Complete Re-install on a Mac

[StamperCat]

I see this is an old forum board, but thought I would throw in a question that I probably know the answer to. Is there a file that I can save before I un-install, that when put back after a re-install, will save me from having to re-install all my custom content, i.e. things I have bought and installed from the EA store or from TSR?
Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Ricalynn]

They only way to save yourself of that trouble is to take everything out of your downloads folder and put it somewhere safe instead of deleting them after they've been installed.    You will still have to reinstall it all via launcher but you'll be able to do it faster without having to download everything individually.

I have a folder on my external hard drive for just my sims3packs that cover all the downloads I want to keep like patterns, store items, etc.

[Figwit]

If you copy or save the Sims 3 folder in Documents you should be able to pop that back in when you have reinstalled.  I haven't actually done this, mind you, but I can't see why it wouldn't work and that would save you having to reinstall everything. 

[MomOfMany]

Ok I am a new Mac user and I did an ops and tried to install Town Life after everything else and so it deleted everything that was newer than Town Life. Didn't know that I couldn't do that. Anyways so now I am trying to do a complete reinstall so after reading this I dragged the saves folder to the desktop and the downloads folder as well just so I don't lose all that but I don't know how to get to go on finders? Like I said I am very new to Mac and haven't really learned my way around just yet. What I did was just took to Sims 3 folder from applications and put it in the trash and emptied. Did I do that wrong? And my folders in Documents are all still there?

[Ricalynn]

On a Mac, for most applications, you would just dump it into the trash.  However, for Sims 3, I have always used the Uninstaller that came with the program.  I think it was in the Sims 3 folder that you just dumped though. 

Also - just so you know - the finder is what they call the desktop and any window you open starts with the finder.   If you mouse over the Mac Smiley face that was on your dock (the strip of icons) if it's still there, it will say finder and will open a new window to look stuff up.  This is called a finder window.   It's like the desktop for a PC in that way.

[MomOfMany]

Thank you that is helpful. I did know the finder though just not go? That is the part that has me confused! I reinstalled the first disc before I found this thread so maybe I can still do the uninstall and then start over. I don't want to install them all again to find out it still will not work as I did something wrong still.

Edit: Ok there is no uninstall file in the folder?

2nd Edit: Do I need to delete the Electronic Arts folder in documents or do I just leave it?

[Tandrael]

Oh, I got a red-warning!!! I hope someone would still help me! 

On my challenges attempts I've realized there must be something wrong with my game. I might as well just delete everything like Metro mentioned at the beginning of the thread, specially because if I go to the "saved" file my most recent games aren't there, neither the screenshots. I don't know where everything is going!

I started playing with a special offer I found of the vanilla game + Pets, then I got the Supernatural expansion pack, of those three I have the CD's. Then I purchased Ambitions over the internet, on a "EA Origin" link I found here... so my question is, if I un-install and re-install everything, what happens with the expansion I bought over the internet of which I don't have a CD copy? Would I lose it? At first I thought buying over the internet was more convenient, and I was so ready to go get more expansions... but now I'm not so sure.