Game guide:Resetting the game without reinstalling it

Sometimes, players may want to reset their user files for The Sims back to their default state, but don't want to go through the hassle of reinstalling their entire game. They may want to do this to fix game problems, have a clean slate and start over, or just to get a neighborhood back to its original state.

In all games, reinstalling the entire game will reset user files and accomplish this; however, reinstalling takes time that most players don't want to have to endure. This game guide will provide methods for resetting the game to its default settings without having to perform a reinstall.

The Sims
Unfortunately, The Sims does not provide an easy way to reset game settings back to their defaults. However, if the player simply wants to restore Neighborhood 1 and Neighborhood 2 back to their default, unmodified states, they can do the following:


 * 1) Download the UserData folders for the neighborhoods here.
 * 2) Go into the C:\Program Files\Maxis\The Sims folder, or wherever you installed the game. (If you have a 64-bit system, it might be located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\The Sims instead)
 * 3) Delete the "UserData" and the "UserData2" folders if you don't want them, or move them somewhere else if you want to make a backup.
 * 4) Unzip the UserData folders you downloaded. Copy and paste them into the C:\Program Files\Maxis\The Sims folder.

Done! Your neighborhood should now be in its default, pristine condition.

The Sims 2
Resetting the user files is a lot easier in The Sims 2, as user files are saved separately from the core game files. The C:\Users\ \Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2 folder is where your user files are stored. This folder houses your settings, your saved games, and your custom content. The C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 folder(s) (Depending on which expansion packs you have installed, and depending on where you installed the game) are where the core game files are housed. These files contain the game's programming, default game settings, objects, the EXE file where you launch the game, and a clean, unmodified template of the user data folder.

You can choose to either reset just your neighborhoods (allowing you to get back the default, unmodified version of the premade neighborhoods) or reset all of your user files, which essentially resets the game to its factory default settings.

Resetting just the neighborhoods
Note: This will remove any progress you have made in the premade neighborhood, including any Sims you have created, any lots you have placed in the neighborhood, and any sub-neighborhoods you have attached. It will not remove custom content, lots in the lot bin, or your game settings. If you want to preserve a copy of your old neighborhood, be sure to back up your files beforehand.


 * 1) Navigate to your C:\Users\ \Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Neighborhoods folder.
 * 2) Find the neighborhoods you want to reset. Each neighborhood is identified by a unique folder ID consisting of four digits, typically a letter followed by three numbers. The folder IDs for the premade neighborhoods are:
 * 3) *N001 is Pleasantview
 * 4) *N002 is Strangetown
 * 5) *N003 is Veronaville
 * 6) *G001 is Riverblossom Hills
 * 7) *F001 is Desiderata Valley
 * 8) *E001 is Belladonna Cove
 * 9) Find the folder of the neighborhood you want to reset and delete it.
 * 10) Now go to the C:\Program Files\EA GAMES'' folder.
 * 11) * If you're resetting Pleasantview, Strangetown, or Veronaville, go to the The Sims 2 folder
 * 12) * If you're resetting Riverblossom Hills, go to the The Sims 2 Seasons folder.
 * 13) * If you're resetting Desiderata Valley, go to the The Sims 2 FreeTime folder.
 * 14) * If you're resetting Belladonna Cove, go to the The Sims 2 Apartment Life folder.
 * 15) Now go through the following folders: TSData → Res → UserData → Neighborhoods.
 * 16) You'll see folders with the folder IDs of the premade neighborhoods. These are the default, unmodified copies of the premade neighborhoods. Right-click on the folder of the neighborhood you want to reset and select "Copy".
 * 17) Go back to C:\Users\ \Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Neighborhoods, right-click on any empty spot, and select "Paste". The template should be copied over and placed in the main Neighborhoods folder.

You're done! Your neighborhood has now been reset to its default, pristine state!

Resetting all your user files
Warning: This method will reset all of your game settings to their default values, reset all of your neighborhoods, delete all of your saved game progress, lots, collections, and custom content, and will delete any storytelling images you may have taken. If you want to preserve these, be sure to back up your files beforehand.


 * 1) Navigate to your C:\Users\ \Documents\EA Games folder.
 * 2) Delete the The Sims 2 folder.

That's it! The next time you start the game, it may take a lot longer to load as the game will need to regenerate this entire folder (You've experienced this maddeningly long wait time when you first installed the game, remember?). It will regenerate this folder with all of the default settings, and it'll be just like when you first installed the game.

The Sims 3
Much like The Sims 2, the player's saved game data are stored in a separate location from the core game files. The Sims 3 handles premade worlds differently than in previous games; it is no longer necessary to reset the game to restore a premade world to its original state. Instead, the player can simply create a new game and select the world they want to play. The game will then create a new save with the original, unmodified state of that world. The player can still choose to reset all of their user data in a similar fashion to The Sims 2.

Warning: This method will reset all of your game settings to their default values, delete all of your saved game progress, lots, collections, and custom content, and will delete any screenshots you have taken and have not uploaded to TheSims3.com. If you want to preserve these, be sure to back up your files beforehand.


 * 1) Navigate to your C:\Users\ \Documents\Electronic Arts folder.
 * 2) Delete the The Sims 3 folder.

That's it! The next time you start the game, it may take a lot longer to load as the game will need to regenerate this entire folder (You've experienced this maddeningly long wait time when you first installed the game, remember?). It will regenerate this folder with all of the default settings, and it'll be just like when you first installed the game.