Sounds good, patch when prompted, use MTS patch tool.

UPS dilvered too late yesterday to install my game, so I'll be doing that today. 

So you ran the MTS patch tool only at the end?

When did you install Riverview (if you did at all),  and did you install it as a .sims3pack or did you convert it to .packages?

Thank you for the reply, that sounds like the safest way to go.  I know the way things are done can change with an update, and wanted to make sure install patch install was still the best way to go.

I'm getting a new computer and I was wondering if its better to install all exps and stuff packs, and then patch at the end?  Or patch in-between each exp and stuff pack?

Also to install Riverview (and perhaps the other EA worlds) do you still need to install before World Adventures?

Its been a very long time since I had to do a clean install and I would be very grateful for some clarification!

Well heck I don't know how I missed them   
Thank you!

Now I'll have to go looking to see if I can find some info on how to pick apart compiled .packages. In case I need do so In the future.

Does Anyone have the newest Dr.Pepper dress and hair style separate?  All I can find are combined packs.

File names are afBodyGownEveningTwist and  afHairDrPepUpdoSophisticated either .sims3packs or .package

Thanks

Ahh...I see.  Is there a post for non mac users having the missing custom mesh and missing pattern problem that I missed?  I've tried many sites and none of their patterns show, which is weird because before I patched those same patterns worked.  Fresh downloads, and run through the launcher and not though the launcher.     But everything works perfectly when I download just a .package file.

EA sure makes such a simple game (for the end users) frustratingly complex!  Thank you

I'm having the same problem, but I'm also having problems with custom patterns.  I'm patched to 1.4 and the only hack  I have is "no intro".  I just did a fresh reload of windows ( XP pro 64 bit)  and this is a fresh install of Sims3.  The reason I decided to reload everything was I was having intermittent problems with random custom content not showing up in a non patched game.  Mostly new meshes from TSR, but the items being from TSR I thought was the problem.  I've had problems with custom patterns not showing up from several sites with my first install and now with the fresh one.  I've installed using the helper monkey program and installing manually (using 3viewer to unpack the Sims3pack)  and using the launcher.  Nothing seems to make the items show up. 

Any advice would be very welcome!

De-lurking for a quick vote, these are in order of most wanted.  I just wanted to add that I hope at least some of these come in black or other dark colors for the T-shirts, I'm much more likely to buy dark colors than white. 

Broken Plumbob
Anarchist cat - PMBD slogan
Flying Fish Systems design
No $ keeping cc free slogan
Pirate Cannonball