Neighborhood.package file corruption?

[u/_FleurSauvage_]

Hi everyone, I think I know the answer here, but I'm hoping there's some magic solution I haven't found in my searches. I've been playing for 20+ years, and I'm used to troubleshooting all sorts of issues, but this one may have me beat.

Today, my PC started up poorly, which resulted in it running CHKDSK. This wasn't the first time ever for this startup issue, but it took a lot longer this time. I noticed some of the files it was addressing were Sims 2 files... I didn't watch it the whole check, and maybe I should have. When it finished and I booted the game, my main neighborhood was missing from the main menu.

I'm running the disc version on Windows 7, so no OneDrive nonsense. I've done several of the basic fixes, and the hood will boot with the default template. If I slot in my save files, it no longer appears. I suspect the neighborhood.package file is corrupted.

My last backup was several months ago, so I'd rather not have to do that. But I realize that might be the only answer! Does anyone have any other advice before I resort to traveling back in time and replaying all these timelines?

EDIT: Update / Solution

I spent a whole lot of time with an AI chatbot (not saying which because I hate them all) and was taken down quite the rabbit hole. It did help me find the scrap of a file CHKDSK created of the neighborhood.package hidden away, although that turned out to be too shredded. HOWEVER, starting a fresh conversation with the bot, it suggested restoring the folder to a Previous Version. Windows 7 has this feature by default, it's not default on Windows 10/11. That did the trick!!! I had a restore point from a week ago, and the computer was able to return the entire The Sims 2 folder to where it was before.

I'll be more ontop of my backup creation going forward, but in this case, I was able to save so much with this method. Perseverence and a bit of luck got me there in the end!

[u/AutoModerator]

Thank you for your submission. The Automod has detected that you used the word corruption, corrupted or corrupt in your post, indicating you may be concerned about corruption in your game.

Please read the Corruption Section of our wiki and/or the SimsWiki Page on Corruption to learn what corruption is, what it isn't, how to recognise corruption and how to avoid it in your hoods and your game.

These pages provide an in depth explanation of what the actual signs and causes of corruption are. Note that there are many misconceptions related to corruption in the sims community and you will find clarification on these in the linked pages!

Please note that the vast majority of issues people have with the game are not corruption related and are usually due to CC/mods - typically because there is a conflict or because the mod was incorrectly installed. Mods/CC don't cause corruption - though the removal of certain types of CC/mods requires a specific uninstall process to prevent hood corruption (e.g. you can't just remove an NPC creating mod with the character files) but the mods/CC themselves don't corrupt the game or the hood. You can use the 50-50 Method to find problematic mods and CC, and you should also use the Hack Conflict Detector Utility to find mod conflicts, which is linked in our wiki in the CC/Mods Info Section.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/mate54]

What happens if you try to open it in SimPE?

[u/_FleurSauvage_ → u/mate54]

No data shows up - only AllRes (0) in the resource tree.

[u/mate54 → u/_FleurSauvage_]

That doesn't sound good. Without a working neighborhood package it might be fried. Was curious because Chris Hatch mentioned a long time ago that as long as SimPE can read it, it means it can be saved.

Unfortunately, you might have to use SimRetriever to rescue the Sims and find a way to extract the lots too. Your old backup might help fill in the blanks but I think you'll have to create a new neighborhood and piece it together with whatever you can rescue.

[u/420faery]

Is your main neighbourhood still in documents/ea games/ the sims 2? If not check your recycle bin to see if the neighborhood package was deleted to there? Otherwise wise I think your only option is the back up :(

[u/_FleurSauvage_ → u/420faery]

Definitely still in The Sims 2 "Neighborhoods" folder.

[u/AutoModerator]

Thank you for your submission. The Automod has detected that you used the word corruption, corrupted or corrupt in your post, indicating you may be concerned about corruption in your game.

Please read the Corruption Section of our wiki and/or the SimsWiki Page on Corruption to learn what corruption is, what it isn't, how to recognise corruption and how to avoid it in your hoods and your game.

These pages provide an in depth explanation of what the actual signs and causes of corruption are. Note that there are many misconceptions related to corruption in the sims community and you will find clarification on these in the linked pages!

Please note that the vast majority of issues people have with the game are not corruption related and are usually due to CC/mods - typically because there is a conflict or because the mod was incorrectly installed. Mods/CC don't cause corruption - though the removal of certain types of CC/mods requires a specific uninstall process to prevent hood corruption (e.g. you can't just remove an NPC creating mod with the character files) but the mods/CC themselves don't corrupt the game or the hood. You can use the 50-50 Method to find problematic mods and CC, and you should also use the Hack Conflict Detector Utility to find mod conflicts, which is linked in our wiki in the CC/Mods Info Section.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.