Did I back up my Neighborhoods incorrectly?

[valentinia]

I am playing with all EPs, all stuff packs, and no friends for careers hack, write novels faster hack.  I decided to reinstall Mansions and Gardens.  Before the reinstall, I copied over my Sims 2/Neigborhoods, downloads, paintings, and collections directories.  After the reinstall, I copied my "old" directories and overwrote the newly installed ones.  I lost all my families and the Desiderata neighborhood. The other neighborhoods (Pleasantview, etc. shopping districts, universities, vacations, downtowns) all were fine.  Obviously, I didn't copy something right.  Does anyone know where I went wrong?  Thanks.

[J. M. Pescado]

Delete the old neighborhoods directory before overwriting with the new one.

[valentinia]

That did it (and obviously, I never would have thought to do it).  Thank you very much.