldn't find exactly what I'm looking for. Can I just copy and paste everything onto a flashdrive or CD and do it that way?

Someone please explain.
Thanks!

cat2006house wrote:If you want to move everything to another computer, you will need a 40+GB external hard drive. Move all the folders of the base game and the expansion packs in C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 (or The Sims 3 (Ambitions, Late Night, etc...). Also move this folder C:\Users\(your computer name)\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3. Remember to create a blank folder called Electronic Arts in both C:\Porgram Files and C:\Users\(your computer name) afterwards.

If this really irritates you, why don't you reinstall the base game and all expansion packs in the new computer and move all the content in these folders: C:\Users\(my computer name)\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Saves and C:\Users\(my computer name)\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods (if you have this folder, move the entire folder) and also C:\Users\(my computer name)\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Downloads (which consists of your sims3packs installed, remember to install them afterwards).

I partially object to that.

Simply moving the folders from C:\Program files(x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 onto the new computer will not work; perhaps this might work in Mac computers, but not on Windows systems. What is correct though, is to backup the folder "The Sims 3" (from My documents/Electronic Arts), with its savefiles, mods and custom content. Besides these game folders, the game needs a lot of registry entries. Maybe it's possible to somehow "transfer" the registry data too, but unless you know what you're doing, I would not mess up with that.



@ pocketmonkeyhampster: you will still have to re-install all the stuff on the new computer. And then of course put back in "The Sims 3"-folder (so that you have your old savefiles, mods and custom content on your computer).