Thanks, I've got a no cd one now. (Whew)
However, I've got some more problems. As you could have guessed I am attempting a complete reinstall. The game itself installs just fine, my problem is with the patches.
I have done a 'proper' reinstall, meaning I deleted all files, in program files and my documents, cleaned out my trashcan, went into regedit and deleted the registry keys. This installation is squeaky clean as far as I know.
Yet when I try and run a patch, I get the standard windows error going 'An error has occured in TheSims2_updater_exe. This programme will now close down'. No matter what I do (I tried uninstalling and installing again, switching off my firewall, small animal sacrifices, etc.) the damn patch just won't install. This is the official patch from the Sims2.com site, and not a single one works. It doesn't work either if I just install the basegame and try to patch that.
Hlep?
Edit:
I am now replacing MATY as my religion. As soon as I posted this, I clicked the updater again to check if there was anything else in the error message that could help me out, and lo and behold: it worked just fine.
Now to try the rest of the expansions, but
damn you lot work fast. And even without replying!
Edit Edit:
Right, cancel that, the patch for University now throws the same wobbly, only further into the patching process. I have no idea what I am doing wrong, whether the patch just doesn't like me or what. Hopefully it will sort itself out as well after having tried it 20+ times... but in the meantime, anyone have experience with this sort of nonsense?
Yet another Edit:
Basegame, university, nightlife and open for business installed. All patches successful, except for the University one, which is still stuck right at the end of the update.
Is it
necessary to install the university patch if I have newer expansions/patches installed?