Hi, I came across Tarlia's (or meetme2theriver's) templates posted here:

http://meetme2theriver.livejournal.com/63030.html

And to be honest I'm not all that bright when it comes to messing around with the game's files but I do want to replace the original Maxis templates with these ones. I'm reading the instructions and from my understanding it's telling me to delete the Maxis neighborhood files (N001, N002, N003...etc) and replace them with the neighborhoods on the site. I just want to make sure that this is right and that I'm not borking my game or anything. I've deleted the neighborhood files already (not completely, they're still in the recycle bin) but I'm making sure that this is the right way to do it...

I know this is a really dumb question but I really do need help with this because I'm lost :/ and I'm trying to be careful. Help is much appreciated

I want to help, but I'm not entirely sure what you've done so far, and I need to ask a few questions. First, where have you deleted N001, N002, and N003 from? Second, did you install the game from the disks, or did you download the Ultimate Collection from Origin?

For now I'll just start from the start, assuming you installed from disks**. If you want to replace the game's original templates with Tarlia's fixed ones, follow these instructions.

1. Go to Program Files/EA GAMES/The Sims 2/TSData/Res/UserData/Neighbourhoods .
2. Cut & paste N001, N002, and N003 into another location, as a back up of the game's original templates, in case anything goes wrong.
3. Now, cut & paste Tarlia's fixed neighbourhood templates into Program Files/EA GAMES/The Sims 2/TSData/Res/UserData/Neighbourhoods .

Unless you also want to replace the neighbourhoods you're using now with Tarlia's fixed templates, that's all you have to do.

** If you have the game from Origin, the file pathways should be a bit different.

Mine's is from Origin, actually. And wow, I've been doing it wrong this whole time. I deleted my neighborhoods from the folders in the actual neighborhood folder in My Documents, not the ones from the program files. So I'm supposed to replace to the ones from the actual installation files rather than the ones from My Documents? Oh dear, I'm going to bork my game :o

@jvms20 you did one of the right ways to do it.

There are 2 ways to do it and one is in the programs folder so every time you start over with a new My Doc Sims 2 game then they will auto set it up.
The 2nd way of doing it is delete them from the My Doc. folder and replace them with a copy just like you did.

Both ways are ok to do.

Oh okay then. Phew thanks so much for your guy's help. I'm gonna try and follow the rest of the instructions on Tarlia's page. If I run into a big problem, or suspect I have corrupted my game in the process, I'll be sure to come back. Thanks again.

Bear in mind that if you put them in My Documents, that'll work perfectly for playing those neighbourhoods, but it won't have the secondary benefit of getting random townies (instead of the Pleasantview ones) when you create a new custom 'hood.