They put that info IN, but removing it makes the item unusable.  By re-downloading their items from the booty, TSR are getting the user name, the ip and the PERSONAL INFORMATION of that downloader, and then breeching privacy laws by posting those details in the forum.  Then they ban that user for being a "Pirate". 

It may not be "spyware" but it's horrendous that there is something added to the file regardless.

A techie friend of mine has mentioned that the data may be at the beginning or the end of the file, surrounded by junk code in order to disguise it, due to it being harder to insert into the middle than it is to insert at either end.  If the "watermark" was removed and replaced with junkdata containing the same checksum the file might work.

Avalikia, have you checked out the Simstones set from MTS2?  It's got things like an elephant shower and turtle-shell dressers. 

Mines coming... slowly. 

So far I have a greenhouse, a home-bar and a basement

Pes hates on me because I am stupid and fail.  I'm used to it.

It was pets and uni that i didn't have, not OFB.  I'm stupid and blonde.

I'm having problems with my windows again... where did i hide that ergo window fix?

Is there any way to get a base-game compatible?  Or to post floorplans so I can re-build it?  I has no OFB.

I'll do anything, as long as it has interesting restrictions. 

*fangirl squeels over Myst*

I have Riven & Uru too, but Uru is a PitA. 
Riven was fun



/offtopic

If you have AL M&G, the roof slider eliminates the need for the cheat, and you can do separate rooves at different angles.







Edited to be less blonde

I beat everyone to it!

The Campsite!  (10 Oak Street Campground.rar)

4 livable campsites, 3 with one tent, 1 with 2.  All colour coded for prettiness 



From the front of the lot.  There are communal BBQ, seating areas and 2 swings for entertainment.


 

Back of the lot - 4 showers and rear entry to communal food prep area. 

 

Floorplan from the top - just hidden: The blue & yellow tent.



Top floor of the common area.  Bookcase, TV, Sofa (for woohoo purposes too), Easel.  Door leads out onto the spacious balcony.



Food preparation area.  2 fridges, no stove (each campsite has its own table, bbq and streetlamp).  Stair access to the lounge and access to the showers out back.


If anyone wants to find a "rentable gate" to change the apartment doors, feel free. 

All ep's -pets & uni.  All stuff packs + store stuff.  Not all EP's needed. 

Rent runs from about $200 to $370~ a week.  All trees were left where they were, bar one, which was moved to allow access to the lot beside the house. 

External HDD? 

500gb or even 1tb drives are hella cheap these days.  Plug into USB port, drag & drop onto the hdd and then move it to the new computer and drag & drop into sims2 folder.

cheaper than cds (if you're using a lot of them often) and more convenient sometimes.

Once you remove the internals, it's still just a box.  A very small box at that. 

I think it needs restrictions.

I don't have uni or pets, but I'm happy to re-create something to work with. 
Community, Residential, doesn't matter to me, I like to play around with both.

2nd house.



The Cottage.

2 bedroom, 2 bathroom house.

Bridge over not-so-troubled water, and a spa with a swimmable moat.  Hammocks hidden away to enjoy a lazy afternoon.




Lockable kitchen with entry to yard.  Garden patch along fence-line with compost bin.

Take tea under the pagola and relax while listening to the sound of the fountains in the pond.

Catch a fresh fish for dinner off the bark pier.




Slide Show: 


Download: http://www.4shared.com/file/83222492/1633cb04/1097_West_Dreaming_Drive_Cottage.html

I went a little nuts with the roof angle slider and the solar panels on the cabin. 
I hope the hammocks and coffee table of the cottage work - I was playing with moveobjects and snapobjects.

All EP's and SP's except Pets & Uni.  No store stuff.  Not playtested.

I have been told that double-posting is allowed in this ONE instance.

2 houses finished, in record time, just before the deadline.

1st up, The Cabin.





Master Bedroom, spawn rooms, 'teen' bedroom and two child bedrooms. 
2 upstairs bathrooms and access to the desk from the hallway.



Dining room, lockable kitchen, 'relaxation area' and music nook.  Living room is a little dark, but I liked the look of the leather floor.  Greenhouse is accessible through the living room and the front yard.  The one desk is in the study with the guest bathroom and the lockable staircase.



Download from here: http://www.4shared.com/file/83226055/ac892e20/1097_West_Dreaming_Drive_Cabin.html

Slideshow:

I got kinda bored of decorating after the first floor.  Lol.  Hence the reason that the master bedroom in the green one is just bare - save for a chest of drawers and a divider.

The empty square area in the purple master bedroom is ment to hold another 1-tile chest of drawers / wardrobe - I just totally forgot about it.

The green apartment also has exclusive access to the very top roof - complete with spa and telescope.  So they're the ones to be friends with 



Still to come:  A log cabin and a cottage.

Isn't the maximum apartment allotment 4?


And 3GB is the maximum XP32 can register - I'm using the computer for things other than the sims and hoping that MOAR RAMZ will reduce the abundance of BSOD.

Before I BSOD for the 4th time:

http://www.4shared.com/file/81569304/83c6c3ad/1097_West_Dreaming_Drive.html



Top floor - each apartment is divided by colour.



2nd floor - Bedrooms


Ground floor - entry point and kitchen/dining for all apartments.





It has been playtested - but only the Yellow apartment.

Next one is coming soon.

I found something... interesting.

http://www.sims2cri.com/eng_makeup_mask.php



Now your sims can look like they've had accidents with the clorox.

If you overlay enough of the beauty spots, would it look like chicken pox?

I wasn't endorsing Dell.  Just pointing out that some websites out there have a Modify feature.

I got my current PC from a New Zealand retailer.  Bought the basic setup, upgraded the RAM, the video card, the HDD and the CD burner.  Got them to send it to me as parts (saved me the labour charge) and built it myself.  Total cost 5 years ago: $1600.

Now it's not even worth that, but it still runs well.

I have an AMD A8N-E 64 Processor 3200+, 2.01Ghz, 1GB RAM, 1.4TB Hdd at the moment.  Looking to upgrade to 3GB RAM.  NVidia 6600GT, Realtek sound, thermaltake 430W PSU.

The only issue I'm really having at the moment is with DEP, but I'm trying to get around that.

If you want to get a brand-new-plug-and-play computer, go to a website that'll sell such things and then upgrade from there.

Most websites will give you a 'base' cost for onboard sound/graphics/etc and min RAM.  From there, you can usually click on different items that fit the motherboard to 'upgrade' the machine.

For example:  Dell offers the chance to "Customise" the PC you're about to buy.

My "Upgraded" Dell desktop =

Build My Dell

Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad Processor Q8200 (2.33GHz, 1333FSB, 4MB)
Pre-Loaded Genuine Windows Vista(R) Home Premium OEM Version
Microsoft(R) Works 9.0 (Does Not Include Microsoft(R) Office 2003/2007 Software)
2 Yrs Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis
Dell (TM) S2309WFP 23 " Widescreen Flat Panel
4GB (2X2GB) NECC Dual Channel DDR2 800MHz SDRAM Memory
750GB SATA RAID 0 (Data Striping)
Integrated 16-in-1 Media Card Reader
Dual Drives 16X Max DVD-ROM + 16X DVD+/-RW with Dual Layer Write Capabilities
ATI Radeon HD 4670 512MB
Creative PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi(TM) Xtreme Audio

Accessorise My Dell

No Speaker
Dell(TM) USB Consumer Multimedia Keyboard (English)
Dell(TM) Optical USB Mouse
No Modem

Protect My Dell

Dell Online Backup 2GB
McAfee(R) Security Center(TM) - 15 Months OEM (English)
Standard Delivery: Delivery 9am-5pm - Monday to Friday (excl. public holidays)
Review & Add to Basket

Also Includes

Integrated Gigabit Ethernet
System Drive DVD Kit
Shipping Documentations
Dell(TM) Support Center
ANZ Return
Discount is only valid if the corresponding upgraded item is selected above.
Limited time promotional offer only. No further discounts apply
Vista(TM) Premium Label
Dell | Inspiron Desktop(TM) Mini Tower Handling & Insurance Charges(New Zealand)
Dell's Terms and Conditions apply

for the low, low, price of only
Online Price      $2,628.00

God I hate our economy.

You could always make your own case...  http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,1821103,00.asp

Make a shell out of paper mache & get the kids involved.  All you need is a template the size you want, old newspapers and some flour/water paste.  Then coat it with varnish or waterproof mod podge and assemble.  Cut a hole for the fans and screw the hardware straight into the case.

Make it out of legos (you just need a LOT of them)


I have a Scion XD remote controlled car that I want to turn into a media-pc, I just have to get a motherboard and components small enough to fit in the space.

It's up to the OP of the house to pick the restrictions for the challenge. 

We're almost a week into January!!  I'm losing precious building time!

stfaicefeets, Salix.

At a guess,I'd say it's accessories for the alien or fairy fashions.  They do have fluffy stars on them, after all.

After poking around, these are my two entries - lacking in images due to idiot internet.

From the Houses menu:

Cosy Castle (AL)

Hearty Home (seasons). 


I'm liking the turrets on the castle one - the fact they're walls means that we have something to work around.
The bridge on the Hearty Home one MUST be left in - but can be expanded, not made smaller.

Also, witch, I *Think* Desiderata came with either Freetime or Pets?