Tutorial: How to make backups in Sims 3

Hello everyone.

Here is an very easy yet useful tutorial for all the Sims 3 players out there.

Backups are needed, for example, when you need to reinstall the game. This tutorial will tell you how to do it.

First go to my docs/electronic arts/sims 3.

If that doesn't say anything to you, pic one here, depending on what system you run:

-For Windows Xp: C:/documents and settings/user name/my documents/electronic arts/the sims 3

- For Windows Vista/7: C:/users/user name/documents/electronic arts/the sims 3

- For Mac OS: /users/user name/documents/electronic arts/the sims 3

The inside of the folder should look like this:

The folders we are interested are:

- Downloads, for saving all the sims3packs.

- Exports, if you have exported stuff and deleted them from game.

- Saved sims, for saving the sims you have saved in Create-a-Sim.

- Saves, for saving game saves.

- Screenshots, for saving photos you have taken in game.

How to actually make a backup?

I will teach you with one, the most important one. Saves. After you handle that you can do the rest by your selves, since it's the same process.

- Right click on the 'Saves' and select 'copy'

- Right click desktop and select 'paste'

Concratulations, you have made a backup :)

The destination where to put the backup can be any place on your computer, you can make a folder 'Sims 3 Backups' to for example 'My docs' (see earlier) and paste the folders there.

So, now you know how to make a backup. Make the same operation to all folders mentioned, that you wish to save. 'Downloads' and 'Saves' are the most important ones.

You can also select all the folders mentioned at once, by holding Ctrl and clicking on the folders, one by one. After that, with the wanted ones selected, let go the Ctrl and right click on one of the selected folders and select copy. Then just go paste them to wanted destination.

Next you ask, how to get them back to game?

Go to desktop, or the folder you put the folders in. Use "hold ctrl"-trick to select the wanted folders, right click on one of them and select 'copy' (you can also use 'cut', but copy is safer). Then go back to my docs/electronic arts/the sims 3 (see earlier), right click the folder base and select 'paste'.

Now the stuff is back in your game, and you can start playing, or do what ever you intend to.

Another thing you want to Backup is Mods/Packages-folder, if you have one. (The place where you have put all the custom content (CC) that are package-files.

Go to your game install folder, depending on system and the "version" of the game you have:

For base game (Just The Sims 3)

- Windows Xp/Vista/7 (32 bit): C:/program files/electronic arts/the sims 3

- Windows Xp/Vista/7 (64 bit): C:/program files (x86)/electronic arts/the sims 3

- Mac OS: contents/recources/transgaming/c_drive/program files/electronic arts/the sims 3

For WA (World Adventures)

- Windows Xp/Vista/7 (32 bit): C:/program files/electronic arts/the sims 3 world adventures

- Windows Xp/Vista/7 (64 bit): C:/program files (x86)/electronic arts/the sims 3 world adventures

- Mac OS: contents/recources/transgaming/c_drive/program files/electronic arts/the sims 3 world adventures

For HELS (High end Loft-stuffpack)

- Windows Xp/Vista/7 (32 bit): C:/program files/electronic arts/the sims 3 high end loft

- Windows Xp/Vista/7 (64 bit): C:/program files (x86)/electronic arts/the sims 3 high end loft

- Mac OS: contents/recources/transgaming/c_drive/program files/electronic arts/the sims 3 high end loft

Inside should look like this:

Right click on 'Mods' and select 'copy'. Go to for example desktop, right click on it and select 'paste'. You now have backups of your mods that are in package-form.

To put the mods back, just right click on the backup you made and select 'copy', then go to game install folder (see earlier), right click and select 'paste'

That's about it, I think :)