I started on a new Sunset Valley two months ago because my old one was full of Error 12's. The save size was actually over 300 MB. I had basically just played until the Error 12 started.

I REALLY hate the Error 12 and I'm doing EVERYTHING to prevent it from happening in my new, current neighborhood. And it has not happened in the current game. But right now I'm worried because I think the save size jumps upwards- without knowing where the problem lies. I have disabled memories (through the use of Shimrod's memory mod) and I have deleted all of the old memories (except for the townies and npcs).
The save size has long been on a steady 40-60 GB, but now it's up at nearly 90! Why? How? I have base game, world adventures (although the sims have never travelled in the current game) and generations. I am always removing things from my sims' inventories and family inventories, and I have never had my sims travel because I know the travelling takes a lot of space.

There are 7 or 8 households in my town and I like to switch between them. Story progression is disabled. I do have CC (cc folder is 603 MB). Can CC be causing the save size to climb up? Should I reduce the CC?

I think my game can handle at least 250-300 GB before the Error 12 starts, but I really want to prevent it. I don't want to be forced to scrap my neighborhood and families because of Error 12. I want to be able to play the families (and generations) as long as I want to.

Why is the save size jumping upwards? How can I reduce the save size when I have already disabled memories? I wonder....... Many people have written "reduce the save size", but how??? Why is it suddenly 90 MB when it was 60 some days ago? I have moved one more sim (from CAS) into the neighborhood and one more child is born. I can't control the stream of townies though....... But it doesn't seem to be more townies now than before.

/picks up jaw from floor.
I thought you meant a 90Gigabyte and 300Gigabyte Save! 90MB is not so bad, but 300MB is stretching it a bit if the PC is not a supermachine-can-view-and-detect-stars-lightyears-away type.

Did you disable memories midway through a saved game or right from the start? I mean, you have the mod in place before starting the new game?

You have a 32-Bit Operating System and less than 3GB RAM? If your system has trouble with a growing town, you can cap the maximum number of residents allowed with MasterController (I think?).
And do you already have Overwatch? That could also purge redundant (duplicates of) items or items with missing links, repair those with broken links, etc.

If you have a 64-Bit OS with at least 4GB RAM, and still getting Error 12s, then you need to check what is going on behind the scenes, background processes-wise.

Creation of sims is usually an automated story progression function, so the option you are referring to is actually in StoryProgression mod.

I am not getting Error 12 now, but I'm doing EVERYTHING to prevent it. I hate Error 12! I know 90 MB is not bad, but why has it jumped so quickly from 50 MB to 90 MB? My computer has 4 GB Ram and it's a 32 bit version.
I have story progression turned off and I like it that way. I started using the memory mod some weeks ago, way into the gameplay, but I have always deleted memories from all controllable sims. I don't have master controller or overwatch, but I have heard the names. What do they do? Maybe I should get them. Can they reduce the save size effectively?

I have a new, unused laptop with 8 GB of RAM, and I have long thought about playing the Sims on that one instead. I don't know if it's a 32 or 64 bits, but it's said to be a strong machine. But I don't want to lose my game progress. Is there any way I can save it and export it to the laptop? Also, is it possible to connect a laptop to a widescreen? I'm sorry..... I'm no computer whiz.....

All laptops should have a digital port out for a desktop monitor. You just need to be sure the onboard video processor supports Sims (see http://www.modthesims.info/wiki.php...Recommendations ) The video requirements of The Sims are not too demanding (at least compared to other games like FPS's) but you still should be sure the laptop is up to the job before going through the installation. If you duplicated the setup you have now (EPs, patches, installed downloads and packages, you should be able to transfer the save file over and continue the same game.

The problem with memories is that unless you disable them completely, the inactive sims keep snapping memories and bloat the files. What you're deleting from your controllable sims memories is only a small portion of the "I used the toilet today" automatic memories that all the sims in the game generate. If you keep the disable mod in place, it will slow the file bloat, although not "reverse" the memories already stored in the inactive sims (unless you have the patience of a saint and switch to every playable family and delete them manually).

Overwatch, ErrorTrap, and Master Controller by Twallan are all very useful mods that not only 'clean up" your game, but give you many options for greater control of your world. You can check them out, with documentation of what they do at http://www.the-isz.com/nraas/index..../10-nraas-mods/

Hope this helps.

The graphics card is Nvidia GT 540M. I don't find any information on how that card runs the game.

I could never remember off the game, which of your mods does what, Twallan. Sorry! Other than their obvious primary function, of course. I have to have the menu in front of me.

You'll always have the error-12-waiting to-happen-thing on a 32bit machine. No getting round a hardware limitation, I'm afraid. If the laptop has a good supported Graphics card, you're good to go once you Backup your user folders from the one system to the laptop. If it has 8GB RAM, it has to be 64Bits. If it is not, then that's sad. Both for you as you get something advertised incorrectly and also what it means for the Store's reputation, selling you something like that.

Our Backup Guide is here: Game Help:TS3 Back Ups^wiki
Although, it is best to start with a clean slate on a new machine with clean user files to see if there are any issues before transferring files (and possible glitches) from different machines.

If you extrapolate from the GT 440, not great (2 Yellow "Maybes" for the last 2 EPs).