Free base game & Gallery. [SOLVED]

First topic message reminder :

hi, there is the base game offered free in this week and I'm interested mostly to access the library.
but my question is: could the origin legit base game interfere with my cracked full expanded game? and if yes, there's a way I can avoid troubles?
also: if I access the legit library, how can I download contents and transfer them to my cracked game? (tray files or something?) 
thanks ))

[quote="LaurenCheerio"][quote="DutchieGoes"][quote="LaurenCheerio"]Hi, so I know similar questions have been asked in this thread, but just to clear a few things up as I'm still a little confused... 

So firstly, I already have a cracked game and with the free copy of Sims available, I'd like to get it. I already have the pirated game installed to C/ProgramFilesx86/Electronic Arts/ The Sims 4 ... which I believe is the default directory? So I'll need to change that before I install the legit copy. But I'm not entirely sure how to change that... do I just drag and drop my pirated copy to a new location? Like maybe just in the Program Files, or maybe a new folder called "Pirated" so like "C/ProgramFilesx86/Ts4 Pirated/ The Sims 4" ? 

And as for my documents folder, I'll rename/deactivate my current pirated documents folder, and then when I run the legit copy for the first time, it should automatically create a new documents folder, right? 

Thank you for any help! [/quote]
No you can't combine the pirated and retail games, you have to run and install them seperately. You have to rename one of the folders where the save games are stored to be able to load the other one. And mark them so you know which one belongs to which game. You can move save data from one to the other though.[/quote]

I know I can't combine them, that's not what I'm saying. 

I'm just unsure of how to change the current install directory for my pirated copy. It's currently installed where the legit copy would be... so I know I need to move it before I install the legit copy. I'm just not sure if I need to simply drag & drop my pirated 'The Sims 4' folder or if there's more involved. 

And for my documents folder, I read the article linked above, so I know I'll rename the pirated documents folder so that its not active when I run the legit copy... but I'm just confirming that the game will create the legit version automatically, since it will think I don't already have one. 

Thanks so much for responding ^.^[/quote]

If you have the g4tw game, then it should be installed in program files/The Sims 4. The retailed game will be installed in program files/electronic arts/
The Sims 4. So I believe they shouldn't interfere with eachother.

Don't use drag & drop but use cut & paste for moving your pirated game.
No need for different The Sims 4 folders in Documents\Electronic Arts when you stick to the rule of never saving an origin based session of the game. Use the legit game for the Galery only.

My harddrive is showing the cracked game in the other account as well because i have an ssd and an hdd. Cracked game is installed on my hdd. Can I still safely install my retail game on the hdd in the other account or does it have to be on the ssd? I am assuming the safefile should be on the ssd, since my other save is on the hdd. Does having a ssd and a hdd mean I do not require 2 accounts?

Williew85 wrote:No need for different The Sims 4 folders in Documents\Electronic Arts when you stick to the rule of never saving an origin based session of the game. Use the legit game for the Galery only.

Or, you could reduce the risk of that even further by making it into a habit of never actually loading into a savefile in the first place, and just access the Gallery from the main menu.

Williew85 wrote:Don't use drag & drop but use cut & paste for moving your pirated game.

Not bad, but...in my experience it doesn't really matter what method you employ when moving stuff around. I saw issues with "not everything moving correctly" even with copy & paste. Thanks to whatever is going wrong in that regard, with the new Window$ systems. I found this here, however, to be the most reliable counter-measure for these issues, though I realize not everybody may want to use that account.

DutchieGoes wrote:My harddrive is showing the cracked game in the other account as well because i have an ssd and an hdd. Cracked game is installed on my hdd. Can I still safely install my retail game on the hdd in the other account or does it have to be on the ssd? I am assuming the safefile should be on the ssd, since my other save is on the hdd. Does having a ssd and a hdd mean I do not require 2 accounts?

Yes, you can (maybe even should) install the Origin game on your "alt account". You can customize install locations for Origin games, within the application settings. 

Documents-folders will ALWAYS be on the C: drive. Look again at the example I mentioned a few posts before.

C:\Users\Administrator\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4
C:\Users\The_gh0stm4n\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4

Your stuff will be saved in whatever your currently logged-in account is. In my case, if I play under the "Administrator" account, then the Documents-folder for "Administrator" is used. 

Not sure if that answers your question, but I'm (strongly) assuming your SSD and HDD are assigned the same drive letter, on each Windows account.

My documents folders are redirected to HDD. Which means the cracked version is fully on the HDD. Do I then fully install the retail game on my SSD or does it not matter?

DutchieGoes wrote:My documents folders are redirected to HDD. Which means the cracked version is fully on the HDD. Do I then fully install the retail game on my SSD or does it not matter?

Doesn't matter, in that case.  

But what about the documents folder? Is it going to use the same folder still even with a different account? Because I can access the hdd from both accounts.

DutchieGoes wrote:But what about the documents folder? Is it going to use the same folder still even with a different account?

I can't tell, I'm afraid. Maybe you have to re-create the redirect/symbolic link for the Documents-folder, under the alt account. As said previously, I'm not a fan of this "create an alt account"-method. I do have an alt account myself, but never used it much.

The_gh0stm4n wrote:

debb wrote:hi, there is the base game offered free in this week and I'm interested mostly to access the library.
but my question is: could the origin legit base game interfere with my cracked full expanded game? and if yes, there's a way I can avoid troubles?
also: if I access the legit library, how can I download contents and transfer them to my cracked game? (tray files or something?) 
thanks ))

Hello,

Basically you should keep the Origin version and the DRM-free (cracked) version in two different installation paths. But then you also have to manage the "Documents"-folder, because both Origin/cracked versions share the same location. A possible idea on how you can do it, is here:
https://www.games4theworld.club/t24433-i-have-both-origin-g4tw-versions-of-sims-4-how-can-i-manage-the-documents-folder

You basically have to take the Tray-folder, and transfer it to the Documents-folder for the cracked The Sims 4. That sounds complicated, but check out the guide that I posted, maybe it will be clearer.

These days, cracks tend to come out faster, so it may not be necessary to "switch" the Documents-folders. Just make sure that when you download something from the Gallery, that the cracked game is on the same patch version as the Origin game. If not, then wait until a crack comes out.

Good luck!

Let me make sure I understand correctly:

I have the legit Origin version of The Sims 4 base game. I need to also have the G4tW version of The Sims 4 base game, as well as any expansions/add-ons/etc from G4tW.

After I install Origin's TS4 (via Origin's interface that I need to install), I should re-name the folder and then install G4tW's TS4, etc. Basically have two separate installations.

If I want access to the Gallery (which I haven't had since TS2 btw!) I should re-name the G4tW folder, re-normal-name the Origin folder, then run the Origin game, use the launcher to get stuff from the Gallery ... Save them where? Move them to my G4tW folder after I quit the Origin game?

If I want to play, I should re-name the Origin folder, re-normal-name the G4tW folder, then run the G4tW game. (Should I turn off my wi-fi? Or just decline to connect when the launcher comes up? I haven't played in a while and I forgot a lot.)

Does that sound about right?

The_gh0stm4n wrote:

DutchieGoes wrote:As we speak I am preparing a message to ~Ann~, about these ads, especially as they seemed to have...changed recently, for a lack of a better description.

I noticed. Not to be alarmist, but they're seriously not nice.

LittlePenguin wrote:Let me make sure I understand correctly:

I have the legit Origin version of The Sims 4 base game. I need to also have the G4tW version of The Sims 4 base game, as well as any expansions/add-ons/etc from G4tW.

After I install Origin's TS4 (via Origin's interface that I need to install), I should re-name the folder and then install G4tW's TS4, etc. Basically have two separate installations.

If I want access to the Gallery (which I haven't had since TS2 btw!) I should re-name the G4tW folder, re-normal-name the Origin folder, then run the Origin game, use the launcher to get stuff from the Gallery ... Save them where? Move them to my G4tW folder after I quit the Origin game?

If I want to play, I should re-name the Origin folder, re-normal-name the G4tW folder, then run the G4tW game. (Should I turn off my wi-fi? Or just decline to connect when the launcher comes up? I haven't played in a while and I forgot a lot.)

Does that sound about right?

Sounds almost correct to me.

When you play the Origin TS4 and grab Gallery items through there, they will be saved in your "Tray"-folder. So after closing the Origin game, you will need to transfer these Tray-items, to the other Documents-folder ("re-name" Origin-folder => "re-normal-name" G4TW folder, nice terminology though  ). 

You don't need to turn off the WiFi. Just make sure that before you start up the G4TW version, to completely log out of Origin and close all windows. Even the log-in prompt of Origin must be closed.

With some discipline, you can theoretically forego the hassle of renaming these folders back-and-forth, and just use one single combined Documents-folder. I may edit the guide that I sent out through the newsletter, in that regard. Basically whenever there is a new update, it will download through Origin first. You should WAIT until there is a crack out. When the time comes, apply the new crack/patch to the G4TW version.

After which you can then download your Gallery items. Don't actually load into your savefile when you start up the Origin game, just access the Gallery from the main menu. This is a risk factor that you need to keep in mind, if you don't want to do the folder-renaming trick. So only access the Gallery from the main menu (button in the top right of the screen, on the main menu).

When you finished downloading your stuff and closed the Origin game, don't move or rename any folders in that case. As said, both G4TW and Origin TS4 installations share the same Documents-location.

Start up the G4TW version, and you should have your Gallery items in-game.

As for this here:

LittlePenguin wrote:I noticed. Not to be alarmist, but they're seriously not nice.

Duly noted; we are currently discussing possible options, and I shall make an announcement once we have more clarity on how to proceed.

Not sure if you noticed the other (drama-)thread here, but Sim Architect posted a comment that sheds a bit of light to the current situation, and what has led us so far, to make this - admittedly radical - decision:
https://www.games4theworld.club/t35071-i-m-really-disappointed-in-g4tw-right-now-goodbye#204425

The_gh0stm4n wrote:

LittlePenguin wrote:Sounds almost correct to me.

As for this here:

LittlePenguin wrote:I noticed. Not to be alarmist, but they're seriously not nice.

Not sure if you noticed the other (drama-)thread here, but Sim Architect posted a comment that sheds a bit of light to the current situation, and what has led us so far, to make this - admittedly radical - decision:
https://www.games4theworld.club/t35071-i-m-really-disappointed-in-g4tw-right-now-goodbye#204425

I had not seen it, but it all makes sense. Thank you for the explanations and insights.



Gatekeeer Edit: since the original poster's question(s) seem to have been answered, I will close the thread now. For further questions feel free to scroll up this thread, search other discussions, or open a new thread if you please.

- The_gh0stm4n