OtherworldBob's Sims 2 Stuff - FAQ

So here we come to the Freqently Asked Questions, which will hopefully cover near enough anything you need to know.
How many people will read this before contacting me, asking me something that has been asked here, I don't know. But it is here anyway.
Now, here we go, the following are all real* questions I've been asked, click the links to jump:
Sims 2 Key Printer
Custom Upload Picture
Me

Sims 2 Key Printer

I tried to run your Sims 2 Key Printer, but I got a really strange error message, then nothing happened. What do I do?

Well, since you didn't tell me what error it was, you're making it difficult for me.
But I'm going to guess you haven't installed the Microsoft .NET Framework v2 or newer.
Hop to it!

I tried to run your Sims 2 Key Printer and nothing useful happened. Just something about extracting.

You seem to have forgotten to unZip the file you downloaded. I suggest you try it! ☺

I tried your Sims 2 Key Printer, but it said it couldn't find any codes. How am I meant to install my illegally obtained game now?

You are not. This program RECOVERS keys from the registry, it does not generate them.

Your latest version of Sims 2 Key Printer doesn't tell me the games I don't have. But I LIKE being told which games I don't have. Can I get the old version of your program?

Actually, it does now! Hit "Options" and then "Display", you'll find the toggle there.

What is an MD5 hash?

In this case it is a short representation of a file, if you can read MD5 hashes, you can use it to check that the file you downloaded is not corrupted. The MD5s should match. If you can't, then you most likely don't need to know. Failing that, download the file again if you have suspicions. Remember to clear out your cache.

Why don't you use Rar/Ace/7z compression?

I'd love to - but can you imagine how many emails I would get?!
XP and Vista both readily open Zips out-of-the-box, plus there are plenty of easy how-tos on Zips out there in webland. Rar/Ace/7z - not-so-much.

Custom Upload Picture

Were you the first person to upload custom pictures to the exchange?

No, as far as I know, the first person to do it was jedlester204, many people asked how the upload effect was achieved, but I never heard of anyone getting a reply. So I set off to discover how to do it myself - which I did.
To my knowledge, I was the first person to publically spill the beans on how to do it. Now there are guides all over the place. This is great! Although it would be nice if when copy and pasting my guide, you at least give me a credit!

Hey! Didn't you used to have two guides a couple of years ago?

Yes I did back in mid 2006, but that technique used SimPE, was horrifically complicated, could only change the background of the upload and would eventually kill Sims 2. Requiring you to recover a core game file from a backup you never made. So I took it down, since the method up now, does it much more simply and will at worst, kill your upload and Body Shop until you delete the files you changed.

My upload is too small/My internet is too fast! and I don't have time to copy the files to my desktop. Help!

Find yourself a nice big file to download, say a HUGE lot from the Sims 2 Exchange, set it going. You should now have time.

Me

Have people really asked you all these questions?

Read this entire page and you will find out!

Hey, OtherworldBob I thought you were a dude?!

I am, I just like messing with your head!

I don't get it...

Okay, so actually what I mean is, I'm too lazy to change the Cascading Style Sheet.

* Okay, I made some of them up, hopefully they answered a question or raised a smile. With that said, since you've managed to find your way here, and if your question is not answered, or you just want to say "thanks", you can contact me using the information just a little below.

I hope you've found what you were looking for in the ways of local key recovery and custom picture uploads. Feel free to drop me a yell on my SimPage over on the US Forums of The Sims 2.

A note to non-Windows users - this site is aimed at the Windows version of The Sims 2. Mac users will find that my Sims 2 Key Printer will not work for them.
I have no idea how the Mac version of Body Shop works, so best of luck if you're attempting my Custom Picture Upload Tutorial.